With flushed cheeks, cold hands and warm hearts we bring to you this thanksgiving share of veggies that is truly a winter share. With temperatures in the mid 20's for the past few days, it is a challenge(to say the least)to time these boxes correctly. Remember, the hoophouses are not heated. If the outside temps are as cold as they have been, it is frozen in there(but still alive, like a fridge). So we waited for an afternoon break in the clouds yesterday to head in and cut lovely fresh spinach, lettuce and a mix of Chinese cooking greens. I must admit, it still gives Jon and I a complete rush to be harvesting alive, gorgeous greens for you while a blizzard blows outside! When we were in the hoophouse yesterday afternoon and early evening(with headlamps!) the wind was so powerful, it felt almost like being in a rocking ship alight on the wavy ocean. We still are humbled by the magic that blooms within these spaces and feel lucky and full of gratitude that our work involves bringing greens and other veggies to you in the throws of a winter storm. Also, we love to imagine all of the good family meals that are possible within your boxes. Your thanksgiving box includes: 5# of yellow onions, shallots, garlic, 5# butterball potatoes, rutabaga, celery root, beets, green cabbage, a confection winter squash(grey color), 2 pie pumpkins(see recipe below), 2 delicata winter squash, 2 leeks, a bag of sage, thyme and rosemary and for greens there is spinach, lettuce mix and some Chinese cooking greens(open bag).If you feel confused about what's a rutabaga and what's a celeriac, just sniff. Rutabaga smells like broccoli, celeriac like celery.

Two weeks ago, we decided after dropping off some veggies for oryana, to price out what the value of your last box was(if you'd gone to oryana and bought either the same veggie or as close an equivalent as was available; no local greens, so price comparing greens from California) just because we were curious. You've paid $50/winter share , so we wanted to make sure that you were getting a fair market value. We were pleasantly surprised to learn that the value of your box, at oryana, was $89.50. And then, how do you place a dollar value on eating fresh alive food grown in your region, by people you know and trust? Just an FYI.

Here's ella's famous pumpkin pie recipe! Give it a try. The pie pumpkins in your box are sooooo sweet and the seeds are perfect for roasting. Cut pumpkins in half, scoop out seeds and strings, bake upside down on cookie sheet until soft at 350. You'll need 2 c. pumpkin for a pie. We found that 2 medium pumpkins yielded more than 2 c. Let pumpkin cool, then blend in food processor with 1 ½ c. evaporated milk(oryana has a canned organic), ¼ c. brown sugar, 1/3 c. white sugar(or unbleached organic), ½ tsp salt, 1 ½ tsp cinnamon, ¾ tsp ginger, ½ tsp nutmeg, 1/8 tsp cloves and 2 slightly beaten eggs. Pour into prepared pie crust and bake for 15 minutes at 425, then around 45 minutes longer at 350 until set in middle and a knife inserted comes out clean. Here's our pie crust recipe too, it makes 2 crusts. -2 ½ c. unbleached flour -1 TBL salt -1 TBL sugar

-16 TBL cold unsalted butter cut into ½" cubes-3 TBL sour cream-1/3 c. ice water, more if needed

In food processor, mix flour, salt and sugar together, then add butter and pulse into the size of large peas, about 10 quick pulses. Using fork, mix sour cream and 1/3 c. ice water in small bowl until combined. Add half mix to flour and pulse adding liquid until dough just comes together into a ball but isn't too wet. Turn dough onto counter and divide in 2, wrap each disk in plastic and refrigerate until firm but not hard before rolling out.

Have a wonderful thanksgiving with family and friends. Next boxes will be in two weeks, on December 5^th. Love, the meadowlarks

This page last updated on 1/20/2012.

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