Our boxes this week - 12th August 2013

The first sweetcorn of the year is always greeted enthusiastically at the farm with this years crop benefitting from favourable growing conditions. Modern super sweet varieties store for longer before their natural sugars turn to starch and are a real flavour of late Summer. BBQ’d, steamed, boiled or raw they should in my opinion be savored as much as Asparagus while their season lasts. Canned or vacuum packed corn really is no replacement for the real thing coated in butter, salt and pepper or eaten like the Mexicans do with a twist of Lime and chilli. While the season lasts the Sweetcorn will appear in a variety of boxes and also be available as an extra to add to your order with two cobs costing £2.40. The luscious Cavelonero or Italian Black Strap Kale is another crop that has thrived this year alongside the other Kale. Its soft dark green leaves are more akin to Savoy Cabbage leaf than the curly varieties of Kale and can be treated in much the same way. Try blanching whole leaves in boiling water for a few minutes before removing, finely cutting and adding to a frying pan with olive oil, some finely sliced garlic, a pinch of chilli, salt and pepper and squeeze of lemon juice. Finish with a little cream if you like and serve as a side or combined with tagliatelle and grated hard cheese. Whilst its season is available bags of field Cavelonero will also be available as an extra through the website for £1.50 a pack. Laurence Guy – Box Scheme Manager