The Girl Who Worked With A Pig

Some of you have already heard the bittersweet news, but this Friday, the 31st, will be my last day at Nalls Produce.  Before you start frowning (or maybe even cheering!), let me tell you a story that brings us to where we are this week...

My friend Clare drew this for me when I got the job at Nalls

Nalls is not the first family business I've worked for, in fact, until this past year, I'd essentially been born working in a family business, my family's business.  My Da is certified Prosthetist Orthotist (I know, big, weird words, so suffice it to say he fabricates and fits artificial limbs & orthopedic braces, so things like the Paralympics and the scene in Star Wars where Luke gets a cool new hand were a big deal in our house) and my Mama is the Office Manager of the facility.  When I graduated from college with my Political Science degree, a whole series of events landed me becoming full time at their office as the Accounts Manager, which was always comical for a girl who was practically allergic to math.  In 2011, when the Mister and I got married and moved out here, my job came with me as I continued to work remotely from home, and it was wonderful...until it wasn't.  Changes to healthcare and just random blows to the business (oh hello roof, so glad you decided to pour water into the entire building) made it incredibly stressful and we were all looking for a way out.  About this time last year, that way out arrived in the form of a larger company that was willing to buy the business, but with one big caveat -- due to strong nepotism rules, I was automatically out once the ink was dry.  My folks struggled with the decision, and honestly, I celebrated in secret.  It was scary to think about a job hunt, was I even employable as the girl who just always worked for her parents?  But I'd let resentment build up so much and I'd lost my ability to see the good in the work that I was doing, so I saw this as my chance to be free.  We talked and I was given wings to hunt for another job, and I promised that I'd keep doing as much of my job for them as I could until the sale went through.  That same week I found out that Nalls, this local business that I loved and where I was one of those weird Crop Share members who got a little too excited about the produce each week, was hiring a new Marketing Director.  Did I have a lick of marketing experience?  NOPE!  But dangit if I wasn't one of those activist kids in college who could convince anyone why you needed to care about such and such a cause, so it's pretty much the same thing, right?  In the end I found out, yeah it kind of is, but man did I learn a lot, grow a lot, and challenge myself to do more than I knew I was capable of.  

My very first day at Nalls - I realized looking thru photos that much of my time there was documented via my feet, ha!

The sale of my parents business drug on and I founded it harder to evenly balance the two jobs, and in the end I let things for their business slack as I figured, hey the sale is going to happen any time now, it'll be fine.  Summer came and went, Fall arrived and a whole new slew of reports were needed for this company, so it must mean the end is close, right?  Then the week of Christmas my parents get the news...the sale is dead.  They were devastated at first, until they learned some pretty horrifying information on the real plans that this company had for our family's business and let's just say they were going to dismantle everything my parents had given their blood, sweat and tears to build, and everything that makes our facility one where our patients say they feel like they're with family.  That knowledge rekindled their fire to fight, but they waited to tell me until after the holidays so it didn't have to darken my door.  Early this month when my Mama told me, I knew immediately the only option for me was to return full time to the business.  Not out of a sense of blind obligation, or martyrdom, but for the first time I was able to see the value, the joy, and the honor of working for my family's business and I wanted it back, I wanted it back so very badly.  But...I've got this other job, that I really love...and there's a pig.

Penny loves my purple Chucks

I deliberated and prayed over a few days and then in my heart, I knew the answer was clear.  While I could try to juggle both jobs, or go super part time for Nalls, I knew how bad I failed at that trying to do the same thing but in the reverse this past year, and I also knew, I need to have just one job, just one, because I have a husband, and family, and friends, and just so many people I've yet to even meet to care for, and I need to have time to do just that.  So one chilly morning I broke the news to Valerie, and she was just beyond supportive and so gracious.  She's in the exact same position as me as the daughter of the Nalls, so we've shared a lot stories about the trials, tribulations and joys of gutting it out with the family business.  Sure, you know in the back of your mind, you could go anywhere, probably make more money, and certainly make a bigger name for yourself, but man, think of everything you would miss.  I tried a little of that adventure this past year, and while I would not trade any of my time at Nalls and the wonderful people I've had the chance to work with and to serve, I have so missed being a daily part of my family's business.

