Before we get to today’s post, I feel like we need some music. It is Friday after all, so I think a little classic rock is in order. With that being said, there’s no real correlation between today’s topic and the tunes, and I’m good with that. I hope you are too. If not, well I don’t know what to tell you. You could skip the song, but where’s the fun in that? There is none, so quit your belly aching, hit play and let’s get moving.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again (I’m nothing, if not repetitious), I miss my weekly CSA.
For anyone not familiar, CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture and it’s “a way for consumers to purchase local food directly from a farm by entering into a contract with the farmer. Members become “partners” with a farm by paying up-front for a subscription, or “share,” of produce that is received on a weekly basis throughout the growing season.” (Geauga Family Farms)
Being part of a CSA is a win-win in my book because I get to support the local farmers, and as a result I get some of the best looking and tasting produce in town. It appeals to my vanity and my taste buds. Sure there were times last summer, it was a little daunting and I think I might have lost my mind once or twice, but it was also fun as hell, and I ate like a baller; assuming ballers eat like bad asses in a healthy and nutritious kind of way.
I got an email earlier this week from the fabulous folks who provide my CSA, Geauga Family Farms, letting me know applications are now officially being accepted for the 2013 CSA season. Upon reading the good news, I most definitely did a happy dance which involved some wildly inappropriate hip shaking and maybe even the Hubby’s leg. The only problem: the season doesn’t start until June, and I’m not very good at being patient. When I say not very good, I really mean I suck at it. For all you good-natured and patient people out there, how do you do it? What’s the secret; I’m dying (not literally) to know, but I kind of need to know now. Like right now.
Since I can’t wait that long for fresh and fabulous produce, I’ve been hitting up the farmers market in downtown Cleveland on Friday afternoons. The first time I went, the didn’t even have produce, and I left empty-handed and with a big ol’ pout on my face. Sadly, there was no wildly inappropriate hip shaking that day. The second time I went, I snagged the only veggies they had: fiery hot peppers (dance ladies, dance) and some itsy bitsy teeny weeny brussel sprouts. I also scored some grass-fed cheese because I can’t really turn down cheese. I readily admit to being a full-fledged cheese-aholic; I’m just waiting for the right support group.
Last Friday when I hit up the farmers market, I fared a lot better though. Apparently some crops are starting to come to fruition, and I really hope this means winter is nearly done, because I scored in a big way; in a wildly inappropriate hip shaking kind of way.
Behold my farmers market finds.
Alright so maybe there’s only four veggies, but that’s double what I had the week before so I’m excited. Don’t ruin this for me.
I snagged an acorn squash, some lovely green onions whose fragrance permeated everything they touched, which might freak out the faint of heart or scent, but it had quite the opposite effect on me. I also grabbed more fiery hot peppers (the first bag I grabbed two weeks ago went south and the farmer comped me a new bag for free; holla for free shit). Last and most certainly not least, I picked up a ginormous bundle of the loveliest spinach I’ve seen in a long time. Popeye knew what he was talking about because this stuff is gorgeous, and yes I think spinach is beautiful. I’m sure this is normal; then again when have I ever been concerned with normal?
It always amazes me just how different fresh, local spinach is compared to the kind you grab at your grocery store. They couldn’t even pass for brothers from another mother.
Now that I’ve shared all my delicious produce, I’m also going to reveal exactly what happened to my goods. Well, except for the Acorn Squash and all those fiery peppers because I haven’t done jack with them yet. They’re just chillin’ on my counter waiting for some loving. They are much more patient than me.
I grabbed my block of grass-fed Veggie Jack cheese from a couple of weeks ago, along with my beautiful and fragrant green onions and made Spabettie’s Cheesy Buffalo Skins, which in typical Spabettie fashion were out of this world. Of course, I bastardized her recipe by using actual cheese and some regular hot sauce, but hopefully she’ll forgive me, especially when she learns I couldn’t stop singing the entire time I was making them. Even when I was popping them into my mouth in rapid fire succession or swinging my hips in a wildly inappropriate way.
One little, two little, three little fingerlings. Four little, five little, six little fingerlings.
I actually loved this flavor combo so much, I super sized them and had full-grown cheesy buffalo potatoes two more times this week. So damn good and since I cheated and microwaved my Idaho’s for the first two steps, it was also crazy easy. You really need to make these…often; they’re that good.
