July 9, 2023
Loving the Variety!
by Linda Dansbury

Wow! The variety is amazing, with every week now bringing a new surprise or two in the pick up room - this past week we were surprised with eggplant and celery.

Celery - hopefully you don't need a long term storage plan for celery, since farm grown celery is so delicious! Most sources say to wrap it tightly in aluminum foil, but I don't really like that approach. I typically wrap it in a paper towel and then in a tightly sealed plastic bag - that seems to work well. After it is cut, it is best stored submerged in water. Celery is a veggie that everyone is familiar with as part of the start of a stew or soup when combined with carrots and onion, or as a snack eaten with a dip or stuffed with peanut butter. There are other delicious ways to enjoy it, including a few recipes on this site. A couple of my favorites are Italian Celery and Mushroom Salad and Braised Celery.

Eggplant - this veggie offers some great health benefits: eggplant contains antioxidants like vitamins A and C, which help protect your cells against damage. It's also high in natural plant chemicals called polyphenols, which may help cells do a better job of processing sugar if you have diabetes. Eggplant does not store for long periods of time. The best temp to store eggplant is about 50 degrees - cooler than your home but warmer than the fridge. The best way we can store it is to wrap in a paper towel and place in a bag with the top left open. Place in fridge in crisper if it fits. Use within a few days. Eggplant can be enjoyed in many ways, from Eggplant Parmagiana (check out the lighter version on this site - no breading and frying) to Eggplant and Green Beans in a Spicy Garlic Sauce, to Eggplant Spread and so many more! I love grilling eggplant - the smokiness you get is so nice.