Monday, May 17, 2010

Rhubarb!



My second trip to the farmers' market this season was very successful. After missing the market last week while we were in California, I was definitely looking forward to stocking up on local produce this week. I went a little crazy with rhubarb this time. I didn't find any on my first trip, so I bought it from 3 different farmers this week. I bought it from the first farmer that I saw who was selling it because I was afraid I wouldn't find it anywhere else. In fact, there were at least 5 other farms selling it. I bought from 2 others. If it's not obvious- I love rhubarb. My husband does not. He had only eaten it one or two times before we started dating, but was not a fan. I probably did not help the situation by feeding him a bite of raw rhubarb a few years ago (without telling him what it is). I get a kick out of seeing his reaction to things like that. (I've also tried it before with unsweetened chocolate.) Anyway, he has been resistant to trying anything I make with rhubarb since. Until now. I saw a recipe for rhubarb rolls on Tastespotting from Beantown Baker (if you have never visited Tastespotting, I highly recommend it for finding inspiration for new recipes- check it out). I made the rolls for a belated Mother's Day brunch with my parents & grandparents this Sunday. Pat loved them. They were very good, but incredibly sweet. I think next time, I will try to use half as much sugar. I like my rhubarb to still have some bite.

I still have quite a bit of rhubarb to use. I am very excited to try these huge stalks of rhubarb that I bought from Coyote Run Farm which they called "Grandma Russell's rhubarb" because it was from Matt Russell's (one of the farmers) grandma's backyard. They think it is 50-65 years old and claim it is a bit sweeter than other varieties. I tried it raw compared to the other rhubarb that I bought and it does have less of a bite.


I also made a farmers market soup this week with carrots from Grinnell Heritage Farms, bok choy from Blue Gate Farm, herbed whole wheat pasta from Blue Gate Farm, and homemade chicken stock made with farmers market veggies. Simple, but delicious.

I had lots of other great finds in addition to my rhubarb.

Strawberries
Carrots
Beets
Dill
Cilantro
Mint
Bok Choy
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Asparagus
Cucumber



Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Missing California Farmers' Markets

Last weekend we visited my husband's family in LA for Mothers' Day. While we were out there, we stopped by a farmers' market in Simi Valley. It was wonderful, as expected. We bought a lot of berries & vegetables for our Mothers' Day brunch. There was a lot of the same produce that is available here (or will be available soon) like broccoli, lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, cauliflower, asparagus, strawberries, blueberries and much more. What made me miss my San Francisco lifestyle was the California produce that I can't find in Iowa like oranges, clementines, grapefruit, lemons, limes, artichokes, and avocados. I can't say that I am never going to eat those foods anymore because they don't grow here in Iowa, but I don't eat them nearly as much as I used to. It's easy to feel deprived when I go back and see how much is available in California, but honestly there is a huge variety of produce that is available here in Iowa. Our diet is anything but deprived. It does make me appreciate the trips back to California even more and makes those California treats like a sweet persimmon even more special.

We missed the Downtown Farmers Market last weekend because we were in LA. So, this week I was not able to buy as much local produce as I would like. I bought a few local things from Gateway (tomatoes from Graddy's in Carroll, asparagus, lettuce, bread) but bought a few things from out of state too. I am looking forward to visiting the farmers market next weekend and to my first CSA box.

Sunday, May 2, 2010

First Local Meal of the Season


The first Downtown Farmers' Market of the season was packed. I was amazed at how many people were there. I got the chance to visit with my favorite vendors and buy some great produce. With the produce I bought, I was finally able to have a complete meal with only local foods. We have been buying as much local food as we could during the winter season, but haven't had enough local produce to make a complete meal since late fall. So, this is what we had for lunch after we got back from the farmers' market on Saturday. For those who are interested in buying more local food, I will try to include sources for all of my food and where I bought it from.


Roasted Beet Salad with Quark cheese and Blackberry Ginger Balsamic Vinaigrette*

Organic Strawberries and Yogurt
  • Organic strawberries bought at the Downtown Farmers' Market
  • Yogurt from Radiance Dairy in Fairfield, Iowa bought at their farm
  • Drizzle of local honey from 3 Bee Farms in Griswold, IA bought at Drake Farmers Market

Cucumber & Dill Salad
  • Cucumber bought at the Downtown Farmers' Market
  • Yogurt from Radiance Dairy in Fairfield, Iowa bought at their farm
  • Fresh baby dill from Mariposa Farms in Grinnell, Iowa bought at Hy-Vee
Skim milk from Picket Fence Creamery in Woodward, Iowa bought at Gateway market

*My vinaigrette is not local- I have a lot of of vinegars left from my shopping days at the San Francisco Farmers' markets (so they were local to me at one time, I suppose). The vinegar that I used for this dressing was a Blackberry Ginger Balsamic Vinegar from Hare Hollow in Healdsburg, CA bought at the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market in San Francisco. Unfortunately I can't find local olive oil, so I buy the closest available which is usually California.

Check back soon to see more about my first farmers' market visit of the season!