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Technical Difficulties…
Hi everyone. I planned to blog to you from beautiful Cape May, NJ this week about everything from the fantastic farm stands, to great indie restaurants to salt water taffy. Alas, the internet wireless here is not working very well, and cuts off after 4-5 minutes of connection.
In between complaining to management (“I need to blooooooggggggg!), including gesticulating wildly, I can only resign myself to putting up posts when and if I get a serious connection, or wait until I return home at the end of the week.
Thanks for your patience, and do check back. I can’t wait to regail you with sunsesets, beaches, Jersey produce and fantastic food finds!
Ciao,
Ramona
At the West End Alexandria Farmers Market August 3, 2008
(purple tomatillos at the West End Alexandria farmers market)
We caught a nice break from the usual summer heat this weekend. Sunday morning was glorious and a trip to the farmers market seemed like just the thing to do. Around 9:30a.m., a decent crowd was busy milling through the farmers market at Ben Breneman Park. Farm stands mingled with artists, as they do on the first Sunday of each month that the market is open.
One thing that one notices about this market is how laid back it is. The market master happily greats dogs and no one looks askance if you decide to bring your four-legged friend. There are no crushing lines, and strollers glide up and down the aisle with ease.
On the produce front, it’s all about corn, tomatoes, peppers and stone fruit right now. Westmoreland Berry Farm still had blackberries and even raspberries and blueberries–rather late in the season. J&W’s produce looked as fresh as can be, with a sign for their corn say ‘$.50 each/3 for $1–just picked last evening’. So, I bought a half dozen ears of their super sweet white corn. At another stand, tomatoes were selling for $2.75 per pound and across the way, a vendor had big, thick Roman string bean (sometimes called Italian string beans) that I couldn’t pass up. My family grew these beans in our summer garden, and growing up they were a staple on the table at this time of year.
I also bought large nectarines and jalapenos because I could feel a salsa coming on! And well, here it is. I simply used my Cuisinart to blend 2 tomatoes, a peeled and pitted nectarine, a half of a red onion, one jalapeno and some fresh parsley. I added a pinch of smoked paprika and about half a palm-full of cumin along with the usual S&P and got a HUGE amount of salsa!
Nothing says summer like fresh salsa with ingredients that came right out of the field.
Until the next At The Market, eat and buy local when you can. As and added incentive, read The Arugula File’s post on Virginia’s Farmers Market Week. This week, try to eat only local for one day.
At The Kingstowne And Del Ray Markets June 13 &14, 2008
~A Jar is Born!~
A few weeks ago, Smita of Crackpot Gourmet asked me to suggest a few names for her new No Name Chutney, as part of a contest. You see, she made a delicious new addition to her line of products; a spiced apple chutney with tamarind, and it needed a name. Smita got the market- goers involved in her process of creation.
No Name Chutney reminded me of the first time I ate a curry. It was slightly spicy green chicken curry that was served with chutney for garnish. I liked it immediately, and began cooking with chutney, adding it to pork and chicken dishes. I also found that chutney makes a wonderful topping to a warmed brie, when tucked under the top rind just before it is baked. A new way of looking at jams was born in me; they’re not all sweet concord grape and strawberry!
No Name Chutney, to me, needed a name that reflected Smita’s use of Indian spices in her jams. She has a real knack for taking sweet fruits and complimenting them with pepper, chilies and other spices to create a balance of flavors that delights the tongue all over.
Guess what? I won!
Frank came up with the clever notion of “Indian Summer”, but it was my “Let’s Chaat” (chaat, get it?!!!) that won and was on the label when I visited the market last Friday. For my prize, I get to pick 3 large jars of jam. I told Smita that I wanted to spread out my pickings (I didn’t want any going to waste) and so I picked 1 jar of Kiss of Kerala. Kiss of Kerala is a strawberry jam punctuated with gourmet Indian pepper and lime juice.
Smita suggested that besides enjoying it over toast or with cheese, that I do as she does and use it in a sauce for savory dishes, such as with lamb. After searing the meat, add red wine and a bit of the Kiss of Kerala to make a sweet and savory reduction to accompany the lamb (or pork, duck).
I can’t wait to try this out, and I’ll post a recipe and some pics when I do.
Visit Crackpot Gourmet’s website here to find out how you can enjoy these wonderful preserves.
~Mount Olympus Berry Farm~
Mount Olympus Berry Farm is located between Richmond and Fredericksburg, VA. They grow strawberries, blueberries and blackberries on their pick-your-own-farm. Fortunately, they also bring their fruit and produce to producer-only Northern Virginia markets.
Blueberries and blackberries looked amazing, so I picked up a box of blueberries. I’m not sure how I want to use them, so I froze them on a parchment lined baking sheet, in a single layer. Shortly, I’m going to retrieve them and store them in a zipped baggie. That way, I can use them as needed without any effect on how good and juicy they are.
~Susie’s Cookies~
Susie’s grandparents came to America in 1923. With them, they brought their recipe for Swedish Fruit Drops. But, don’t think Dots, think a melange of nuts (pecans, almonds and brazil nuts) with dates and candied cherries and pineapple. This cookie is gourmet GORP!
Susie uses a trusted source in New Jersey for her nuts and other ingredients. She also uses the finest chocolate in her cookies, including the Oatmeal Carmelitas. In her Blueberry Oatmeal cookies, Susie uses blueberry wine to rehydrate the dried blueberries. You can really taste the quality that Susie takes great measures to ensure comes through in her cookies.
Susie’s daughter-in-law is helping to build her website. Check out www.susiescookiesyahsure for more information.
~D&S Farm~
D&S Farm from Southern Maryland and at the Del Ray farmers market will have raspberries and blackberries in the next week or two, as well as peaches.
~Toigo Orchards~
Toigo Orchards from Shippensburg, PA will have peaches by the beginning of July. They will also have mirai corn again this year. Keep an eye out for it wherever you find Toigo. It is hands down some of the most delicious corn there is.
Toigo’s hot-house tomatoes were a big seller, given the salmonella scare we are in the midst of. This is why it’s so good to know the source of your food, and the farmers that grow it.
Until the next At the Market, eat and buy local when you can.
I’m Not Really Cheating On You….
I’m just doing another blog on Don Rockwell for the week.
I’ve been asked to blog on a local food board, similar to eGullet food blogs for those of you who follow eGullet. Don Rockwell is a collection of almost 3000 members who meet virtually and in person, and gather over food, discuss restaurants, share cooking techniques, give advice and talk about anything you can think of when it comes to food and things related to food, in the Washington DC region and beyond.
If you’ve never checked it out, go over to http://www.donrockwell.com. To follow my blog and get techniques and recipes for the food you see pictured on The Houndstooth Gourmet, such as Banana and Sour Cherry Bread above, click here.
We’ll be returning to our normal programming next week!
