Tomatoes, onions, corn, peppers and squash are ready for pick up from Kamala Gamble’s CSA garden. (Photo by Helen Ford Wallace).

If you love freshly-picked garden vegetables, you might take a look at Kamala Gamble’s Community Sponsored Agriculture program. She has 85 people picking up weekly baskets of cantalope, tomatoes, squash, onions, okra, corn eggplant and cucumbers. She also grows herbs and her flower gardens in northwest Oklahoma City are outstanding.

Check her website at KamsCookery.com

Also, she already has her fall garden planted and here are a couple of her special vegetable recipes:

SUMMER CORN SALAD
6 ears corn, husked and cleaned
3 large tomatoes, diced
1 large onion, diced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons white vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
cook corn till done (7 minutes or less) – and toss with remaining ingredients. Chill.

SUMMER SQUASH CASSEROLE
6 yellow or pattypan summer squash
1 cup onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/2 stick butter
2 slices bread
1 medium bowl ice water
1 egg
Salt and pepper
1 cup cracker crumbs, or enough to cover casserole

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Peel and cut squash into cubes. Boil until tender, about 5 to 7 minutes, and drain. Brown onion, garlic, and parsley in 2 tablespoons butter seasoned with salt and pepper. Soak bread in ice water and wring out; chop fine. Add to onion and garlic mixture; cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add drained squash and cook 2 to 3 minutes more, stirring. Remove from heat. Beat egg and add, allowing it to absorb into the mixture. Season with salt and pepper, if needed.
Place in casserole dish or baking pan. Cover top with cracker crumbs and dot with remaining butter. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the crumbs brown.
Cook’s Note: You can refrigerate this dish for up to 2 days before baking, but you should add the bread crumb topping right before you bake.

Kamala Gamble shows her wonderful vegetables and behind her are the new plants for tomatoes and squash. (Photos by Helen Ford Wallace)

Helen Ford Wallace

Social columnist