Sunday, May 25, 2008

Local diet update - Sunday, May 25

A full Saturday morning planned, I got up extra early to bike down to the Bryan Farmers Market. As I arrived, some of the vendors were just unloading, but others were ready and waiting for the crowds to flood the market just as they did last week. The vibrant colors of fruits and vegetables made a gorgeous bouquet that swept through the lot - a food lover's paradise to be sure!

I visited with vendors as they arrived. Charles from Long Bean Farm CSA was there, as was Amy (Jammin' Granny).  A first-timer was there too with those goodies you see in the photo. That was a basket's worth of fresh plums for $2!  Sold! And wow are they juicy! I finally finished up all those grapefruit I had (for the love of all that is good in the world may I not see another grapefruit for 6 months), so these plums are a very welcome addition to my menu. When Lois arrived, I walked over to help her unload and I met her husband for the first time (Mr. Lois).  I was hoping to get some peaches for a 9:00 rendez-vous to make more jam (after such a wonderful time making strawberry  jam a few weeks ago, Ruth and Liz asked Sharli and I to come back to make more), but Lois said we were another 2-3 weeks out for the rest of her trees. So I picked up some blackberries instead. Blackberry jam it is!  Three quarts of berries later, I moved on to identify a few supplemental veggies for the week. 

I say "supplemental" because on Friday afternoon my Dad came by with cucumber, zucchini, squash, onion, green beans, and peppers. Yes! The source of all these goodies? My sister's garden! My sister and her hubby are trying to live more off their own land (who can blame them with three kids and rising prices of EVERYTHING!) They have land out in Richards (about 30 miles from us) and have plans to raise chickens too! 

So back to the farmers market. I was just about set for the week with just the supplies from my sister's garden so I picked up a few tomatoes, some potatoes, more sage for my herb tea, and my weekly dozen eggs.  Obviously, the few things I bought were nothing compared to the wide range of foods and products for sale this week. There must have been a dozen vendors by the time I left (with others just arriving) selling flowers, honey, meat, eggs, leafy greens, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, squash, eggplant, jellies and jams, green beans (lots of green beans!), onions, cabbage, yellow potatoes, red potatoes, cucumber, freshly baked bread, salsa, and even some handmade crafts! Who needs a grocery?

For our dairy needs, we picked up fresh raw milk and gouda from the Sand Creek Farm pickup location on Friday. I still have feta from last week (which was fabulous, by the way).

Pshew! My fridge is stocked and it's time to plan the menu! So here's what I have in mind:

Breakfasts:
  • Homemade bagels or toast with fresh, local gouda or homemade jam
  • Pumpkin or Amish Friendship breads, in case of a sweet tooth attack
  • Homemade yogurt (from local milk)
  • Fresh local fruit - plums obviously, but I also have dewberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries in the freezer
Lunches
  • Veggie soup (just made this last night and the house smelled great) - peppers and onions sauteed in olive oil, then added spinach, tomatoes, squash, zucchini, oregano, basil, salt, pepper and water (plus I used the liquid that was saved the last few times I steamed veggies) and simmered on the stove for about 1-1/2 hrs. YUM! (all local except the salt, pepper, and olive oil)
  • Homemade bread
  • Fresh local fruit
Dinners
  • Roasted veggie sandwiches - Homemade rolls toasted with just a bit of feta, topped with roasted zucchini and squash, spinach and tomato (all veggies and cheese local)
  • Local eggs and homemade bread/toast
  • Steamed potatoes and green beans (all local)
  • Fried potatoes with onions and parsley, seasoned with a little olive oil and salt (all veggies and parsley local)
Anyone else drooling yet? Just sec, let me wipe off my keyboard. That's better. Anyway, I don't think we'll be starving this week or anytime soon. Yummy! Happy (and mindful) Eating!

4 comments:

Green Bean said...

Sounds wonderful! Funny how different our climates are. Even here in Northern California, we don't have plums yet and tomatoes are pretty inconsistent. Ahh well, all the more welcome when they show. We do have peaches which you don't and only a smattering of blackberries. We bought a basket of blackberries and raspberries today and I didn't even get one. My boys ate them in the bike trailer (you read that right! my first biked trip to the farmers market, thanks for the inspiration) before we got home.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

hmd said...

Sweet! How did it work with the bike trailer? Was it pretty easy to pull?

It would be a blast to go to the market as a family. A friend of mine has been involving her two sons in the farmers market, teaching them about cooking, the herbs growing in their yard, where food comes from and the boys are just eating it up (pun intended).

Glad your had a wonderful and safe trip - now to just keep the kids from eating it all ... (of course I suppose there are worse things then them eating fruit :)

Sam said...

I read that Texas is getting really hot already. Here in PA the weather has been still fairly chilly so its apparently somewhat(but not a in a disastrous way) of a challenge.

I've made the roasted veggie sandwich with melted goat cheese. Its the easiest, delicious meal I've learned to make...thanks to you.

hmd said...

Beany - Oooh! Glad you liked the sammy! I read something similar on a local restaurant lunch menu and figured I'd try it. I'm all for the easy stuff!