Veg*n Cooking and Other Random Musings: Weekly Local Booty 5/2/09 - I Love Mid-Missouri!

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Weekly Local Booty 5/2/09 - I Love Mid-Missouri!

Today was my first trip to market this year - even though it opened a couple of weeks ago. Last week, Brett and I were sick, the previous week I forgot, and the week before that Brett stopped by and reserved our CSA, so things just worked out to today being my first trip. It was a very successful trip, I must say. It being fairly early in the Mid-Missouri growing season, I didn't expect as much variety as I found, I am really stoked to get in the kitchen

There is something about winter that kills my cooking "mojo", part of it was that we were pretty unprepared to "eat local" over the winter, and I was reluctant to buy a bunch of out of season produce, so our meals got pretty lame. Hopefully we can prepare a little better this year. I know that next weekend, I am stocking up on asparagus and freezing some for winter. Wahoooooooo!

Check out my first haul of the year. This ran somewhere in the neighborhood of $50 (oh, and check out Gabby in the background).















(Sorry about the picture quality, I think there was something on the lense.) Starting from the bottom right: 3 bunches of asparagus, 1 lb. oyster mushrooms, 4 tomatoes (!!!!!), 1 lb. ground flax meal (!!!!!), garlic chives, 2 bunches of spring onions, a dozen eggs, spinach, penne pasta (!!!!!), and Country Goodies Salsa.

I'd say we made out pretty well. I thought I would show some pictures of my favorite finds.















Garlic chives! I have always wanted to work with garlic chives as it would be something we could easily grow in our apartment, it being a little early in the season for "regular" garlic, I decided I would give it a shot. I have many ideas already....















Ground flax meal! I am excited to see things like this ground flax meal and the Missouri Grain Project, it is a wonderful experiment and it allows locavores to source even more of their diet from their local region. We use a lot of flax meal, in our granola bars, in our oatmeal, in our gravy, all sorts of things. AND, this was less expensive than the kind we usually get from the store.















Oh glorious tomatoes, how I love them. I do not even want to venture to guess how many pound of tomatoes Brett and I ate last summer, we both LOVE them, very, very much. Hence why we are planting about 12 tomato plants this year. :-)















Asparagus, one of my favorite things about spring! Local asparagus is so fresh, so tender, I don't know if there is anything quite as good a garlicky roasted asparagus. Oh my, I can't wait!

We have company coming tomorrow, so we figured we would make a nice yummy dinner of Our Take on L's Black Bean Burgers (with local tomatoes of course) and garlicky roasted asparagus. Mmmmm.

And finally, here is photographic evidence of why Gabby's middle name is indeed Trouble.















Something she quite enjoys doing is burrowing in my pajama drawer and then pulling all the pajamas out of the drawer. She was caught red handed here. It is hard to be made at such a cute face though.

Don't forget about the "It Seemed Like A Good Idea At the Time" writing contest. It is "open" through May 31st. And be sure to vote on the goodie to be received by the winner.

Have a great weekend!

'Til next time.

13 comments:

Chile said...

I wish we'd had a chance to go to the Farmer's Market there with you, but it wasn't worth the additional days in the hotel. Your produce looks wonderful.

SusanB said...

I'm with you. First day of the farmer's market here and it was very exciting ... getting really tired of our winter stored eating options that we've been eating down: our organic seller only had scallions, we also got local asparagus (I have so been waiting for this), fengurek, watercress, spinach, shitake, crimini and oyster mushrooms (the mushroom guy is a new addition at our market), and radishes; and local eggs and mozzarella. Then we hit up our neighborhood bakery for still warm WW pizza shells and fresh baguettes. It all felt really happy even though it's a dreary rainy day. And we're harvesting bits and pieces of greens from our budding garden.

Daphne said...

I wish our markets would open in May, but here we have to wait until June.

Lisa said...

you got tomatoes?! Lucky you! Did I mention I love the new pepper photo for your banner.
My word verification is "undogie". Weird!

Unknown said...

stupid tomatoes! :o)

looks like a nice haul... can't wait to see what you do with it!

i got some pretty awesome things... still no tomatoes... but i'm sure i don't need to remind you of my morels!

hmd said...

