Wow! Another amazing farmers' market on Saturday! We had 18 vendors with all kinds of wonderful goodies. I brought home a few more things than I had planned - in addition to what I bought, I bartered for a few items and found an extra bag of veggies lurking in my bag when I got home (from a very generous market vendor, no doubt), but how can you pass up good food? Trust me, it won't go to waste!So here's the scoop. At this Saturday's Brazos Valley Farmers' Market, you could find:
Veggies: tomatoes, potatoes, bulb onions, green onion sets, carrots, cucumber, yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, green beans, a variety of hot and sweet peppers, okra, spinach, herbs, purple hull peasFruits: dried apples, watermelon, cantaloupeBaked Goods: yeast breads, sweet breads, bagel bites, cinnamon bites, cakes, rolls, dog cookies, wheat and white egg noodlesCanned Goods: jams, jellies, salsas, pickles, chow-chowOther Foods: cornmeal, wheat flour, eggs, olive oil, locally-roasted coffees, honeyNon-Food Items: jewelry, aprons, pot holders, decorative plants
What a spread! No wonder I came home with a full bag. I picked up a watermelon, honey, pear butter (one my favorites from my childhood), onion sets (to plant in the garden this fall), spinach, red potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, green beans, and basil.
On Sunday, I took the Brazos Locavores out on our monthly field trip (more on this tomorrow) to Dogrun Farms where I picked up some fresh okra, asparagus beans (aka yard long beans), and a cucumber right off the vine (Mmmm).
So plans for all these goodies? Well, with the local rice, home-canned corn, soup, and beans (all from farmers' market and backyard garden), eggs (farmers' market), and lambs-quarter and green peppers in the backyard, I'm planning on feasting on salads this week. But don't worry, I'll let you in on all the goodies in Thursday's Market to Table post, so stay tuned.
I should admit at this point that I haven't been eating a totally local diet lately. I was having serious cereal cravings so I bought ingredients for homemade granola (which at least uses local honey and pecans), then of course the almond milk to go with it. And I've picked up a few pieces of non-local fruit just to supplement the steady supply of watermelon. Eating local is still the way to go, but in an effort to live a middle-way kind of life, I'm trying to have compassion (for myself) in my culinary lapses. The moral of the story is to be mindful of the way we consume, not necessarily perfect.
Ok. Enough confession time. I'm signing off for now. Have a great week, everyone! And, as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!
For all you BCS locals, don't forget you can visit the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market on Wednesday too, now year-round at Village Foods in Bryan from 4-7.
7 comments:
That's funny...I've been having lots of unlocal cravings lately as well. For some reason we really want cabbage, and there is not cabbage to be found anywhere. I've also been craving lots of non vegan (but vegetarian items), like yogurt and cheese. Since I too am striving for a middle way, I just make sure everything is organic and it is not a big deal.
It may be that we've quit caffeine (again) and my body wants a new addiction.
Beany - Ok. That's a little weird :) I was thinking about cabbage the other day too. Funny how we miss the things we once grew weary of when they were in season.
In the last few days, I've made both hummus and vegan pesto for the first time ever. WAY too easy (at least now that we have a blender - ok, actually, our new housemate has a blender). Where has her blender been all my life? This stuff tastes awesome. It's not completely local, but about 50 percent, I guess. I can live with that :)
Okay...clearly there is also a mind meld here with our cabbage craving.
Mr. Beany has been volunteering at a community garden and got a huge bag of basil last week. So he made a ton of pesto, which I've been having with toast for breakfast. Sooo tasty.
Isn't this the best time of the year for most of the farmers' markets? Enjoy your pickin's.
Beany - sounds good with toast. I've been dipping veggie sticks in it and slathering it on my bean burgers. Mmmm!
Chard Lady - actually, now is the one time of year that we suffer on the food front. It's just too hot to grow anything. Things will pick up in a month or two, but we hit our peak back in June. Thank heavens for canning and planning ahead :)
Chard Lady - That being said... We still have an amazing amount of food. We've had some farmers give up and will sell again later the fall. But some are still hanging in there and I'm so thankful they are!
September is my most busy month. There is still much to preserve, and I have to get my fall soil ready, and also start more seedlings.
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