i miss going to the market…
Okay. Let me be specific. I miss going to the farmers’ market around the corner from my house on Friday afternoons.
I’m planning on going to Hollywood tomorrow morning. But, well, that’s tomorrow. And that’s always the plan.
Nikki♥
leeks, onions, meyer lemons, blood oranges
Ummm, I still don’t know what I want to do for Tigress’ Can Jam. So, it looks like I’m just going to have to find some more allium options and hit the books. I’ll be fine.
It’s been an odd week. I read Slate’s ‘Canning is Trendy‘ article. I read the The Atlantic’s ‘CSAs: A ripoff?’ article, too. I don’t have a problem saying that I think some of the questions they ask are valid. I think the tone in which both articles are framed is dismissive and patronizing, though. I just think it fosters a discussion where everyone is defensive.
The thing is neither article annoyed me. I just thought they both missed the point. When it comes to CSAs, farmers’ market produce, or dairy products from small farms, I don’t expect the prices to compete with conventional grocery stores. That’s not why I seek them out. That’s not why I come back every week or still shop at the superchains. Does an article bemoaning the price help me define why and where I choose to spend my money? Yep. Non-issue.
The Slate article got under my skin, primarily, because it hurt the feelings of people I’ve come to respect, who felt attacked for practicing the traditions they hold dear. I had less of a problem because I kind of knew who she was talking to and about. It didn’t bother me, personally, because I’ve come to really enjoy doing it. Period. Whatever.
She can condescend, if she chooses. That’s her. I know how it felt to make that first jar of strawberry jam last spring. I know what its been like to be a part of TCJ. I ask myself about salt and sugar intake. I pay attention to what’s local and abundant. I don’t find it tedious. I’m learning a little patience. I’ll be standing with my basket ready when my gardening friends start to harvest the fruits of their labor.
I think what’s starting to rub me the wrong way is this push back on those of us not in rural areas or who haven’t been canning for time. Yes, there are new fresh books with their take on tradition. I’m not rushing out to buy them just because the cover rocks. Yes, there’s more attention on the practice. Yes, I like those cute jars. So what. If I’m canning for the next week or the rest of my life, it shouldn’t have any bearing on what anyone else is doing.
Let’s pass the knowledge amongst ourselves. Share with whomever may be interested. I’m here soaking up your advice and wisdom. Please, share in my excitement.
Nikki♥
cauliflower. tomatoes. meyer lemons. blood oranges and duh, tangelos.
There used to be a guy at the farmers’ market who would feed me. He would put bites of hummus on pita chips and sell me the world. Occasionally, at a discount. He’s not there anymore, but the stand still is. I haven’t bought anything from there since he last called me “Mademoiselle.”
There’s another guy trying to feed me. He’s trying to feed me pears. I don’t like pears. (♥: Hello, Petulant Child.) Okay, I don’t like most pears. And I, definitely, don’t buy them.
Since the first time he got me with, “try this,” I always look before I reach. I smile and say no, thank you. Today, he said that I’m always smiling. I think it’s because the farmers’ market is like the goodness canal to me. That, and I’m trying to figure out how long it’s going to take me to eat every last blood orange and tangelo that will be tossed into my tote.
I am so easy. I am so predictable. I am so happy.
Nikki♥
a little late and lacking in market posts. sorry about that.
I have a confession. I think I’ve got a tangelo problem. I mean, really. I’m having a hard time going a day without one. You wouldn’t even know that I bought, umm, 3 from the photo, but I did. And I ate them. Not slowly.
They’ve kinda bumped the blood oranges out of the sweet spot in my citrus loving heart. They’ve been making me forget about the Meyer lemons I buy every week. I’ve even let a few go bad. (♥: Wasteful much?)
Thankfully, I decided to experiment with a new marm, instead of letting everything else rot. It was filled with aging limes, meyer lemons, blood oranges and a tangelo that I wouldn’t allow myself to eat. I spiked it with a bit of Korean Black Raspberry wine.
It was one of those ‘let’s just do it’ kind of things. No pen, paper or keyboard in sight. I think I was trying to trust my memory. It was spec-freakin-tacular. And I still can’t remember what I did. Great.
So, I’m trying again. This time I’ve written everything down. Okay, I just wrote everything down. Time for the overnight soak.
Small Measure‘s Ashley English announced the March produce selection for Tigress’ Can Jam. It’s the Allium family. There’s lots to choose from. I can play with garlic, scallions, shallots, onions, leeks and more. Low acid, again. That’s cool. Much less anxiety than last month’s carrots.
