tiltawhirl

Farmers' market

fresh eggs
Originally uploaded by Michelle McGee.

We went to the Redmond Farmers' Market this morning, or I think, more accurately, it is called the Redmond Saturday Market. There are a lot of crafts for sale there, probably more than farm products, so it's more appropriate. A lot of the crafty type stuff was very nice.

We got some fresh eggs, and when the seller opened the box to check them out for breakage I was pleasantly surprised of the variety of pastel-y colored eggs. They looked like Easter eggs, and made me think of this picture my friend Richard took, of their Easter eggs. So I took a similar picture of my own, although I like his composition better.

Farmers' Markets are getting into full swing all over the country right about now. Our local ones are still a little weak for produce - the good stuff isn't ripe yet. Lovely asparagus and nice greens are ready now, though. And some beautiful flowers.

I was reading an article recently though, about the popularity of farmers' markets. Apparently, a lot of the markets don't set any standards for percentage of grower participation (eg, 75% sellers who grew their product themselves). Also, a lot of the markets are offering more and more prepared food, in response to people who want to come to the market for dinner, maybe buy some flowers and leave. Basically they want to come and walk around and see fresh fruit and vegetables, but mostly they want a slice of pizza and a bag of kettle corn. They then stop at Safeway on the way home to buy a bag of Fresh Express lettuce. The farmers aren't making money.

I think we're lucky in this area, we have some great farmers' markets - you could go to one every day of the week. And you see the same farm names at every market - local growers, selling stuff that is freshly grown. Why would someone be leaving with nothing but a bag of kettle corn?

Although the Redmond Saturday Market is nice, I think I prefer the midweek market at Crossroads, or the one in Bellevue on Thursday. There are fewer vendors, but more produce vendors than crafts.

Rhubarb results

I made a rhubarb-strawberry crisp with the rhubarb and strawberries from my CSA Market Basket. It came out really delicious if I say so myself, and Ryan may be a new convert to the church of rhubarb.

Market Basket Week One

I signed up for the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Market Basket Program from Pike Place Market again this year. I shared a basket with my friend Audrey last year, and although she decided not to sign up again this year, I signed up and got a smaller basket, called a Metro Basket (a new option this year). Last year, it was a challenge to use up all of the produce we got, so I'm hoping to do better this year. I also signed up for their Flower Share program, so I get a bunch of fresh flowers along with my fruits and veggies every week. If you've ever been to Pike Place Market and seen the beautiful flowers you can get there, you know what I am talking about. I always joke that hotel rooms in Seattle probably have more giant bouquets of fresh flowers in them than anywhere else in the world, because people can't resist bringing them back to their rooms from the Market, and at 5-10 bucks a pop for an armful of flowers, can you blame them?

So this week's basket is the first. This week's haul includes:

Asparagus - I'll roast that in the oven this very evening with sea salt and olive oil.

Mint - a GIANT bunch. I bruised a few of the leaves and aded them to a pitcher of steeping tea to make mint iced tea, but there is still a ton of mint. I think mojitos might be in order.

Red Chard - the number one candidate for not getting used. I'll try to wilt it and saute with garlic, olive oil and squeeze some lemon in it.

Oregano - not sure what to do with it. It's a large bunch. I guess I could dry it and use it but that seems kind of contrary to the point.

White onions - I could use them at some point I'm sure, even if I chop them and freeze them. I'm not a big onion fan, but I do use them when I make my own version of fried rice, with brown rice and egg beaters.

Snow Peas - they are steaming RIGHT now. I'm going to toss them with sesame oil and sesame seeds and serve them cold tonight, and probably have for lunch tomorrow.

Radishes - If I cut them into quarters and put them in a container in the fridge ready to eat, Ryan or I might actually eat them. The CSA provided a recipe for radish saute. I'm not sure I've ever eaten cooked radishes.

Rhubarb - i love rhubarb pie, but I don't have time to make one. I'm going to search for a recipe for something like a rhubarb bread or maybe a crisp of some sort.

Salad mix - always useful.

Strawberries - maybe tonight after dinner. Or, maybe I can combine them with the rhubarb for something. But it seems a shame to cook them when they are so fresh and delicious.

Compared to the larger basket last year, the quantities seem much more manageable.