Fresh from Wellspring Charitable Gardens - September 24, 2026
Fresh Today… Summer Squash, Salad Mix Lettuce, Lemon & Slicing & Armenian Cucumbers, Carrots, Peppers, Green Beans, Onions, Garlic, Shallots, Dill, Basil, Chives & Melons
Using your Produce… by Chef Julie Moreno
We have lots of squash this week, so I included a favorite recipe from Thomas Keller, one of the best chefs in the world. Without traveling to The French Laundry in Napa, you can enjoy it too. This recipe is very simple; feel free to top the cooked squash with some basil pesto or you could make extra maple-Dijon vinaigrette from today’s salad recipe and use that or just enjoy it plain. The trick is that by searing the squash on high heat, it forms a crust that helps to keep the water from seeping out. The squash will be soft, but it takes on a creamy texture more like mashed potatoes.
Using your Produce… by Chef Julie Moreno
We have lots of squash this week, so I included a favorite recipe from Thomas Keller, one of the best chefs in the world. Without traveling to The French Laundry in Napa, you can enjoy it too. This recipe is very simple; feel free to top the cooked squash with some basil pesto or you could make extra maple-Dijon vinaigrette from today’s salad recipe and use that or just enjoy it plain. The trick is that by searing the squash on high heat, it forms a crust that helps to keep the water from seeping out. The squash will be soft, but it takes on a creamy texture more like mashed potatoes.
Thomas Keller’s Seared Squash
2-3 pieces summer squash
Salt
Oil
* Cut the squash in half lengthwise. Score the squash in a crosshatch pattern and season with salt. Let the squash sit for 10 minutes. Preheat your oven to 450°F. After the squash has sat, dry with a paper towel and heat an oven-safe pan on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil to the hot pan and then press the squash cut side down in the pan. Without turning the squash, let it sear for 5 minutes, then place the pan in the oven for 20-25 minutes until tender. Flip the squash over onto a serving dish and top with pesto, vinaigrette or salsa. (Simply Recipes does a great explanation of why this works. Go to https://www.simplyrecipes.com/thomas-keller-roasted-zucchini-recipe-review-7564431
What to do with all those fresh cucumbers?
For an answer, we turned to Elise Bauer, founder of Simply Recipes, and discovered a cool and tasty treat to beat the early fall heat. We share with you her flavorful and refreshing Cold Cucumber Soup recipe found at her website simplyrecipes.com.
2 large cucumbers, peeled,
seeded, roughly chopped
2 Tbsp chopped onion
2 Tbsp fresh dill
2 Tbsp sour cream
1 Tbsp rice vinegar
½ cup buttermilk
½ tsp salt and pinch black pepper
* Place all ingredients in a blender until smooth and creamy. Chill well and serve with a drizzle of high-quality olive oil and fresh sprig of dill. Now it’s time for you to chill and enjoy those refreshing cucumbers!
Cold Cucumber Soup
from Elise Bauer
Fall is Here…
The weather is still warm enough for a daily salad, but we’re ready for fall flavors (as Starbucks always reminds us this time of year). Add any of our vegetables to this salad if you like. The flavor combination of maple, apples, and nuts makes me ready for a warm blanket.
Fall Salad with Maple-Dijon Vinaigrette
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp real maple syrup
1½ tsp Dijon mustard
¼ cup minced shallot
½ tsp salt
½ tsp fresh ground black pepper
3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
5-6 cups lettuce, washed & chopped
¼ cup walnuts or pecans,coarsely chopped
1 apple, thinly sliced
3 Tbsp feta cheese
2 slices bacon cooked & chopped
¼ cup dried cranberries
* In a blender combine the vinegar, maple syrup, mustard, shallot, salt and pepper. Turn the blender on and drizzle in the olive oil, blend well for about 30 seconds. In a large mixing bowl, combine the lettuce, cranberries, nuts and apple slices. Add the dressing and toss to combine. Serve the salad topped with the feta cheese and bacon.
Metaphors of Soil and Soul…
Blessing in Tears
Cindi J Martin
Ongoing social and political uncertainty makes many of us feel captive to malevolent forces beyond our control. Perhaps you can relate to the Psalmist who wrote in similarly desperate times during Israel’s Babylonian captivity, “Restore our captivity (return the captive ones), O Lord, as the streams in the South. Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” The Psalmist’s poignant prayer for relief offers wise insight into how we grieve intense loss without losing hope.
Uncertainty moves us to pray for a return to stability, civility, safety, and familiarity. As we seek the LORD and await His restoration, the Psalmist declares that we must live with purpose, despite our distress and dire circumstances. We must keep working, carrying our bag of seeds and sowing in hope, if we are to eventually reap a joyful harvest. He also says tears are natural companions to painful conditions. Emotional integrity - being honest about our feelings, regardless of how raw - is vital to maintaining our mental, spiritual, and interpersonal well-being during times of grievous loss. If you are among the stoics who fiercely hold back tears, perhaps research findings on the relationship between crying and stress relief will give you courage to let your tears flow when you are hurt or sad, mad or fearful. Stress stimulates the brain’s production of Cortisol, the hormone that activates the body’s “fight, flight, or freeze” responses to a threat. Studies show that crying REDUCES the brain’s production of Cortisol to help manage the body’s response to stress. People who “hold back” their tears, rather than “letting them flow,” DO NOT reap the relief and emotional benefits that flow freely with tears.
That is wonderful confirmation for those of us who know the comfort in crying! If you aren’t yet acquainted with the blessing in tears, try “letting them go” instead of “holding them back.” The release will provide you emotional relief and freedom, and those precious energies you expended keeping your emotions captive can now be redirected toward carrying your bag of seed and sowing in hope for a joyful return and harvest.
“But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, being confined for the faith that was destined to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:23-28
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