July 24, 2019 at 4:57 p.m.
Sample the fresh bounty at the Hodag Farmers Market
Sample the fresh bounty at the Hodag Farmers Market
By Cassie Shefchik-
A casual stroll through the market last Saturday found raspberries, currents, potatoes, bulb onions and peas. All harbingers of midsummer gardens.
Raspberries and currents, whether used separately or together, are always a welcomed fruit for summer enjoyment. They can be eaten by the handful, tossed into a green or fruit salad, baked in muffins, tarts and pies, made into jam or jelly, and tossed onto ice cream. Fresh blueberries are also available at the market.
New potatoes are so wonderful. They have a mild, creamy flavor not found in older potatoes (which is what usually is purchased from a store). The cooking time needed for very fresh, recently harvested potatoes is not as long as what's needed for stored potatoes. Much like other mid-summer produce, they should be used within a week of purchase; these are not storage potatoes.
I learned at an early age to always use produce from the garden. This meant even the thinnings had to be used. What are thinnings? Thinnings are young plants that are pulled from the garden so other plants can have more room to get bigger. It's not uncommon to pull every other carrot or, as in this case, onion. Small bulb onions can be used the same way as any other onion. You can also use them whole in a foil pack, as an add-in for a Yankee pot roast (toss them in for the last half hour of cooking), on kebabs, or pop them into a Bloody Mary.
Lastly, I found peas. Who doesn't like fresh peas? Over the years I've seen so many people strolling through the market munching on newly purchased peas. They never seem to make it to the car unless more are purchased just before leaving.
Come to the farmers' market on Saturday, between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m., at the beautiful Pioneer Park and see what wonderful, fresh, local produce is in season and enjoy the bounty of their labor.
WEATHER SPONSORED BY
E-Editions
Latest News
E-Editions
Events
August
To Submit an Event Sign in first
Today's Events
No calendar events have been scheduled for today.
Comments:
You must login to comment.