Fresh from the Farm: Paranormally Delicious

Halloween is still a week away, but here at Boston Organics, we’re feeling some anticipatory giddiness at the prospect of spooky fun and, we’ll admit it, cauldrons of sweets. But you don’t have to follow our bad example—there are plenty of tasty ways to incorporate fruits and veggies into your Halloween party or ghostly goody bag. Your green Boston Organics box is full of delicious produce that you can turn into tricks or treats (or both) depending on your kitchen’s magic. It may even help change your ideas of what counts as a treat.

abracadabra add-ons

This Halloween, give Jack a second life. Pie pumpkins are now available as an add-on for your Boston Organics box. These precious pumpkins are perfect for a holiday centerpiece or to adorn your front step, but you will love them even more as pie, a hearty side or the base for a creamy soup.

No need to feel intimidated if you’ve only used canned pumpkin before—all you have to do is cut the pumpkin in half, roast it, scoop out the flesh and voila! You’ll be rolling in pumpkin bread and pumpkin spice bars in no time. For a satisfying Sunday supper, try this Roast Stuffed Pumpkin with Gingery Tomato Sauce.

With monsters mashing and witches wandering this week, there are a few other add-ons that you may want to stock up on. Ward off lurking vampires with pungent local garlic from Green Mountain Garlic of Vermont. Circles of salt are said to ward off evil. Make sure you’re protected when you order Maine Sea Salt Company sea salt. For some, the full moon brings out the wild-eyed creature inside. We know that for others, it’s hunger. Keep your inner hangry beast at bay by making sure you have snacks on hand.

Spooky snacks

We have some simple ideas to embrace the spirit of the holiday without all the sugar. Make mini citrus jack-o-lanterns by slicing out chunks of the peel or draw faces on with permanent marker. Stick your hand in a bowl of peeled-grape “eyeballs” and gross out your friends with cooked Beet Rat Tails. Power up for trick-or-treating with zombie finger string cheese snacks.

Little ghouls aren’t the only ones donning costumes—veggies are too. Bake a batch of rich Chocolate Beet Brownies. The sweetness of these blood-red roots  enhances the chocolate flavor, while helping keep them perfectly moist. Give your snack table a spooky purple hue with this recipe for Black Bean Hummus. Lime and chipotle chilis give this light dip a unique and bright flavor. Enjoy with carrot sticks or tortilla chips.

surreal supper

Speaking of beans, we haven’t forgotten about dinner. Provencal Winter Squash with White Beans is a simple meal that you can toss in the oven and leave alone while you staff the front door. It's also super versatile; cook it up whether you receive Atlas Farm’s buttercup or butternut squash in your box this week.  

For the first time this fall, keep an eye out for hachiya persimmons in your boxes. These rich orange-red fruits are ready to eat when they feel like a water balloon. Otherwise, you may get a bite that's terribly tart! If your friends think the soft, jiggly fruit with crusty green leaves is better suited for a witch's brew rather than snack time, all the better for you; sweet and flavorful persimmons are a seasonal must-try.

This Week's Local Produce

All of the fruits and vegetables we deliver are grown without synthetic pesticides and are USDA certified organic. Interested in receiving produce that's both organic and locally sourced all year round? Check out our Local Dogma Box.

Similar to a CSA or farm share, our Local Dogma Box is filled with the best organic produce from local and regional farms and brought right to your door each week. It's the easiest way to eat like a locavore!

This Week's Dogma Box