What’s In The Box? August 17-23

Summer Splendor
The Italian summer calls to mind visions of beautiful wine, fresh creamy cheeses, and garden-fresh produce simply and beautifully prepared. Hence, this week’s box captures the flavors of summer by way of Italy with a bounty of produce that includes heirloom tomatoes, Italian eggplant, fennel, and zucchini, plus Skagit River Ranch Italian sausage and fresh fior di latte mozzarella-style cheese from Ferndale Farmstead Creamery. Also included for this relaxed, refreshing spread: Italian Rustica bread, farm-fresh eggs, ripe yellow peaches, and fragrant, garden-grown herbs. Mangia!

Here’s what you’ll find in your box this week:

Skagit River Ranch Italian Sausage

The pampered pigs raised on the Skagit River Ranch in Sedro-Woolley roam outdoors in certified-organic pasture land to root, dig, and cavort as only happy pigs can, thriving on a diet of flax seed, corn and wheat. Spiced with savory herbs, this delectable Italian-style sausage adds a savory note to the likes of pastas, pizzas and more.

Italian Rustica Bread

This freshly-baked loaf is made at a small bakery in Snohomish using a wild yeast starter, which creates an airy, chewy bread and a delightfully-crisp crust. This bread is wonderfully sliced and toasted for crostini—simply rub each lightly-charred piece with a cut clove of garlic for extra flavor and then enjoy them with some summery heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella!

Protocol 2018 Red Wine

Offering lovely fresh blackberry and strawberry flavors, this easy drinking red from Spain’s hot interior goes great with casual summer fare.

Ferndale Farmstead Fior di Latte Cheese

Fior di Latte, or “blossom of milk” translated into English, is a fresh, whole milk mozzarella with a delicate flavor and texture. Crafted by the cheesemakers at this family-owned and -operated farm in Ferndale, this particular version is made the old fashioned way using Italian cultures instead of vinegar to give it the full mozzarella flavor that this well-known cheese deserves.

Farm Fresh Eggs

As they spend lots of time outdoors in their run, our small flock of heritage breed laying hens are enjoying succulent popweed pulled from the gardens along with an extra helping of grain to supplement their diet to give us fresh eggs in beautiful shades of brown, beige and cream.

Voyager Collection Coriander Spice Blend

Eric Ripert of Manhattan’s Le Bernardin and Lior Lev Sercarz of La Boîte have created a unique line of spices, The Voyager Collection to help home cooks elevate everyday dishes—try this lovely coriander mixed with your favorite spices and sprinkled over grilled summer vegetables.

Summer Fruit

Beautifully-ripe yellow peaches.

Fresh Organic Greens

Escarole.

Seasonal Organic Fruit & Vegetables

This week’s beautiful bounty of summer produce includes sweet corn, Walla Walla sweet onions, Italian eggplant, zucchini, and fennel, plus both cherry and heirloom tomatoes.

Fresh Garden Herbs

Fragrant basil, mint, Italian parsley and garlic from the walled garden at Bella Luna.

Amaretti Cookies with Coffee

Accented by freshly-ground coffee notes, these traditional soft, buttery Italian cookies are a wonderful little pick-me-up.