CSA & Market Report for June 2nd

Each week, I document what I received in my CSA box (for a description, click here) and what I bought at the farmer's markets.  You can click here to see a list of reports for the past few years.

It was meltingly hot today.  Really, really hot, it seemed, for June 2nd.  We need rain.  Farmer Chef John of Elizabeth Telling Farm referred to their part of Ohio (eastern) as a dustbowl.  Fortunately, my laziness has prevented me from actually planting anything this year (Most of my herbs survived our mild winter) so far, so at least I don't have to waste water by watering the garden.  Speaking of which, have any of you dear readers tried one of those rain barrels?  Husband and I are thinking about using one for our small yard and garden to collect rainwater for watering to save on the old water bill. 

At any rate, this week's CSA included something very exciting, which I have always wanted to try and never have - stinging nettles!  Once upon a time, I hiked through stinging nettles for a few miles on the Appalachian trail.  It wasn't fun, and I was incredulous when my guide suggested they were actually quite delicious.  So, thanks to Sandy and John for braving the woods and the stinging just for us.  This week's box also contained 1/2 dozen eggs, a bunch of radishes, a bunch of spinach and some leafy greens.

I bought some new Ohio cheese, from Lake Erie Creamery - a goats milk "blomma" (brie style) and a typical soft chevre:

I also bought strawberries and asparagus from Wishwell Farms, more strawberries from Rhoades farms, and some escarole from Toad Hill Organics.  From Toby Run Growers, I bought my weekly dose of shitake mushrooms and these impossibly beautiful pink oyster mushrooms:

A light marketing day - it was hot, did I mention? 

I also had a chance to meet a few fellow food bloggers - Lorence, Rosie and Dave!  It was very fun to get to know them a little and see a few kiddos to boot.

Every Saturday, I buy Husband a plain (butter) croissant from Omega Bakery in the North Market.  Alas, today they were out, so I decided on the oft-recommended ham and cheese croissant - pictured above - (ham from Blues Creek Farms).  He allowed me one tiny bite and I can attest to its deliciousness.  I wished I would have bought one for myself.  Instead I went home and made this:

Pieroges from Krystyna's, tossed with bacon, spring onions, Toby Run shitake mushrooms, and the bag of "wild things" from last week's market, all topped with my favorite secret substitute - Greek 2% yogurt - instead of the typical sour cream.