Cilantro

Funny story, an aunt of mine runs a trucking company out of Iowa.   For some reason an entire semi load of cilantro ended up in her possession as unclaimed freight.  “Now what could one possibly do with all that cilantro…it’s just for salsa right?” my auntie asks. No no no auntie there are endless ways to use cilantro…

 Cilantro is used around the world as a fresh herb to flavor all sorts of soups, salads, pastas and meat dishes.  It is often made into sauces that have extraordinary flavor that can be drizzled onto anything from tacos, yogurts, soft cheeses, rice, beans, lentils, to your morning eggs! Check out the link below! It’s a rabbit hole of over 100 ways to use cilantro!  

 If your still thinking about that ENTIRE SEMI FULL OF WASTED CILANTRO know that the thing you and I got going on right now… our small farmer/ CSA member relationship is one of the strongest antidotes to that situation.  For one there’s no trucking industry or long highways between us.  Everything we grow is distributed by us within five miles from the farm.  A lot of you even walk or bike to pick up directly at the farm!  Furthermore, I grow directly for my customers needs and we work together building a food culture to consume our farm’s produce. Because of the community we create very little goes to waste. The little we do not consume gets composted, and it gives back to the farm!

 91 amazing ways to use cilantro!

Lovage

I love lovage! I freaking love it!  I have been proselytizing about lovage for a long time and have maybe only won over just couple of folks!  Loveage is a very potently flavored perennial version of celery. It’s an abundant plant that will form beautiful hedges that can grow up to six feet tall.  The plant’s abundance is what makes it miss leading because its' flavor is so potent a few leaves is all you ever need in a dish! Even with my love of loveage I probably only use a few handfuls of it each year.  

 Used sparingly this herb can be quite delightful!  My favorite thing to do with it is to make loveage lemonade!  In fact it does well with all sorts of lemony flavors. A touch of lovage and lemon can spruce up a potato salad, or go excellent with a chicken or fish bake!  Lovage is also an old fashioned ingredient to potato soup!

 Pro tip: Lovage grows in thin hollow stems that make awesome edible straws for tomato juice, lemonade, or bloody Marrys. There is a hedge of lovage just outside the gate at our farm’s main site and you are welcome to pick your own!

 Potato Salad With Lovage

Potato Pancakes with Lovage Puree and Kale Cabbage Slaw! Add prawns to make it a fancy Brunch!

Curried Goat with Lovage Tomato Sauce

Old Fashion Lovage Potato Soup

Lovage Lemonade

Lovage Lemon Chicken

Arugula

Arugula is the most popular pizza topping among millennials.  I know it seems like I just made up that fact… but it’s probably true!  Baby arugula has a mild nutty/ peppery flavor.  Overgrown/ mature arugula (also known as rocket) can pack an exciting punch!  Beyond being the most smashing pizza topping of the decade, arugula makes for an awesome salad green, it wilts into broth giving soup a touch or greenery, goes well with all sorts of eggy things, and can be served a couple different ways with pasta. Arugula makes a very flavorful pesto that can be used in pastas, lasagna, or in covering roasted veggies! 

Pro tip: If you’re are a fan of more flavorful arugula you might not find overgrown arugula at a farmer’s market (lets face it, we live in the Midwest and spicy just doesn’t sell) but you can keep an eye out for holey arugula instead.  Holey arugula shows up often on the local organic farming scene, flea beetles can’t resist munching in it, and unless the farmer goes through the trouble of covering their arugula beds with row cover it’s just going to holey.  The good news is that the flavor that makes arugula so popular is actually what the plant uses to repel pests. If it’s been munched on by pests, arugula tastes better!  

31 Ways to Eat Arugula All the Time Without Getting Sick of It!