You know how when puppies get excited, they shake their little tails. And when they get really excited, their entire back quarters start to move in a barely suppressed wiggle.
Yeah, I’m the same way when it comes to fresh local produce.
It doesn’t matter if it’s my weekly CSA share, which doesn’t start until mid-June (I’m counting down the weeks) or a simple farmers market, which has been tiding me over until my CSA starts. Most recently, I’ve been hitting up downtown Cleveland’s farmers market every Friday afternoon, which means I’m foregoing the gym to do it. That’s how you know it’s love. ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Several Friday’s ago, after literally skipping my way to the farmers market and squealing with delight over all the awe-inspiring goodness (I wasn’t kidding when I compared myself to a puppy), I brought this bevy of bountiful produce home.
Behold; the heavens open, the trumpets sound, and the angels rejoice. Too much? I don’t think so.
I can’t even fully explain how happy this picture makes me, although rest assured there is wiggling going on and even a jazz hand or two thrown in for good measure. Some people drool over the sight of an ice cream sundae (I’m one of them) and others drool over baskets of spinach, bundles of purple kale, cute little carrots, firm green onions, pretty pink radishes and tightly twined herbs. What can I say? I love food in all it’s glory, especially the colorful stuff… and cheese, but that’s a no brainer and also a regular at my farmers market.
I’ve decided to forgo Jenn’s typical What I Ate Wednesday today, although I’m totally still linking up because I’ve seen what other people post. It’s not a full day of eats. Sometimes it’s a whole weekends’ worth of food, a solo recipe, or just the meals you pick and choose. Bunch of rule breakers; the whole lot of you. Well if you can do it, then I can too. So there. Sorry Jenn, I promise to be back on my best behavior (which isn’t saying much) next week.
Also in the mix today is Kristy’s link up for Fresh Food Wednesdays because it doesn’t get much fresher than this. Plus, Kristy’s pretty fly, and she designs blogs for a living, goes to fancy food parties, and gets paid to take fabulous photos, all while drinking wine. She’s winning in my book.
If you need help with starting a blog, your existing blog layout or any other technical aspects of the social media world (damn it’s like looking into a mirror), you should check her out because that’s Kristy’s thing. She. Completes. You; you just don’t know it yet.
I digress. Back to the veritable veggies and lands of green. I already showed you my farmers market haul, but I’d like to go one step further (which shouldn’t be a surprise) and share exactly what I did with it all because anybody can buy a bunch of fresh goodies and let them wither away to nothing in the fridge. (I’ll be honest, two radishes didn’t make it, and it broke a little piece of my heart to compost them). It takes skills, talent, and some good mojo to put your produce where your mouth is. Lucky for you, I’m got all of them, in spades. Get ready for a crapton of pictures; three cheers for visual stimulation…not in a pornographic way. I’m not that kind of girl, well unless you’re talking yolk porn (or mad monkey love) and then all bets are off. Far be it from me to deny the people yolk porn.
And we’re off…
Some of the radishes and the green onions (along with a bunch of other veggies) made their way into this lovely vegetable dip, which I paired with more veggies. Obviously.
I also used that very same veggie dip as a sauce for my Garden Thyme veggie burger. This was my first time trying the Luna brand, and I have to say I was impressed.
I mixed half the bundle of fresh oregano in with some sweet potatoes and parmesan, and then roasted them all together in the oven, until they reached optimal deliciousness.
Part of the kale and the rest of the radishes (the edible ones, that is) made their way into Peas & Crayons very own Garlicky Kale Salad with Smoke Chipolte dressing. If you’re a fan of garlic (who isn’t) and aren’t afraid of a little heat, this is a dressing for you. It was a flavor explosion in my mouth (oh my!).
I drank the rest of my kale, along with some of the spinach in my morning smoothies, although I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Hubby’s use of produce. When I was off gallivanting, he made himself several spinach salads with a plethora of toppings, which are all hiding underneath a mountain of sprouts. My man eats his greens, and it shows.
The last of the green onions made their way into my scrambled eggs. Twice.
The cute little carrots managed to sneak into a cast iron skillet stocked with veggies (red skinned potatoes, sweet potatoes, yellow onions, whole cloves of garlic and even some of the farmers market oregano). Here they are pre-roasting.
And post-roasting, paired with asparagus and topped with yolk porn because everything is better with yolk porn. Plus, I’m pretty sure I mentioned porn earlier; you can’t say I didn’t deliver.
There you have it my friends. My farmers market finds and yolk porn. What more could a girl ask for?