Monsoon season at Nalls

So, as I head into my last few days at Nalls, it's with a lot of mixed emotions.  I'm excited to get back into the fray with the family business and see if we can't just maintain things, but now even grow.  But I am so going to miss all of you, our customers who truly make working at Nalls a joy rather than just a job.  And yes, I'm going to miss seeing Penny Pig every day, because you really can't have a bad day when that little porker trotts after you and tugs on your pant legs.  D'awww!!!  Friday my heart will be rather heavy as I see most of you during Crop Share pickup, but know that I'm staying in the area and will continue as a Crop Share member, so I'll still see many of you, we'll just all be on the same side of the counter from now on.  And for the meantime, while my other duties at Nalls will fall away, I will continue here with the recipe blog, as I'm psychotic enough to enjoy this and I'm going to be cooking with the Crop Share every week any way.  So should you have the itch to get your feet wet (literally, absolutely literally, see above photo!) with an amazing local business, Valerie will be putting out a hiring call for my position soon, and you can download an application here and then hand it in or e-mail it to info@nallsproduce.com.  And as I said, I'm not leaving the area and I'm sure you'll all see me from time to time bopping about Nalls with my Crop Share and far too many succulents once Spring arrives, but for anyone who wants to keep in touch, feel free to contact me at tara@nallsproduce.com, and I'll give you my personal contact info.

It has truly been a joy and an honor to serve each and every one of you over this past year.  Thank you for all the wonderful memories and for all the ways you were bright spots even on the most frustrating or dreary days, and I covet your prayers and best wishes as I rejoin my own family in the great adventure that is small family business.  I won't say goodbye, I'll just say...see you around the Crop Share!

Admit it, your gonna miss this crazy face!

What's Cookin' In Your Kitchen

It's no surprise that we've got some pretty talented foodies in our Crop Share midst.  But good gravy folks, we've clearly gone wrong by not just showing up at some of your homes for dinner!  I was pouring over the Instagrams tagged with #onlyatnalls and all I can say is...dang, I am hungry now.  So while I await the dinner invitations to pour in (*hint hint*), here are some of the most drool-worthy photos to come out of some of our members' kitchens over the past few months.  Hopefully you'll find as much foodspiration from these culinary creations as I did...or at least go raid your pantry for something to nosh on while you scroll!

Without further ado, I give you a glimpse into the Crop Share family kitchen...

Natalie Fortunato just got onto the #onlyatnalls bandwagon, but she's already making us drool over her veggie-tacular delights!  Who needs meat when veggies look this hearty and delicious?!

"Minnesota Winter Chili" with Crop Share Veggies - perfect for this Polar Vortex Part Deux

She calls this a "lazy girl's lunch" but we think this Vegan Taco Salad with Boston Lettuce looks anything but lazy!

Natasha Gannon is so addicted to Crop Share apples she's declared her need to attend AAA Meetings - Apple Addicts Anonymous.  When she's not eating all the apples or Instagramming what she's made with them, you can find her running (literally) around town and doing her own healthy food blogging over on Tash's Noshes.  If you just enter "Tash" into the search box in the top right, you can see some of the recipes of her's we've shared here on Nalls' Kitchen.

Quick Apple Crisp in Mason Jars with Cameo Apples

Louise Burnett not only  has a completely infectious smile (it even shines through in her e-mails), but she also has the uncanny ability to sneak extra veggies into any dish.  Having mac & cheese?  She's going to throw at least 2 extra veggies into it!  Making soup?  Prepare to eat an entire week's worth of produce in one bowl.  I imagine her meals to be like Mary Poppin's bag, there are items in there you can't imagine how she snuck that in!  She's also brought you the Squash-Cauliflower Soup, which again is so packed with veggies it could make a vegan blush!

Salmon in a Grapefruit & Dill Cream Sauce with a side of Collards and Squash Puree

Mac & Cheese with Chicken, Acorn Squash & Spinach

Homemade Cabbage Pierogies

Chicken Pot Pies with Sweet Potatoes, Turnips, Red Onion and Corn

Kielbasa, Kale, Black Bean & Mushroom Soup

Ceviche Salad with Spinach, Avocado, Red Onion, Cilantro, Green Pepper, Jalapeno & Homemade Lemon Vinaigrette 

And finally, Bethany Duffy, who brought you the Cabbage & Collard Greens Slaw, may just be the one person who gives me a run for my money in the photographing everything you eat category.  But when you cook like she does, you need to photo document that for posterity.  Some people will show their children and grandchildren photos of them in the throes of athletic greatness...foodies will show their children and grandchildren photos of the delicious dishes we prepared.