What do you mean your meals were "lame" over the winter. Your photos were drool-worthy!

Good to hear you are back at the market though. Food, glorious food!

Anonymous said...

Wow--that is a great haul! I went to the farmers market here for the first time this year too, but things are not quite as far along as they are in Missouri. We had local spinach, onions, some herbs, and a few other things, but no asparagus or tomatoes yet. I am very jealous! Local asparagus is the best...it is such a treat! I hope you and Brett enjoy yours!

Courtney

Anonymous said...

First week here too, but we are nowhere near getting all those goodies yet - tomatos, wow. I know what you mean about winter monotony, I don't want to see another potato or apple for a looooong time! The first new produce makes me feel so alive.

jessy said...

hooooray for some super stellar local booty! asparagus, garlic chives, mushrooms, PASTA, FLAX SEED MEAL, and TOOOOMATOOOOOES!?! yay! that's so fantastical that you have so much awesomeness to make some rock'n meals with! i really need to go through our freezer and reorganize it 'cause your idea to freeze asparagus has me wanting to do the same! thanks, Jennifer! (and Gabby is just too cute hiding out in your pj drawer! ahhhahaha!)

DP Nguyen said...

Aww, what an adorable cat.
Your booty looks delicious. I'm surprised that tomatoes are so red already~ Yum.

Tessa at Blunders with shoots, blossoms 'n roots said...

Nice! Those tomatoes remind me of mine! I just can't wait to taste them, yummy! Looks like you really got some healthy things, your farmers markets must be amazing! Happy cooking :)

Unknown said...

Oh my god, it food not the most fantastic thing in the world. I love farmer's markets and have an amazing on where I live in Santa Monica. I love all things green! http://www.rebekahgreen.com

J said...

Chile - It would have been fun, but I understand. Oh yes, it is in the spring when I remember why I love Mid-Missouri so much.

Susan B - It is very exciting, and I agree, I would be happy to wait a few months before eating more potatoes, apples, and winter squash.

Ooooh crimini mushrooms? I wish the vendor at our market would grow things like criminis, buttons, or portobellos mushrooms, but I am happy they have any at all.

Freshly baked bread and a harvest from your garden? I imagine that beats the rainy day blues any time!

Daphne - Ours open in mid-March but don't really start having much until April.

Lisa - Yep, each week more and more folks have 'em. I guess that is the perk of having a warm and wet spring.

Thanks, I saved some seeds out of those peppers and have started them. The plant is just as gorgeous as the peppers, the leaves are starting to turn purple and I understand they produce purple flowers too. Pretty and tasty.

Undogie, eh? :-)

Selina - Hehehe, we will ALWAYS have a longer growing season than yours. Mwahahahahaha. But you all get mushrooms and asparagus longer since it is cooler, so it is a give and take.

Oh the morels. I am going to be on it and go hunting next year.

Heather - Hahaha, well thank you. We just got a bit burnt out on the various preparations of squash and sweet potatoes.

I am so pleased to have fresh local food to work with again.

Courtney - I'm sure your asparagus will be along too. Yes, we are very lucky with the tomatoes. Some things have been lacking with our strange weather these past few years, but the summer crops are doing wonderfully. Well, except those that don't like a lot of moisture.

Living in a Local Zone - Hear hear! I love potatoes and apples, but we ate so many I don't mind a few months away from them. I know! All the colors, the fresh flavors, the textures, I love spring and summer.

Jessy - I know, I was super excited about the flax seed. I like to see more nuts and grains being grown in the region. There are a few folks who grow beans too, but not enough.

Yeah, it is hard to get mad at a kitty with a face like that, eh?

DP Nguyen - She is a sweetie. A bit of a pain sometimes, but we love her anyway.

The tomatoes tasted amazing and they aren't even the prime of the summer lovelies yet. Man do I love tomatoes.

Tessa - I am constantly impressed with our farmer's market. The folks there grow some amazing looking produce, I am thankful that we have such caring and dedicated farmers.

Rebekah - I couldn't agree more, I am a big fan of food, especially fresh and local food. :-)

I bet your market in Santa Monica is amazing, and year round. Lucky!