Grapevine August 31 2008 Market

this week
- What's Coming To The Market This Week?
- Cooking Ideas - Pasta with Raw Tomato Sauce

It's hard to believe that Labor Day is next Monday. The cool spring has made the summer seem very short. But the summer harvest is coming in fast and furious. This weekend is the annual Tomato Mania at the market. Come sample a variety of tomatoes coming into the market this weekend.

As for music, Gypsy Jazz West is playing this Sunday. Many of you will recognize Phil Lavine from the Djangophiles. Kookoolan Farms, Chanka's Catering and Copper Crown are all back this week.

See you on Sunday!

Eamon Molloy
Market Manager

What's Coming To The Market This Week?

Tree fruit - apples, figs, nectarines and peaches - will be abundant this week. Many varieties of melons will be readily available as will strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.

As for vegetables, tomatoes will be front and center. Corn and pole beans will be plentiful this weekend as well. You'll also find Eggplant, lettuce, chard, zucchini , cabbage, carrots, broccoli, beets, radishes and a lot more. Check the availability list for the complete list of who's coming this weekend and what they expect to be selling.

IN
Blossom Vinegars
Chanka's
Copper Crown
Kookoolan Farms
Little Pots and Pans

OUT
Boyco Food (back next week)
Cherry Country (back next week)
Salubrious (back in October)
Sundance Lavender (back next week)

Cooking Ideas - Pasta with Raw Tomato Sauce

It's Tomato Mania weekend at the Hillsdale Farmers' Market and I can't not include a tomato recipe. Simple recipes are best when tomatoes are coming in fresh and ripe. The heat of the cooked pasta warms up the tomatoes and really brings out the flavor. I like to use penne but any pasta is fine. Enjoy!

Pasta with Raw Tomato Sauce

2 lb. tomatoes
12 basil leaves
1/4 cup olive oil
salt
pepper

Dice tomatoes, about 1/2 inch a side. Place diced tomatoes into a bowl. Tear basil leaves and add to bowl along with oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and set aside. Boil water and cook 1 pound of pasta. Drain cooked pasta and place in a large serving bowl. Add sauce, toss and serve.

Grapevine August 24 2008 Market

this week
- What's Coming To The Market This Week?
- Cooking Ideas - Summer Fig Salad

It's nice to have normal temperatures again. The plants in our backyard seem happier too.

We have a familiar face playing music this Sunday. You normally see Josh Uithof working with the Hertls at Sungold Farm. This week you get to hear Josh play and sing.

Chanka's Catering is off this week but will be back next week. Kookoolan Farms will be back next week. Baird Orchards will have Kookoolan's eggs for sale while the Zaerpoors are on vacation. Look below for the complete list of who is off this week.

See you on Sunday!

Eamon Molloy
Market Manager

- What's Coming To The Market This Week?

The apple harvest has definitely begun. Gravensteins and Ginger Golds wiil be the varieties you will most likely find this week. Peaches, apricots, nectarines and cherries will be readily available as well. Figs started coming in last week and should be in good supply too. Melons of all kinds will be plentiful. As for berries, there should be strawberries and some blueberries. Late season raspberries should be available in a few weeks.

Corn and pole beans will be plentiful this weekend. Eggplants, lettuce, chard, zucchini and fresh onions will be good supply too. You'll also find arugula, napa cabbage, green cabbage, carrots, broccoli, beets, radishes, tomatoes and a lot more. Check the availability list for the complete list of who's coming this weekend and what they expect to be selling.

IN
Brownie Farm
Cherry Country still on vacation - back on September 7
DeNoble Farm
Gala Springs
Salubrious
Sundance Lavender
Two Brothers Chocolate
Vanveen Bulb

OUT
Blossom Vinegars (back next week)
Chanka's (back next week)
Copper Crown (back next week)
Kookoolan Farms (back next week)
Little Pots and Pans (back next week)

Cooking Ideas - Summer Fig Salad

Figs have been coming into the market for the past few weeks. This recipe from Culinate nicely pairs the sweet figs with peppery arugula. Enjoy!

Summer Fig Salad (from Culinate's recipe collecton)

dressing
1 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup red-wine vinegar or lemon juice
1-2 Tbsp. honey or maple syrup (start with less and add to taste)
Fresh black pepper and sea salt to taste

salad
2 bunches fresh arugula and/or watercress
6 fresh figs (dark purple and ripe), quartered
5 summer radishes, sliced into thin rounds
4 Tbsp. creamy goat cheese


Whisk the dressing ingredients together and set aside.

Arrange the leafy greens on individual salad plates, then top with slices of the figs and radishes. Dollop bits of goat cheese over each salad, then drizzle a little dressing over each. Serve immediately.



A printable version of the recipe is available at the Culinate site.

