Category Archives: CSA Box

What’s in the Box

Today I skipped down to the gate guard to pick up our last package, before we decide to renew again or not. Part of me was really sad that this was the end of our first run that we tried with the CSA. Okay, maybe all of me was sad…that being said, we’ve got to renew!

The CSA box contents changed and restructured a bit from the past boxes we’ve received. We knew it was coming, WWOOF made sure they let all box recipients last week know, as well as it being emailed and posted on social outlets. Now instead of getting breads and snacks in your box, WWOOF is focusing more on the emphasis of the produce. More green for your green! If you still want to get the breads and snacks, they are add on items. In addition to that there are also going to be more add-on items in the future as well. Talk of organic meats, jams, etc. How awesome is that?

This week we got our standard delicious strawberries, eggs (two unfortunate little guys didn’t make it and were cracked and oozing on the others), potatoes, sweet potatoes, a carrot, spinach, mallow, assorted salad vegetables, perilla leaves, and an onion. Then there was the show stopper, its last but certainly not least and is a new item, bean sprouts!

Let’s talk about the bean sprouts shall we? Bean Sprouts are a powerhouse of nutrients! You get vitamins B, C, B1, B6, K and A all from that teeny little bean sprout. Plus, sprouts are a wonderful source of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and manganese, and omega 3 fatty acids. Whew! See, powerhouse! Low on energy? Forget that power bar or shake, reach for some sprouts! The sprouts help by giving our bodies a great source of enzymes that increase our overall energy.

I’m not even close to being done with the topic of these bean sprouts. Did you know that these sprouts help prevent cancer, heart attack or stroke, osteoporosis, boost fertility, are great for skin, help aid in losing weight and acne and prevent menstrual disorders and menopause.

Before coming to South Korea, I cannot say that we honestly ever ate bean sprouts. Now that Korean culture and eating habits have rocked our world, we couldn’t imagine a future without them. Almost any Korean restaurant serves bean sprouts often in a sauce or accompanying meat. They are a perfect side addition to a meal, on a salad, or even in soup.

What are you waiting for? Go out and grab some organic bean sprouts NOW!

Backpackbees

What’s In The Box?

One of the best parts about our weekly CSA box is the excitement that surrounds opening it and not knowing quite what to expect. Each week the contents change slightly with whatever the harvest seasons is offering. We wonder what little surprises will there be? Are there going to be unrecognizable items that we need to do a little research on? Endless questions and anticipation answered every Tuesday afternoon when we make our way down to our gate guard building to pick the box up.

Take last week for example, we received mallow greens. What in the world? This was a green that was not familiar to us. I am curious, is it a green you are familiar with? The younger leaves and shoots of the green contain vitamins A, B1, B2, C and can be enjoyed raw like adding to salads or cooked. We ended up sautéing the greens with our organic garlic that also was included in the CSA box. Nice pairing slightly bitter and the taste reminding us of spinach.

This week we received crown daisy. Another new green to Mr. B and I. Are you familiar with this green? In doing research I was able to find that crown daisy, often called “ssukgat” in Korean, is an edible chrysanthemum. Who knew! I was really surprised to see how much power is packed in these little greens, it helps prevent insomnia, it’s rich in iron to prevent anemia, it may help reduce the risk of strokes, rich in carotenoid antioxidants and promotes digestion. Whew! I was pretty pumped so I continued researching to see what recipes we might be able to use the greens in. My ending results surrounds soups, Korean pancakes, stir fry and noodle dishes. I will keep you posted on the taste once we decide how we will use it.

I’ve included the rest of the contents in the box via photos below to share with you all. Doesn’t it all look so delicious?

These days I am really striving to live by the advice of Julia Child. Eventually I want to get my hands on her Mastering the Art of French Cooking cookbook. “This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook- try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun!” ― Julia Child, My Life in France

In other food news….

Costco dumping $2.6m of peanut butter in New Mexico landfill. Read more here.

“Hunger makes animals alert and irritable, which explains why couples always fight about where to eat dinner.” Now this explains a lot…. Read more here.

Is drinking Coca-Cola really worth it? You might want to read this before reaching for another cold on.

What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear them!

Backpackbees