Lettuce-
Lettuces come in various shades of green and sometimes dark red color as well. Head lettuce is crisp and light green on the outside, fading to yellowish and white in the center. Leaf lettuce is loose, curly with long broad leaves.
Be sure your lettuce is swished in cold water to remove any dirt. You want to dry your lettuce with a towel or use a salad spinner to remove excess liquid. Tear the lettuce into pieces and serve.
Lettuce comes in an extensive amount of varieties that vary in flavor (around 100 different varieties), texture and color. Most head lettuces and leaf lettuces have a mild flavor.
Lettuces are best stored in produce bags in the veggie drawer of your fridge. Do not wash them until you are ready to use them or they will wilt (unless Springdell lettuce-see the next paragraph), but you can wrap them in a moist paper towel. Most lettuces only last a day or two so buy only what you need and use immediately.
From Farmer Jamie at Springdell – “Our leafy greens are never sprayed with any “smart fresh” or preservatives so they require a little different handling than some of their siblings you may have come across in the past.
Knowing how to properly store and preserve the items in your farm share will allow you to make the most out of your share and your investment. Take advantage of the simple and helpful tips that we pass along with the arrival of new crops and you will make sure no veggie goes to waste!
1. De-stem or de-vein and wash when you get your share home
2. Let drip-dry for a few minutes in your strainer or on your counter top.
3. Lay each leaf out and stack
4. Carefully place in a damp paper towel and place in a large zip-lock bag
5. Store in your fridge until you are ready to use.
Your greens will last 5-7 days if properly stored this way!
Vitamins A (dark green lettuces), K, various antioxidants (Dark green lettuces)
Whenever fresh lettuce is on-hand, lettuce wraps are a great way to enjoy it! Leave the prepared lettuce leaves on the table with an assortment of fillings, and watch things disappear! Stir fry some hearty mushrooms, beef, or other protein to make it a main course.
Another recipe from the road. Though the ingredients are all flexible in this recipe (just the way we like them so you can work with your seasonal veggies) Sarah’s chili lime seasoning is a great one for whatever veggies and meats you choose to include. As always, work with the season and have fun making it your own!
This one is very flexible in terms of seasonal ingredients. Shredded cheese and tortillas, maybe some sour cream and salsa and you’re good to go! Leave the chicken out for a vegetarian option, and use GF corn tortillas for a gluten-free option.