My beautiful spinach made its way into my morning smoothies, which was practically a foregone conclusion. I’d show you a picture of the final results, except red and green make brown, which makes for a rather bad picture. Tastes good though.
Of course when my spinach looks this good, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to have a salad with some hard-boiled eggs and a warm balsamic dressing.
We could also pretend those are carrot shavings in the center, but we all know that’s not true; it’s a heaping and delicious amount of smoked cheddar cheese. Would it make you feel any better if I said I shared this salad with the Hubby? Or that this, along with a bowl of tomato ginger soup was dinner last night? See, I needed a little fat in my meal.
Would it also to help to know that a few years ago, I wouldn’t have touched, much less made, half this stuff….well, except the cheese. I’ve always had a problem there.
Before I bid you a final adieu, make sure to head on over to Gastronomical Sovereignty and In Her Chucks to see what other people did with their mighty fine and beautiful veggies. I’m not the only produce lovin’ gal in town, although I bet I’m the raunchiest. Shakes hips in a wildly inappropriate way.
Have you been hitting up farmers markets in your area? Would you be interesting in doing a CSA? What’s your worst food addiction?
Khushboo says
March 8, 2013 at 8:39 AMER YUM at those potato skins!! I have a thing for cheese (okay not thing, more like love) and will definitely be making your “bastardised” version of the recipe! As for my worst food addiction? I wouldn’t say its a bad addiction at all but I can’t ever seem to get enough of peanut butter. It’s the first & last thing I eat every day and I wouldn’t have it any other way :)! Happy Friday!
Meghan says
March 9, 2013 at 1:12 PMCheese and peanut butter (only not together). You are a girl after my own heart. My favorite way to eat peanut butter is with a spoon.
Eating 4 Balance says
March 8, 2013 at 9:20 AMNo farmers markets in my area yet, but I did go to Whole Foods this past Wednesday… Guess what they were out of? Squash!!!! Worst day of my life. Haha. Just kidding, but I was pretty devastated when the produce guy said that they didn’t carry winter squash right now because it’s “out of season.” Well, it’s not out of season at Walmart, Buehlers or Meijer! 🙂
Those buffalo skins turned out looking great. The garnish looks so professional. Green onions?
Meghan says
March 9, 2013 at 1:30 PMOut of squash?! That’s crazy, and I know that must have been rough for you. You tell your guy we got acorn squashes here in Ohio so he needs to check again.
Yep, the garnish was green onions from our farmers market no less. The potato skins were fabulous and only three ingredients (ignoring salt and pepper…not that anyone should ignore salt and pepper). Potatoes, cheese, hot sauce. Can’t beat that.
Kristina says
March 8, 2013 at 10:21 AMyou’re forgiven, and it may have been the dancing that cinched it 😉
SO HAPPY you liked these, and made them a few more times – I have done this too… happy Friday, my dear! XO
Meghan says
March 9, 2013 at 1:33 PMThey are sooooo good. My dancing might be another story. I’m thinking of making a big batch of whole buffalo skin potatoes on Sunday and doing every step, except the last 15 minutes of baking. Then during the work week, I can just pop them into the oven for the last round of cooking. You are a genius.
Jess @ JessieBear What Will You Wear says
March 8, 2013 at 11:24 AMOh man I hate waiting so long for things! Juuuune? How do patient people do that?! Also, totes drooling all over those pictures of the fingerlings. Also perhaps singing the “one little, two little, threee little fingerlings” out loud….
Meghan says
March 9, 2013 at 1:33 PMI can’t relate to patience. I know what it is, and I want it, but it’s seems so unobtainable. The fingerlings were fabulous.
Jen@HealthyFoodandFamily says
March 8, 2013 at 4:04 PMWe have to wait until the end of May for the farmer’s market to arrive, I’m pretty excited about it!
Wow, I honestly didn’t even know that was spinach, why does it look so much different from store bought spinach? Regardless, it looks really good and that stomach has my stomach grumbling right now!
Meghan says
March 9, 2013 at 1:37 PMI love farmers markets. On the other hand, waiting until May is a bummer.
