Discover Napa (cabbage!)
How many times do you walk past the slender, celadon green Napa cabbage at the market and tell yourself: “Pretty...but not this week.” For many, cabbage has a tiny recipe repertoire of one: coleslaw.
But we know better. Napa cabbage is delicious braised as in this fantastic biryani dish. It's also perfect for this spicy stir-fry. Chopped, raw, it's a great addition to salads and tacos and grain bowls and ramen. And, it is a main ingredient of kimchi should you want to make your own. This is after all the season for canning, pickling and preserving.
Masaki and Yukimi, the chefs behind MOMO Dressing, here this week, are big fans of Napa cabbage. They like to make “hot pots” – with chicken broth, chicken and mushrooms, tofu and lots of shredded cabbage. They also like to stir fry Napa with sliced pork, bean sprouts, scallions, carrots and their house spicy garlic miso and a bit of sesame oil.
Fall is when folks really start to turn their attention to mushrooms. Since the kale is so abundant and gorgeous at the market right now, try this recipe for crispy mushrooms with creamy white beans and kale.
The eggplant is still going strong so why not make some caponata this weekend. Such a treat scooped onto focaccia from Wave Hill Breads. Or, make this pasta alla norma a hearty vegetarian entrée.
For those of you who like a little more protein on their plate, try this sheet pan chicken made interesting (and seasonal) with the addition of fennel and apples, also both plentiful at the market right now.
Austin Furnas, from Boxing Day Cafe, will be filling in for Varian in the coffee department. And, we’re happy to welcome a new vendor, Bobcat Farms,selling microgreens. Yay!
Attention GF shoppers! Wildcraft Baking Co., a 100 % gluten-free bakery in Irvington, has expanded their offerings and we're hearing GREAT things about their bread game, fyi.
La Petite Occasion returns with their top-notch caramels made with local salt. Are there caramel apples in your future?
The leggy, tawny, (not yellow!) sunflowers at the Titusville tent have been stealing the show of late. And they’re only $12 a bunch! Meanwhile, grab some healthy sunflower seeds from Halal Pastures while you still can. A couple of weeks ago we caught these market kids picking out the seeds from the flower heads. Always a good time at the Hastings Farmers Market!
Don’t forget to bring us your old Halloween costumes for our upcoming costume swap. And, as you dig into those closets for warmer clothes, please set aside any unwanted coats or jackets for our winter coat drive. (Dec. 6th!)
See you at the market!