Joining a CSA

Well, when we made our move we knew it was going to be a huge adjustment in terms of the produce available to us in our new home in PA. In order to help ease the transition, we tried to sign up for a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) but found out the CSA we wanted to join was already full in April. We asked to join the waitlist and much to my joy, we got an e-mail last week saying that we could start that Friday. I said yes and sent in our check and we received our very first box. Along with that box we got an e-mail saying there was a huge surplus of basil and peaches and so if we wanted additional half bushel boxes of those we could have them for almost nothing. So, being starved for fresh, organic produce I said yes to both. Our normal box was great. Full of lots of veggies and fruits to last us through the week and the other two boxes were huge. If you were ever wondering what a half bushel of basil looks like, here it is.

Days and many batches of pesto later I must say I am so happy to have our freezer full of such delicious goodness. We will be eating pesto and peaches all through the winter now! And the most exciting thing about the whole thing was how easy it was to have H participate. He made most of the pesto himself, with a little help from us. He was super focused on his work and so proud of all the pesto he made for our family.

H's recipe for pesto:

1. Two cloves of garlic, chopped in the food processor

2. Add:
A full food processor bowl full of basil leaves
One pinch of salt
Two hand fulls of pine nuts (keep in mind these are two year old size hands and the nuts can be any kind of nuts)
Somewhere around a half cup of olive oil

3. Process all of these ingredients to your hearts content.

At this point we froze our pesto in our old baby food trays, otherwise we would have added in Parmesan cheese and 1-2T of butter and hand mixed it before pouring it over whatever we were serving.






For any of you out there wondering what a CSA is, I highly recommend learning a little more about the ones available in your area. If you love produce and would like to support local farmers, it might be a really fun thing to try!

More kitchen fun

The table that we were using as H's art table is now being used for both art and kitchen activities due to limited space available. So, the most recent activity available is pouring water. H discovered this activity after waking up from a lovely afternoon nap and was thrilled at the sight of the little pitcher and glass. I showed H how to pour water from the pitcher into the cup and then drink out of the cup. After H waited patiently for my turn to be done he carefully took his own turn, thoroughly enjoying the entire experience.

To watch H gingerly pick up the pitcher and and attempt to carefully pour the water out was almost too cute for words. It is so amazing to observe him as he takes each step very carefully and deliberately. It feels like he is growing up so fast right now and gaining more and more independence each day.

Growing up, kitchen style

H is simple crazy about the kitchen. He loves to wisk, splash, pluck, and dance. For well over a month H has spent a lot of his time with his basket of kitchen items sitting on the floor or working at his table happy and engaged. Often when H wants to be picked up it so he can see what is up on the stove top. If H and I are coming in the front door and he hears J working in the kitchen he goes running in to see what is happening.

A few week ago we asked H's teacher what she would recommend for H given his love of all things food related. She said that we should include him in as many ways as possible in the kitchen. Some specific recommendations she gave for a 14 month old are peeling bananas, pulling grapes from the vine, and pouring water. In addition I am trying to include H in as many cooking activities as I can. H helps tear spinach and lettuce for salads and sandwiches and I try to prepare and assemble things at H's level.
Stay tuned for more kitchen stories and recipes coming soon!