Braised Kale with White Beans & Parmesan over Linguini

Making Homemade Pumpkin Puree

Baked Chicken Sausage with Potatoes, Apples & Onions

Early Autumn Minestrone with Eggplant

Spiced Acorn Squash Muffins

Quick Pickles

Kale, Leeks, Cherry Tomatoes, Carrots & Mushrooms Sauteed with Garlic, Herbs & Tomato Sauce, then topped with Mozzarella and broiled into loveliness

Spinach & Mozzarella Mac & Cheese with Chicken and Tomatoes

Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs with Roasted Cauliflower, Cherry Tomatoes, and Olives with Lemon & Thyme

Fresh Mint Margaritas - Bethany is also a fellow believer in drinking her Crop Share.  Good girl!

Broccoli Cheese Soup in Bread Bowls

Pear Walnut Bread

Like I said...I patiently await my invitations to dinner to come flooding in.  Any minute now...any minute...

Merry Christmas, Crop Share Family!

I'm sitting here back in Ohio with 1 hour to go till my family's Christmas Eve dinner kicks off.  The rest of the Nalls crew has wrapped up for 2013 and are headed home to their families.  All is as it should be today.

There's no way to think about the holiday season, whichever holiday you celebrate or don't celebrate, and not have your thoughts turn to family.  Some of us may be be celebrating this season with some empty seats at our tables, and some of us may have had to make room for more.  Either way, these are the times to hold the folks we love close, whether they are related to us by blood or are friends who are more like family than our own relatives.  Memories, traditions and love are what make these times so special.  It's how we honor those who used to occupy those empty seats, and it's how we give those intangible gifts to those who've we've made room for around the table.

So while I get misty eyed and think about my family, those that are here, and those that are the dearly departed, I wonder, what are the traditions and memories of the rest of the Crop Share family?  Since so many of them undoubtedly center around food, I'd love to know what are those special recipes that just always bring back a flood of memories?  Send your recipes, ramblings, musings, what have you to tara@nallsproduce.com and I'll share them here.

Seeing as I'm from a city that is almost exclusively Greek, Italian, Irish and Slovak, those 4 ethnicities influence how we all eat and celebrate.  And though neither my family nor the Mister's family has a lick of Italian in them, it's just not Christmas in Youngstown until someone makes Italian Wedding Soup.

Heaven in a bowl!

Usually it's one of our family friends who actually is Italian, but this year, my mother-in-law got a hold of her best friend's recipe (who is Italian and has a large family to impress with her cooking) and she made a big batch of Wedding Soup that was egg, dairy & gluten free (I now have the recipe, so look for that soon on here)!  My mother-in-law is a goddess!  And last night my parents were busy whipping up a batch of their homemade stuffing that is now proudly also dairy, egg and gluten-free.  Both families have added an extra seat at their table over the past 3 years, and both have just gone above and beyond to accommodate the Mister's and my crazy food allergies.  So while our families' respective holidays look a tad different than they used to, we can all agree they just keep getting better and better, new traditions are made, and our bonds of love grow stronger.

So from our Nalls Produce family, we wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and much joy in the New Year!  We'll hope to see you all back the first weekend in January for the start of our Deep Winter Crop Share.  Until then, I leave you with this little gem...

When I go to an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, I go ALL out!

Merry Christmas everyone!

What's Cookin'?

About two weeks ago, I put a blurb on our Crop Share inserts asking those of you Instagramming members to tag any of your Nalls photos (especially of what you create with your weekly share of veggies and fruits) with #onlyatnalls, so we could all see and share what's cookin' in our kitchens (Note: Unfortunately your profile has to be set to public for anyone not currently following you to see.).  Well I wondered if anyone would actually take us up on it and wow, two of our members have not only been tagging with wild abandon, they have us drooling with all of their amazing creations!  So because I just can't help but share the amazingness, here's a little walk through the culinary creations of members Bethany Duffy and Mandi Ward.

First up, let's take a peek inside Bethany's kitchen...

