We joined a local community supported agriculture (CSA) program this year at Tangerini’s Farm in Millis. There is nothing quite like the taste and nutritional value of fresh picked produce! Monday’s is our day to pick up our share of veggies! Usually I can get one of my kids to join me for the pick up. This Monday I was lucky to get 2 kids and a boyfriend too! Today was a very special day because we were allowed to go out in the field and handpick our very own corn! How sweet!
My Aunt Ele has a farm in Rhode Island and growing up I always enjoyed visiting her and her sprawling property. We would get lost in the woods or roll down the hills, it didn’t take much to make us happy on the farm. This year being a CSA member and blogger, I have spent more time on farms than I have since I was a little kid, and I have to say, I am liking it!
This week’s share included fresh tomatoes, U-pick basil and sweet corn amongst lots more locally grown organic goodies.
Since I had already had purchased some marinated olives and feta (available at Whole Foods Market in the cheese section and even some smaller grocery markets too) I thought I would make an easy summer salad! So I chopped tomatoes and basil…
and toss in my olive mixture. So simple, and so very tasty!
Tomato, Olive and Feta Salad
¾ cup mixture of feta chunks, pitted kalamata olives, green olives and olive oil dressing
3 medium tomatoes, chopped in chunks
½ cup chopped fresh basil
Toss ingredients together including dressing in olive mixture. Serve immediately.
Just a few words about tomatoes. Tomatoes are a source of an anti-cancer ingredient called lycopene. Lycopene is especially beneficial when consumed with healthy fat filled foods such as avocado, olive oil, and nuts. Tomatoes also are a source of lutein. Lutein in tomatoes helps decrease our risk of macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the elderly. Did you know that tomatoes are a rich source of Vitamin C which is most concentrated in the jellylike substance around the seeds? And we all know, there is nothing quiet as tasty as a vine-ripened tomato. So go visit a local farmer’s market or farm stand and enjoy all the goodness tomatoes can provide your body and soul!