Please inspire me - dull veg box selection

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/oct/06/foodanddrink.recipe The Leon Gobi recipe here is fab and could easily be made with broccoli, carrot and courgette (I used the basic recipe for flavours then just add whatever veg I have to hand). Is tasty without lots of chilli so fine for children.

Toms I would chop, cover in oo, garlic and s&p, cook for 30 mins and spread on toast- yum.

Kale- how about something bubble and squeakish?

Celery- Cooked, I only ever use this chopped v finely in sauces or in stock. If it's nice I'd just have it raw with some salt.

Soup? I've just made a huge pot of veg soup with the glut from my dad's garden my boys will eat it if I add a splash of cream to it and they can have lots of bread and butter.

Pasta with veg & tomato sauce?

Hearty veggie (+/- bean) soup

Shepherd's pie/spaghetti bolognese

Simple veggie curry; onion, garlic, ginger, veg, curry paste, coconut milk = done.

Kale & celery - can't help you there, sorry. They both ming, big time. We have them on our veg box 'black list' so never get them thankfully!

Thanks. Soup is a definite goer - I was thinking of a courgette and feta one as I've gone off courgettes a bit but the soup is lovely.

Celery is a bit of a rubbish vegetable - actually, braised celery is lovely, but feels too wintery for now, and I'm not lined up for any stock making at the moment - short on bones.

Knownowt - I'll make a note of the gobi, which looks lovely but only uses one carrot out of my box ad lots of other veg - the husband will be most cross if I ignore the veg and buy new stuff, but I want squash and aubergine and other lovely things.

Knownowt - just realised I missed half your message - that recipe makes me want cauliflower etc! I am becoming my petulant son and not wanting whatever is on offer!

I know it lists lots of other vegetables but you don't need them, it works with anything (carrot, broccoli, courgette would work brilliantly)- I was linking to it for the basic recipe (ie the spices and method) rather than suggesting you go and buy a cauliflower etc ?

Celery works great instead of onion in a summer risotto - soften it with garlic before adding it to the rice. I do a veg risotto when we have lots to use up; veg stock and a squeeze of fresh lemon at the end give it a nice fresh flavour. Finely chopped carrots and peas work best, I find, though you can chuck anything in.

I'd do the courgette and broccoli with some cheese and mushrooms in linguini (or any other pasta, come to think of it). Lasagne would work actually, and would use the kale too.

What about these courgette recipes? https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/aug/16/nigel-slater-courgette Do you use a local firm? I'm in Sheffield too but recently stopped using Abel and Cole because of a couple of poor deliveries and I would prefer an alternative, more local supplier.

Thanks all - food chosen, including the gobi, a tomato and goats' cheese crumble and tomato and chorizo pasta.

Emma - I use Beanies but had been toying with moving to Abel and Cole as I'm fed up of rubbish selections - cabbage for months on end - and not knowing in advance what's coming (I usually need to shop on delivery day before it arrives ideally), having to pay extra if you want to blacklist something, dodgy quality etc. I know some of this goes with the veg box territory but Abel and Cole seemed to be more flexible - what problems did you have with them? I'm reluctant to switch from Beanies as they're local and a fab cooperative, but we waste too much food (I really can't get through that much cabbage and kale, let alone the occasional giant bag of parsley).

Bruised apples a couple of times and we had some oranges that went mouldy within a week. To be fair though, the other stuff was fine. You can blacklist stuff easily and you always got what it said you would ratehr than last minute subs. I've started getting my stuff from the Welbeck farm shop but it's a bit of a drive!!

ETA I hate bruised apples - if I go to the supermarket, I don't let them put them down cos they invariably roll to the bottom of the packing area! Minor I know, but I just can't eat bruised apples.

I used to get mine from Farmaround North the veg was always fine and they publish what they are sending a week in advance.

ETA this week

Standard Vegetable Bag (2-4 people) £12.25

Potatoes, New
Carrots, Bunched
Onions
Pak Choi
Cherry Tomatoes
Aubergines
Broccoli
Runner Beans
Courgettes

Next week

Standard Vegetable Bag (2-4 people) £12.25

Potatoes, New
Carrots
Onions, Bunched
Lettuce
Broccoli
Runner Beans
Courgettes
Spinach
Red Peppers

I do a lovely baked courgette and tomato dish - I know you said no side dishes, but please consider it - it's so easy ?

slice courgette and tomato into equal size rounds and then put in a small baking dish (on their side alternating a slice of tomato with a slice of courgette). Season, put a few herbs on top, drizzle with olive oil and roast in the oven for about 45 mins (ish) Really tasty with sausages & mash, or with some fresh bread

brocolli is good in pasta with sun dried tomato paste & a few pine nuts

celery can be put in rosotto or casserole

carrots can be disgused with mince, but again, can be lovely if wrapped in a foil parcel, drizzle some wine and roast, even upduffed you could probably have that!)

You could make a chicken pie and put celery, small chopped up carrots & courgette and tomato in the pie too, make a gravy sauce and cover with puff pastry

Tomaotes can be made into ketchup quite easily too, or you could put slices of them in a shepherds pie (on top of the mince (containing hidden carrot) but under the mash) might need to peel the skin first though