Grapevine March 25 2007 Market

this week
- What's Coming to the Market This Week?
- Used Instrument Drive for Schools
- Cooking Ideas - Wild Mushroom & Potato Gratin

The warmer temperatures and longer days are a welcome sight after the cold weather in January and February. Signs of spring are at the market too, from daffodils and plant starts to early spring vegetables. The warmer temperature also brings one of our new summer farm vendors a few weeks earlier. Creative Growers from Noti is a certified organic farm with a wide selection of vegetables and fruit. Stop by and say hello to David this Sunday. Tastebud will be back making pizzas this weekend. If you missed her at the last market, Tammi Packer of Packer Orchard is back with her cookies and jam. Stephens Farm will be back one more time this week with their cider. The Hillsdale Neighborhood Association will be holding its last charrette on the proposed Hillsdale Plaza Design this weekend too.

See you on Sunday!

Eamon Molloy
Market Manager

What's Coming to the Market This Week?

Signs of spring will definitely be at the market this week. Fiddlehead ferns, sunchokes, nettles and perhaps morels will be available. Other vegetables include radishes, leeks, kale raab, parsnips, carrots, bok choy, kale, salad mixes, micro greens, spinach and braising mixes. Check the availability list for details.


In
Creative Growers (*NEW*)
Tastebud

Out
Blossom Vinegar (back April 29)
Deep Roots Farm (back April 15)
Linda Brand Crab (back April 15)

Used Instrument Drive for Schools

The Wilson Area Arts Council (WAAC) will be collecting used instruments for the Wilson High cluster music programs. WAAC volunteers will be at the market this Sunday to accept donated instruments and other donations.

Cooking Ideas - Wild Mushroom & Potato Gratin

Springtime is a great time for wild mushrooms. Hedgehogs, yellowfoot and black trumpets are the ones you will most likely find right now. There are lots of ways to use wild mushrooms. You can simply saute them with some garlic and olive oil and serve them with toast as an appetizer. This recipe uses mushrooms in a potato gratin. Enjoy!

Wild Mushroom and Potato Gratin

1/2 lb. wild mushrooms
4 tablespoons butter (unsalted)
10-12 medium potatoes (Yukon Gold are best but any potato other than Russets will work )
1 pint heavy cream
salt and pepper

Preheat the oven 375 degrees.

Gently clean the mushrooms and cut into slices. Saute the mushrooms in butter over medium-high heat until the mushrooms absorb their liquid and start to get crisp. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper.

Peel and dice the potatoes and cook in boiling water until they are fully cooked but not mushy. Scoop the potatoes from the water and set on a sheet pan to cool.

Butter a 9 by 12 baking dish. Layer the potatoes and mushrooms alternately. Cover with cream. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the cream is bubbling and the top of the gratin is golden brown.

Grapevine March 11 2007 Market

this week
- What's Coming to the Market this week?
- Market Talk - Spring Gardening Tips
- Wilson Area Arts Council Instrument Drive
- Cooking Ideas - Arugula Pesto

We'll probably have some rain this weekend but it will definitely be warmer than the last few months. Don't forget to set your clocks ahead an hour on Saturday night. We go to Daylight Savings Time this weekend.

See you on Sunday!

Eamon Molloy
Market Manager

What's Coming to the Market this week?
You'll find a nice supply of salad greens this weekend. You should also find leeks, onions, potatoes, beets, carrots, parsnips, garlic, broccoli, raab, and spinach. Check the availability list for details.

It's time to think about your garden too. There will be a wide variety of vegetable starts, hardy perennials including hellebores, cover crop seed and many other items available this weekend.

In
Farris Seaman Plants
Garden Color
Honeyhill Nursery
Rose City Pepperheads

Out
Deep Roots Farm (back April 15)
Tastebud (back March 25)

Market Talk - Spring Gardening Tips
The days are longer and the temperature is a bit warmer. You want to start working in the garden but you ask yourself,"What can I plant right now?" Anne Berblinger of Gales Meadow Farm will give a short talk on Early Spring Gardening at 11am this Sunday. Gales Meadow Farm is a certified organic farm specializing in heirloom vegetable and herb varieties.

Wilson Area Arts Council Instrument Drive
The Wilson Area Arts Council (WAAC) is asking people in the community to "clean out their closets" of used musical instruments and put them to good use by donating them for use in Wilson cluster schools. WAAC is also seeking cash donations and grants with which to purchase new instruments. WAAC volunteers are working closely with Paul Jolstead of Wilson and other music teachers in the cluster to secure the instruments and other equipment they need to enhance their excellent programs. WAAC volunteers will be at the market this Sunday and on March 25 to accept donations.

Cooking Ideas - Arugula Pesto
Arugula, with its tender leaves and peppery flavor, is often used in salads. But like basil, you can also make pesto with arugula. It's a nice variation from basil pesto with a slightly bitter and more peppery flavor. Try it with your favorite pasta. Enjoy!

Arugula Pesto
2 packed cups arugula
2 garlic cloves, peeled
6 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan

Combine the arugula, walnuts and garlic into a food processor. Pulse while drizzling the olive oil into the processor. Remove the mixture from the processor and put it into a bowl. Stir in the Parmesan cheese.