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Friday, June 12, 2009

Friday Food for Thought—More Feasts from the Farmers’ Markets

I am totally loving summer and all the fresh produce that’s already available. This week’s shopping expeditions to two farmers’ markets yielded:

  • rhubarb (made a rhubarb-strawberry-apple fruit crisp)
  • mustard greens (braised in olive oil with a little garlic and hot sauce—so delicious!)
  • turnips (braised in butter)
  • striped beets (red and white and yummy all over!)
  • Swiss chard (more braising going on)
  • tomatoes
  • English cucumbers
  • mixed baby salad greens
  • red and yellow peppers
  • homemade granola
  • freshly baked bread
  • a bar of handmade Blackberry Bliss soap (heaven scented!)
This woman was selling beautifully arranged bouquets of peonies. So fragrant. I didn't buy one because I have peonies in my own garden but judging by the number of people carrying an armload of flowers, she was doing very well.

And now I'm going to treat myself to a bowl of granola.

Until next time,
Lee

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Isn't the arrival of fresh local produce something to celebrate? As a child, all our vegetables came from my grandfather's huge garden and I truly miss that. I'm aging myself, but he never used chemicals so we used to have our own salt shakers to go out and pick cucumbers and tomatoes and eat them, still warm from the sun. Yum. And raspberries from his bushes. And... well, drooling is not cool, so I'd better quit. I do enjoy our local farm markets. I've never found corn like my grandad grew though.

SHeryll

Marin Thomas said...

Lee, the woman's flowers in the photo are beautiful. I'm finding more and more non-food items at local farmer's markets these days--handmade bird houses, and yard decorations. It's always a treat to see what's for sale.

Marin
www.marinthomas.com

Anita Birt said...

The first strawberries are available at markets around our region. I am going to treat myself to several boxes tomorrow. I love fresh strawberries.

Lee, you write about food with such joy. I'm surprised you don't weigh $200 lbs. Instead you are downright slim and looking good.

Lee McKenzie said...

Sheryll,

I remember going into the garden as a child, pulling up a baby carrot, wiping it on my pantleg, and eating it right then and there.

And is there anything better than raw sun-warmed peas straight from the pod? I don't thing so :)

Lee McKenzie said...

Marin, I'm in total agreement. It's wonderful to see what's for sale in the markets at this time of year. I saw beautiful handmade greeting cards, and the most adorable baby hats. The cards I have a use for. The hats, not so much :)

Lee McKenzie said...

LOL, Anita! You flatter me. But you're right, I do love food. Not so much fancy gourmet food as deliciously prepared, wholesome and natural food. It's good for the body as well as the soul.

And like you, I've never met a strawberry I didn't like :)