How I Used My First CSA Box Without Panicking

I dream about being the type of cook who wanders through a farmers market, gets inspired by whatever’s in season, and runs home to make something simple and delicious without consulting a single recipe. The reality is that I am extremely recipe-bound. I shop with a detailed list, rarely impulse-buy, and usually have meals planned weeks, sometimes months, out between recipe development and content planning. And I get full-on decision paralysis at the farmers market when I try to freestyle a menu. So, in an effort to bring a little more spontaneity into my cooking and eat more locally, I signed up for a CSA this year with Harvest Tide Organics. I chose them because the pickup location is within walking distance and they let you customize your box, which felt like the right amount of structure for someone who wants to be more spontaneous but still needs guardrails. Each week, I’ll share what came in my CSA box, what I made with it, and what actually worked. Hopefully it’s helpful for…