Edgewater Farm CSA Week 7

Week 7 already?! How is summer passing by so quickly?

Violet didn't want to wait for anyone to open the CSA box this week. She just kept tapping the box and repeating "box, box, box" then she started to try pulling what she could through the holes in the box. 

In this weeks box we have - tomatoes, parsley, blueberries, carrots, onion, pickling cucumbers, eggplants, summer squash. 

I think this was the first time Violet had see an eggplant. She picked it up, looked  at it and promptly gave to to me and walked away. 

The carrots though, they couldn't be out away without a taste. 

I have to admit that getting fresh flowers every Wednesday is a great tradition. However, this weeks bouquet is definitely my favorite so far. I love all the different colors and types of flowers! 

Sunday Donuts

This morning a pregnancy craving led us to introduce Violet to donuts for the very first time. We let her carry the bag of donuts from the store to the bench where we were going to eat them. She took her job very seriously.

Let's just say the donuts were a hit for everyone.

After we finished our donuts but before we made it back to the car we got caught in a morning thunderstorm. It's definitely turned into a lazy Sunday morning. 

Norwich Fair 2014

This is the third year in a row that Marc, Violet and I have attended our towns annual fair. Admittedly this is the first year she has explored it for herself. The first year she was riding around in my belly and last year she happily sat in the ergo that Marc wore.

Apparently Marc has also worn a different blue shirt to the fair each year too. 

Our first stop today was with the volunteer fire fighters. Violet was desperate to get into the truck. She had a good time sitting in the passenger seat and keeping an eye out for fires. 

After that we wandered around the fair checking out all the stands. 

There were a couple of rides that Violet wanted to go on but unfortunately she was still a bit small. 

The real reason Marc and I go to the fair each year is to enjoy the fried dough. This year I also indulged in a deep fried Milky Way. I would highly recommend splitting it with a friend and pairing it with a glass of water. 

Marc bought himself some watermelon gelato. 

Which Violet promptly ate two thirds of. I guess he'll have to get used to this with a house of three ladies. All in all it was a fun afternoon at the fair. Next year we'll buy some tickets as Violet will probably be tall enough to go down the super slide and ride the motorcycle/car/train rides. 

Violet's News

A 1 minute short film which is definitely worth watching . . . Violet's News from Christina A on Vimeo.

Edgewater Farm CSA Week 6

This past weekend Edgewater Farm hosted a strawberry gleaning for all their CSA members. Marc, Violet and I were surprised not only at how many berries were in the field but also how few people showed up. We had a great time picking for about an hour with Violet running down the strawberry rows between us. Near the end she and I took a break to play with the farm "puppy" and the dirt. Such a fun activity to do with our little girl. Oh and we now have two gallon bags of berries in our freezer to enjoy throughout the winter.

This week in our box we received - tomatoes, basil, blueberries, carrots, onions, green beans, lettuce, summer squash and slicing cucumbers. 

Violet easily identified the tomatoes and both she and Marc were excited to try the carrots straight out of the box. 

Surprisingly it took a little time for her to find the blueberries but our little berry monster was very excited once she did.

One of the things I love about our CSA is the variety of produce that we get each week. It seems like just the right amount for our family this year and is definitely a fun weekly event to share with Violet. 

This was also week 2 of the flower share. Exactly what I needed to brighten up our afternoon thunderstorm. 

Burlington

Violet and I spent the day in Burlington today while Marc worked out of his company's office here. It was a beautiful day to be by the lake and we got some shopping done too!

Standing on the lake shore watching the boats, followed by our morning snack on the swings. 

After walking by the lake we had lunch at chipotle and did a little shopping. Then I attempted to get violet to nap in her stroller as I walked around the mall. 

Violet had other plans. She eventually fell asleep in the car and we ended the day with some more time by the waterfront before meeting up with Marc for dinner at American Flatbread. I thoroughly enjoyed our pizza, Violet enjoyed watching the birds visit the courtyard and Marc enjoyed the beer. On the way back to our car we found a bubble machine blowing bubbles onto the walkway. Violet was mesmerized. 

Today really felt like it could have been Friday. It was such a beautiful day to be by the lake and just relax. Happy Thursday everyone!!

Edgewater Farm CSA Week 5

Not only did we get a new box but today was also the start of our cut flower share. I'm so excited to have fresh flowers in the house every week - especially since this was a surprise gift to me from Marc!

In this weeks box we received - tomatoes, basil, beets, scallions, pickling cucumbers, green beans, Swiss chard, and cousa squash. 

Violet kept asking for berries but when she realized there weren't going to be any in the box she quickly turned her attention towards the tomatoes. She proceeded to take them out of the box one by one and put them on the counter. 

I'm so excited to see more beets in this box - the red one that takes up the bottom left corner of the box is huge! I'm also excited to finally try my hand at pickling. The challenge this week will be trying to find a new recipe for the cousa squash (we've been drizzling with balsamic and grilling which is good but time for something new) and the Swiss chard (Marc loved it last time, I wasn't a big fan). 

Thankfully this week we only have a couple of scallions and cucumbers leftover from last weeks box - which we'll finish up tomorrow. I'm beginning to think the goal of finishing everything in one week is more difficult then expected. I guess I'm glad we only got the small box! 

Edgewater Farm CSA Week 4

Another Wednesday, another box! This week we have - strawberries, basil, lettuce, beets, scallions, cucumbers and radishes.

My little berry monster was able to spot the berries in the box even when they were underneath all of that green. And as soon as they were uncovered there was no stopping her. 

I'm super excited about the beets as they are one of my favorites and just as excited about the stash of cucumbers in the box. They will taste delicious with the hummus I made yesterday using some of last weeks parsley. 

The surprising part was just how much Basil we got in our box - it will definitely be pesto week in our house! Violet couldn't even lift it up it was so heavy. 

The lettuce on the other hand was much easier to maneuver. Last weeks hits were a spinach, mushroom, potato breakfast pie (like a quiche); herbed hummus; and white bean garlic scape dip. 

We're finishing up the last of last weeks lettuce tonight and we still have the radishes and a couple scallions to go. My plan this week is to try roasting the radishes and/or making radish chips. I'm not a huge fan of raw radishes in salad. 

Edgewater Farm CSA Week 3

Somebody was itching to open the box as soon as Marc brought it through the front door. She could see the berries through the side and couldn't wait to get her hands on them. "Bock, Bock"

This week our box came with: cousa squash, rhubarb, scallions, lettuce, strawberries, garlic scapes, radishes, and parsley. Basically a bunch of stuff we have had in weeks past minus the stuff I was really hoping we'd get more of, ahem turnips and cucumbers. 

The parsley was mildly entertaining until Violet realized she could get her hands on the berries. After pointing them out she nicely requested "bleh pease". 

From last weeks box we still have some rhubarb, scallions, lettuce and spinach. So I guess overall we didn't do so great at eating everything up. The spinach I am probably going to turn into quiche - just for me since Marc is intolerant to spinach and Violet is allergic to eggs. And the rhubarb will most likely turn into another delicious apple rhubarb crumble. 

The winners from last weeks box were definitely the garlic scapes and the turnips. We made a delicious orichiette dish with mushrooms and garlic scapes and a separate Israeli couscous dish with both roasted turnips and the turnip greens. If I ever come across hakurai turnips again you can bet I am going to roast them. 

Since I've seen everything in this box before I think the challenge will just be eating it all up before next weeks box arrives. 

Munching on berries, pretty sure Marc is wishing he was too.