The Produce Box

This recipe is an oldie but a goodie from Chef Joe! I remember making it years ago when we had guests over and then it quickly became staple in our house. Love the OJ addition to the filling - gives a great kick! Thanks as always Joe! Chef Joe’s Apple Crisp Topping 1 cup flour 1 cup sugar 1⁄2 TSP cinnamon 1⁄8 TSP nutmeg 1⁄8 TSP salt 1⁄2 cup old fashioned oats 8 TBSP cold unsalted butter, cut in small pieces Filling 6 cups of apples, peeled, cored and sliced 1⁄4 inch thick 1⁄2 cup sugar 1 TBSP flour 3⁄4 TSPcinnamon 1⁄8 TSP salt Zest of 1 orange 2 TSP of orange juice Directions Combine ingredients for the topping in a food processor, pulse to combine.Mix until it starts to clump. Do not over mix. Combine all ingredients for the filling and place into a buttered 9x9 baking dish. Place topping over the filling and bake at 350 for 35 minutes. The juices should be bubbling and the crisp will be slightly browned.

GUEST POST from Neighborhood Coordinator Mary Brooks: Do you want to feel more alive, have more energy and feel less bloated? Many of us lead busy lives where we forget to feed our bodies properly.   When we rely on processed foods, manufactured foods and foods that rely on chemicals for taste, our bodies do not perform as well as they should. Signs that you may need a detox include headaches, poor sleep, low energy, weight gain, and even anxiety and depression. The best way to remedy this is with whole foods, especially organic, pesticide free leafy greens, vegetables and fruits.   The nutrients in fresh fruits and vegetables are the most bio-available to your body. While canned or frozen may be convenient, many enzymes and nutrients are altered. There is great benefit to eating what is in season, just picked and locally grown. You can rev up your metabolism and rid yourself from toxins using your Produce Box! Here are three quick recipes using local, whole ingredi...

1. Buy the whole vegetable When you buy whole vegetables instead of precut vegetables, it ensures that the roots, thus many nutrients, are still intact. Buying the whole vegetable also ensures freshness of the vegetable and that it’s likely been harvested more recently than cut vegetables. 2. Store properly Make sure you do not cut, shred or tear the vegetables before you store them. Keeping the plant together guarantees the nutrients stay together as well. For more information on storage, check out the back of your weekly newsletter from The Produce Box. 3. Cook the vegetable correctly Some vegetables require different cooking techniques. For instance, potatoes should not be eaten immediately after cooking. Carrots shouldn’t be cut before cooking.  And NO vegetable should be boiled if at all possible. Boiling a vegetable causes water soluble nutrients to leach out into the water. Unless you’re making soup, try to avoid boiling. 4. Eat all of the vegetable ...

Wanted to share a great recipe that was in our Vegetable Soup Boxes a few weeks ago and in our Harvest Box last week too. I made it for my family and they loved every drop. I know it's going to be a wet, cool weekend - perfect for this dish for dinner! Enjoy! TPB Recipe for Hearty Fall Vegetable Soup 4 T olive oil 1 cup diced onions 2 T finely minced garlic Kosher salt 1½ cups carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds (approximately 2 medium) ½ bunch kale, rough chopped 1½ cups sweet potatoes, peeled and diced   1½ cups corn, cut off the cob 1½ cups zucchini, diced 2 QT chicken or vegetable broth 1 cup tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped  1LB green beans, cut into 1" lengths ½ TSP ground black pepper 1 to 2 TSP lemon juice DIRECTIONS Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed stockpot over medium-low heat. Once hot, add the onions, garlic, and a pinch of salt. Sweat until they begin to soften, approximately 7-8 minutes. Add the carrots, k...

We recently caught up with Ranald Totten, a Produce Box member and a Neighborhood Coordinator in Wilmington for the last 5 years. Ranald also owns his own business and says that delivering member boxes for The Produce Box on Wednesdays breaks up his work week perfectly. He typically delivers 25 boxes a week, but has delivered as many as 49 in a single day! Ranald says he loves The Produce Box because he believes in our mission of helping North Carolina farmers and eating healthy. Ranald and his wife tried several different CSAs before finding The Produce Box and are grateful for our easy and fresh delivery service. In his five years with us, Ranald has witnessed many changes. He remembers when he could count TPB members in the hundreds, and now there are almost 10,000 all across the state! He has also seen a great improvement in our website, software and TPB trucks and the welcome introduction of add-on items for weekly orders and organic products at affordable rates. Ranald enjoy...