I love that the green onions from the Farmers’ Market were super dirty. I’ve already used some in a bit of soup. I was hungry and they were good. Mild. Liked them. The others are about to join some carrots in a good sweet peppery brine.
Not sure what I’m doing for TCJ, yet. So, I guess it’s off to the books, again.
Nikki♥
i’m liking this. i’m hoping to like it enough to get me to hollywood early on a sunday. we’ll see.
Going to my local Farmers’ Market was kinda fun this week, even though, I didn’t really get very much. I think Tigress’ Can Jam has me in a citrus haze. And, I’m, apparently, buying things I grow in my window. Hey, Cilantro. I forgot to buy tomatoes and forgot to shoot the onions. I didn’t realize they were still in the tote until post-orange attack.
Alas, gone already from this week’s haul are ALL of the Blood Oranges and the Cilantro.
I’m into using an entire bunch of Cilantro like greens. I had a lovely fish/cilantro/coconut curry this afternoon. No recipe. Just tilapia, a huge onion, garlic, cilantro, a bit of tomato paste, coconut milk, water, curry powder, salt and crushed red pepper. It’s really whatever I have on hand. And I’m brand specific when it comes to the curry powder. I was raised eating mostly West Indian curries, so I get antsy if I don’t have any Blue Mountain in the house.
I’m staring at the huge container of my beloved Jamaican curry powder and thinking about the broccoli. Ahhh, dinner just popped into my head.
N♥
i brought home the wallflowers from the blood orange dance and they just make my heart sing.
Look what I got from my first Farmers’ Market visit of 2010. Spinach, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Lemongrass, Onions and the reason for a weekend full of joy, Blood Oranges.
I got them from two different organic stalls. One had pretty, pretty citrus. The other, ummm, not so much. But, there was something about my sweet wallflowers. They were recently picked and dirty. There was still part of the stem attached. I was smitten. I don’t know if i would have brought them home from a store like that.
Isn’t it sad how we are taught to judge produce? It has to pass the shiny new car test. Have you smelled some of that beautiful fruit at the store? What do you mean you can’t smell anything? Really? Each and every piece has to be spectacular. How real or natural is that?
It’s got to look like what we think its supposed to look like, but what does it taste like? And really does everything have to taste exactly the way it tasted before? I’m okay with it not. As long as it’s full of personality. A good one.
Man, I am still feeling up my ugly blood oranges. I can’t stop smelling them. I know I’m supposed to be using them for the Can Jam, but I had to have my first taste of the season. Okay, tastes, plural. Yes, I ate a few. Couldn’t stop myself. Two were the deepest burgandy. The other was flecked with different shades of orange and red. It’s like each bit of pulp was given the choice of what flag to fly.
So, what am I going to do with them? I think I’m going to go unbelievably lo-fi with it. The ones I ate had most amazing flavor. I think I just want to showcase that. We’ll see.
I’m so glad I started playing around this early in the season. I’m going to find as many ways as I can to preserve what really has become my favorite fruit. I want the rest of the year filled with its brilliance.
Can you tell I dig blood oranges? Don’t get me started talking about cheese. I can’t even keep it in the house.
So, tell me, what cha got in the pot?
Nikki♥
i like the grocery.
I loved doing the shopping as a kid. Every two weeks, I made the list. Went to the store. Threw in the magazines and things I wanted. Somehow found a way to lose the receipt. Took a cab home with the bags and bags of groceries for a family of three.
I shop a little differently, now. I frequent six or so stores with the occasional trip to Whole Foods. I know which store does what better. I get what I need for the next few days. And all the stores are in walking distance.
My fridge, Tall and Tiny, keeps me from the suburban stock up.
In my pursuit of the best locally grown produce, I’ve been checking out the friday farmer’s market in my neighborhood. I started documenting what I buy from there because I loved the way it all looked on the table.
I haven’t been to the fm lately. The fridge has been full since Thanksgiving. Trying to force things in there for the next couple of weeks seems wasteful. So, I’ll get back on the market.watch in 2010. I’m also planning on participating in the South Central Farmers CSA. I want to support and I love the surprise of opening the box of fruit and veg goodness.
Much Thx should go out to NYC’s Urban Organic. I discovered my favorite fruit from one of their deliveries when I lived in the city. Oh, how I love blood oranges.
Nikki♥
