Once a fortnight we have a vegetable box delivery from a local farm. All of the produce is locally grown and seasonal. It has never made sense to me to be buying food out of season that has been flown sometimes thousands of miles, to hit our tables with its inferior quality. High cost to our pocket and high cost to the environment. I am not preaching. We all do what we can. There is a fair amount of 'junk' consumed in this house but we try to balance it out to make sure we eat a wide variety of natural foods. I also think it is important to support smaller local businesses that are being pushed out and stifled by the 'Global Giants'.
Win win, we get great food and 'vegetable box delivery day' causes much excitement. To get children excited about growing and eating vegetables is quite an achievement. The youngest has loved the 'Rainbow Chard', I am not sure if the bright colour is the attraction. It steams super quick, is lovely and tender and a vitamin powerhouse.
This weeks box contained:
Leeks
Potatoes
Mushrooms
An enormous cauliflower
An enormous Savoy cabbage
Very muddy carrots
Very muddy parsnips
Swiss Chard
Two very cute Butternut Squash
Onions
Cavolo Nero
Broccoli
I made a quick soup with the Butternut Squash and some carrots so it was ready for an after school snack. The whole pot of soup was gone within half an hour. The weather has turned, it has been a bit of a shock it has been cold, wet and windy, perfect soup weather.
Butternut and Carrot Soup
Some Butternut (I used two little cute ones, I would have happily used a big one)
Some Muddy Carrots (I used two, washed and peeled)
some onion (I used one small one)
A stick of celery (I used it because I had it)
One vegetable stock cube
salt/pepper
herbs if you fancy
Some water ( I think the amount of water depends on what you fancy)
I might fry all of the vegetables slowly first, or I might just chuck it all in the slow pot, when it is cooked I whizz it with the hand blender.
This is an interesting Blog Post here; 5 Reasons I choose to spend more on my groceries.
