Strawberries---All I can say is, "Yum!" If you want to get a bunch and freeze or dry them let us know. We still have plenty and imagine a nice strawberry smoothie in the middle of January.
Carrots---These carrots are great cooked up or cut up into salads. Make a vegetable stew with carrots, onions, garlic (of course), tomatoes and summer squash. Make the carrot cake below. It is so good.
Lettuce---Make sure you wash this lettuce so you don't have any surprises moving across your plate, if you know what I mean! Then make some salads and use some for sandwiches.
Tomatoes----Speaking of sandwiches, how about a nice tomato sandwich. Chop up a bit of a chile for extra Pizazz. Make salsa with the chile and cilantro.
Chiles/Cilantro---Easy salsa: Chop up some garlic and a tiny bit of onion. Add chopped tomatoes, chile(s), and cilantro. Add a bit of salt to taste. That's all there is to it! Dip those chips.
Spinach---Now you can make the James' family "Dirt, Clouds, Sun and Grass." Toast a piece of whole wheat bread (dirt), on top of that add creamed (or not) spinach (grass), and on top of that a poached egg (sun and clouds). This is really good and really easy. By the way, you don't need a special poacher to poach an egg. Just boil water in a skillet and add a bit of salt or vinegar. When the water is boiling, crack in the egg. Boil for about 3 minutes or until it's to your liking. The eggs should hold up well if they are fresh (like ours). Speaking of eggs, we've got 'em. Just ask! You can also just wash and steam up. Remember, a lot cooks down to a little.
Summer Squash ---There won't be too much more summer squash. Just saute up with some other vegetables (see stew above). They are really a good combo with tomatillos.
Tomatillos---Tomatillos are not just for salsa. You can cube a few and add to sautéed summer squash or even a bit of spinach. Salsa is easy too. Just boil with a chile and a garlic. Blend and add salt and cilantro to taste.

Carrot Cake
A repeat from last year (it is so delicious) offered by Kirsten Anderson and Kathleen Marsh

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. cinnamon
2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups oil
4 eggs

2 cups grated raw carrots
18 1/2 oz can crushed pineapple, drained

1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Sift the flour, baking powder and soda and cinnamon together. Add the sugar and oil and stir well. Add the eggs, grated carrots, pineapple and nuts. Pour into pan (layer cake pans or 13 x 9-inch pan).
Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.

Cream Cheese Icing:
1/2 cup butter,

8-oz pkg. cream cheese,

1/2 tsp. vanilla,

1 lb powdered sugar.
Cream butter and cream cheese. Add vanilla and sugar. Frost. Eat. Yum.


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EGGS---Lee's chickens are starting to lay their eggs! Hooray. These beautiful and delicious eggs are available at the Farm Stand. Better watch out, though: the customers at the Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market would take them all if we'd let them. You all get priority! Come check them out and see what a really fresh egg looks and tastes like.

GE FREE SONOMA COUNTY NEEDS YOUR HELP: Lawn signs will be available this week for those of you who would like to show your support for the initiative calling for a 10 year moratorium on genetically modified plants and animals which is on the November ballot. If you would like one you can give me a call at 837-8366. Thank you. We really need to get the word out about the importance to small family farmers that this moratorium pass. For more info you can go to gefreesonomacounty.org. Thank you so much.






Calling all loyal CSA members. We would love to put your recipes in the Menu. If you have anything that you'd like to share, please e-mail me at evie@tierravegetables.com and most likely your recipe (or comment) will make its way to this little Menu.