Sunday, July 6, 2008

Farmer's Market Monday -Week 4 (On Sunday)

This is not actually the fourth week of the farmer's market, only the fourth time I've been able to go.



Not a lot has changed - though a few new things were available this week. I was thrilled to see garlic, strawberries and green beans. I missed out on the tri-color beans, but these do look amazing. Only two farmers (out of many) had them and they were pretty pricey. The strawberries look better than they taste, unfortunately. They are not very sweet. I also purchased fresh onions, green onions, lettuce, spinach, baby red potatoes, sugar snap and snow peas, eggs, and some meat. I was hoping to see carrots and broccoli, but no luck. I looked back at a photo of my farmer's market haul from July 8, 2007 and see that I bought corn, carrots, leeks, and shallots. Hmm.

My garden is doing alright. There are a few inch long zucchini, a few green tomatoes on my very small plants, and some herbs. All are looking better this week since it has been hot.

Now that green beans are in, we'll probably be eating them at least twice a week. My favorite preparations are to roast them, especially in the winter when grocery store beans are tough, or to make them into a salad with tomatoes in a vinaigrette. There are a few new recipes I want to try this year from this book. Any suggestions on your favorite ways to prepare fresh green beans?

7 comments:

Bybee said...

My farmer's market experience: Got a watermelon, but when I got home, it was mushy in the middle! Ugh. I salvaged a bit from the edges & chilled the slices. Better luck next week.

Jodie Robson said...

We only have a farmer's market once a month and I'm often away that day, so we don't get there very often. Unless you are there within an hour of opening it's not really worth it. On the other hand, we had potatoes and broccoli from our neighbour last night, and they were scrupmtious.

Tara said...

Bybee - Oh no! That is so disappointing and has happened to me with other melons. Better luck next time!

Geranium Cat, homegrown broccoli just tastes nothing like it does when you buy it at the grocery store, does it?

Maw Books said...

Our farmers market has finally opened but we haven't had any produce yet. So far the only thing I have bought is peas. My garden is coming along nicely as well although we are far from harvesting anything. Our spring stayed cold for so long. I hope to have green beans next week. Honestly, just about the only thing I do with them is steam them and eat them with salt and pepper.

Tara said...

Natasha, we have had the same problem here, a cold spring that feels like it just ended. I cannot remember where you are...must check that out!

Cornflower said...

I've just got Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook and it is full of mouthwatering recipes, ideal for people who grow their own fruit and vegetables or shop at the farmers' market, but even if it's just the supermarket I'm buying from I think the book will inspire me to be more creative.

Tara said...

Karen, your new book looks simply wonderful! I am also always trying to be more creative with vegetables. I think many people dislike them because they're not cooked properly.