market finds

This past Saturday I had the pleasure of working again with Cathy at a local farmer's market. I always make sure to do a bit of shopping while I'm there. While meandering through rows of tomatoes, green beans, squash, peppers, potatoes, greens, broccoli, brussel sprouts, basil, artisan breads, beer, wine... I spotted of couple of goodies I hadn't seen before.


These cuties were labeled Asian eggplant. Aren't they the cutest?! I think I'll probably roast these with a little olive oil, kosher salt and cracked pepper.



I ran across a couple of little girls eating these lovely apples and just had to go on a hunt for them.

Isn't the color spectacular! These are called Pink Pearls. They're a tart apple so I think they'll be great for baking.


Did you hit your local market this weekend? What did you find that you couldn't live without?





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tomato love

I picked up some lovely heirloom tomatoes at farmers market today. Aren't they just so pretty?! Once you've tried a fresh, ripe heirloom tomato you'll never look at those blah, tasteless store bought tomatoes the same way ever again.



I put together a nice tomato salad when I got home from the market.

I sliced them up thick



stacked 'em up



tossed on a bit of crumbled blue cheese, fresh basil, cracked pepper and creamy balsamic dressing



grabbed a fork...and a knife



and got busy!

Ode To Tomatoes
by Pablo Neruda

The street
filled with tomatoes,
midday,
summer,
light is
halved
like
a
tomato,
its juice
runs
through the streets.
In December,
unabated,
the tomato
invades
the kitchen,
it enters at lunchtime,
takes
its ease
on countertops,
among glasses,
butter dishes,
blue saltcellars.
It sheds
its own light,
benign majesty.
Unfortunately, we must
murder it:
the knife
sinks
into living flesh,
red
viscera
a cool
sun,
profound,
inexhaustible,
populates the salads
of Chile,
happily, it is wed
to the clear onion,
and to celebrate the union
we
pour
oil,
essential
child of the olive,
onto its halved hemispheres,
pepper
adds
its fragrance,
salt, its magnetism;
it is the wedding
of the day,
parsley
hoists
its flag,
potatoes
bubble vigorously,
the aroma
of the roast
knocks
at the door,
it's time!
come on!
and, on
the table, at the midpoint
of summer,
the tomato,
star of earth, recurrent
and fertile
star,
displays
its convolutions,
its canals,
its remarkable amplitude
and abundance,
no pit,
no husk,
no leaves or thorns,
the tomato offers
its gift
of fiery color
and cool completeness.

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Farmer's Market

I am linking this at Life on a Hay Farm for Leigh's new photo meme. Go over and take a peek and join in the fun!

Today we visited Beaverton Farmer's Market and I got to meet one of my bloggy friends, Cathy from Wives with Knives! Cathy has a booth there and I let her know I was coming on Saturday and would find her and say hello. It was so fun meeting her. She is such a sweetheart! I wish all of you lived closer so we could get together for a great big pot-luck filled with all of your fabulous recipes! Wouldn't that be a blast!

I haven't been to this market in years. There is such a great variety of fresh produce and local items like honey, beef, salmon, flowers, pies, jellies, nuts, and lots more. Oh yes, and some fun music and a great play area for the kids. If you get a chance you should go and check it out!

There were lots of beautiful green beans.

A variety of yummy potatoes. I took some Yukons home.

Yellow beans are fun!

Aren't these raspberries cool?!

I loved this display.

There is a terrific selection of flowers.

I loved the way these radishes were stacked.

Is this a Japanese Lantern Julia?

This is just gorgeous. The sign said it was oregano. (The photo is a bit blurry so you can't quite tell just how pretty it is.)

Mmm. Garlic!

I have a thing for stacked veggies! Food is Art!

Mmm. Peppers and heirloom tomatoes! I ate some heirloom tomatoes tossed with olive oil, fresh basil and cracked pepper with my dinner tonight. It was so amazing!

Before we left we cooled down a bit in the fountain.

I ended up taking home potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, raspberries, and peaches. I can't wait to go back and pick up some more goodies. Don't you just love summer!

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