One of the pleasures of CSA membership is receiving produce that we would never choose for ourselves. It forces us to learn how to cook and eat different things. Somethings we agree we wouldn't choose to purchase again, but some things have become favorites. My current favorite CSA vegetable is kale. We will be seeding kale in our garden this weekend because I love it so much. It is super high in vitamins K, A, and C, low in calories, and contains organosulpher phytonutrients, substances believed to prevent cancer. It is so sweet that Lil calls it 'rabbit food' and can be convinced to eat it raw.
Sometimes we throw kale in a salad or soup. It is delicious sauteed just to wilting with a little olive oil or butter.
Tonight I tried baked kale thanks to recommendations from friends. I removed the leaves from the stems (saving stems in freezer for veggie stock) and washed them. Then I drizzled a cookie sheet with olive oil, laid the kale in one layer, put a bit more olive oil on top and sprinkled with salt and pepper. I baked at 250 deg for a about 20 minutes.
The result is a sweet crispy chip. We ate it with dinner and are finishing off the leftovers right now. Yum!
What is your favorite CSA discovery? How do you love to prepare it?