Jul 24, 2011

Farmers Market Saturday - Ingredients for Sunday Dinner!

The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.  ~Galileo

Yesterday's finds at the farmers market have inspired tonight's dinner of bruschetta, a fun salad mix and mullberries over ice cream for dessert - yum!

Look at these lovely heirloom tomatoes!


Pretty purple mullberries.

The first apricots - one of my favourite fruits! 


I bought this funky salad mix, which includes some nasturtiums, mixed greens, multicoloured carrots, baby beets and some herbs.


And today, on a stroll with a friend and her sweet daughters, I had a little taste of wild raspberries.  Nature is just showing off this time of year - and I love it!



Something to think about if you don't have the time or ability to get out to a farmers market near you, is Community Supported Agriculture.  These programs pair consumers with local farms that offer boxes of in-season produce.  Usually the consumer picks up the box at a designated location every week, or every other week, but home delivery is sometimes available.  The boxes are filled with an assortment of fresh produce grown in your area and are reasonably priced.

Local Harvest has a page that helps you find a CSA program near you (if you are in the USA.)  You can also search online for programs in your area.  We have a program here in the Valley, and there are many across Canada.

See - there's no excuse for not eating local! 

9 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I've never heard of mullberries before. But they look just like blackberries, so perhaps they're the same thing but just a different name?

Magaly Guerrero said...

I am sooo jealous right now. We have farmers marker programs around here, but it has been so hot that the produces are not looking great; nothing like the beauties you've treated us with. You lucky, lucky, lucky Witch!

Alexis Kennedy said...

What delicious pictures you have here, my dear! Love this post! I went to our local farm yesterday too. We got peaches, plums, cherries, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, and spring onions.. I live for my local farm opening in spring and mourn when it closes at yuletide.

Suzie said...

Ooooh, it all looks so gorgeous, and FRESH!! I love heirloom tomatoes. I know, I know. .the "experts" say that the new varieties have just as much flavor, etc. as the heirloom ones, but those old standby's have an different fragrance, rich, sweet and spicy, all rolled in to one, and THAT is what I expect a tomato to smell and taste like!

You might find a new blog entertaining. .Lori Ann has started a new blog and challenge, fixing meals for 30 days, using the ingredients from her garden, allowing only 3 other ingredients from other sources. You could join her challenge using your lush Farmer's Market and wild resources!
http://barefootinthebasil.blogspot.com/

I've been out of town, so today I'm heading to a local farm stand to replenish my fridge. .I hope that I find some yummy treats like you found!

Jennifer said...

Beautiful photos! And yes...eating local is at it's best this time of year!!! Yay for the farmers :)

Wizardess said...

MMMmmmmm...those apricots & that salad! Oh heck, it all looks good.

Rue said...

@Debra - Mullberries are like blackberries, but smaller, no seeds and a little less sweet. Super yummy!

Pixie said...

Ive never hand mulberries either, but they do look very tasty, and how wonderful to buy a bag of salad and have nasturtiums in it, oh why oh why cant we get mixed salad like that down our way...Pixie x

Tenae said...

Everything looks delicious - the salad mix is especially fun. Hope it tasted as good as it looks!