Summer is upon us, and for many people, that means farmers' markets or CSAs (community supported agriculture or farm box) have started up, which can be a fun and economical way to enjoy local produce. But just because you could end up with any produce in any week does not have to be cause for meal planning panic! As you can see from the list below, having the staples listed below on hand means you can cook just about any fruit or vegetable as a side or incorporated in the entree.
- Omelettes/quiche: eggs, milk, flour, cheese, butter
- Pasta sauce: pasta, olive oil, cheese, garlic
- Pesto: olive oil, nuts, cheese
- Risotto: arborio rice, cheese, chicken stock
- Grilled: foil or skewers, oil
- Cold soup: stock/bouillon, sour cream, butter
- Crudités: sour cream or hummus for dip
- Salad: oil and vinegar
- Fritters: oil, cornmeal, eggs
- Taco/enchilada filling: tortillas, sauce or salsa, cheese
- Pizza topping: crust, tomatoes, cheese, olive oil
- Stir fried: oil, soy sauce, scallions, sesame seeds, rice or noodles
- Curried: spices, coconut milk, tomatoes, lentils
- Fresh fruit pie: pie crust, gelatin, sugar, whipping cream
- Fruit pie/cobbler: butter, lard/shortening, sugar
- Pickled: vinegar, pickling spices, lids
- Jam: pectin (I am partial to Ball Low Sugar flex batch), sugar, bottled lemon juice, lids
- Homemade ice cream: milk, cream, eggs, sugar
- Homemade sorbet: sugar
For more ideas, check out these websites and books:
Websites
Books
Julia Child, Mastering the Art of French Cooking (Volume 1: egg dishes, Volume 2: cold soups)
Love this! I've been avoiding CSAs because I need the rigidity of my meal planning and I also feel like I don't have the time to experiment with some things we've never tried before. Our cousin (who is local) and I are thinking of splitting one next summer to ease into it though. We have a company here that allows you to buy a box whenever you want, as opposed to a subscription, and I try to use that as often as possible. Baby steps!
ReplyDeletePerhaps you could try using the produce solely as sides- salads, slaws, cold soups etc. Then it wouldn't disrupt your plan.
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