6 Tips for Preparing Your CSA Produce

The shift towards seasonal eating can be difficult, but having the joy of farm fresh vegetables is well worth it. With CSA registration, you are about to take off on a culinary adventure, so we’ve put together a few tips to help you out along the way.

1. Roast. Nearly everything that you receive in your CSA box can be roasted, including the greens! Quickly broil them in the oven, toss them into a sandwich or lettuce wrap, add them to eggs or eat them as a side dish!
2. Risotto. Risotto is a rice and chicken broth based dish that veggies can be added to. Try inventing a new risotto recipe with unique finds from your CSA box!
3. Salsa. When tomatoes ripen in late summer, you should have everything you need to make an extremely fresh homemade salsa straight from your CSA box. You are the master of your own spice level, seasonings and consistency!
4. Sauté. You can put any vegetable from your CSA box into a sauté. Simply, chop up a veggie combination that fits your mood, then add them to a sauté pan with olive or coconut oil. Toss in garlic and onion first for a big flavor boost before adding your veggies one by one. Serve over rice, quinoa or on its own.
5. Soup. Make a garden-fresh soup any day with the produce from your CSA box. From gazpacho to a hearty minestrone, soup is always in season! Freeze any extras for a warm taste of summer when winter is in full blast. You can even save discarded ends of onions, carrots and celery in the freezer to make your own vegetable stock. 
6. Salads. Kale salad, cucumber salad, pasta or potato salad… your can make it all with your CSA produce box. Try adding roasted vegetables and local meats, make a salad without lettuce, or infuse white vinegar with fresh herbs for a flavorful salad topping twist!

The trick to eating seasonal is basing your meals around your produce rather than your produce around your meals. Use a variety of veggies in each meal to avoid spoilage. Only have a small amount of something? Use your produce as a pizza topping, mix it in with macaroni, add to an omelet, or spruce up your dish with a garnish. Be creative with your food and stay connected for more meal inspiration! 

Kale: Trending Now

How did Kale become such a hit? We’re not entirely sure, but it probably has something to with its unsurpassed health benefits. A simple one-cup serving can pack an enormous nutritional punch.

Kale Facts:

•         More vitamin C per gram than an orange.
•         More calcium per gram than milk.
•         More vitamin A & vitamin K than spinach, parsley, and collards.
•         Excellent source of manganese.
•         Contains fiber and protein.
•         Kale can reduce inflammation, cleanse the body of free radicals, and help prevent cancer.
•         A source of Omega-3 fatty acid, essential for brain health.
•         Nonfat and low in calories.
•         Other noteworthy nutrients include vitamin B, potassium, iron, and magnesium.

This super-food superstar is especially good for the eyes, heart, skin and bones. It helps with weight loss and lowering cholesterol. Kale is extremely versatile when it comes to cooking and is best paired with healthy fats and acids; this helps the body absorb the nutrients to it’s fullest potential. Steaming kale also aids in nutrient absorption.

This powerhouse of a plant is very hearty and can survive snowfall. It is one of the first to rise and the last to fall here in Michigan. Look for it in your CSA box all throughout the growing season!

Click here for 52 ways to eat kale! 

References:

www.worldshealthiestfoods.com  

The Exceptional (Pastured) Egg

Eggs are an incredibly nutritious food. They are the most well-rounded source of protein in our diets and are high in Omega-3 fatty acids – essential for brain health, immunity, and more. Many holistic doctors recommend eating two of these nutritional powerhouses every day.

Not all eggs are created equal. Visually, there is a very noticeable difference between an average grade A grocery store egg and a farm fresh pastured egg. The grocery store egg has a thin white or brown shell and membrane, a watery white, and a light yellow yolk. In comparison, the pastured egg has a thicker shell that can come in a variety of colors and speckles. Upon cracking it open, you will find a dense dark yellowy-orange yolk surrounded by a thick white. These are all the ingredients needed to make a healthy young chick - as well as a healthy meal for you!

Mother Nature Network did the research to see how these two varieties of eggs compare nutritionally, and found that pastured eggs contain:

• 1/3 less cholesterol
• 1/4 less saturated fat
• 2/3 more vitamin A
• 2 times more omega-3 fatty acids
• 3 times more vitamin E
• 7 times more beta carotene

(Via Mother Earth News)

Than commercial eggs found in the grocery store.

So what makes pastured eggs more nutritious? The way in which the chickens are raised, fed, and treated. Unlike a conventionally raised chicken - kept confined in a large factory farmhouse (with little light, ventilation, and room to move around) a pastured chicken is allowed to roam free in the pasture and even the woods! They eat what comes natural to them – grass, worms, and bugs, and are supplemented with a diet of organic feed when winter comes. These chickens are raised on small family farms and are treated humanely. They are not injected with antibiotics or hormones because they are healthy and fully capable of producing eggs without them.

At Harvest Michigan, we distribute organic, pastured eggs from Michigan farms. These valuable nutritional powerhouses are available at anytime through the Michigan Buying Club.

Available Online Here:

Michigan Pastured Large Eggs

Michigan Pastured Jumbo Eggs

Michigan Buying Club Membership 

Cleaning and Cooking Your Mushrooms

Cleaning Mushrooms:

A little dirt doesn’t hurt, but it’s a good practice to clean your mushrooms. 

All you need is a cloth or a soft brush. Moisten it only slightly – making your mushrooms too wet will alter the texture.

Wipe off the caps and stems of your mushrooms to remove any debris, then knock off dirt (if any) that is in the gills or crevices.

Let your mushrooms dry for 30 minutes before cooking.

Cooking Mushrooms:

There are many methods of mushrooms preparation – the most common of which is sauté. Sautéed mushrooms may be added to a variety of recipes or served on their own.

To make a simple sauté, start with an olive oil & butter combination (1Tbsp per 4 oz. of mushrooms). Crushed garlic and/or sliced onions may be added to the sauté for added flavor and should be cooked 4-5 minutes before mushrooms are added. 

Do not stir mushrooms often, stirring will release moisture and cause them to steam instead of caramelizing. It is best to cook cap side down.

Cook Times:

• Oyster Mushrooms: 4-5 minutes
• Shiitake Mushrooms: 7-8 minutes
• Cinnamon Caps: 7-8 minutes

About Us

Welcome to Harvest Michigan! Our focus is to develop a thriving, regional 'Food Hub' for the (northern) Southeast Michigan region servicing Oakland and Macomb counties. We offer services through the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) program, and the Buying Club where our customer can source artisan products and farm-fresh goods from our network of sustainable growers. 

As a Food Hub, we handle a multitude of operations, such as aggregation, warehousing, distribution and market development for the small food producer and small - medium scale farms of our region.  With our connections to the Eastern Market, we play a vital partner in the future success of Southeast Michigan's Food System. 

Our overall effort works to strengthen the profitability of regional growers and increase our "local food shed" that serves multiple markets, and most importantly, advances local foods to the greater community.  Join us and we grow in partnership with local farmers, food and beverage producers, and delightful artisanal goodies.  We love good and healthy food!