Cranberry Beans with Collard Greens & Carrots

Poblanos, Spring Onions, Potatoes & Zucchini in Cartoccio with Broiled Kielbasa

Drunken Pasta with Beets & Beet Greens

Caprese Salad

Fajitas with Corn, Avocados, Tomatoes & Spring Onion

Little Apricot Cakes

Butter Sauteed Radishes

Poblanos Stuffed with Rice, Beans, Spinach, Chipotle Venison Sausage...and lots of Cheese

Cucumbers, Tomatoes, Scallions & Okra Marinated in Red Wine Vinegar & Olive Oil

Bethany, we love being a small part of your family's dinner table!

Next up, behind the scenes in Mandi Ward's kitchen....

Baked Curry Chicken and a Warm Beet Salad with Cilantro & Caramelized Onions

Strawberry, Rhubarb & Orange Popsicles

Greek Yogurt with Blueberries

Crockpot Chicken with Carrots, Celery, Lemon, lots of Garlic and a Dill mohawk

Ratatouille

Cabbage Rolls

Pattypan Squash with Bacon & Spring Onions

Bethany & Mandi, thanks so much for the "instalove" and giving us a window into your kitchens!  So um...when will dinner be ready?  ;)

For the rest of you, if you're on Instagram, don't forget to tag any and all Nalls related photos with #onlyatnalls.  We'll use our favorites to highlight here on Nalls Kitchen, our website and our Pinterest page.  We don't currently have a Nalls only Instagram account, but we're individually tagging our photos with the hashtag so you can all get a behind the scenes look.  So follow along on Instagram with us and the rest of the extended Crop Share family under #onlyatnalls.

The Communal Table: Gathering Together Our Crop Share Family

This past weekend, the Mister and I went to the National Museum of American History to check out their newly opened exhibit, Food: Transforming the American Table.

Okay, well it was more of a pilgrimage for me to see the re-opened Julia Child kitchen exhibit, because I've been in a year-long state of withdrawal while they "re-modeled" it.  Come on Smithsonian, you can't do these things to a foodie!

So much kitchen envy!

Once I started to come down from my Julia high, it was time to explore the rest of the Food exhibit.  While you may think an exhibit on the history of food in the U.S. would be rather droll, it was actually quite fascinating to see where we've come, even since the 1940s and 1950s.  Those of us who take to our kitchens to tackle our Crop Share ingredients are recipients of the legacy started by people, like Julia Child, who wanted to get average Americans into their kitchens to not just make dinner, but to fall in love with the act of cooking.  For much of our history, cooking was drudgery and if you had the means, you made it someone else's drudgery.  Then we entered into a very weird phase where the American home cook became chic, but in a weird let's microwave cook everything or put it in a Jell-O mold kind of way.  I'm so, so very glad we did not stay there!

And then into the sea of TV dinners and meatloaf came a boisterous giant, chortling, swilling wine and exhorting us all to, "Save the liver!"  America fell in love with Julia Child, and in turn fell in love with the art of cooking and the beauty of ingredients.  Today, it's hard to imagine a time without the Food Network, celebrity chefs, and even food bloggers.  Talking about food has become as American as apple pie.

By far one of the best parts of the exhibit is the Open Table, a large table where museum guests can gather around to talk about food.  What food types are on or off their table and why?  Are organic and sustainable labels important to them?  It was great to just stand and watch as strangers from around the world came around a table to talk food.  Politics and religion often drive peoples apart, but here at the Open Table, food was bringing people together.

So it got me thinking about our Crop Share program and the reasons why we all took the plunge and became members.  I know for myself it was a desire to eat a healthier more plant-based diet and to challenge myself to learn to cook every random piece of produce we'd get.  But what about all of you, what prompted you to sign up?  

We refer to all of you as our Crop Share family, and while we don't gather around the same table each night, we are all bonded by the fact that this program is something we all love and believe in.  So it's my hope that this blog can be more than just a repository of recipes, that this can be a virtual, communal table where we can all dialogue about food, our traditions, newly discovered recipes and what kind of impact Crop Share has made in your life.

Thus, I want to hear from you, whether it's a great recipe you've come up with, a photo of last night's dinner, a link to your own food blog, your thoughts on anything food related, whatever it is, I want to hear it and share among all of us.  So leave comments, e-mail photos and recipes (tara@nallsproduce.com), even tag your food photos on Instagram with #onlyatnalls so we can see what's cooking.

Let's make this blog a place where we all gather around our common bond of good food and fresh ingredients.

Now...let's get cooking!