Do you frequent the farmers markets in your area? If so, what lovely little food perks have you brought home, and how did you use them? Tell me all about it so I can wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.
Jessie says
I tried to get Roxy to stand up like that little pug and make it seem like she was shaking her bootay…. but it was a fail 🙁
Meghan says
You’ll have to start training her. Doggie boot camp.
Eating 4 Balance says
I would totally skip out on the gym to go to the farmer’s market too. I’m jealous that yours has already started as all of the local markets around me don’t open until June 🙁 Your recaps just give me more to look forward to I guess!
Roasted vegetables are so tasty. They look great paired with the yolky egg!
Do you have any tips for a farmer’s market novice? Hopefully I can go to a few this summer and I would hate to be taken advantage of at the produce stands 😉
Meghan says
The farmers market has been going for at least 6 weeks now but there was little to no produce in the beginning so things are starting to pick up, which pleases me to no end.
Tips huh…try to only buy what you can practically use and don’t go on an empty stomach. Ha. All the prices are generally marked and that’s usually what I pay, although they can be flexible. I was short $1 one time and they let me have it anyway. I also mentioned my hot peppers went bad before drying out and they gave me a bag for free so basically be open with the vendors, and they’ll likely be open with you in return. 🙂
Eating 4 Balance says
Good tips. Thanks. I’m often guilty of buying more than I need so that’s good to keep in mind.
Meghan says
Oh and stock up on big Ziploc bags and paper towels so you can store all the greens you purchased.
Fran@BCDC says
I love farmer’s markets but we don’t really have them in our area. We have a decent produce market, but the produce does NOT look like yours, Meghan. 🙁
Glad I could get on your site through P & C. I tried several times earlier so I could start my WIR post and couldn’t get on. Anyway, here you are so that’s good. Have a great day, my dear!
Meghan says
Yeah my site has been having issues all day today. What fun. I’m glad you liked the pictures; I really enjoy taking pictures of fruits and veggies. The make me absurdly happy.
Jess @ JessieBear What Will You Wear says
Oh man, skipping the gym for it? you’re right- that’s when you know it’s serious!! Also, Meghan. Your food is just downright sexy. You should have an adult label for this or something.. ow owww. (am I the only one who finds food sexy? ok I’m done.)
Meghan says
“Aw shucks,” she says while blushing and staring at the ground.
I like the adult label and the ow owww. More of that please.
caren says
those are some gorgeous veggie shots. well done!
Meghan says
Thanks Caren. I think veggies are easy to photograph because they are do damn colorful and pretty as is.
kirsten@FarmFreshFeasts says
But did you piddle on the floor, either at the farmer’s market or at home?
How’d you make the dip (I’m not one of those voyeurs who just wants to see the food you ate, I want to know HOW’D YOU DO THAT) because I’m planning on radish subterfuge this spring. Shh, don’t tell the kids.
Lovely photos–your food really looks wonderful!
Meghan says
Nope, no puppy piddling, even if my bladder is the size of a pea.
I knew you were you going to ask about the dip, and I almost put it on there, but per usual there was no recipe and I made it up as I went along, so I decided to forego the recipe, but for you my dear (and your radish fearing children), here it goes: I put into the food processor: a couple carrots, celery, bell pepper, cucumber, radishes, a clove of garlic and some green onions. I drained the mixture some because the cucumber made it really watery. Then I added the mixture to a full container of sour cream along with salt, pepper, and onion powder to taste. Let it soak in the fridge for a couple hours and the season again to taste.
Thanks Kirsten.
Holly @ EatGreatBEGreat says
Farmer’s Markets are the BEST!! I love all the local fresh produce! Your a.m. smoothie looks delish! BTW, love the pug pic…had me cracking up!
Meghan says
Glad you liked the pictures. Yep, pugs are adorable.
Olivia @ Liv Lives Life says
Wow. Just wow. All of that food look incredible – I love all of the colors! I love going to the farmers markets that are around us. My favorite thing to get there is herbs. I’ll plant them and use them throughout the summer. It’s so much easier than growing herbs from seeds, and I feel safer buying the plants from farmer’s markets because they’re less likely to have nasty pesticides and stuff on them!
Meghan says
Fresh herbs are so damn handy to have around and they really make a difference in cooking. I always buy the little starter plants too. Growing things from seed can be tough.
Nikki @ The Road to Less Cake says
I love that image of the puppy. It made me smile and chuckle.
All the food you got from the farmers’ market looks amazing. Especially the kale, so purple!
The asparagus and yolk porn has me drooling.
