The week of August 18, 2008, we got sweet corn, beans, potatoes, cantalope, onion, peppers, herb, tomatoes and [ swiss chard or celery or beets ], boxes will vary – please don’t rummage!

I made a fresh tomato sauce this week.

• Chop onions, peppers and garlic and sautée in olive oil.
• Chop the roma tomatoes and basil in the blender and add them to the pan.
• Then add a tablespoon of Balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.
• Sautee it all for 25 minutes on low.
• Then let it sit for an hour before serving over baked chicken breasts.

Really good and it keeps well, refrigerated.

This week’s list looks like a great combo for a vegetable stew. Just add some cooked chicken or sausage for extra protein. Nice crust of bread and hunk of cheese. What more could you need?

Food for Thought

Advocacy opportunity – Please call your representatives and urge them to fund Sustainable Ag programs within the FY09 Appropriations bill. You can read more and take action here.

In Local Mix, the weekly ezine from Edible Chesapeake, they profile Heyser Farms, which is very near Sandy Spring on New Hampshire Avenue. Although not organic, they have great produce and a lovely farm store. I go there often for flowers, apple sauce and fruits.

Also check out Foodtrader. It is a website where you can post an inquiry about local food sources beyond the CSA. Besides fruits and veggies, it is good for meats, poultry, seafood, baked goods, etc. You post your request and their network answers.

The opposite way to this kind of inquiry is to go to Local Harvest and search out sources on your own. In both cases, you are being provided information only.

Erin