It’s Still Asparagus Soup Season
Asparagus, the first major local crop to hit Chicago in the spring, is still ubiquitous in the area’s markets. You never know when crops are going to tap out, so don’t miss out on this delicious local specialty.
I tend to buy quite a lot of spears, which results in there always being a big container of asparagus soup in the fridge. Because asparagus plays well with so many other veggies, a soup is a great way to clean up any surplus you have hanging around.
This batch, seen cooked and puréed above, included asparagus, red spring onions (aka tropea), carrots, carrot greens and stems, zucchini and celery, topped with homemade chicken broth. Not only is it delicious but, day-um, is that a healthy soup.
Pro tip: To even out the cooking time, steam any harder vegetables while the softer ones are sautéeing, then stir everything together. The bowl in the photo above contains the steamed asparagus, zucchini, carrots, celery and carrot green stems.
Speaking of Asparagus Soup
Thanks to Ruth Katcher — who is so kind to subscribe to Local Food Forum from her home in Brooklyn, New York — for responding to my request for asparagus soup recipes. Here is Ruth’s delicious-sounding suggestion:
I improvised the other night and turned up a winner! Had a lot of celery and a leftover roast chicken drumstick. So....
Sauteed a chopped red onion in olive oil. Added half a head of celery, chopped, and a bunch of asparagus, ends snapped off and sliced into inch-long pieces. A few small, diced potatoes that were going soft. Salt, pepper, and about five cups of stock, some chicken, some vegetable, from the freezer.
Let it simmer for a while, then blitzed with an immersion blender, seasoned with more salt and pepper, and a tablespoon or so of butter.
Then I added the asparagus tips, which I'd held in reserve, the chopped meat from the chicken drumstick, and a quarter of a preserved Meyer lemon, diced.
Served with leftover fried polenta!
Ruth in Brooklyn, very eager for the start of CSA season.
Thanks, Ruth. Now come on, Chicago, it’s your turn.
Additions to the Farmers Market Listing
Folks, I have learned about two additional markets that I’ll be adding to the weekly day-by-day Chicago regional listing that runs in Local Food Forum on Mondays.
Lombard is a brand new farmers market (sorry that we missed their opening day this Tuesday). Chicago’s Independence Park Farmers Market, located just off West Irving Park Road near the Kennedy Expressway, is returning to start its every-other-week schedule this Sunday.
Sunday, June 12
(* = season opener)
Independence Park Farmers Market*, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Irving Park Rd. & Hamlin, Chicago
Tuesday, June 14
Lombard Farmers Market, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., 20 E. St. Charles Rd.,
Community News Catchup
Next Door Dinners June 27 Event at Star Farm Chicago
Carly Herron, one of my former FamilyFarmed colleagues, is continuing her series of Next Door Dinners with an event at Star Farm Chicago, an amazing urban ag facility in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. The June 27 dinner, which starts with a farm tour at 6:30 p.m., is pay-what-you-can for the yummy-sounding menu above and is BYOB.
Here is the description of the event shared by Carly:
Next Door Dinners is a monthly Chicago-based community dinner project with a pay-what-you-can model. Every month we hold a three course dinner that sells out at 50 people. The dinner sources its ingredients from Chicago urban farmers and makers and donates all profits to Chicago based nonprofits that work to better our food system.
All profits from the June 27 dinner will go to Star Farm, a non-profit urban farm, working to increase access to local organic produce through farmers markets, pop-ups, delivery, and our local foods co-op.
TICKETS REQUIRED!
This dinner is pay-what-you-can, so all are welcome! The amount to “break even” for your dinner costs (ingredients + venue) is usually $9-13 per person. Some give $5 and some give $50. When deciding what to give, please consider your wealth, income, race, gender identity, and ability to access fresh food.
Location: Star Farm, 944 W 50th Pl, Chicago, IL 60609
Date and Time: June 27, Farm Tour at 6:30pm, Dinner at 7:00pm
Ticket Price: Pay-what-you-can, tickets required!
Website: Instagram, @nextdoordinners and https://linktr.ee/NextDoorDinners
Questions?: carlyherron23@gmail.com, (319) 651-6011
Job Opening: Prairie Rivers Network
Prairie Rivers Network, an environment-focused, Illinois-based nonprofit, is seeking a new Executive Director. The following descriptions are from the organization’s job posting page. Click below to learn more specifics about the job and how to apply.
ABOUT PRAIRIE RIVERS NETWORK
At Prairie Rivers Network we protect water, heal land, and inspire change. Using the creative power of science, law, and collective action, we protect and restore our rivers, return healthy soils and diverse wildlife to our lands, and transform how we care for the earth and for each other.
Our programs confront many of the root causes of environmental degradation in Illinois while addressing the sources and impacts of climate change. Learn more at www.prairierivers.org.
THE OPPORTUNITY
The organization seeks an Executive Director to lead, mentor, and empower a qualified and committed staff to achieve the transformational goals of the organization; communicate an inspirational vision for the flourishing of the community of life on the Illinois landscape; foster and strengthen partnerships with other change-makers; develop and implement a fundraising plan that cultivates and builds enduring relationships with donors and foundations; and work effectively with and leverage the skills of a dedicated board.
The Executive Director will be leading one of the most-effective and respected environmental advocacy organizations in Illinois, with a strong history of successes in achieving change, including momentous recent policy victories. At a time of great need for transformative change to heal past wounds and implement a new vision for caring for the world and each other, this position presents a remarkable opportunity for an individual passionate about realizing healthier communities of life and inspiring the public to join with us in pursuing this mission.
Applications will be accepted through June 30.