Relishments

Savoring life in the Berkshires

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
    • Start Here
    • Relishments Around the Web
  • Flexitarianism
    • Cookbooks
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Reviews
  • The Berkshires
    • Boothbay, Midcoast Maine and More
    • Adventures in Other Places
  • Technology
    • My Favorite Technology Tools
  • Contact
    • Sponsor

Reflections on the Summer Cookbook Quest (CSA Menu Plan #98 + SCQ Part 4)

Published on August 21, 2018 By Emily. Updated on August 21, 2018

This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Relishments!

As of 5:17 this evening, the Summer Cookbook Quest has officially ended.  There was a time when I thought it’d last into the fall, but that time has passed.  As a searched through the index of every cookbook I owned (plus the 4 I have from the library) and tried to match a recipe with what I had on hand, I finally made the decision.  The Summer Cookbook Quest was just not working out.

I stand by the Quest as a good idea – I have some great cookbooks and I definitely became more familiar with them this summer. I discovered some new books I’m adding to my wishlist (including Smitten Kitchen Every Day and The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Come and Get It!), but using cookbooks to exclusively plan my menus was just not working for my life.  The main goal of my menu plans is to use my CSA vegetables – and even though I have a lot of vegetable-based books, it was difficult to find recipes I wanted to make with the items I was picking up.  Many of the recipes I’ve collected electronically, on the other hand, are specifically targeted to those very vegetables.  I think there may be better cookbooks out there for my needs, but by the time I realized I should interlibrary loan them, it was too close to the end of summer to make this project work.  This summer, with my constant cycle of travel and recovery from travel, along with a toddler who does not stay still, just didn’t allow me to embrace this challenge (and the amount of time it required) that I envisioned.  

There are still a lot of recipes I want to make from my cookbooks, but I think they’ll be better utilized when I choose a recipe first and then get the ingredients.  Ideally, I’ll look through the books in the coming weeks and add the recipes that really appeal to me to my menu planning document.  Then I can make sure I have all the ingredients.  In the meanwhile, it’s back to my electronic recipe collection, mostly.

Now, without further ado,

The Pick Up

CSA Pick Up 8.20.18
cantaloupe, collard greens, nectarines, scallions, red onions, broccoli, yellow tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, party peppers

The Plan

Broccoli Parmesan Fritters (Smitten Kitchen) with corn

Eggplant Parmesan and spaghetti

caprese salads and sausage sandwiches

Roasted Vegetable Burritos using broccoli and peppers (The Kitchn)

collard green wraps (filling TBD – tuna, chicken, ground beef or chickpea salad)

Feta, Lemon and Dill Dip (On Tap for Today) with cherry tomatoes, sliced pepper and pita

Crispy Tofu and Broccoli with Sesame-Peanut Pesto (from Smitten Kitchen Every Day) — this recipe by itself made the Summer Cookbook Quest worth it. I’m obsessed.

Did you enjoy this post? Share it!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

« Better Late Than Never (CSA Menu Plan #97 + Summer Cookbook Quest Part 3)
August’s King Arthur Flour #Bakealong: Pane Bianco, Revisited »

Welcome!

Welcome to Relishments! Follow along with my adventures in flexitarian eating and cooking in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts.

The Berkshires
Recipe Index
CSA Menu Plan
First Time?
 

Support Relishments on Patreon

Just so you know…

I’m just a girl who loves to cook and eat. This site is not a source for nutritional information.

Relishments is affiliated with various sponsors. Some product links on this site are affiliates; I may get portion of the sale. All opinions on this site are honest, regardless of revenue opportunities. Find out more about my policies here

Relishments is affiliated with…

View my food journey on Zomato!

  
Ahalogy Badge

relishments

New year, new word! This year, I'm focusing on bei New year, new word!
This year, I'm focusing on being deliberate in my speech, my relationships, my work and my time. Change isn't going to happen my chance!
More of my thoughts are on the blog, link in my profile.
.
.
.
#onelittleword #myoneword #newyears #newyearsresolution #2021 #2021theme
My top 9 of 2020. In typical 2020 fashion, I had a My top 9 of 2020.
In typical 2020 fashion, I had all kinds of issues getting my Top 9 created this year and this image still has problems. 
But the images are accurate and nicely summarize the year - take out from local establishments (@aokberkshirebbq, @thebreakroomgw, @northadamsfarmersmarket), #RelishmentsBakes projects, the natural beauty of the Berkshires and our successful container garden.
.
.
.
#topnine2020 #2020 #newyear
New on the blog: my 8 favorite recipes I made in 2 New on the blog: my 8 favorite recipes I made in 2020. This post has ideas for every meal and features recipes from @bonappetitmag, @kingarthurbaking, @budgetbytes, @markbittman, @smittenkitchen and @wholefully.
.
Link in profile.
.
I'd love to hear about the best things you cooked this year!
.
.
.
#recipe #recipereview #favoriterecipe
Apparently, in the weirdness that is 2020, posting Apparently, in the weirdness that is 2020, posting to my Instagram feed was one of the things that didn't make the cut. There are more items than I'd prefer in that category, but recently I've felt like I'm beginning to get my feet firmly planted beneath me again. This fall was so busy with learning how to teach remotely and parent 2 children well. I don't anticipate that life will ever feel not busy, but I've been able to carve out some time lately for activities I've been missing. Making bread is one of those activities. Hopefully, more posts in the feed will be more frequent going forward. 
.
.
.
Peasant bread recipe from @breadin5
For last month's #RelishmentBakes challenge I made For last month's #RelishmentBakes challenge I made apple turnovers with puff pastry from scratch. I am so pleased with how well they turned out and proud of myself for tackling puff pastry.  Get all the details at the link in my profile. Next month's challenge is coming soon!
.
.
.
#BakingChallenge #BakingFromScratch #bakealong #turnovers #AppleTurnovers
Sunset in North Adams . . . #igers413 #WigwamWeste Sunset in North Adams
.
.
.
#igers413 #WigwamWesternSummit #InTheBerkshires #WesternMA #WesternMass #VisitTheBerkshires #NorthAdams #NAmazing #sunset
#sponsored All the time we've spent at home lately #sponsored All the time we've spent at home lately has definitely had me looking to expand the snack options in my pantry.  I jumped at the chance to try these @sunmaid Sour Raisins  and they immediately became one of my daughter's favorite snacks. She likes them because they're reminiscent of candy, I like them because they're technically fruit and they come prepackaged for easy snacking and taking on the go. I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty they are!
#howyoulikethemsours #contest #complimentary @Influenster
This weekend's weather was amazing and my family e This weekend's weather was amazing and my family embarked on the only way to kick off fall: we went apple picking at Jaeschke Orchards in Adams.  The parking lot was full, but out in the orchard we hardly came across any other groups.  The trees were heavy with apples and we quickly filled our bag. Looking forward to apples for snacks, pie, crisp and turnovers in the coming weeks.
This month's #RelishmentBakes challenge may sound This month's #RelishmentBakes challenge may sound familiar because it's a repeat. Sort of. Get all the details and join me in some turnover baking this month at the link in my profile.
.
.
.
#bakealong #BakingFromScratch #BakingChallenge #baking
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in