Treat Yourself and Help Food Bank, Delaware Food Works Programs
February 1, 2021
By Gwen Guerke, Communications Coordinator
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, even folks who enjoy cooking a nice dinner might be seeking some variety. The Food Bank of Delaware offers solutions to that dilemma, plus proceeds benefit our agency’s workforce development programs. In addition to providing food for thousands of food-insecure Delawareans during the pandemic, the Food Bank provides some pretty tasty and phenomenal food-related services to those of us who are fortunate enough to buy food, enjoy fresh food, and also want to support the Food Bank’s mission to eradicate hunger in the First State.
SWEETS: Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! Think chocolate-covered strawberries and heart-shaped, decorated sugar cookies. Interested? Visit https://www.fbd.org/valentines by Feb. 5 to place your order. Purchase online, and orders can be picked up at the Farm Stand at the Newark branch or the Milford site on Feb. 11 or 12. Proceeds benefit our Delaware Food Works Culinary School.
SOUPS: Our team of creative chefs prepare a hearty selection of soups – again for pre-order and pick up, and February’s menu is ready at www.fbd.org. Each $15 order serves four hearty appetites, and includes two quarts of soup, fresh bread, and an accompanying herbed, whipped butter. Among the February selections are shrimp bisque and cream of chicken soups. Orders – including instructions for warming — can be picked up at either the Newark or Milford branch on Thursday or Friday. On a personal note: you won’t be disappointed!
SALADS and more: Did you know the Food Bank of Delaware offers CSA boxes? This winter is the first time the boxes have been delivered to the Milford branch for customer pick-up, and it’s also a first for winter CSA boxes. It’s too late for this season, but I’m planting a seed – pun intended. Although I work for the Food Bank, this blog is totally honest, unsolicited feedback. Stay tuned and think spring! I’m sure – thanks to our industrious ag team, our volunteers, and our ability to grow in high tunnels – there will be another CSA offering later this year. What a treat! And again, it’s a win-win since subscribers receive a bounty of fresh, top-quality vegetables, and proceeds benefit Delaware Food Works.
This week’s box, for example, included sweet potatoes, Swiss chard, lettuce heads from 302 aquaponics, baby bok choy, salad turnips, and a micro-greens mix provided by Fresh Start Micro Farm, a very new farm in Dover.
Last week, subscribers opened the box to a different variety of vegetables and had also a choice of fresh eggs or mushrooms as well. For those of us who are open to tasting new foods, this is a great opportunity. I admit I was a bit hesitant about salad turnips. Memories of highly aromatic turnips stewing on my grandmother’s stovetop left me with a strong bias against this root vegetable. These salad turnips may resemble the typical turnip in shape, but they are much smaller, and sliced raw into a salad offer a delicious, delicate crunch . . . without the distinctive order. What a treat!
Not a member of the CSA, don’t worry! You can stop by the Food Bank Farm Stand at the Newark facility on Thursday and Fridays from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. to pick up a variety of fresh produce and other locally-made goods!
Visit www.fbd.org to learn more about the Food Bank’s innovative new programs, services, and culinary experiences. Bon Appetit!
