Early Run to the Farmer’s Market
I know, I know, I’m always writing about the farmer’s market, so just don’t read on if you’re sick of it. One reason I started this blog was to have a sort of journal of things that go on around here. I write about what I get at the farmer’s market so that next summer I can check back and know what will appear at what time so I can plan my canning & preservation efforts.
I got up early Saturday morning to head off to the market. Mr Chiots and I had a wedding to film (that’s our profession check it out at 2nd Mile Productions), so I couldn’t take my normal leisurely trip. The alarm rang at 7:30 and by 8:15 I was out the door with coffee in hand. I ran to the market first and found fewer vendors that normal since it was raining.
But I was greeted with friendly smiling faces and a few, “Where were you last week, we didn’t see you?”. You never hear that at the grocery store.
I was delighted by all the winter squash that are appearing. I’ve been waiting to stock up so that we can continue eating locally this winter.
I picked up 3 butternuts and one HUGE* squash (I forget the name if anyone knows feel free to let me know, it’s that big pale orange one right behind the bag of corn). The lady at the booth said it was the best for pumpkin pie, and if you know me you know much I love pumpkin pie so I immediately said, “I’ll take it”. *when I got home I weighed it and it’s 20lbs.
A dozen ears of the last sweet corn of the season also made it into my shopping bags. I would have bought more, but since we had a wedding to film that day and I only had an hour to get ready to leave after I got home, I figured I wouldn’t have time to cook and cut it all.
I was also able to score a bushel of romas for canning and 5 quarts of poblano peppers for grilling & freezing, MMMMMM I can taste the smoky chili now, 2 quarts of fire roasted tomatoes, 3 grilled poblanos, 2 grilled onions, some pastured beef and spices, that’ll be warming on a cold winter day!
Mr Chiots is super excited that it’s finally apple season here in Ohio. Every week at the market they have new varieties. This week I picked up a peck of Gala apples for eating. I’m also hoping to make a batch of apple butter from all the varieties of cooking apples I’ve been buying at the market all summer (they’re all waiting in the crisper). I like to buy 4-5 different varieties of apples for making applesauce & apple butter, makes for more depth in flavor than if you have all one variety.
I also picked up bunch of organic carrots, a bunch of beets, and some green peppers. I haven’t decided what to do with these yet, maybe roasted root veggies (I’ll add some of those potatoes I bought last time). The green peppers will be grilled & frozen for winter pizzas & soups.
So what are you doing to continue eating locally this winter? We’re buying long-keeping squashes and doing some canning, trying to do our part for the Harvest Keepers Challenge.
Filed under Farmer's Market | Comments (3)
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Your local market looks so wonderful. That pumpkin pie will be delicious, I bet!
Well, I will eat super-locally this winter. As in “local” meaning my backyard. I am going to plant some heirloom lettuce from the Seed Savers Exchange. It will hopefully be growing into February or March, if the seedlings aren’t torn up by squirrels.
P.S. Check out the Seed Savers Exchange if you haven’t already. They have some great varieties, including rare winter squash :)
to Joe's comment
I just wanted to say how much I am enjoying reading your blog–I am learning so much about eating locally and growing your own food and I’m excited to get more aggressive in my gardening next year.
I’m also curious to learn more about what local produce can be purchased now to be used during the winter – like what squashes to buy, what to use them in later, etc. I’m totally not sick of the Farmer’s market topic and I want to join in the fun!
to MeghanO's comment
I love Farmer’s Markets!!! I spent the summer discovering all of them around here.
Carolyn
to Carolyn's comment