December 30th, 2008 by Margie

Dear Vegetable Husband Customer,

I hope you had a great week and enjoyed your basket.  We are saying good-by to 2008 and hello to an entirely new year.   I hope you have big plans for your clean slate.  My plan is to stay alive and get a little healthier everyday.

This week we are lucky enough to have more broccoli from Taylorganics Farm.  We also have beautiful rainbow chard from Full Moon Farm in Athens.  If you were planning to jump into a January diet, this basket will help.  There are no potatoes or other starchy vegetables this week—just pure green power!  Find the protein of your choice, whether that is a wonderful pot of beans or a nice grilled piece of fish, and enjoy the intense nourishment these dark greens will give us without the calories.

New Year’s Day is a traditional day to cook up a pot of greens so I have given you plenty of collards to do just that.  You will also find a few hot Thai peppers for those of you who like the heat added.  The recipe this week is definitely all about the New Year’s Day peas and greens for luck and money.  Unfortunately, black-eyed peas are not in season so we will have to rely on the dried ones from a market.  The superstition says that you need to eat as many greens as you can for money in the new year, and as many peas for luck in the new year.  I will be having peas, greens and cornbread for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Below is your list of goodies for this week:
Baby red romaine leaves
Mixed salad greens
Bok choy
Cilantro
Dried red Thai peppers
Collards
Dinosaur kale
Rainbow Chard
Broccoli flower & greens

Enjoy your bounty and please wash these greens and herbs well!  The farms still have no running water by the washing station so a little Georgia dirt is coming home with us.  Remember, if you have any questions, feel free to e-mail or call me.  I am always happy to talk FOOD!

Namaste,
Margie Thorpe