Grapevine August 17 2008 Market

this week
- What's Coming To The Market This Week?
- Cooking Ideas - Melon Agua Fresca

We're in for a few hot days. Be sure to keep hydrated and take it easy during the hot part of the day. If the forecast is correct, it will be a bit cooler by Sunday at least.

Greg Clarke will be playing at the market this week. Little Pots and Pans is back at the market this week as are DeNoble Farm and Blossom Vinegars. Kookoolan Farms is taking a two week break but will be back on August 31. Baird Orchards will be selling Kookoolan's eggs while Chrissie and Koorosh take a well earned break.

See you on Sunday!

Eamon Molloy
Market Manager

What's Coming To The Market This Week?

Peaches, apricots and cherries will be readily available. Plums should be in good supply too. Melons of all kinds will be plentiful. There should be berries but this weekend's hot weather may limit the availability.

As for vegetables, there will be lots of corn. Several farms will have large bins so just dive in and grab a dozen ears. Eggplants, snow peas, green beans, romano beans, lettuce, chard, zucchini and fresh onions will be plentiful. You'll also find arugula, napa cabbage, green cabbage, carrots, beets, radishes, tomatoes and a lot more. Check the availability list for the complete list of who's coming this weekend and what they expect to be selling.

IN
Blossom Vinegars
DeNoble Farm
Little Pots and Pans

OUT
Brownie Farm (back next week)
Kookoolan Farms (back Aug 31)
Salubrious (back next week)
Sundance Lavender (back next week)

Cooking Ideas - Melon Agua Fresca

Here is another recipe from Culinate. Given the hot weather we have had recently, agua fresca seems like just the right cooler for a hot afternoon. Enjoy!

Melon Agua Fresca (From the Marissa Lippert collection at Culinate)

2 3/4 cups melon chunks (watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, etc.)
2 cups water
3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice (about 2 limes)
3 Tbsp. sugar or 2 tablespoons agave nectar (see Note)
Mint sprigs for garnish (optional)

Purée melon in a blender until smooth. Strain through a sieve and discard pulp. Pour the melon juice into a pitcher and stir in the water, lime juice, and sugar.
Serve over ice, garnished with mint sprigs or extra chunks of melon.

Note: Because granulated sugar won’t dissolve easily in cold liquid, you may wish to replace the 3 tablespoons sugar with a simple syrup of sugar dissolved in boiling water. Agave nectar, of course, is already liquid.


A printable version of the recipe is available at Culinate.

Grapevine August 10 2008 Market

this week
- What's Coming To The Market This Week?
Cooking Ideas - Tomato Salsa

We passed the midway point of the summer season last week. The spring weather delayed the harvest schedule a bit but everything seems back on track. Peaches are coming in, there are lots of berries available, tomatoes are coming to the market and corn will be here soon. Better late than never.

Josh Kadish is back with this month's Market Jam. Salubrious is back at the market this week as are Copper Crown, Rick Steffen Farm and Sundance Lavender.

The Providence Bridge Pedal is happening this Sunday. If live across the river be sure to check the bridge closure schedule before you set out for the market on Sunday morning.

See you on Sunday!

Eamon Molloy
Market Manager

What's Coming To The Market This Week?

Peaches apricots, cherries and nectarines will be readily available. Plums should be in good supply too. There will be a few melons available as well. There are still lot of berries - blackberries, blueberries, marionberries, raspberries and strawberries.

As for vegetables, corn should start coming in this weekend but not in large quantities. Like everything else this year, corn is a little late. Eggplants, snow peas, fava beans, sugar snap peas, lettuce, chard, zucchini and fresh onions will be plentiful. You'll also find arugula, napa cabbage, green cabbage, carrots, beets, radishes, tomatoes and a lot more. Check the availability list for the complete list of who's coming this weekend and what they expect to be selling.

IN
Copper Crown
DeNoble Farm
Rick Steffen Farm
Salubrious
Sundance Lavender


OUT
Blossom Vinegars (back next week)
DeNoble Farm
Little Pots and Pans (back next week)
Two Brothers Chocolate


Cooking Ideas - Tomato Salsa

Tomatoes are really coming into the market now as nearly all the other ingredients for salsa - cilantro, onions and hot peppers. Why not make your own salsa? Mix up the colors of the tomatoes and make the salsa more colorful too. Enjoy!

Tomato Salsa

1 lb. fresh tomatoes plus one or two extra tomatoes
1/2 red onion, finely diced
1 jalapeño chili pepper (stems, ribs, seeds removed), finely diced
Juice of one lime
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon roasted cumin seed (optional)


Remove stems from tomatoes and finely dice. Prepare the jalapeño by removing the stems, ribs and seeds. Be very careful while handling the hot pepper. Avoid touching the cut pepper with your fingers and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after handling.

Combine all of the ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Taste. If too hot, chop up another tomato and add to bowl. Add cumin seed if desired.

Let sit for an hour for the flavors to combine.

A printable version of the recipe is available at the Culinate site.