This week’s box contained butternut squash and what might be the last of the sweet corn—a fitting metaphor for the ending of summer and the beginning of fall. And, I decided to put them together for a meal of butternut squash and carrot soup with corn salad on the side. The corn salad was the epitome of summer flavors with crisp, raw corn kernels, sliced radishes, cilantro, lime, green onions, and jalapeños.
Butternut squash soup (with crispy bacon on top) and corn salad
In the fall, butternut squash soup is a staple for me. I like it with bacon, with apple, or with toasted pumpkin seeds on top. This particular recipe used garlic, caraway seeds, squash, carrots, one apple, and a little vinegar. I liked it a lot and will make it again in the future. If you’re interested, here are a couple more of my favorite squash soup recipes: Savory Pumpkin Pie Soup with Cinnamon Marshmallows, Pepita Streusel, and Whipped Creme Fraîche and Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, an easy, tasty soup that eliminates the annoying step of peeling the squash.
The pumpkin soup is a crowd-pleaser, and it’s great to bring to potlucks. If you decide to make it, don’t think about leaving out one of the toppings. They’re easy and turn a standard soup into something fun. I’ve also made the streusel with rice flour for a party that included a gluten-free friend, and it turned out great.
The box also contained rapini, German Butterball potatoes, radishes, Italian garlic, orange and red sweet mini peppers, and mixed cherry tomatoes.
According to the farmers at Nichols Farm, during the fall, the rapini has fewer flowers and is more leafy. I used it along with diced cherry tomatoes to make a penne pasta dish. And the small sweet peppers were fabulous in a pepper and onion salad.
Leafy rapini
As the season progresses, I find it easier to use the produce in the box. The first few boxes have a lot of greens and vegetables that are better if they are used quickly. Now, I’m receiving more squash, potatoes, and other root crops. They keep a little longer, so there is less of a rush to use everything.
Next week will be fun. I have an an enormous sugar beet and tiny pumpkins.