This is such a fun time of year for people who love to eat.
We still have plenty of "summer" veggies to choose from (enjoy them while they last!) and the "fall" goodies are starting to come in as well. After a long, salad-less summer, we finally have several types of greens on the list, including arugula, kale and collards. And if you order radishes, you get two veggies in one-- the radish bulb and the radish greens! The greens are really lovely this early in the season and I like to make a simple, creamy soup with them similar to this recipe from Washington Post.
There are a couple greens to choose from that might be new to you. Here's a little information about them:
Bok choy: Also called white Chinese cabbage, belongs to the leafy vegetable pak choi family of Chinese brassicas. Bok choy leaves are tender and crisp, and the stalks are crunchy, firm and juicy. The taste is mellow, with its own unique, peppery spice. Leaves can be eaten raw or stir fried, braised, steamed, sauteéd, or simmered in soups.
Spicy salad mix: A mix of slightly spicier salad greens like arugula, mustard, kale and tatsoi. When harvested small, this mix is perfect for eating fresh in a salad. Later in the season when the leaves get larger, these hearty greens are great for sauteés and other cooked recipes.
Tatsoi: An Asian green known for its mild, peppery flavor which is often used to spice up salad mixes or used in place of spinach (in fact, it's sometimes referred to as "Asian spinach"). Tatsoi can be used raw or lightly cooked (just replace spinach with tatsoi in any recipe).
Last week we had some technological woes so the order customization period was shortened. Luna Baking Co. products were on sale, and some of you were sad that you didn't get a chance to order any... so the sale continues! You've got one more week to give Luna a try at discounted prices. In my humble opinion, you can't go wrong with Luna! The loaves are way better than anything you can buy at the grocery store, the baguettes and epis are real crowd pleasers, and the pita bread is soft, fluffy and simply divine. Give the Spent Grain loaf a try for a real treat... it's hearty and slightly sweet-- great with honey and butter if you've got a sweet tooth, but equally tasty with savory sandwich fixins.
For those of you with an Independent Baking Co. Bread Share, this week you will receive...
Kalamata Olive Loaf!
IBC's Five Points Levain with big, high quality kalamata olives sprinkled throughout. If I had to choose one IBC bread for the rest of my life, it would be this one. This will be a great treat for some of you, but if you are not an olive fan, I'm happy to provide a substitute. Please email me by Friday with your request. Current options are Five Points Levain, French Country, Classic Baguette, Multigrain, Ciabatta, and Pecan Raisin.
Without further ado... Let's eat!!
Lisa
