Rainbows and Peace

I had been moping around the farm for the past two weeks, kicking the dirt and complaining about the lack of rain.  As each day went by my blood pressure and stress went up just a little more.  Then, last night, a whole half inch fell from the sky.  I went and stuck my hand in the soil to find that it had soak inches into the ground, not just the surface.  I could hear a big sigh of relief from the plants as every bit was soaked into the hard, dry ground.  As incredible as the rain was, we were elated as my daughter ran in and told us to come outside and see the double rainbow.

All this happened about an hour before five police officers were killed in Dallas and a day after the fatal shooting in St. Paul.  Combine that with all the other turmoil we've been witnessing and I think we've all had heavy hearts as it feels like the world is on fire. I was taught long ago that the rainbow was God's promise to never flood the earth again, but it's also a symbol of peace and reconciliation.  In this time of growing tension, I think we need to remember that God cares for all his creation, both earth and people alike.  I want to see yesterday's rainbow as a sign of hope.  Just as he brought water to dry land he'll bring a hard rain down onto our troubles.  Our responsibility to remember that we're all brothers and sisters in this kingdom, not enemies.  Sorry for getting preachy...it's kind of on my mind. 

In the box: 

Napa Cabbage: Usually people aren't using a lot of Napa, so I put a recipe below.  It is also fine to use as a salad like a cole slaw or simply  

Broccoli

Frisee: Frilly small green.  This is good mixed into a salad with lettuce

Small Romaine: Some got green, some red

Beets 

'Hakurai' Salad Tunips: These look like white radishes, but they are much sweeter and tastier than any radish you'll find.  Slice and marinate as you would radishes to nibble alone or in a salad.  

Green Garlic: Use as you would dry garlic or let dry down on your kitchen counter. 

Fresh Thyme: Small bunch with red band 

Summer Squash: Use yellow summer squash or pattypan squash (flat ones) just as you would zuchhini.  Try zucchini fritter - grate together with some onion and eggs and cook in fry pan. 

Sweet Onion: Hey, it's about time I get an honest to goodness onion in the box. 

Stir-fried Pork and Peanuts

from Mark Bittman's Kitchen Matrix

Put 3 tablespoons neutral oil (like canola) in a large skillet over high heat.  Brown 8 oz ground pork in the oil before adding 1 tablespoon each minced garlic and fresh ginger.  Cook for 15 seconds.  Add about 1/4 - 1/2 of a napa cabbage (shredded).  Cook, stirring, until soft and slightly brown, 5 minutes.  Add a handful of peanuts and cook a few minutes more (until slightly toasted).  Turn off heat and stir in soy sauce to taste.