This was our first season participating in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and I have to say that I really loved it. Each week we picked up our bag of local, in season fresh fruits and veggies and I got to play and feel really great about our food choices. I love the idea of locally sourced foods and I also very much enjoyed stepping outside of my comfort zone to try some new things. This summer was my first ever exposure to Kohlrabi, at least to my knowledge. It was a great opportunity to learn and try new things – in the case of the Kohlrabi it was an epic fail and I am not a fan but that’s okay…there’s always next year!
Since the summer share was such a success we decided to continue with our CSA through the winter. Understandably, the winter share has more meat and there is no vegetarian option so what that means is incorporating more meat into our diets this fall and winter season. I feel comfortable eating the meat from our CSA because I trust their food sourcing. I also express extra gratitude when I eat a meat based meal because I really appreciate the life that is nourishing my body.
Tonight for dinner I was feeling really grateful for the fried cabbage, tasty turnip tots, and the pork & apple sliders (which were more like burgers if I am being honest). Mark had worked a really long day and it’s cold and blustery here so I was glad to prepare a hearty meal for us to enjoy together. The dinner was delicious and it was a great way for me to express love and gratitude to my husband. A win win in my book. Here are the super easy recipes I used to prepare our dinner. Enjoy!
Pork & Apple Sliders
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 TBSP dried chopped onion or ½ cup minced onion
- 1 small apple finely chopped
- Diced jalapeno or pepper jack cheese
- 1 TBSP Italian seasoning
- Salt & Pepper
- Combine all ingredients and make into small patties. Cook in skillet over medium heat for 7-10 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
Fried Cabbage
- Cut cabbage in half – remove outer leaves and core – slice into long strips
- Place in pan and drizzle with olive oil, salt, and pepper
- Cook on low/medium heat turning regularly for about 20 minutes
Tasty Turnip Tots
- Peel and slice 2 lbs turnips and place in bowl.
- Combine 1 TBSP canola oil (haven’t tried coconut oil but might add nice sweet flavor), 1 tsp garlic salt, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp dried chopped onion and hand toss onto turnips covering completely.
- Put coated turnips in a single layer on a cookie sheet and add some freshly ground pepper and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in a 425 degree oven for about 20 minutes, or until crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.