Hasta Mañana!
Friends,
It's been a brutal year. For all of you, for all of us in uncountable ways. Anxiety and grief seem to be the common air we breathe, coupled with the incredible kick in the teeth that we are all much busier, much more frantic and hectic than we have ever been.
We are all exhausted hamsters in wheels whose speed is run by villains we can't see. And our little legs, and our tiny hearts are tired.
Gratitude seems like a simple and obvious crutch, but it is one that is begetting bits of joy.
The other day at the end of packing we told the team we had to stay longer. To pack another 15 shares to donate to families feeling a need this time of year. Food from our farms, an assortment of cookies from my mom and her friends. The verbal response to more work was "awesome" and "hell, yes."
Sean, one of our drivers, volunteered his time and dropped the shares off one by one. A hipster Santa in a vintage leather jacket.
Today I brought the last of our gifts to the Topsfield Fire Department. Sirloin roasts, sausages, bacon, and Jaju Pierogi (lucky ducks!). These folks are the heroes of our small town. They had taken care of my family a dozen times when my dad was sick. Just seeing the firefighters whose faces were so familiar tugged at my heart.
We're stealing little bits of joy where we can.
Many of you have said that getting Family Dinner each week feels like Christmas Morning--the whimsy of discovering what's in the share. The joy of smashing cookies into your face at 11 am.
We hope that this morning your tired legs and hearts get a rest and get to find joy in the day.
Much love, from our Fam to yours.
The Family Dinner Family
WHAT'S IN THE BAG?
Note: If you order a "Meat and Fish Share" you will just receive the meats listed, not the "dairy" items (eggs, yogurt etc). If you order a "Fish and Seafood Share" you will receive the fish listed, and not the dairy items.
Add-on Grain of the Week - Pretzels from Port City Pretzels
Add-on Bread of the Week - Country Bread from Iggy's
Add-on Pastry of the Week - Almond Croissant from Iggy's
HALF SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Bacon from Feather Brook Farms and Brookford Farm; Mozzarella from Mozzarella House
Pescatarian Protein - Calamari from Red's Best; Mozzarella from Mozzarella House
Vegetarian Proteins - Veggie Burgers from Farm House Burger; Mozzarella from Mozzarella House
Paleo Proteins - Bacon from Feather Brook Farms and Brookford Farm; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Butternut Squash from Brookford Farm; Lettuce from LEF Farm; Turnips** from Langwater Farm; Carrots from Iron Ox Farm and Brookford Farm
Grain - Pasta from Seven Hills
Special Treat - Cookies from Lark
WHOLE SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Bacon from Feather Brook Farms and Brookford Farm; Calamari from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Mozzarella from Mozzarella House
Pescatarian Protein - Calamari and Sea Bass from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Mozzarella from Mozzarella House
Vegetarian Proteins - Veggie Burgers from Farm House Burger; Empanadas from Buenas; Mozzarella from Mozzarella House; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Paleo Proteins - Bacon from Feather Brook Farms and Brookford Farm; Calamari from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Butternut Squash from Brookford Farm; Lettuce from LEF Farm; Turnips** from Langwater Farm; Carrots from Iron Ox Farm and Brookford Farm; Apples from Carlson Orchard and Brookdale Fruit Farm; Beets from Heron Pond Farm
Grain - Pasta from Seven Hills
Special Treat - Cookies from Lark; Nuts from Q's
DOUBLE SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Bacon from Feather Brook Farms and Brookford Farm; Calamari from Red's Best; Chorizo from Brookford Farm; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Mozzarella from Mozzarella House; Chocolate Milk from Crescent Ridge
Pescatarian Protein - Calamari, Sea Bass, Scallops from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Mozzarella from Mozzarella House; Chocolate Milk from Crescent Ridge
Vegetarian Proteins - Veggie Burgers from Farm House Burger; Empanadas from Buenas; Tamales from Tex Mex Eats; Mozzarella from Mozzarella House; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Chocolate Milk from Crescent Ridge
Paleo Proteins - Bacon from Feather Brook Farms and Brookford Farm; Calamari from Red's Best; Chorizo from Brookford Farm; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Butternut Squash from Brookford Farm; Lettuce from LEF Farm; Turnips** from Langwater Farm; Carrots from Iron Ox Farm and Brookford Farm; Apples from Carlson Orchard and Brookdale Fruit Farm; Beets from Heron Pond Farm; Parsnips from Brookford Farm; Shallots from Checkerberry Farm
Grain - Pasta from Seven Hills; Bagels from Iggy's
Special Treat - Cookies from Lark; Nuts from Q's
**Shannon's Friday Food and Farming Fun Fact: These will be Macomber Turnips which are famous here in Massachusetts where they became popularized! A sign in Westport, MA reads "The saga of the Macomber Turnip began on Main Road. Aiden and Elihu Macomber returned to Westport from the Philadelphia Exposition of 1876 with a prize in their pockets: exposition turnip seed. Planted in these fertile fields, the crop developed with the years and became famous from Boston to Providence. There had never been a better turnip! Westport farmers still take pride in growing their pure Bristol Whites descended from Swedish and Russian rutabagas with seed passed down from that trip to Philadelphia. The Macomber Turnip is Westport's own, a symbol of pride and a treasure of mildness and sweetness that comes from our soil."
RECIPES
Butternut Squash Pasta Salad - Add roasted beets to this and some mozzarella! I also love to make something like this and serve over a bed of greens, too!
Apple Bacon Mac and Cheese - Or try this one - my mouth watered.
Creamed Turnips - Use these turnips like you would in a mashed potato recipe or anything like that. You won't regret making this one though.