I'm a dork

No really, I am a dork and I will tell you why. Every other Saturday morning I wake up at 5:45am, put on my working clothes and head to a nearby park. I volunteer at Bountiful Baskets...check it out at http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/ . Bountiful Baskets is a coop that allows you to get fresh fruit and vegetables either regular or organic at a very reasonable price. Seasonal fruits and vegetables are also offered in large quantities through out the year.

Volunteering means filling the baskets with the items and the best part is that you get "extras" for being a volunteer. Saturday mornings are one of my most favorite parts of the weekend when I get my basket. It feels like Christmas morning when I fill my reusable grocery bags with all the goodies. I love getting new and interesting fruits and veggies then going home to learn how to cook with them or find new recipes for the usual items. This week my organic basket was filled with a huge watermelon, apples, grapes, persimmons, limes, pineapple, carrots, potatoes, zucchini, lettuce, swiss chard and butternut squash. I also got the mexican pack filled with limes, garlic, onion, tomatillos, jalapeno peppers and many other types of peppers, corn tortillas and avacados...mmm...already made some delicious guacamole today.

We have been getting a ton of acorn squash lately and it seems that every time I use one or two...it multiplies to three or four more. I've cooked and mashed them with cinnamon and butter...yummy. Roasted acorn squash is delicious...I cut it up with onions and sweet potatoes. Then drizzle olive oil, salt and pepper over the veggies place the roasting pan in the oven and 20 to 30 minutes later....I have a wonderful side dish.

Bountiful Baskets has expanded to other states so check it out and see if there is one near you. I love it and I'm sure you would too.