To Market, To Market...

Market Stuffed Squash Blossoms.

 
One of my favorite aspects of summer is our local farmer's markets. I literally get giddy Friday evening thinking of what I might find the next morning. This week I had the luxury of sneaking out of the house before the kids woke up! Off I went, TOTALLY ALONE, to pursue the market.

A Sumptuous Salad

Roasted Beet and Radicchio Salad

My family spends the summer teetering on the fence between dietary endeavors and comforting summertime favorites. One night it's smoky baby backs slathered in coffee-infused bbq sauce and mixed berry crostatas...or strawberry shortcakes. The next night we offset the previous day's calorie-fest with a healthy farm-stand salad and grilled fish or chicken. It's a tricky balance between what we want to eat, and what we should eat. There are plenty of times, however, that what we want to eat IS what we should eat! Those occasions consist of dishes boasting bold colors, audacious flavors, ample texture, and lots of contrast!

The Virtues Of Bread

Fresh Focaccia Loaves.

You can buy decent focaccia at the bakery, but NOTHING beats homemade bread! Yet, there's that one little ingredient we so often don't keep around the house...patience.

A Multi-Purpose Meal

Dutch Babies with Mulberry-Rhubarb Compote.

It's nice to find things that serve more than one purpose. Dryer sheets, for instance, are perfect for softening laundry, freshening stinky shoes and gently scenting the clothes in a packed suitcase. Coffee grounds...not only for your daily cup, but also for flavoring meat rubs and desserts, boosting your potting soil and an excellent exfoliator. I can't even begin to list the endless uses for Sharpie markers or pickling salt!

The Best Things In Life...

Ginger-Wheat Mulberry Muffins.

Last Saturday I woke up early. The plan was to head straight to the farmer's market...alone. It's fun to go with the family, but I usually try to leave before anyone else in my house is awake--so I can have a little me time and pursue the farmer's market at my leisure. This time, my little guy Carson, woke up before I had a chance to sneak out and quickly got dressed to go with me. The two of us roamed the market in search of  unusual veggies, fresh local goat cheese, berries, and smoked trout. We came to one vendor that had a table covered with mulberries. Carson couldn't remember ever trying a mulberry, so we bought a pint and headed home with our bundle of goodies!