This week's box... if you dare! :)

Here is what we've picked for you this week (sorry the bottom edge of the pic got cut off...):

I wanted to explain flower stalks, as I think some people are just puzzled about what they can/should do with them. Flower stalks happen when the plant starts sending sugars upward, to create first a flower and then later (when pollinated) a seed. They tend to have the same taste as the root or leaves of the plant they grow on, but are a little bit sweeter, as there tends to be more sugar/unit volume. We try to only pick/bundle flower stalks that are soft and edible 'raw,' but may occasionally include one that is tough to your tastes. In these cases, a little pan-frying, steaming or boiling works wonders. So go on and purdy-up that salad or those steamed veggies :)

Also, this week in addition to choosing which flower stalk you want, you have another surprise: an optional mini-bag of hand-picked chantrelle mushrooms. If you've never cooked with/ate them before, they have a wonderful apricot-ish aroma and a chicken-like texture. Good for risottos and other rice dishes for sure, but my folks eat them butter-sauteed with onions on top of just about everything.

Finally, if you are really wild and risky, you can take the one box that has a zip-lock bag stashed with milkweed floret (pre-flower) bundles. A tasty wild edible that we've cultivated a small bit of on our veggie patch, it tastes like a sweet combination of broccoli and celery. Most delicious when steamed and with a bit of salt and butter -- if you ask me!

Mr. M