September 30, 2009: This week’s featured fruits and vegetables are: Fresh picked celery, eggplant, a winter squash (either butternut, buttercup, or kabocha), green or yellow string beans, broccoli, sweet potatoes, fresh apples, and fresh onions.

ANNOUNCEMENT: This is the last pickup for the Spring/Summer CSA season. Please return all your boxes! If you are joining us for the Fall CSA, you should have already received your informational email. If you are not joining us for Fall and want to come back for the Spring/Summer 2010 season, please check the website at JOIN by early December. Your money will be due in January. Thanks for supporting healthy, local food!

Recipes: Broccoli and Friends

Here are some fun new recipes for broccoli that also feature other vegetables from this week’s box.

Broccoli and sweet potatoes make a tasty combination. For side dishes, try Broccoli and Sweet Potato Salad, or Sweet Potatoes Stuffed with Broccoli and Feta. For main dishes, Salmon, Sweet Potato and Broccoli Chowder and Sweet Potato and Broccoli Shepherd’s Pie both sound like satisfying complements to the cooler fall weather.

Broccoli and eggplant also work well together. In the world of pasta, Fettucini with Roasted Eggplant and Broccoli and Broccoli Eggplant Ravioli each look delicious.

Or in the world of curry, try India Eggplant Stir Fry for an Indian version, or Butternut Squash Curry for a Thai version.

Food For Thought:

There will be plenty of organic gardens on display this weekend, during the 19th annual DC Metro Area Solar Homes Tour on October 3 and 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Over sixty solar-powered homes will highlight a variety of passive design, technology and sustainable living concepts, including photovoltaic and solar hot water systems, radiant heat, energy-efficient appliances, and energy-saving building construction techniques. Additional homes can be viewed in our Takoma Park Green Homes “tour within a tour.” Many homeowners also will be demonstrating their energy and water conservation measures, recycling and composting procedures, and their fuel-efficient or alternative energy vehicles. Also, a self-guided bike tour is planned for some homes in Frederick and Washington Counties.

The tour guide can be downloaded for free here or purchased for a tax-deductible $5 from participating outlets, such as all local REI stores.