What to do when they bring you kale

As previously written here, I signed us up to receive bi-weekly deliveries of fresh produce from Terra Organics. Originally we were receiving the large mixed box, but to make a smaller carbon foot print I switched us to the Pacific Northwest box. It’s a little bit smaller and less costly and best of all it is local. Even though it doesn’t meet all the produce for a family of six, we enjoy finding ways to use the fruit and vegetables that come in the box and augment it with purchases from our local produce stand, Patterson’s here in Gig Harbor.

Each week Terra Organics sends an email listing what will be in the week’s box. I wasn’t looking or I might have changed our order before it came! Oh no, not kale! If you’d like to know what I did about the dreaded kale, click here.

How will you stimulate the economy?

After talking about it for a couple of years today I signed up to get fresh organic produce delivered to our house by Terra Organics of Tacoma. Now why in the heck would I do that in the midst of an economic crisis? It’s my form of economic stimulus. Yesterday I received my letter from the Social Security Administration informing me of my one time payment as part of the “American Recovery Act” (it was nice to have good news from SSA for once). Since I am not in want of a television or stereo and the amount is not enough to go to Europe or anything like that, what better way to stimulate the economy than by giving my recovery money to local farmers, something I like to do in good times, too? The produce will be fresher and it’s one less thing to think about when I’m shopping for our large family.

How will you use your recovery money?

Halibut Plus Terra Organics Salsa Recipe Is Bliss

A short time ago I did a post on the local Tacoma based organic produce delivery service, Terra Organics (click HERE to see my original post). In each delivery box, Terra Organics provides a fact sheet on environmental tips and some recipes to try. The recipes incorporate the produce you received in that delivery.

We tried our first recipe last night from our box and it was amazing and simple. Here is the recipe for Avocado Mango Salsa, courtesy of Terra Organics:

1 avocado--peeled, pitted, and diced
1 lime, juiced
1 mango--peeled, seeded, and diced
1 small red onion, chopped
1 habanero pepper, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
salt to taste

Place the avocado in a serving bowl and mix with the lime juice. Mix in the mango, onion, habanero pepper, cilantro, and salt.

Done!

This would be a great salsa for many dishes (or just as a salsa with chips). However, we paired the salsa with fresh halibut grilled in a light preparation. We placed the halibut on a bed of white beans and topped the fish with this salsa. It was delicious, flavorful, healthy, and filling (and just the right amount of heat, spice wise for us). We think other fish would be a winner with this idea (e.g. ahi tuna, mahi mahi, tilapia, and so on).

Thanks Terra Organics for the great produce and recipe to try!

More to come!