Spring CSA with Delvin Farms

Delvin farms is one of the few farms to have a spring CSA, which runs April through May. I have been the lucky recipient of their spring CSA, which I picked up every Saturday at the West End Farmers Market, which has now morphed into the Richland Farmers Market.  While it was not filled with heirloom tomatoes or peaches and cream corn, it signaled Spring and a bounty of dishes appropriate for warm days, cool nights and …rain. Foods that lend themselves to heartier dishes with longer prep times, for days with the windows slung open and the breezes wafting through the house, before it’s too hot to turn on the oven.

Sweet potatoes, kale, chard, onions, asparagus,and strawberries came in my box early, and found their way into a Spring Greens Phyllo pie, where bundles of greens are cooked down to a fraction of themselves, then piled into a crunchy, buttery phyllo crust accented with goat cheese. Green onions and garlic are whirled into a bright green pesto, tossed on pasta, pizza and a turkey sandwich. Strawberries were macerated in cream for ice cream, and sweet potatoes land in a cheddar filled gratin. But the biggest surprise was the jar of Tomato Juice Cocktail that was made from last year’s tomato harvest. To have the bright real tomato flavor in May was big. I added shrimp for a light, flavorful Gazpacho with Shrimp and Avocado. Spring has sprung. Enjoy.

Cindy Delvin shares a farmer’s insights on their spring harvest at delvinfarms.com, where you will also find Mint Pesto Strawberry Salad and Watercress Salad with Oranges, Cucumber and Pomegranate.