Some of you might remember that I was going to write a book; one that was helpful to people new to Community Supported Agriculture. A CSA primer, if you will. Something along the lines of From Asparagus to Zucchini which is practically the Bible of CSA-dom, except which didn’t read like, well, an encyclopedia.
The other day while searching for books to add to my Amazon.com order in order to meet the minimum required so I wouldn’t have to pay shipping, I accidentally bought it:
Recipes from America’s Small Farms: Fresh Ideas for the Season’s Bounty
I bought it thinking that it would give me some additional seasonal recipes, but I discovered lots of little tips throughout, and basic recipes! Now I don’t have to write a book, someone has done it for me 🙂
It provides basic techniques, basic recipes (quiche, souffle, omelets and frittatas, gratins, crepes, stock and soups, sauces, and more), and then describes vegetables by family (cabbage, onion, stalks and stems, seeds and pods, fruits, roots and tubers, fresh herbs, fruit) including what to do when you get them home, how to store, and how to cook. Sprinkled throughout are “mini recipes,” as I like to call them. Simple ideas that can be explained in a few bullet points instead of a whole drawn out recipe.
It does include full recipes too, but I haven’t tried any of them.
Overall, I highly recommend this book.
How about you? Do you have any favorite seasonal cookbooks? (Besides Simply in Season Expanded Edition (World Community Cookbook)
This post linked to Things I Love Thursday
I don’t have any seasonal cookbooks. I’m still fairly new to cooking, but I am enjoying it so far. I love trying new recipes, especially for cookies. 🙂
Stopped by from SITS.
This isn’t exactly a cookbook, but for years I have subscribed to Eating Well magazine, which comes out 6 times a year and each issue is packed with seasonal recipes. I keep all my back issues and right now I am going through the February-March ones for the past few years to see if there are any more I want to make before moving into the April-May issues. It’s a terrific magazine, focusing on whole seasonal foods and simple recipes. I think you would like it. Check out their website if you’re not familiar with it. http://www.eatingwell.com (no I don’t work for them…just a big fan)
Thanks for the tip! I do subscribe (I think . . . unless that one ran out . . . sometimes it’s hard to keep track). LOVE it.
this sounds great I love cookbooks and thanks for sharing
This sounds cool. I just got my mom a seasonal cook book from amazon: vegan soups and stews.
Blessings!
That sounds wonderful. I tried to convince my husband to buy into a half share at our local CSA, but he wasn’t buying it. He is not very adventurous in the veggie department.
This is not a cookbook, but I used to subscribe to Everyday Food and they would always feature veggies in season, including veggies outside the “norm”.
.-= Jennifer Y.´s last blog ..Trader Joe’s French Roast Coffee =-.
It took a bit of convincing to get DH to try CSAs too, but after the first year he was totally hooked. Now HE’S the one making sure we get signed up each year! And thanks for the suggestion about Everyday Food.
I’m one of the authors of Recipes from America’s Small Farms, and I want to thank you for the review; you understand just why we wrote this book. Joanne and I were site managers at our CSA in NYC and people were always asking us how to use each vegetable. We all have a lot of cookbooks, but when you follow a recipe in a cookbook, you start with the recipe and look for ingredients. When we get our CSA shares, we start with the ingredients and build recipes around what we have. So knowing how to make basic recipes and adapting them to what’s in season is essential for a CSA member. Yes, there are individual recipes that I’ve found in different places (and some are in this book) that are worth following to the letter–but I’m never as satisfied as when I make up my own and use the great, fresh vegetables that I get in my CSA share. I’m in my 14th year at my CSA, and I still find new ways to use my share every week. Best,
Lori Stein