i went to the farmer's market today for the first time this season

[fizzgig]

picked up red and gold beets, anaheim peppers, maters, garlic, hot sauce, wildflower honey, cookie bars, chocolate milk and a basil plant. i wanted to get some meat, but just didn't have the money.

i'll most likely roast the beets for a salad and the peppers just because i love roasted peppers. the maters will go for blts.

i'm not usually a fan of premade chocolate milk, but i had a glass when i got home and now want to drink the whole bottle. i then made some coffee so i could use the honey and it is incredible. the honey usually buy (when i can afford it) is made? gathered? about 45 miles away but i can taste a difference.

i spread my money out among as many vendors as i could and it felt good to keep my money in my community. i'm going to try to make this a weekly thing.

[cbayer]

1. I am soooo jealous.

My produce stores are almost completely depleted.

[fizzgig]

2. i'd totally smoosh some through the intertubes if i could

i hope you can restock soon

[cbayer]

3. One of my favorite things is beet salad with goat cheese and toasted walnuts.

:drool:

[fizzgig]

4. that is exactly what i have in mind

but maybe use candied walnuts instead

[grasswire]

5. I love my local farmers market

I try to make the best of it! There is always a band of some kind, and lots of good food vendors for those who want to lunch. Very festive; lots of happy people.

Last week I was beguiled by bunches of sweet peas. The flowers, I mean. But I thought the $8 per bunch was a bit high, even for that heavenly fragrance. The vendor, whose first language is not English, had a sign saying "these flowers will make your nose twinkle." Sweet.

Re: honey. I've been wanting to buy some raw honey for its medicinal qualities. I'll look at the market. Good idea!

[fizzgig]

7. i like that sign

i can tell i haven't been using honey this summer, i'm having troubles with allergies for the first time ever

[grasswire]

6. today's market report

A vendor had wild-picked native blackberries. Delicious. I had a taste, but by then I had spent my cash.

Another vendor had black cap raspberries! Wow. Not often seen.

I bought pickling cukes for snacking and salads, small green and yellow pattypan squashes, apricots that are stunningly beautiful and scrumptious, local artichokes, blueberries. I saw Asian bitter greens and thought about those for stir-fry, but by then I was done.

Had a blast. People are so friendly and happy at the market.

[fizzgig]

8. sounds like you scored today

i want to start pickling, but have almost no work space in my kitchen.

blackberries are probably my favorite berries, bummer you couldn't pick some up.

glad you had a good time

[Le Taz Hot]

9. I LOVE the REAL Farmers Markets.

Absolutely detest the fake ones -- the ones where they're buying the same cardboard food that sells in the grocery stores but the grocery store prices are much cheaper.

Even though I garden extensively I can't grow everything so I supplement with one of our many local farmers markets.

My favorite is the Vinyard Farmers Market and I go twice a week.

http://www.vineyardfarmersmarket.com/

The guy who owns the land was featured on a program that was all about people who had prime real estate and refused to sell.

[fizzgig]

11. i'm hungry just looking at that web site

a mid-week afternoon farmer's market is a great idea, too. i'd love it if we had something like that.

[Retrograde]

10. Baby artichokes, strawberries, pimentos de padron

and a variety of baby spinach that doesn't make my teeth feel weird, two types of arugula and heirloom organic peaches which cost more than the store ones but taste divine. The fish guy wasn't there this week

When I was back in western New York last week I got some local peas (half of them made it into the pot for dinner - I ate the rest while I was shelling them), an enormous broccoli, and some not-so-good artisan cheese. I love farmers' markets - even the little local ones.

[fizzgig]

12. nice haul

we devoured just about everything i got the same day, the only things left are the chilis. i roasted them, but haven't decided what to do with them yet.

bummer about the fish guy

[Aerows]

13. Yummy :)

Just yummy