July 10, 2021 - Escarole, taking over a refrigerator near you!

Escarole - our friend at the farm. One of the sweeter varieties in the chicory family, it holds up well to cooking or grilling and is also amazing eaten fresh! When cooked it will sweeten up a little bit.

Ok, so was anyone overwhelmed by the head of escarole they received in their box last week? Did anyone think, “is this vegetable for real?”. If so, it’s ok! There is a wide variety that comes every week in your box and sometimes it’s the thought that your refrigerator is filling up and sometimes it’s the vegetables themselves that create a little stress! You are all clearly adventurous, gracious, and giving folks - adventurous in the spirit of trying new foods, gracious in your flexibility to “move” with the season and whims of nature, and giving in your support of this farm and the local food economy. We try to mix up the variety in the boxes enough that you get to try new things you haven’t seen or tasted before and still have the good old favorites at hand. We hope you are enjoying what you’ve receive so far.

But let’s focus just on the escarole for a moment. There are innumerable ways to embrace the sizable and insistent chicory that made it’s way into your kitchen!

Farmer Libby dressing up on a Saturday night with some Escarole!

My favorite way to eat escarole? Cut it into wedges so that the leaves are still attached to the core and grill it or roast it briefly on high heat until it is just starting to wilt, then dress it with your favorite salad dressing. Eat with fork and knife if you’re sitting politely around a table or hold it in your hand like a piece of pizza and happily chat with your friends around the camp fire.

How did you prepare your escarole? I learn so much from others about how to cook vegetables and am often inspired to try new things that way. Please share!