Sola Gratia Farm Week Two!

I tried to plot out our vegetables' use for the week after our first delivery from Sola Gratia Farms. I must admit though that some changed plans a couple of nights left me with a few extra radishes. We just picked up our box for Week Two and we better get to work!!

Our plan for Memorial Day was burgers with a radish/daikon salsa. That was delayed when our lovely neighbors Gail and Jeff invited us down for a Memorial Day picnic with other friends. It was utterly delightful so it was well worth putting off our radishes. Now, of course, we better use them up, since we just picked up more!

My friend Val, who is is a truly marvelous cook, had recommended the idea of a radish salsa to us in our last post about Sola Gratia. She said it was good with burgers, or with Cuban pork. We don't make burgers very often so when we do we really enjoy them. That is what's on the menu tonight….with the salsa below, corn on the cob and maybe a salad with the beautiful greens on the side….

Radish Salsa

2 cups chopped radishes, like daikon, red, or a combination (about 1 pound)
1/2 English cucumber, peeled and diced
1/2 small red onion, chopped
1 scallion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced fresh chile (like jalapeño or Thai), or to taste, or hot red pepper flakes or cayenne to taste
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice, or more to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

I'm thinking maybe I'll pickle some of this week's daikon….any ideas? Cathy?

I must tell you about one of my successes from last week…..my favorite sesame pasta with arugula. I adore this sesame pasta. I can't take credit for it….a friend gave it to me (I THINK it was Stephanie but I can't quite recall). I've made it at several house concerts and have never had as many recipe requests for any other recipe as this one. The best thing about it is that it's so easy that you can just remember it…which means you'll make it more often if you're anything like me. You can make it plain, you can add chicken or other vegetables (I've added cucumber and sesame seeds before which was nice) but nothing has ever been as perfect added to this as the arugula! I made the standard recipe and then just chopped up a big batch of arugula. I think I'd use even more next time. Suffice to say that it was devoured at the party I took it to and nobody liked it more than my 10 year old….who is not normally all that…well…uhh….arugula-friendly. Somehow the sharp nuttiness of the arugula is perfect with the sesame, soy and red pepper. It was so good that even though there were just a few spoonfuls left we saved them anyway….and devoured them later….

Enjoy….and let me know what you're making from your CSA boxes….

Sesame Pasta with Arugula

1 lb angel hair pasta (of course any pasta is fine but I find I like it with angel hair the very best)
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup Asian sesame oil
1/3 cup honey or agave nectar
1 tsp (or more to taste) red pepper flakes
several cups of chopped arugula

Cook the pasta and drain. Mix soy, sesame, honey and red pepper before pouring over pasta. Toss with chopped arugula. I think this is actually even better when you have it the next day!

I meant to take a picture of the beautiful fields outside St. Matthew's when we picked it up today but I forgot…next time!