What’s In The Box? May 28 – June 3

Local Spring Delights
Filled with beautiful vegetables and hearty greens, this week’s box sings of spring, highlighted by a creamy risotto simmered in our housemade chicken stock and topped with earthy, locally-foraged morel mushrooms. Add to the equation a bold red wine, Westward blue cheese and the lovely trio of cinnamon raisin bread, mixed berry preserves and Chai spice nut butter, this fresh selection will continue to satisfy all week long.

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

Arborio Rice

This round-grain rice comes from the Po River Valley region of Italy and is named for the town of Arborio located in the heart of the region. When cooked in our rich, housemade chicken stock, it becomes creamy and starchy and is a great accompaniment to any flavor combination, especially for earthy morel mushrooms. See this week’s recipes for a wonderful version topped with mushrooms and roasted spring vegetables.

Locally Foraged Morel Mushrooms

These seasonal mushrooms are only available in the wild, developing a cult following of local ‘mushroom hunters’ who roam our forests looking for this treat of nature. Woodsy and earthy, yet delicate and rich, they are an excellent accompaniment to risotto. Simply sauté in butter or olive oil and enjoy!

Housemade Chicken Stock

Made from roasted Bella Luna chickens, this flavorful stock is simmered slowly for hours with carrots, parsley, onions and celery and seasoned with a dash of sea salt and black pepper.

Perrin Family Côtes du Rhône Villages

The Perrin family has been making wine in the Southern Rhone Valley since 1909 when Pierre Tramier bought Beaucastel and passed it on to his son-in-law Pierre Perrin. Today, the fifth generation of Perrins are taking over the operation, and their wines are better than ever. This classic Côtes du Rhône is elegant and subtle, with old-world styling and a nice lifting of bright fruit.

Westward Blue Cheese

Similar in taste to a gorgonzola, this creamy soft cheese boasts a gorgeous marbled center and flavorful bite, making it a wonderful complement for a fresh salad of spring greens.

Farm Fresh Eggs

Our small flock of heritage breed laying hens gives us fresh eggs in beautiful shades of brown and green. With the arrival of longer and warmer days, the “girls” are enjoying long afternoons in the sun, chasing bugs and eating tasty green weeds we pull from the garden.

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Made with moist, chewy Flame raisins, this freshly-baked loaf from our favorite local bakery in Snohomish is wonderful toasted and topped with this week’s mixed berry jam and Chai nut butter.

Mixed Berry Preserves

Our housemade jam is crafted from gorgeous, organic berries lovingly handpicked each morning during peak season. To preserve the wonderful fresh flavor and color, we make this jam with raspberries, blackberries and strawberries, organic cane sugar, fresh-squeezed lemon juice and pectin. (That’s it!)

Big Spoon Roasters Chai Spice Nut Butter

A fusion of classic American and Indian flavors, this addictive spread from North Carolina’s Big Spoon Roasters blends a traditional Masala Chai comprised of fragrant cardamom, cloves, ginger, vanilla and black pepper with freshly-milled peanuts, almonds, wildflower honey and sea salt.

Seasonal Organic Fruits & Vegetables

This week’s produce selection includes lemons, petite purple kohlrabi, asparagus, baby red potatoes, One Leaf Farm Pink Beauty radishes and baby Tokyo Market turnips from Local Roots Farm, plus first of the season strawberries from the Skagit Valley.

Seasonal Organic Greens

A beautiful selection of mixed lettuces from Bella Luna, plus frisée and arugula from One Leaf Farm.

Fresh Garden Herbs

Organically-grown garlic, shallots, curly parsley, oregano, rosemary and mint from either the walled garden and greenhouse at Bella Luna or Bright Ide Acres.