CSA (or Community Supported Agriculture) season is upon us and along with our favorite veggies, we usually get a few that stump us. Joelle writes: “I just got a box of veggies from my CSA and have no idea what to do with garlic scapes and raddichio. Any ideas?

Scapes are the seed stalks of garlic and must be cut off to allow the bulbs to develop fully. They have a delightful mild garlic flavor and are quite crisp in texture. Some thoughts for them include:

• You can add sliced scapes to any stir fry recipe.
  Slice and sprinkle over any pasta, or slice and cook them in almost any sauce recipe.
• Great in guacamole and fresh salsa, too.
• Chop, add to softened cream cheese.
• Add chopped fresh scapes when serving a light garlic soup; can also add them to buttered, french bread floated on the soup. -Use them as you would green onions, they’re just better.
• Good in salads, on bruschetta, pizza.
• An excellent addition to stocks….and much Asian cuisine.
• Put in Thai chicken/basil/coconut soup.

Radicchio is Italian chicory. It’s great in salad and slaw, and the Italians like to brush it with olive oil and grill it over a fire. I like to slice it up and add it to bakes pasta dishes.

As for the salad dressing, one of my favorites is Avocado Ranch, here’s a recipe: Avocado Ranch Dressing.

For more info about CSA’s, or Community Supported Agriculture in your community visit, Local Harvest.

~ Chef Kevin