Monday Market Haul - 8/17/2015

zucchini, green tomatoes, poblanos, potatoes, blackberries, jalapenos, romaine, strawberries, cucumbers. parsley, tomatoes, blueberries, peaches

I don’t know what it is about August but you’d think I was about to walk the plank. I live as if the month is already over. Lamenting summers end even though it is very clearly still 85 degrees by 10 o’clock every morning. The days are still long and the berries are still flowing. There’s no logical reason for this behavior, I realize.

It probably only makes the month go faster as it is. Can you believe we’re already half way done with it!? I gotta snap out of it, and just live in the now and stop fast forwarding myself to the dreary dredges of winter.

Bring on the suntans, the tomato sandwiches, and the cold brew coffees --- must milk for all it’s worth!

And I’ll begin that by enjoying all these summer hauls since they are numbered. Tomatoes for days, zucchinis and peaches and romaine, oh my! Blueberries have already met their destiny in the form of scones which I will maintain were worth putting the oven on for, even though seriously it was basically 90 degrees outside. Potatoes found their way into my haul because I’ve been dreaming of Herby Potato Salad for days now. The green tomatoes should prepare themselves for a fry dip, because I have some serious eggs benedict plans for them. The peppers are soon to find themselves roasted, skinned, and swirled into greek yogurt for a saucy topping on tacos. Blackberries, because I have just not made enough sauce this season. Oh summer, please don’t end!

Milking, milking, milking!

Monday Market Haul - 8/3/2015

Cantaloupe, okra, mint, parsley, green tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, plums, zucchini, squash blossoms, buttermilk, romaine, eggs, blueberries

Here’s where I have my annual HOLY SHIT IT’S AUGUST freakout.

You’re welcome.

Every year with this. The countdown begins. I wistfully tick off the days and with much panic buy every berry, tomato, and summer squash and attempt to figure out ways to prolong and preserve all of them.

So basically my freezer is about to get hella full and I should probably figure out how to can. Priorities!

Monday Market Haul - 7/20/2015

corn, cucumbers, jalapeno, zucchini, heirloom tomatoes, chives, mint, baby heirloom tomatoes, raspberries, blueberries, apricots, peaches

I had my first tomato sandwich of the season on Saturday. The tomato was a perfect, perfect tomato red. Best of all, it tasted like a tomato. It really just needed salt and to be eaten like an apple. I did fuss over it a smidge more. I rubbed garlic on warm toast then schmeared that with butter, since I’m not such a mayo girl. Layered those perfect slices on top. Showered it with salt and pepper and lastly just a sprinkle of parsley, since I’m not such a basil girl.

It was something to be savored since I’m pretty sure I haven’t stopped thinking of tomato sandwiches since last October. Juice dribbled down my arms. I ate it standing over the sink.

I know what I’m having for dinner tonight. I know what I’m having for dinner the rest of the summer.

Tomato season has arrived.

Monday Market Haul - 7/13/2015

parsley, eggplant, whole wheat flour, white & orange cauliflower, eggs, lacinato kale, chive, tomatoes, romaine, sour cherries, strawberries, raspberries, corn, yukon gold potatoes, Andrew's local honey, summer squash, patty pan squash

I get unreasonably emotional at the farmers’ market. It’s one of those “I’m so happy I could cry” feelings. Especially in the summer, when the sun is out and beaming and stands are literally bursting at the seams with produce. I would walk around all day if I could. I got to the market much earlier than usual this past Saturday due to ambitious recipe testing plans for the weekend.

Even with being ahead of time by an hour, I somehow still got home at my usual hour of noon. Apparently when allowed, I will take complete advantage so that it doesn’t even matter how early I leave the house. Once I arrive in Union Square, I usually stop by this cute cafe that is conveniently built right into Union Square West called, Mighty Pie. There I get a coffee and then stroll through the park to Union Square East and start at that end of the market. I amble leisurely, stopping in at different stands, smelling herbs, feeling fruit, weighing vegetable prices in my head. Eventually I reach the other end, and I start my journey again, backwards. This time laying down cash for pints and pints of different berries, pounds of green beans, an ear of corn here, a stalk of rhubarb there, and on it goes.

When my bags are then what’s bursting at the seams, I waddle through the market, loaded down with vegetables and probably an inessential bunch of flowers and down into the subway. I find myself filling up with complete satisfaction and dare I say it, I almost get weepy.

I already admitted it was unreasonable, okay? Just look at this market haul though. I feel like it’s understandable.

