I made these cupcakes for our New Year’s Eve celebration. We played games with friends and snacked.

These Fauxtess cupcakes were the main event. They are filled with vanilla cream, just like the real things – only these are obviously 100x better because I can read the ingredient list. The recipe is from Vegan With A Vengeance.

I harvested the last ripe tomato of the season in October. I never imaged that I could pick a red tomato off the vine at the end of October. Overall, this year’s tomato harvest wasn’t as plentiful as last years. We grew different varieties and that obviously made all of the difference.

We had a very productive Poblano harvest this season. It’s the first time we’ve tried to grow any type of pepper. The plant grew remarkably large, but didn’t produce fruit until late in the season. We dried the peppers we couldn’t use and have been using them since in chili, tacos, and the like.

We also had successful harvests of beets, cilantro, basil, and thyme. I actually got in two beet crops this season. This photo is of the second crop. It wasn’t as big as the first but still edible and delicious.

I made a small cowl for my mother-in-law using a new (to me) stitch called Indian cross-stitch. It’s simple but really dramatic looking.

This cowl didn’t take long to make and it’s quite pretty. She really likes it. Score one for an awesome handmade gift. The pattern is Elis by Reiko Kuwamura (find it on Ravelry).

I also knit blue and purple toddler mitten for my niece. They match the hat I made for the baby shower. The mittens are a little big but she’ll grow into them. I forgot to take a photo before we wrapped them.

Two more knit items to talk about. I also made a matching baby hat and mitts for my husband’s cousin’s baby. I love baby items because I can knit them up so quickly. I made all of it in a day and half. The new parents were appreciative and the hat fit their 2 month old perfectly.

This is our last CSA share for the 2011 season:

• redleaf lettuce
• sweet potatoes
• yellow onion
• kale
• green cabbage
• broccoli
• carrots
• butternut squash

The farm actually bought organic broccoli and lettuce from another grower because their harvest failed this year. They had a lack of sun and 21″ of rain in September and that held back both the broccoli and lettuce crops. They said “frankly we felt you deserved these items in your box.” I think that was quite nice of them!

I’ll post later about the great price experiment for this season’s CSA. I can say now that it’s worth it for us in a number of areas, but I want to collect my thoughts on the subject.

I’m sad this season is over. I should try to find a winter CSA…

We’re almost at the end of our CSA season and it shows. This week we got:

• sweet potatoes
• radishes
• collards
• salad mix
• yellow onion

The amount of food and variety of food has decreased, which is to be expected in mid-November. Next week is our last CSA delivery. I’m sad.

Only 2 more weeks of tasty CSA veggies. This week we got:

• green cabbage
• leeks
• Yukon gold potatoes
• yummy peppers
• yellow onion
• green peppers

I love leeks! Maybe we’ll make a leek and potato soup. Now that it’s fall and the nights are colder, we’ve been making lots of soup. I could eat soup for almost every meal.

As for the economics of the CSA, I plan to do a big roundup at the end. But I can say that the CSA is still the best value. There’s only been 3 weeks where the value of the CSA is less than what we paid for it – and it was only by $1 or so.

There are only 3 weeks left until our CSA ends for the season. Until then, we’re enjoying these veggies:

• broccoli
• hot peppers: jalapeno and Krimson Lee
• cilantro
• green bell pepper
• sweet potatoes
• kale
• butternut squash

I have no idea what we are going to do with hot peppers. I don’t like really spicy food and we have lots of Poblanos from our own plant. I think Poblanos are pretty hot so I’m skeptical of others. The CSA suggested chopping and freezing the peppers. I’m just worried we’ll never use them. Anyone want some hot peppers?

• fall salad mix
• yellow onion
• broccoli
• eggplant
• collards
• green bell pepper
• grape tomatoes
• sweet potatoes
• yummy peppers

I made a hell of a dinner on Monday: chickpea cutlets, mashed potatoes, and collards. It was delicious. I love getting fall veggies.

It’s great to see your knits on an actual baby. This is my niece wearing the chocqua hat I made for her baby shower.

This week our CSA share included:

• red onions
• yummy peppers
• tomatoes
• green pepper
• arugula bunch
• Yukon gold potatoes
• red pepper
• garlic

I hate to say it, but I’m sick of peppers. I have a hard time thinking of creative dinners with peppers. Ideas?