The Power of Greens

In addition to the delicious weekly recipes Chef Liz provides, she will also dig a little deeper on one culinary topic that helps us make the most of our CSA vegetables.  This month, she's talking about leafy greens!

​Usually the first thing that comes to mind for most of us when we think about greens is munching on a giant bowl of lettuce like a bunch of rabbits-which is totally cool, but greens are so much more than that. Kale, Swiss chard, spinach, mixed salad greens and mustard greens are all high in vitamins C, K and A, folic acid, iron, calcium, anti-inflammatory and cancer fighting properties. Plus, many root crops, like turnips, radish, and beets, are wonderful edible greens too!
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We have been getting so many beautiful and delicious greens from the farm and the variety makes for an exciting culinary adventure! Some may be new to you and some old favorites. There may be greens you prefer cooked and others raw. Below you’ll find five different ways you can enjoy your greens this season…

1. Green smoothies: Throw greens of your choice in a blender with frozen berries or fresh fruits and milk of your choice. Blend well. On hot days this is a great snack or a perfect, fast breakfast you can enjoy on the go.

2. Salads: Pick your greens or combine different kinds, give them a rough chop, toss in a large bowl, add other veggies of your choice and a dressing for a delicious salad. You can also add beans, quinoa or rice to your greens. The sky is the limit!

3. Wraps: Use large leaf greens like Swiss chard or kale to create wraps or stuff a wrap with greens, hummus and fresh veggies for a delicious, fresh lunch or dinner.

4. Stir fry: Sauté onion, garlic and greens together with a little rice wine vinegar for an easy and nutritious way to dress up any dish of rice or quinoa for dinner. I always add mushrooms and other vegetables like zucchini and bell peppers to my stir fry dishes.
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5. Kale chips: If you have a dehydrator you can toss kale with a small amount of olive oil and seasonings of your choice like cayenne pepper or curry powder and create kale chips. If you don't have a dehydrator you could use a conventional oven at a lower temperature. These are guilt free, power packed chips that everyone will be sure to enjoy!