Dinner Plans: Week 27

It’s Week 27 of Dinner Plans and we're soaking up all things summer fun!

Warm sunny days are increasing in abundance and so is all the yummy summer produce at the farmers market. With longer days and warmer weather, we're definitely soaking up all the best that California Wine Country has to offer in this season.

Seasonal Cooking Tip: Savoring the First Summer Squash

When it comes to seasonal cooking, this year I'm sharing a weekly tip here focused on preparing ingredients, preserving foods, and kitchen hacks that help you save time.

This week we’re talking about ways to enjoy the first summer squash. Heirloom courgettes like zucchini and crookneck squash become more and more prominent at the farmers market as the weeks roll on by. Our recent CSA boxes came with the first of summer squash and with the basil plant in our garden that is taking off, this seasonal pesto is a summertime favorite. Caramelizing thin slices of zucchini are also a perfect topping for pasta for a quick and delicious dinner that's ready in 20 minutes.

Dinner Plans for Week 27

We skipped the Riverdog Farm box this week in order to keep the balance of cooking through all the goodies. It's the last Spring CSA box for Stepping Stone Farm for the season and we'll have a one week break before the Summer CSA season kicks off. I'm excited to see all the summer produce grown here in Napa!

This week, the summer squash will be used in a one pot pasta that celebrates the early summer corn and tomatoes I've been eyeing at the Napa Farmers Market. New potatoes will be boiled quick then smashed for crispy potatoes drizzled with Koji Chili Oil and served with some grilled steak for a hearty mid-week meal. We've got a number of summertime salads on the menu that use up every bit of the box as we relish the season ahead.

Here’s what we received from our CSA share this week:

Stepping Stone Farm:

• Satina New Potatoes
• Petit Heirloom Courgettes
• Maxibel French Dwarf Beans
• Sugar Lode Pea Shoots
• Orange Fancy Carrots
• Boro Beets
• French Green Sorrel
• Koji Chili Oil from MicrosLife

Our Game Plan for Dinner this Week:

Sunday: Roast Carrot Tart in Puff Pastry

Monday: Salad Niçoise with Warm New Potatoes and Sorrel Vinaigrette

Tuesday: Roast Beet Salad with French Style Feta and Toasted Walnuts

Wednesday: One Pot Orzo with Tomato, Corn, and Zucchini

Thursday: Roast Salmon with Sorrel Butter and French Dwarf Beans

Friday: Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Chili Crisp

Saturday: Pizza with Early Summer Squash, Zucchini Basil Pesto and Burrata

From favorite recipes to new meal ideas using a wide variety of ingredients, cooking delicious food with our CSA definitely gets us out of a dinner rut while reducing food waste. I share meal ideas for our busy weeks with our weekly newsletter. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to be in the know when they’re live. 😉