Monday Market Haul - 6/22/2015

Lacinato kale, sugar snap peas, fresh chicken breasts, fresh eggs, sweet red cherries, rainier cherries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, sunflowers, radicchio, dill, green beans, rhubarb

My crisper drawer is bursting at the seams. I have almost every kind of berry there is, and two kinds of cherries, and all kinds of vegetables. Summer is motherfucking here and I am beside myself.

Nothing is more pleasant these days than being able to pluck fresh berries from the fridge and deposit them directly into my mouth. Fresh local flowers all over the house don’t hurt either. And I won’t be having a sad desk lunch for days to come with the array of vegetables I have at my disposal.

Summer is motherfucking here people and I plan to milk it for all it’s worth.

Monday Market Haul - 6/15/2015

(Shhh...I totally know it’s Tuesday)

rhubarb, baby carrots, snap peas, red russian kale, strawberries, garlic scapes, parsley, chive blossoms, freshly milled cornmeal, red spring onions, romaine

Lately the smell of rain has been getting to me.

It makes me nostalgic for my childhood home. When I used to sit at an open window and watch it come down in droves. When the sound instantly reminded me of this song. When getting a little bit wet from summer rain was a big “who cares?” Muddy feet were welcomed. Bonus points for freshly cut grass coming along for the ride.

Now, a true city slicker --- the slicker the city becomes, the bigger a grump I have the potential to become.

But lately, as long as I don’t have to deal with soaked shoes or wet rat hair, I find myself relishing in an afternoon summer rainstorm. Now, I crank the windows open, sit on the couch in the dusky grey light, and do things like write this post. I’m lucky enough to have two huge trees outside my living room windows. So the rhythmic sound of rain wafts through the open window along with the scent that it gives off when it hits organic matter like tree bark, it’s only slightly tainted by the smell of wet garbage.

Probably the best part about summer rainstorms is that in a split second they are gone. You experience them in all their fierce sudden glory and then just like that! Leaving only a few traces that they passed --- drips off the tree leaves and fire escapes, a puddle or two, a rainbow. The sun is out and shining, the birds begin chirping again and it’s like it never even happened.

But you’ll always have that smell, in the back of your mind, for the next time.

There’s this and many other things to love about summer, behold my market haul. I bought almost all the things. I did somehow manage to leave the place without buying a $12 box of cherries. I am relishing the fact that every time I open my fridge I can pop a perfectly ripe strawberry into my mouth. And guys, the things I did to my veggies this weekend...

Monday Market Haul - 9/1/2014

And here it is. September 1st.

Rejoice in the season of pumpkin spiced lattes?! I think not. It’s been wicked hot the past few days (that’s what I rejoice in.) Summer’s last hurrah! And yet people are still excited about slurping down piping hot chemically flavored syrup. August hadn’t even ended yet and it was already out! I thought that they were at least waiting ‘til September for that!

Anyways, I’ll be away from the city every weekend the month of September, but I'm gonna try and find a way to hit up some different farmer’s markets in the places I’ll be. Even as I was leaving the Union Square Green Market this past Saturday, I doubled back and picked up what I am sure will be my very last pint of strawberries. I’ve been trying my best to budget my farmer’s market trip. At the beginning of the summer I was so overwhelmed and overjoyed at the abundances the summer finally brought that I straight up could drop 50 bucks, no problem. So this past weekend, I was being strict as I have been, and sticking to my list. But I was half way to the subway, under budget I might add, and thinking….those berries….summer’s over...they’ll be gone...THIS IS IT. So I went back and got them. #worthit

I mean blueberries were no where to be found. No where. My heart. It breaks.

Dramatic, I know.

As you can see I did grab blackberries. I couldn’t let summer go without making one last batch of blackberry sauce.

So don’t mind me, I’ll just be over here in denial drinking my black iced coffee.

Monday Market Haul - 8/25/2014

The beginning of this article at Food52 definitely sums up my current state of mind.

It’s hard not to be sad that the days are getting shorter and cooler. I keep thinking “will this be the last week I see blueberries? strawberries? all the berries? what about tomatoes? do I need to buy them all right now?” I can’t even. My freezer is now packed. There isn’t room for even one more batch of Fresh Sauce.

I’m doing my best to look forward to cardigans and cooking lengthy hearty stews and soups.

Also, while I’m here and my green beans are showing. Can I tell you all about this recipe? I implore you to try it --- at the risk of sounding dramatic, it has changed my life. 

P.s. Those nectarines turned into something very pretty. Can't wait to show you.