Community Supported Agriculture

We are excited to launch our new Nutrition Know How web site design and we welcome input on increasing the ease of use, article ideas, etc. During the growing season we will be highlighting how to prepare, cook and store in-season fresh produce from a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. What is CSA?  CSA is when a farmer(s) offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Consumers may purchase a “membership” or a “subscription” and in return receive a bag of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season. Below are the recipes I made using this week’s bag of fresh produce.

Click here to view a list of CSA’s in Nebraska.

Advantages for consumers:

• Receiving fresh food from a known source.
• Improving understanding about food production.
• Improving knowledge of in-season produce.
• Learning about new and traditional varieties of fruit, vegetables and herbs.
• Having access to a farm as a resource for education, work and leisure.
• Improved health through an increased intake of fruits and vegetables.
• Sense of belonging to a community.

Crowd Pleasing Baked Peaches

Ingredients

3         Fresh peaches
2         T. Butter
6         T. Brown sugar
2         T. Ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Halve peaches and remove the pit.
2. Place in a baking dish, skin side down.
3. Place ½ teaspoon butter in the hallow of each peach, top each peach with 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and sprinkle with cinnamon.
4. Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes until tender.

Smashed Potatoes

Ingredients

Small roasting potatoes
Olive Oil
Garlic Salt

Directions

1. Place potatoes on a baking sheet and brush olive oil on the potatoes.  Sprinkle with garlic salt.
2. Bake 25 minutes at 425°F
3. Remove from the oven and use another baking sheet to smash the potatoes.
4. Bake smashed potatoes for 20 minutes at 425°.
5. Flip and return to the oven for another 15 minutes.
6. Serve with sour cream, shredded cheese or the kiddos may enjoy dipping them in ketchup or Ranch dressing.

Fresh Roasted Green Beans

Ingredients

Fresh green beans
Olive oil
Minced garlic
Chili Powder

Directions 

Cooking Note:  Often when I cook fresh green beans they turn out rubbery.  So this time I decided to blanch
them before roasting them in the oven.  It worked; they turned out great.

1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
2. Wash and cut fresh green beans.
3. Bring water to boil in a medium sauce pan. Add green beans and cook for 5 minutes on medium heat.  Drain beans.
4. Coat green beans with olive oil.  Sprinkle with minced garlic and chili powder.
5. For easy clean up cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil.  Spread the beans evenly onto a baking sheet.

Bake for 15-20 minutes.