Local diet update - December 12, 2009

Today marked the first of two holiday celebrations at the Brazos Valley Farmers' Market. Sixteen vendors celebrated with us, decorating their booths and dressing up with lots of holiday spirit. This included local spinner, Charline Watz, who dazzled the crowd with her spinning wheel. Also featured this week to help us celebrate the holidays were Alethea Bair (violinist for the Brazos Valley Symphony Orchestra), a raffle including 4 market prizes that raised $104 for the local food bank, volunteer customers and vendors singing carols, and Santa himself with treats for the kids.

Of course, you can't talk about the farmers' market without talking about great food. Here's what was available at the market today:

Veggies and Fruits: yellow onions, green onions, sweet potatoes, red potatoes, purple potatoes, yellow squash, carrots, green tomatoes, cabbage, broccoli, miniature bok choy, peanuts, a variety of hot and sweet peppers, turnips, radishes, spinach, mustard greens, turnip greens, collard greens, rutabaga greens, lettuce, herbs, lemons, dried apples, dried cranberries

Meat: beef and veal

Baked Goods: tamales, yeast breads, sweet breads, cheese breads, herb breads, cakes, pies, pecan treats, pound cake, puppy cookies

Canned Goods: jellies, jams, relishes, pickles, salsas, sweet spreads, canned veggies (tomatoes, eggplant preserves, pickled peppers)

Other Foods: pecans, eggs, olive oil, cornmeal, whole wheat flour, hot pepper sauce, honey

Crafts: stained glass, hand-spun wool and angora, greeting cards, decorative plaques, reed diffusers, magnets, jewelry, pottery, aprons, hats, bands, wooden benches, candles, pot holders, rosaries

If you missed this week's market, we're doing it again next week - with holiday music, more raffle prizes, and Santa is making another appearance!

Since my booth hosted the raffle, I was swamped all morning. But I did manage to pick up a few needed goodies before we head out on our trip. Let's see... I got honey and whole wheat flour to make my homemade bread, a gorgeous bowl that I just couldn't pass up (I love handmade dishes!), and some pork puppy cookies to give as a gift next week. Also in the photo are some Texas persimmons and tangerines that were given to me by a friend. Mmm! Gonna enjoy those this week!

With travel days in my immediate future (more on that soon, I promise), I won't be doing much cooking this week. Just nibbling on that local fruit and finishing up the last of the leftovers in the fridge. Maybe I'll cook up some of the sweet potatoes we harvested this fall from the backyard. You know sweet potato soup sounds really good right now...

One last note before I close. Today's farmers' market was a perfect example of how eating a local diet isn't just about the food. It's about an amazing community coming together, week after week to celebrate all that life has to offer. THIS is what local food is all about.

Have a great week everyone! And, as always, Happy (and mindful) eating!