Veggies on demand (aka - our CSA box)

I love cooking (obviously), but lately I've had a hard time getting my act together. Our pantry is extremely well stocked with canned and dried goods, but we are usually lacking in vegetables.

Solution - subscribing to a CSA box. I checked out the site Local Harvest and entered my zip code. There was only one option that would work for me (I don't drive to work, so I'm pretty limited on the pick up locations I can reasonably use) so I'm now subscribing to the South Central Farmer's Cooperative. Until recently, they were located right here in LA, but they were forced to relocate to Bakersfield. So, not exactly local, but still better than some of the alternatives (and only $15 a week).

It's such a fun approach to veggies, because we'll get to try new things and I won't have to do too much shopping. I'm planning to make a quick trip to the store each week for basics like milk and eggs, but we'll eat out of the box as much as possible.

Last week we got: baby red potatoes, red onions, kale, lettuce, tomatoes, summer squash (zucchini, yellow zucchini and patty pan squash), beets, and carrots. Perfect for my favorite penne recipe, and I'm itching to try this salad, this torte and this orzo.

No CSA near you? Want veggies delivered straight to your door? You could take green LA girl's suggestion and try ParadiseO. Type in your zipcode on the main page to see if they deliver to your area. I was seriously considering this option, but the delivery day in my area is Sunday, and I'm frequently out of town on the weekends.