Meghan says
Yolk porn for the win.
Abby says
Aren’t the colors so bright and purdy? Wiggle, wiggle indeed!
Being in Michigan, I covet the opening of our local Farmer’s Market as it usually means the snow has stopped for a few months. We just got an indoor/outdoor market downtown that I haven’t checked out yet, but I’m faithful to the old one we have. It’s in a “hippy” part of town (my kind of people) and has everything I need. But to be honest, our local grocery store carries a large selection of local organic produce at a much cheaper price, so I pick and choose at the market. It’s mostly for things I can’t get at the store. Bring it on!
Meghan says
I like to get the local goodies when I can, even at the grocery store (they usually have a label for where the produce comes from), because it tastes so much better when its sun-ripened and picked the day before. How’s that for a hippie.
Brittany says
I felt the gates of Heaven open heard an angel singing “aahhhh” as I looked at this pictures! Farmers markets are the beginning of the best times ever!! I JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH! Please cook for me with your beautiful looking produce.
Meghan says
You were totally feeling me then. I would be happy to cook for you so long as you bring me one of those amazing cupcakes with the homemade peanut butter cups. I’m still drooling over those.
Alex @ Brain, Body, Because says
THIS IS INSANITY, all of it! The colors! The textures! ooooh myyyy gooooosh.
That purple kale is out of control!!!! too much stimulus! my little brain is frying!
Meghan says
I love your comments. For reals. They make me smile, big.
rebecca @ blueberry smiles says
I love the farmer’s market! we’re lucky enough to have one right outside our building and I go every single Saturday. I think the strawberry people know me by name!
Meghan says
That is so convenient. I’d be there pretty much every week too. I just can’t resist.
Melissa says
Fabulous farmer’s market haul, Meghan! I love the farmer’s market. I’m lucky to have a good indoor farmer’s market nearby for winter, but last Saturday was the official opening of the outdoor farmer’s market that goes weekly until October. So happy! I’m currently contemplating a stir fry to use farmer’s market chicken, asparagus and ramps. My radishes didn’t make it into a recipe – my boyfriend eats them as fast as I can buy them! Carrots, too – if I want to cook with them, I have to hide them in the back of the fridge!
Meghan says
I’m glad your outdoor market started. I actually grabbed some ramps this past week too, and I’m going to do a pesto with it. Radishes and carrots are good addictions for your boyfriend to have. It could be way worse, right.
Sydney says
Your food looks amazing! Especially love the purple kale! I am so ready for all the beautiful colors that summer produce brings 🙂 I bet the smoothie you made with the purple kale looked fabulous too!
Meghan says
Thanks Sydney. I really like taking pictures of the pretty stuff and veggies make it so easy because they are naturally beautiful to begin with.
Allie says
YOUR BLOG WASN’T LOADING FOR ME ALL MORNING AND I WAS PANICKING.
Just so you know.
Veggies dipped in veggies always amuse me. In a tasty way. You’ve also sold me on that dressing–I am a sucker for spicy and garlic. I found these giant green olives that have an entire raw clove of garlic in each one. They may be the anti-sexy, but holy mother-of-bad-breath are they crunchy, briny and delicious.
And just overall gawgeous produce, dahhling. I am so ready to farmer’s market with you! Oh yes, I DID just make that a verb. What’s the CSA link-up you were doing last year? I’m going to have to get on that one with my chicken CSA and backyard garden PSA. Watching seeds, waiting, and perusing your salads for inspiration in the meantime.
Meghan says
Thanks for that. 🙂
I could care less about the bad breath; the garlic is so worth it. And olives wrapped around garlic would be amazing.
I think farmers marketing should be a verb. If not, we’ll make it one. Here’s a site for finding a CSA in your area: http://www.localharvest.org/csa/
The one I do is http://www.geaugafamilyfarms.org/, and I’m pretty much bursting at the seams waiting for it to start.
I will teach you my salad ways, and with your creative taste buds, you will surpass me in no time. Then you will share you love of salads with other salad haters and convert them to our fields of green, and we’ll form a club with a secret handshake and everything.
Sonja @ The {Happy} Travel Bug says
That all looks delish! So fresh and yummy!
Meghan says
Thanks Sonja.
Sarah Pie says
So many veggies I can barely stand it (that purple kale in particular is gorgeous!) How did that radish dip come together if you don’t mind me asking (and I’m asking even if you do because it looks amazing and I want some). I’d say it looks like cleaning out your fridge before your trip has been a delicious chore.
Meghan says
I bought the kale simply because it was purple; I couldn’t resist.
