November, 2016 Mystery Box

Sweet, dense, curly leaves of Bloomsdale Winter Spinach. Those pink stems are the sweetest part!

This super-sweet, super-rich, personal-sized butternut squash is called “Honey Nut”.

Inside this winter-hardy Watermelon Radish there’s a surprise…the inside is bright pink! They’re a bit more dense and spicy than a spring radish, but they are delicious in a soup or pickle.

Cauliflower comes in many colors, including green, purple, and orange! The orange is a bit more delicate than the others, and it’s higher in beta carotene.

Spicy Scarlet Salad Mustard is similar to arugula, but with a kick. Enjoy it as a garnish, to spice up a sandwich, or straight.

Parsnips are a very slow-growing relative of carrots and celery, and after a good freeze or two in the ground, they are sweet and delicious roasted, fried, or mashed.

A natural cross between Brussels sprouts and red kale, Kalettes grow up a tall stalk like Brussels sprouts, but they form rosettes of leaves instead of tiny cabbages.

These purple tubers are a highly-nutritious potato! Adirondack Blue are purple all through, and stay purple after they’re cooked.

Horseradish is the zesty relative of mustard greens. Grated and mixed with a little vinegar and salt, it’s a great accompaniment to meats and other vegetables.

There are hundreds of heirloom dried bean varieties, having been cultivated for generations in their native America. This year we grew Cannelloni, Jacob’s Cattle, Calypso, and True Red Cranberry.

Miniature Calico Popcorn grows on a cob, just like sweet corn. Put the whole cob in the microwave to pop, or rub off the kernels and pop in a pan. Beautiful AND tasty!

Quinces are related to apples and pears and have been grown since medieval times, but they aren’t eaten fresh. Cook them for a rosy, delicious sauce or dessert.

This ancient fruit was once very popular, and can be seen in Medieval manuscripts. Medlars are related to apples and roses, and when allowed to soften, or “blet”, the flavor and texture are like applesauce mixed with dates.