It’s a cruel irony that heat of the late summer sun that produces perfect tomatoes and fragrant basil also makes our homes so hot that the thought of even turning on the oven – let alone cranking it up all the way for perfect pizzas margherita – is unbearable. By the time I’m willing to […]
No comments | Butternut Squash, Fall, Feta, Gorgonzola, Leeks, Pizza, Potatoes, Seasonal, Walnuts
It was with some sadness (and wistful thoughts of future Saturday mornings spent sleeping in) that Martha and I mounted our noble bicycles and set out on the ride to the last official Midtown Farmers’ Market of the 2009 season. The weather, while generally cloudy, was punctuated by bursts of sunlight and dominated by a […]
4 comments | Apples, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Honeycrisp, Leeks, Letterpress, Onions, Parsnips, Potatoes, Russets, Vandalia Street Press
Let me start by saying I don’t like squash. I kind of hate it. It’s certainly not an aesthetic objection: nothing brightens up the drear of the fall farmers’ market quite like all the whimsical varieties of winter squash – impossible to resist! This combination of compulsive buying and strong dislike leads me to accumulate squash […]
5 comments | Acorn, Butternut, Challenge, Delicata, Fall, Indian, Kuri, Mexican, Roasting, Seasonal, Spaghetti, Squash
In its penultimate week the Midtown Farmers’ Market is still loaded with fresh produce: squash, cabbage, peppers, turnips, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, more squash, leafy greens, onions, potatoes, herbs – even some tomatoes of dubious quality. If the above photo doesn’t quite reflect this variety it says more about me than the current state of the […]
1 comment | Apples, Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower, Celery, CFL, Delicata, Fall, Fingerlings, Haralson, Honey, Potatoes, Squash, Whine
After biking to the Midtown Farmers’ Market in the dead of winter last week, I am happy to report that winter seems to be over in Minnesota and we’ve jumped back into fall. With a sunny blue sky and temperatures that require only a light jacket provided you keep moving, this was one of those […]
3 comments | Brussels Sprouts, Cottage Bacon, Fall, Kale, Onions, Potatoes, Turnips
There’s something perverse about biking across a snow-covered city to get to the farmers’ market – particularly when it’s only 10 days in to October. But that was the situation we faced this morning as we headed out to the Midtown Farmers’ Market. There are a few weekends left for the market, but with snow […]
6 comments | Acorn, Apples, Bread, Broccoli, Cold, Delicata, Farmers Market, Garlic, Haralson, Kale, Minneapolis, parsley, Potatoes, Real Bread, Russet, Russet Potatoes, Snow, Spaghetti Squash, Squash, Sweet Potato Fries, Sweet Potatoes
We braved cold temperatures and persistent drizzle this Saturday for the Midtown Farmers’ Market and a wide selection of vegetables was our reward. I bought chard, cabbage, beets, three kinds of squash (delicata, kuri, and butternut – all part of this fall’s quest to embrace squash), Haralson apples (the ultimate pie apple?), red peppers, leeks, […]
3 comments | Apples, Beets, Butternut, Cabbagenomical, Delicata, Economical, Eggplant, Haralson, Kuri, Leeks, Lemongrass, Onions, Squash
When a new vegetable first comes in to season, all I want to do with it is prepare it as simply as possible. A little fat, a little seasoning, and let the vegetable speak for itself. The year’s first asparagus? Lightly steam it and toss it with butter and salt. Sweet corn? Shuck, boil and […]
2 comments | Ana Sortun, Cilantro, Cinnamon, Fall, Ginger, Kuri, middle eastern, Moroccan, North Africa, Onions, parsley, Phyllo, Pie, Saffron, Seasonal, Spice, Squash
Another weekend at the Midtown Farmers’ Market brought an impressive, but dwindling, bounty of vegetables. The late summer fruits – bell peppers and tomatoes – are clinging on to life even as the impending frost threatens to cut them off without warning. Their bright reds, oranges and yellows are starting to be crowded out by the […]
1 comment | Bell Peppers, Brassicae, Brussels Sprouts, Carrots, Fall, Green Beans, Onions, Peppers, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips
Let’s be honest: I’m not the pickling artist in the family. Normally I leave these things to others, but something needed to be done with the two banana peppers from last month’s trip to the market–they were starting to look a little sad. Wishfully thinking about pizza possibilities, I decided there was no choice but […]
2 comments | Banana Peppers, Bay Leaf, Canning, Dried Chiles, Garlic, Mustard Seeds, Peppers, Pickles, Refrigerator Pickles