Friday Treats - fresh produce home delivery

If you live in Raleigh and are not participating in The Produce Box weekly fresh produce delivery, you are missing out!  Each Wednesday I have a box delivered to my home during the months of mid-April - mid-October/early November.  The produce is all fresh picked from local farms.  It just started last week, and I cannot wait for today's email to see what we will have as options.  Here are the basics of the program:

www.theproducebox.com

Box Prices

Standard family box (feeds 3-4) - $23

Garden Box (feeds 1-2) - $17

Fruit-Only Box - $22-26

Organic Box $26-28

-Annual enrollment fee - $18 - automatically renews and is charged each January.

-Can SKIP a box or multiple boxes without being charged.

-New! Swap out option - can "swap out" one item. 

Here are some yummy salad recipes from Southern Living to prepare for all of the fresh produce coming for the spring and summer:

http://www.southernliving.com/food/entertaining/cool-summer-salads-00400000046866/

Spring Cleaning - yeah, right.

I won't pretend that I plan to do some great spring cleaning this year.  I will not be happily beating rugs and polishing my silver.  In fact, I just hope I can vaccum before Lowe consumes a bug or two tonight.  This morning he pulled up on the toilet and then tried to get in my shower.  Daddy's response was, "No no buddy.  That's mommy's nasty bathroom."  Now that was offensive, as I had actually just cleaned the bathroom on Friday.  However, I do really hate to clean the bathroom.  Cheapy McCheaperson here also fired the cleaning crew after 2 really bad times (If I have to clean after the cleaners, I am not happy!) I do not want to hire one again because I like saving the money.  I found a couple of other blogs that address cleaning with natural products.  There is also a really long list of recommended "Spring Cleaning" to do ideas.  If you, as this gal does, have 30 hours in your day (I have only 24 - bummer) then have at it.  I will live merrily in my dusty home and enjoy my little man all weekend long.

Natural Cleaning - How to clean a bathroom with lemon, vinegar, and baking soda:
http://broccolicupcake.com/blog/2012/03/spring-cleaning-natural-cleaning-tips-for-the-bathroom/

Spring Cleaning List and cleaning shortcuts/tips:
http://www.sixsistersstuff.com/2012/03/friday-fun-list-15-spring-cleaning-tips.html

Here's my tip - put out fresh flowers and nobody will notice the cobwebs!

Last night's dinner recipe - Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon, Asparagus, and Lemon Pepper Pappardelle Pasta

I love to cook, but the new little man in my life keeps me so tired that I have much less interest in tackling a big meal after I put him to bed.  So, we focus on quick, healthy meals.  I try to make dinner that takes 30 minutes or less with only a small amount of prep work. 

Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon, Asparagus, and Lemon Pepper Pappardelle Pasta 
with a lemon buerre blanc sauce (well sort of one)
(remember - my recipes do not include exact measurements - I toss things together)
1 lb Alaskan Salmon
2 lemons
1/4 stick of butter
1 cup white wine 
1 bunch asparagus
1 package Lemon Pepper Pappardelle Pasta from Trader Joe's
S&P
olive oil
 1/4 package of grape tomatoes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cover a baking sheet with tinfoil and spray with olive oil non-stick spray
Place salmon on tinfoil and drizzle with sea salt, fresh ground pepper, and olive oil
Cut 1 lemon into round slices and place on top of salmon filet
Bake in oven for 30 minutes
Follow instructions on package for pasta
Once pasta is finished, drain and then toss in a pan with 1/4 stick of butter, white wine, sea salt, and pepper.
Saute asparagus in a pan with olive oil, salt, and pepper
When asparagus is almost finished toss in grape tomotoes for about 5 minutes to warm and soften them

When ready to serve, use the rest of the lemon for juice over the pasta and salmon.  Voila!