This was a different kind of spinach (bumpy versus smooth texture), but every time I get it, it looks way better, more vibrant, more crisp and just overall more delicious and nutritious than the super market spinach. I think a lot of the things done to our food before it ever reaches our stores has a lot to do with how it looks.
Jessie says
March 9, 2013 at 3:23 AMmy goodness, you sliced those HB eggs so perfectly. What’s your secret?
p.s. I do have to admit, my eyes kind of ventured away from the whole farmers market sign & right to the “Quiznos Sub” sign. 🙂 I mean yes farmers markets are great (they are yr long here btw), but Quiznos has some pretty friggen awesome food too 🙂
Meghan says
March 9, 2013 at 1:48 PMAn egg slicer…the Hubby got one for Christmas one year because he really likes egg salad. I could never do that by hand.
Alright, next time I’ll have to crop out the Quiznos…..just kidding.
I can’t remember the last time I actually had Quiznos; we used to have one in our neighborhood, and I have such fond memories. They closed up shop and I haven’t been back since.
kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts says
March 9, 2013 at 10:11 AMYum! Looks like some frost-kissed spinach to me!
You’re making me want to start trolling by the farmer’s market, though I think I can just drive over to the farm and get my green on that way. I’ll have to ask.
Great haul, Meghan!
Meghan says
March 9, 2013 at 1:48 PMEven better and easier.
luv what you do says
March 9, 2013 at 11:36 AMThose greens are gorgeous! I am counting down the days before my famer’s market opens. Bring on the veggies!
Meghan says
March 9, 2013 at 1:05 PMI’m excited because I just know you’re going to try a CSA this year…yes? Have I convinced you yet?
Nicole @ Fruit 'N' Fitness says
March 9, 2013 at 5:28 PMI love going to the farmers market! Everything looks so good, especially those buffalo skins.
Meghan says
March 11, 2013 at 5:53 PMThanks. The buffalo potatoes were incredibly yummy.
Brittany says
March 9, 2013 at 11:41 PMI used to be a huge cheese-oholic. Then I kicked the addiction and went vegan..cold turkey. I no longer eat cheese, but I do dream about it on occasion. That salad looks heavenly. I knew those weren’t carrot shreds, but I did pretend they were. I would love to shake my hips with veggies in an inappropriate way.
Meghan says
March 11, 2013 at 5:54 PMHow did you kick it? I’m not sure I could do it. We can pretend their carrot shreds. No one has to know (about the “carrots” or hip shaking).
Sunnie@ModernGirlNutrition says
March 10, 2013 at 8:35 PMEverything is so fresh! I love farmer’s markets. They always have the most fun things (and I love the samples too haha). Hope you are doing well!
Meghan says
March 11, 2013 at 5:54 PMYep farmers markets pretty much rock. Doing great, thanks.
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli says
March 12, 2013 at 12:28 AMHolla for free shit! Haha! Love it! And can’t wait to see what you end up doing with the squash and those free peppas! Great, now I’ve got “Push It” in my head! 😉
I really did think that cheese was carrots at first…too funny! But that salad…with some tomato soup? Mmmm, sounds like heaven! And bastardized vegan potato skins? Gahhhh!
I CAN’T WAIT until the farmer’s market opens back up this year! I think it’ll be sometime mid May…so close yet still SO FAR! Let me know if you get any good tips on that patience thing, wouldya? 😉
Meghan says
March 12, 2013 at 6:54 AMRight? I figure if I’m eating a ginormous (and pretty) bowl of spinach salad along with a wallop of tomato ginger soup with no cream, cheese, or anything really rich, then I’m entitled to some cheese on my salad. Granted “some” might be a stretch, and it does look like carrots, and I probably could have passed it off as such. I’m too honest for my own good.
Good tips for patience is meditating. Except I’m too damn impatient to stick with it for more than five minutes. Maybe you should try that on your current sabbatical. There’s a great iPhone app called Mindful Meditation, and it’s free. Holla (it all comes full circle).
Heather @ In Her Chucks says
March 14, 2013 at 12:17 AMScore on your farmer’s market finds! And that smoothie looks delicious 🙂
Thanks for sharing and linking up!
Meghan says
March 14, 2013 at 6:42 AMThanks. I love a good spinach smoothie. I’ve been eating tons of spinach salads as well. Yum.