Friday, November 17, 2006

Grapevine November 19 2006 Market

this week
- What's Coming to the Market this week?
- Robert Reynolds Cooking Demo this Sunday
-Hillsdale Holiday Market Dec 3
- Cooking ideas - Asparagus Chicory Salad

What's Coming to the Market this Week?

Apples, pears, hazelnuts, walnuts and chestnuts will be in good supply for your holiday meal. Brassicas including broccoli, cauliflower, romanesco and brussel sprouts will be plentiful this weekend. Greens such as chard, kale, spinach, arugula, mustard greens and lettuce will be in good supply too. There will be plenty of root vegetables (beets, carrots, celeriac, potatoes, onions, turnips) and winter squashes to choose from too. Check the availability list for details.

Two familiar vendors return to the Hillsdale Farmers' Market this week. Dave's Killer Bread returns with their great selection of whole grain breads. Pine Mountain Ranch returns with a great selection of bison, elk and yak cuts.

In:
Cherry Country
Cuisine Mentor
Finales Desserts
Freddy Guy Filberts
Vibrant Flavors

Out:
Linda Brand Crab back December 3
Square Peg Farm back December 3

There are a lot of items available at the market this week. To help you with your market shopping, here's a downloadable shopping list in PDF format.

Chef Demo - Robert Reynolds at the Market this weekend

Chef Robert Reynolds will conduct a chef's demo at 11am this. He will share a few vegetable recipes from his latest book, An Excuse To Be Together, just in time for your Thanksgiving dinner. Robert will be opening the Chef's Studio in SE Portland in January 2007 where he will be offering 8 week courses of study. You can learn more about Robert and his Kitchen Studio here.

Hillsdale Holiday Market December 3

The fifth Hillsdale Holiday Market takes place on Sunday December 3rd, 10AM-2PM. We open up the market to artisan craft vendors for this Holiday event. Local school groups including the Ainsworth Elementary Choir, Markham Elementary Marimbas, Panache (Robert Gray Middle School vocal group), Rieke Elementary Band, Wilson High Band and the Wilson High Choir will perform throughout the day.

The festivities will take place at the market's location in the Wilson-Rieke parking lot and the former Estby gas station, 6361 SW Capitol Hwy in Hillsdale. The Hillsdale Alliance will be holding a book sale Sunday December 3, 2006 10am-3pm and the Hillsdale Business and Professional Association will hold its annual Chili Feed fundraiser for local school music programs. (Hillsdale Alliance volunteers will be at the market this Sunday to collect used books for the sale.)

Cooking Ideas - Asparagus Chicory Salad

One of the first cookbooks I purchased in college was Jane Grigson's Vegetable Book. I don't know why this book was sitting on the remainder table for 99 cents in the University Bookstore but I was happy to find it. The book is filled with descriptions of all kinds of vegetables I had never seen in a grocery or market. Ayers Creek Farm is bringing to market one of those hard to find vegetables, asparagus chicory. This chicory has a mass of shoots that look like, well, fat asparagus shoots. Having a slight bitterness and a nice crunch, a simple, light salad can be made with this chicory. Simply slice the shoots thinly, place in ice water for at least 15 minutes to allow the slices to curl, then drain. There are a few ways to dress the chicory. Anthony and Carol suggest a lemon, anchovy and olive oil dressing. (Jane Grigson writes of a relative in Rome who made Caesar salad with asparagus chicory, which is more or less the same dressing.) Another option is a simple vinaigrette with feta and olives. Either way, you've got a quick easy salad. Enjoy!

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Grapevine November 5 Market

this week
- What's Coming to the Market this week?
- Chef Demo - Robert Reynolds at the Market on November 19
- Hillsdale Alliance Book Sale
- Cooking ideas - Pear-Spinach Salad

What's Coming to the Market this Week?

With the beginning of the winter season, several vendors are finished until next spring. Lone Elder Farm, Salvador Molly's, and Sundance Lavender Farm are finished for the year. The winter season also brings a few new vendors. Square Peg Farm (apples, greens, root vegetables, squash) from Forest Grove and Hayat Farm (root vegetables, greens) from Portland join the Hillsdale Farmers' Market this week. Rose City Pepperheads starts bringing its famous pepper jellies this weekend.

"Winter is icummen in" as the old English round goes. We definitely have winter weather this weekend. Apples, pears, chestnuts and walnuts will definitely be available at the market this weekend. As for grapes, we'll see.

Broccoli, cauliflower, romanesco and brussel sprouts will be plentiful. Greens such as chard, kale, and mustard green will be readily available. More delicate greens like spinach, arugula, and some lettuces may or may not survive the frosty nights. Root vegetables (beets, carrots, celeriac, parsnips, potatoes, onions, rutabagas, turnips) and winter squashes will be plentiful though. And with the return of Ayers Creek Farm, there will be shell beans. Check the availability list for details.

Nizich Farm will be taking orders for duck and turkey through Sunday. The orders can be picked up at the November 19 market or at the farm on Monday, November 20, 6-8 PM. Talk to Diana at her booth on Sunday.

In:
Ayers Creek Farm
Hayat Farm *NEW*
Rose City Pepperheads *NEW*
Square Peg Farm *NEW*

Out:
Cherry Country back November 19
Cuisine Mentor back November 19
Farris-Seaman Plants back November 19
Finales Desserts back November 19
Freddy Guy back November 19
Linda Brand Crab back November 19
Vibrant Flavors back November 19

Chef Demo - Robert Reynolds at the Market on November 19
Chef Robert Reynolds will conduct a chef's demo at 11am the November 19 market. He will share a few vegetable recipes from his latest book, An Excuse To Be Together, just in time for your Thanksgiving dinner. Robert will be opening the Chef's Studio in SE Portland in January 2007 where he will be offering 8 week courses of study. You can learn more about Robert and his Kitchen Studio here.

Hillsdale Alliance Book Sale
Want to get rid of some books? Looking for a bargain on used books? Following up on its very successful used book sale fundraiser on July 30th, the Hillsdale Alliance will be holding another book sale Sunday December 3, 2006 10am -3pm. The sale will be held in the former Estby gas station on SW Capitol Hwy in Hillsdale. Alliance volunteers will be at the market on November 5 and November 19 to collect used books.

Cooking Ideas - Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese and Pear

This week's recipe comes from Connie Rawling-Dritsas of Blossom Vinegars. While the salad is called a Spinach Salad, Connie said that any salad greens will work well. Enjoy!

Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese and Pear

Spinach (or salad greens)
goat cheese
Walnuts
1-2 whole pears at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Blossom Vinegar Ginger Pear Vinegar
Extra virgin olive oil

Wash organic spinach; place spinach on individual plates. Wash and slice pears; arrange on spinach greens. Crumble goat cheese. Generously sprinkle over greens and pear slices. Lightly crush the nuts (except for the pine nuts). Sprinkle the nuts over each salad. Drizzle small amount of olive oil over each salad and then add Ginger-Pear vinegar, 1/2 tablespoon per salad or to taste.