Aloha everyone!  Are you staying cool in this hot weather?  We hope you have been in the shade or the water to cool off over the last few days.  And since it was just recently a full moon, if you haven’t been in the water or out for a cool evening walk, take that opportunity!

This week we’ve got a bag full of summer’s bounty–the late rains and plenty of sunshine have given us a bumper crop of good local produce.  You’ll be receiving round eggplant and swiss chard from Ho Farms, cherry tomatoes, bush beans, and radishes from Pacific Gateway farmers in Kunia Ag Park, fresh crisp lettuce from 808 Farm Fresh in Waimanalo, beautiful baby pak choy from Green Growers, and 2 lilikoi from Uluwehi Farms in Pupukea.  So much healthy goodness…here’s our suggestions on how to turn that produce into some wonderful meals and salads.

Roasted Eggplant and Garlic Salad with Tomatoes   This is a side dish you can make ahead of time.  It goes well with grilled foods too.

Easy Dill Beans   This is really simple and since the weather’s been so hot, you may as well enjoy something tart and refreshing!  Have these with an egg salad sandwich or some grilled chicken!

Sometimes when it’s hot out you don’t have a very big appetite.  This  Swiss Chard and Rice Soup  would be a great light meal at any time.

Tip:  Store your lilikoi in the fridge.  If they are ripe and left at room temp they may spoil quickly!   You can spoon the pulp into a blender and then strain if needed to remove the seeds.  Add the juice to a smoothie, water, club soda, or even add in vodka.

Bok Choy Chicken   Easy, pretty, & delicious!

 

Aloha Oahu Fresh Members!  This is a week full of great things and your bag is no exception!  First, you’ll be receiving lovely tomatoes from Green Growers, collard greens from Ho Farms, japanese cucumbers from Pacific Gateway farmers, organic mixed keiki greens and organic plantains (NOT bananas!) from Kahumana Farm, and an avocado and 2 Tahitian limes from Uluwehi Farms (Kama`aina Land and Plant Rentals).  We’re so happy to have the opportunity to buy fruit from Tina and Bernie again.  And more good news–Bernie will be showing his art at the Haleiwa Arts Festival this weekend!  If you’re around North Shore, stop by and say aloha.  Also this week, Hawaii Conservation Conference is going on Wednesday & Thursday at the Convention Center.

Finally there’s a great fundraiser happening Thursday through Sunday for GreenWheel Food Hub at R/D in Kaka`ako.  Utilizing local produce, several artisans will showcase their craft in preservation of meats, cheeses, and produce!  Don’t miss the opportunity to either attend an event or a demo (or both!) and also come buy products.  You can even attend a Tsukemono demo (Japanese Pickled Vegetables) and learn how to easily pickle your japanese cucumbers (or other veggies) at home!  Your support means continued EBT acceptance at certain farmers markets, making it easier for low income residents to eat healthy local produce.

So for this week’s produce, here are a few recipes you can try:

Collard Greens with Tomatoes and Garlic

Tokyo Kaikan Gimlet   Use your fresh local Tahitian limes for a nice pau hana drink–maybe while you’re making dinner!?

Oven Roasted Flounder with Bok Choy, Cilantro, and Lime   This may require an additional lime, but looks so good, and it’s healthy!

Sunomono   Japanese cucumber salad–easy!

Plantains–this week we have a first in the bag for us–plantains, or what many people call cooking bananas. These are organic and grown in Waianae.  They cannot be eaten raw, and are a bit more difficult to peel than bananas.

Fried Plantains

Mashed Plantains with Bacon   can’t wait to try this one!!

Easy Plantain Chips

 

 

Aloha Oahu Fresh family!  We have a bag of summery goodness this week, and we are excited about the possibilities of grilling almost everything in this one!

We’re bringing you long eggplant, string beans, and radishes from Pacific Gateway Farmers, cherry tomatoes from Ho Farms, the freshest lettuce from 808Farm Fresh, bananas from Frankie’s Nursery, and portobello mushrooms from Small Kine Farm.  This produce just lends itself so easily to going on the grill…keeping your kitchen a little cooler and giving you one more reason to be outside enjoying the amazing sunsets we’ve been having.  So here are a few ideas for you to get going!

Tangy Eggplant, Long Beans, and Cherry Tomatoes with Peanuts–you can adapt this recipe to be done on the grill, just cook the eggplant on the grill instead of in the oven, as well as the beans (wrap in foil with some butter or oil), then assemble everything as it calls for in the recipe.

Perfect Grilled Portobellos   great pics along with the instructions, about halfway down!

5 Sensational Grilled Lettuce Salads   Something different for your lettuce!

Grilled Lemon and Garlic Marinated Eggplants

Grilled Cherry Tomato Chutney

Aloha everyone and Happy Independence Day!  (almost…) A great bag is just hours away for all of you this week–we will be delivering all of the bags on Wednesday so we and you can take a break on Thursday and celebrate!  What’s coming for your holiday beach potluck or bbq?  We’re bringing you organic mixed greens from Kahumana Farm, bush beans from Pacific Gateway Farmers in Kunia, swiss chard and kirby cucumbers from Ho Farms, slicing tomatoes and baby bok choy from Green Growers, and papaya from Frankie’s Nursery.  It’s a wonderful selection of fresh summer produce…

Swiss Chard and Tomato Frittata

Stir Fried Bok Choy with Garlic and Ginger

Grilled Green Beans

Kirby Cucumber Salad

Sliced Tomatoes with Basil

Aloha everyone-how is your summer coming along?  Did you enjoy the super moon on Sunday?  Well, we’ve got a super bag this week, and hope you will enjoy it too.  Here’s what we’ve got:  from Pacific Gateway Farmers in Kunia we will have spicy peppers, bush beans, and radishes, from Ho Farms we’ll have butternut squash, from Frankie’s Nursery we will have bananas, tasty great tomatoes from Green Growers, and we’ll have wonderful lettuce from 808 Farm Fresh!

Warm Butternut and Chickpea Salad with Tahini Dressing

Grilled Butternut Squash   easy!!  Just put the squash (halved) on the grill…

Pioneer Woman Green Beans Recipe   I would probably cook these a little less, and use less broth.

Radish Sandwiches on Zucchini Muffins   Radishes would be great on croissants, whole grain english muffins, or these muffins if you are feeling so inspired!

Alert to everyone–the peppers this week are not sweet, but spicy!  Sorry for the confusion, I think there was an error in translation.  We hope you enjoy them anyway!