Market to Table - May 28, 2009

Let me tell you. It's been a beautiful and diverse week in food. With two parties last weekend (one with friends and the other to celebrate my Dad's birthday), we added loads of wonderful leftovers to all the goodies I reported on Monday's Local Diet Update. But first, here are this week's highlights...

Veggie Sandwich and Sauteed Veggies - The leftover hummus in the fridge from a friend's party was just begging to be used as a sandwich spread. Plus, with local tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, and onions, a little partially-local guacamole, and my homemade whole-wheat bread (local honey and locally ground flour), well... isn't a nice thick sandwich obvious (not to mention look delicious)? Add a side of sauteed swiss chard and onions from my backyard garden and you have a delicious feast! 

Salmorejo and Smashed Potatoes - A friend of mine from Spain offered me a special Spanish treat this week: Salmorejo. I'd never tried it before. In fact, I don't believe I've ever eaten a soup intended to be served chilled. Well, consider me sold on chilled soups! It was cool, refreshing, and delicious, (particularly after the warm day we spent in the kitchen making jam and baking two cakes). The ingredients were mostly from our local farmers' market (tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, bread). Check it out...

Salmorejo

• 6 medium tomatoes
• 2 large cloves garlic
• 1-1/2 cups stale bread
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• salt and pepper

Soak the bread in water. When tender, remove excess water and mix all ingredients in a blender. Adjust olive oil, vinegar, salt, and pepper to taste. Chill in fridge and serve.

I enjoyed the soup with a side of all-local Crash Hot Potatoes. The meal was muy delicioso! Gracias Pilar!

Fruit Salad - You didn't think I was going to let you get away without a glimpse of all that local fruit, did you? This is the time of the year in Texas when some of my favorite fruits are available all at the same time. Strawberry season is just wrapping up and blueberry and peach seasons are just starting. I brought them all together for a colorful fruit salad. Together with a handful of Texas pecans and a cup of sage tea (sage from my backyard garden), breakfasts this week were 100% local and completely yummy!

Not pictured are Dave's dinners: egg noodles (farmers' market) and pasta sauce (not local) with a side of steamed green beans (backyard garden) and leftover barbeque from my Dad's party (not local) with a side of steamed carrots and potatoes (farmers' market); and a few meals of my own: all-local cucumber-tomato-onion salad (leftovers from Dad's party); roasted, all-local potatoes, onions, green pepper, and tomatoes (also leftovers from Dad's party), all-local chunky potato soup...

Now who in their right mind would dismiss the wonder and diversity of local food? And I didn't even get a chance to cook that spaghetti squash I bought at the farmers' market last weekend (and believe me, do I have plans for it). I have to say, all these leftovers were a real treat this week. I'm so used to cooking the same old things for myself all the time (I'm a lazy and reluctant cook) that freshening meals up with leftovers prepared by someone else's loving hands was absolutely fabulous!

Now quit drooling (it's not good for your keyboard), head on out to your farmers' market this weekend, and discover the wonderful world of local food for yourself. In the meantime, happy (and mindful) eating!