This was actually my CSA produce from a few weeks ago, but I got a whole host of veggies and eggs in the fridge and now only 2.5 more days to eat them all. It’s gonna be crazy up in here, but I do crazy well.
The veggie dip was a work in progress (no real measurements), but the gist is this: I put into the food processor: a couple carrots, celery, bell pepper, cucumber, radishes, a clove of garlic and some green onions. Pulsate until it’s all broken down. I drained the mixture some because the cucumber made it really watery. Then I added the mixture to a full container of sour cream along with salt, pepper, and onion powder to taste. Let it soak in the fridge for a couple hours and then season again to taste.
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli says
Oh the CoLoRs!!!! Love love LOVE that it is almost time for the farmers market to open back up! But can you believe the nerve of them over here? Opening day is THIS weekend…while I’m at Blend!! *Sad face* Guess I’ll just have to make up for it and buy double the next weekend, right? 😉 I swear, I am SO ready after priming myself this week! I mean, did you SEE what I did with my veggies? I’m not one to toot my own horn or anything but (yeah right, I totally am…TOOT TOOT!!), I did GOOD! The only thing left in my fridge is a waning kolrabi…which I’m still not really sure what to do with! Lol I bought and tried it for the first time last year just eating it raw and then put it in juice, but I saw (Smart Kitchen) Sarah use it in something (I’ve since forgotten what that something was) so when I was at the International market a few weeks ago, I picked one up! Let’s just hope/pray that it holds on one more weekend! 😉
Love the green onions in eggs…obviously that is what made my Huevos Rancheros Pizza the most colorful/flavorful/picture perfect meal of the week! But umm, I think you may need to inspect that bread…it looks like it’s growing a nori sheet! :-/
Meghan says
Ha, ha…that is some spinach on the bread; it was the last of my spinach focaccia bread. So good but a little (or a lot) funky looking in the background.
You did do an amazing job getting through the fridge…very impressive. For the kohlrabi, make home fries…chop them up into one to inch pieces, add a little olive oil, season however and sauté them up. Serve with scrambled eggs and green onions.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
That all looks so bright and delicious! I love spring. And yolk porn. 🙂
Meghan says
Spring and yolk porn can’t be beat.
Carol @ Lucky Zucca says
LOL Bails isn’t really a puppy anymore and she STILL wags her whole body when her tail wags. Your eats look incredible. The food is probably my favorite thing about summer. So much freshness. YUMM!!!
Meghan says
You and me both. I love all the freshness and flavors that come with each season.
Sara says
poached egg and vegetables is one of my absolute favorite combinations. you got the yolk exactly right!
Meghan says
Thanks Sara. I feel like I should specialize in yolk porn.
Nanna says
That little pug cracks me up- so fabulous! And speaking of fabulous, that awesome-looking veggie burger would make my day about now 😉 I go to the farmer’s market religiously, and I always get a mixture of veggies. Last week’s highlight was a bunch of purple, orange, and red carrots, just like yours 🙂
Meghan says
The little carrots are some of my favorites because they are so dang cute, which probably isn’t the best reason to buy produce but eh, who cares.
Luv What You Do says
Is it wrong that I”m excited to live vicariously through your CSA too?!?!
Meghan says
Not wrong at all, although I thought you were going to try one this summer. There’s still time….
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen says
I feel kind of bad because I HAVE been going to the farmers market, but not to buy produce.
I go for the bread.
Meghan says
Ms. Smart, you should try the produce along with the bread, especially since it’s seasonal grown. I guarantee it will taste different than the stuff in the grocery store unless they are getting it local too. There’s nothing quite like farmers market fruits and veggies which have been warmed and ripened in the sun and picked literally the day before or that morning.
kristy @ gastronomical soveriegnty says
hahahahaha – you’re winning too, you know. xo!
p.s. i want your box. your farmer’s market haul. not, heh, you know. uh, awkward. hahaha…
p.p.s. i really am so stoked on your support. thank you so much – i’m blushing from YOUR gushing! thank you thank you thank you. i’m honored 🙂
Meghan says
I like awkward. It’s my thing and your thing, and we both have things…now that’s awkward.
Thanks for the feature love, and you deserve the gushing because you and your blog are fantastic and pretty much everything I stand for.
kristy @ gastronomical soveriegnty says
OH! One more thing:
This post will be featured on the monthly Wednesday Fresh Foods Link Up Round Up this week! If you have a chance, feel free to stop by and check out the other featurettes 🙂 Hope to see you again soon with more seasonal & real food posts! xo, kristy