Eating locally in the summertime if you’re a CSA member and if you frequent farmer’s markets, often means opening the fridge, pulling out the veggies that should be used first, and then coming up with something to make. For our OLS meal this week (one day late, natch) I added another level of specificity: I only wanted the veggies that could be eaten either raw, or blanched in pasta water, which was as far as I was willing to go with the cooking.
And what we ended up with is an almost all-local pasta salad.
- Cucumbers, carrots, broccoli, green pepper, scallions, basil: The Community School, 8 miles
- Tomatoes, corn, red onions: Ledgewood Farm, 3 miles
- From away: salt, pepper, tortellini, dressing
The veggies were all chopped while the water was coming to a boil. Once it was boiling, I threw in the tortellini, and when they only had a few minutes to go, I threw in the broccoli. The pasta and broccoli were drained, rinsed in cool water then dried briefly on paper towels before being added to the veggies and tossed with dressing.
Bonus: at least two lunches for the week!
That looks so good I just might have to try it!
Wow. That is simply beautiful.
That is the prettiest pasta salad I have ever seen!
Hi Kim,
I was in NH for about 8 minutes yesterday! We were on our way from the NOFA Conference in MA to VT and took a side trip to pick up some raw milk at a farm in northern MA. Turned out that the best way to get where we were going in VT was to cut through a sliver of NH. I waved to you, wherever you are!
Ooops, forgot to tell you the farm, in case you’re interested! It’s called Chase Hill Farm and it’s in Warwick, MA. They have raw milk, cheeses, and grass-fed beef and veal and whey-fed pork. Entirely orgainic. (No, I am not affiliated with them in any way—just a fortuitous discovery of a traveler.) The milk is great.
More info at the NOFA MA site Dairy page:
NOFA MA Dairy
Back to my regularly scheduled vacation…
Hey, Sophie! Glad you could check out the Granite State. I’m sorry it was probably wet and cloudy, that seems to be our regular state of affairs around here these days.
Thanks for the info. on Chase Hill Farm. I’ll have to check it out if I’m in the area. Mmmmm..cheese!