As a first-time CSA member, I’m learning about juggling my produce needs. We absolutely love the veggies and herbs that arrive in our CSA share (or rather half share, since we split with another couple), but there are other fresh ingredients that you just have to go to the store for. There are items we aren’t getting right now or aren’t getting a great deal of — onions, beans, tomatoes. Plus the seasonings, sauces, dry ingredients, meat and dairy products you can’t find in most farmers markets.

Therefore a lot of complex recipes that use my CSA produce require me to get in the car, go to the grocery and purchase more stuff, spending time, energy and gasoline. Sometimes it’s necessary and completely worth it. Other times, like Friday nights when we’re expecting company after dinner and I’m already baking a blueberry tart…

Hurray for the simple!

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With some golden beets I purchased from another vendor at the Colorado Farm and Art Market, Country Roots Farm — what can I say? We cannot get enough beets — I made an entire meal just from our CSA produce and a homemade dressing. A roasted beet and potato salad.

And it was delicious, the golden beets mellow and sweet and juicy, the baby potatoes adorable.

It was a total over-simplification of a recipe for Baby Greens with Roasted Beets and Potatoes. Come on! It called for nasturtium blossoms, microgreens and lovage. What? Plus it wanted both fresh chervil or dill and tarragon, which we didn’t receive this week and cost upwards of $2.00 per package at the grocery. But with only the roasted beets and potatoes, some green lettuce, and a dressing of white wine vinegar and dijon, we loved this and ate the entire recipe.

Never be afraid of experimenting and substituting or eliminating items from fancy recipes. Remember: The person who created the dish is just a cook with certain taste preferences, specific desires and a family to feed. They’re not infallible, nor is every recipe ideal for any kitchen. Pluck up your courage, take what you have, and try to make something you like. The feeling of joy and accomplishment you get when you make something special all by yourself — especially using nothing but your CSA goodies — is fantastic.