The first delivery from our CSA (community supported agriculture) arrived yesterday afternoon. I was giddy as I opened the box of kale, Swiss chard, radishes, pac choy, arugula, butterhead lettuce, green onions, and garlic scapes. As I prepared the Swiss chard for inclusion in a Provençal Caramelized Onion and Greens Tart (from New Vegetarian by Robin Asbell), I could not help but think of Hare's methods of tricking Bear in Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens. I love reading that story aloud. I can even do a fairly good Bear voice. Children love so many things about that book: Bear's laziness, the way the book opens like a calendar, the repetition, the clothing, and of course, Hare's ingenious way of getting more vegetables for his family and for sale.Take a break from sorting out tops and bottoms of produce this summer and revisit that 1996 Caldecott Honor Book. And try that recipe as well. It was a keeper in our collection. For more information about CSAs, visit the website for ours: www.crazyboyfarm.com.
my mouth is watering just imagining that tart!
ReplyDeleteThat list of vegetables is beautiful sounding...so mysterious and magical to someone who is unfamiliar with those varieties!
ReplyDeleteWe should have invited you for dinner, David. Tonight's kale and three cheese calzones were superb...though I didn't tell the older two what they were eating till they went back for seconds.
ReplyDeleteThat would be exciting to me, too, opening that box of local presents.
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