The “Show”- Springdell Winter Share Pickup #8 4

Here we are again, another day covered in snow and more is falling.  Today, like a ray of sunshine piercing through the winter doldrums came Springdell Winter Share Box #8.  Bursting with vibrant colors and flavor, this share box will be sure to keep us busy and fill us with hopes that springtime really will be coming.

The Springdell Show and Tell proudly presents the 8th Springdell Farms Winter Share box of the season, which consisted of:

• 2 1/2 gallons of skim milk from High Lawn Farm, Lee, MA (Sarah got 1 qt half & half and 1 1/2 gallon low fat milk)
• 12 oz. of Cafe Jose Fair Trade Coffee
• 1 dozen eggs
• 6 red beets (Sarah got 5)
• 5 sweet potatoes
• 1 bag of bean sprouts
• 1 package of ground beef (about 2 pounds)
• 8 onions
• 6 grapefruit, (2 varieties, from a Florida producer)
• 6 oranges
• 1 bag of shiitake mushrooms
• 5 rainbow carrots (Sarah got 8)

As soon as I (Jess) got home, the carrots went into my DIY root cellar, the beets were rinsed, drizzled in olive oil and sprinkled with kosher salt, wrapped in foil and roasted at 375 until fork tender (until I tackled some of the moat on my roof).

Two (edit- make that three) of the oranges were devoured by my boys and I dug into one of the grapefruits with a cup of hot mint cocoa.  It gave me the idea to thaw a cube of my mint simple syrup from last season’s CSA herb garden.  I drizzled it on the grapefruit, which added a cool and fresh layer of deliciousness.  I’ll definitely post about mint simple syrup when the season rolls around again.

At the farmstand today, Jamie was telling me about how one of the varieties had a thick pith or inner peel, much like a pomelo.  The center is so delectably sweet with very little of that bitterness that has been known to scare some people away from traditional grapefruit.  

I’m setting aside the citrus peels in a bag in the fridge.  Save yours too, and we can try to candy them together in Wednesday’s post.  

While I’m at it, I wanted to “show” the Springdell Meat share for the month as well.  As I had shared on a previous post, I receive the small (10 pound) Springdell Meat Subscription every other month.  This month’s share consisted of bacon, 2 packages of Delmonico steaks, ground beef, hamburg patties, a beef top round roast, pork breakfast sausage, and to keep it interesting, a beef ox-tail.  It’s a culinary adventure waiting to happen, and Sarah and I are so happy for a chance to share in the journey with you!