Squash on the Side

The Sourdough Focaccia went in the oven this morning, topped with a drizzle of olive oil, a thinly sliced tomato, and fresh rosemary.

 

 

 Since the oven was hot I roasted a delicata squash for lunch.

 

January Box

Today's Talley Farms CSA produce box included: Leeks, Spinach, Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts, Japanese Sweet Potatoes (purple), "Pink Lady" Apples, Green Kiwi,"Cara Cara" Oranges, and Romanesco.

 

 

Hmm, Romanesco? I'm not sure how to cook it but it sure is pretty.

 

Bucket-O-Salad

Spinach and Red Little Gem Lettuce

 

 

Green Curly Kale and Black Lacinato Kale

 

 

and Carrots

 

 

Thumbs up for the salad veggies.

 

Quinoa Salad

Yesterday I made a delicious heart-healthy lunch with a Green salad (Lil Gem lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado) along with a Quinoa Salad (quinoa, carrots, sweet orange peppers, broccoli, black olives, and kale).

 

 I'm hoping the grains and veggies will balance out the meals of the next few days.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone ~

A Gift For You

Saturday was Talley Farms' Charter Member Celebration. We drove south and took the back roads of SLO to the farm in Arroyo Grande, an easy 30-minute drive.

Brian Talley greeted and welcomed us. He led us to the beverages, we opted for the soft drinks instead of beer or wine (presumably from Talley Farm Vineyards). The Man moseyed over to see what deliciousness was being grilled for lunch while I found us a place to sit.

Rosemary Talley (the Matriarch) stopped by our table and thanked us for our 10+ years of supporting their CSA Produce Box.

After Mrs Talley left I spotted a familiar face and went to invite the couple to sit with us. I got a hug for my efforts from Peter and then I mistakenly introduced him to The Man as Patrick. Oops. Peter was even wearing his name tag. I know he got my name right because he read my name tag first. He introduced us to his wife, Janice.

Peter and I served as jurors in 2016 and we still chat happily whenever we see one another (even though we can't remember each other's name). His wife's family is from Hawaii so we often talk about local kine foods - Spam Musubi is always a favorite topic.

While standing in the food line The Man and I talked to Andrea Chavez. She's the Manager - the Dynamo - behind the CSA program and instrumental in it's success. We became members in 2012 after she gave us produce.  She had a table set up at the entrance of Miner's Hardware store in Atascadero. It was the end of her day so she loaded us up and sent us home with information and the freshest produce we've ever had. (The leaf lettuce was amazing.) A few months later we joined the CSA and continue to receive a weekly produce box.

The lunch menu was delicious grilled tacos. The Man chose pork and chicken, I selected pork and a cheese taco. The "cheese" taco turned out to be shrimp and cheese, very yummy. Sarah's Chinese Cabbage Salad and brownies were also on the menu.

 

The Man and I opted out of the Farm Tour and said our Goodbyes and Thank Yous.

Before we left we were given a gift bag:

 

 

Such a nice time spent in the company of good people, good food, and a healthy business.

 

Fresh Friday

I had cancelled our Tuesday Produce box since we would be gone for an overnight trip. I changed my mind and decided to get a box for the holiday weekend when I saw the list of goodies in this week's box.

 

 

What a yummy box of fruits and veggies.

Box Dinner

Today was pick up day for our weekly Talley Farms Fresh Harvest produce box but instead of bagging and storing in the fridge I decided to use a few of the produce straight out of the box.

 

 

Broccoli crowns and carrots (along with celery, sliced almonds, raisins, and Brianna's Poppy Seed dressing). Fresh strawberries for dessert.

Winter Orange

The early mornings have been chilly and foggy but warming up later in the day. The goaties are starting to shed their downy coats and the chickens are laying an egg or two.

Winter is moving on.

Our Talley Farms Fresh Harvest CSA weekly box has been awash with the color orange. Sometimes a little creativity is required to discover new ways to use up all the produce.

Butternut Squash Soup

Sweet Potato Chips

Candied Blood Oranges

Yum: Toasted sliced almonds topped with small wedges of candied fruit and melted dark chocolate.

We've also been happy recipients of both fresh and dried persimmons from Jerry and Jan's trees. Although the sweet Fuyu persimmons can be eaten sliced like an apple, the Hachiya needs to be eaten spoon-soft. Take a bite into a crisp Hachiya and you'll remember the difference between the two, trust me.

Jan passed on the discovery that Hachiya persimmons loses it's astringent flavor when dried. I gave it a try; how sweet it is.

Yellow and orange - fresh and flavorful - are the winter colors for the Central Coast of California.

All The Things

It's been several months (four months and two days) since I retired. Amazing how quickly the time has flown by. I gotta say, I don't miss working, not at all.

Small Batch Preserving
Dehydrating

Preserved Lemons

 
Hawaiian Mixed Mui with the preserved lemons

Tiny Tasty Garden

 Rhubarb

Strawberry Rhubarb Galette

Basil and Tiny Tomatoes
I think my brown thumb is turning a wee bit green.

 
Hippie Cooking
Sprouts
Local grown Mung beans and the nifty sprouter I found at our Goodwill thrift store.

Harvest in four days

Yogurt

 
A Little Bit of Myself
I volunteered my time as a table hostess (Would you like more water? bread?) and knitted dishcloths for our local Empty Bowls Charity event to benefit Atascadero's homeless shelter.

Once a month I'm a Bagger at our local food pantry - Atascadero Loaves and Fishes.

Photo taken by Feeding America

 Knitting Comfort Scarves for charity.

First (possibly last) attempt knitting for the Mother Bear Project.

Fibery Goodness

Here's my Box-o-Shawls. There's a one skein shawl on the needles all the time.

 

Four placemats woven on the Schacht 20" Flip Loom finished and cut off the loom. Finally.

This week I'm casting on to knit my first two (or three) color shawl project. It was a tough decision picking the colors.

I pre-washed the yarn in case the colors bled. (The very saturated colors needed several rinses - looking at you Edison Bulb yellow and bright Pink.)

And hanging up to dry.

Lately, I've also been thinking about this: