stretch it out!

Some of you are loading up the car and heading to sand and sea this weekend. If you’re sticking around the Rivertowns, make the best of it by spending quality time grilling with family and friends on Saturday and Sunday.  You’ve got three days to chill and grill!

Friday the Fourth may be sacred burgers and hot dogs territory, but over the weekend, you can go a little rogue, right? Of course the first stop for any grill fest is the farmers market where Letterbox Farm, R&M Farm and Le Roux Trading Co. will have plump sausages, chicken thighs and juicy pork chops and a panoply of steaks at the ready. In my house we always serve grilled steaks with a side of fresh crunchy shallots to scatter on top, so don’t forget to pick up some of these flavorful oblong onions from Halal Pastures. You can also use them in this recipe for sweet and salty grilled pork with citrus and market herbs.

Or, since La Milpa Tortillería is in the house, make these carne asada tacos. La Milpa is now bringing their own house guacamole, don’t you know.  Please use this recipe as a launchpad. There are fresh onions to pickle, new market herbs to try and so many radishes to shred over tacos. Let the market be your inspiration. And of course, the first tomatoes of the season are rolling in so make your own pico de gallo.

Looking for a side salad for your grill fest? Try this potato salad with preserved lemon and buttermilk. Or this easy, refreshing Greek cucumber salad.

Cherry tomatoes are arriving at the market and Painted Goat Farm is now selling goat halloumi cheese, so if you are a fan, pick some of both to make this crispy halloumi with tomatoes and white beans, if you don’t plan to spend your time around a grill this weekend. Serve with a side slice of miche or baguette and some salad greens from Thousand Leaf Garden Farm or Obercreek Farm and dinner is set – and oh so satisfying.

If you have house guests this weekend, make sure to pick up some breakfast scones from Red Barn Bakery (or 3x3 Kitchen, if your guests shy away from gluten), and a pound of 813 Coffee Co. coffee — roasted locally and sourced exclusively from women coffee growers. You can also bring these as hostess gifts, if you’re guesting, along with any head-turning piece of pottery from Chloe Sikirica Pottery.

We LOVE it when the Kinwich Sandwich Truck is here. And when it happens that the giant simmering paella pan is also here, and Milton is performing on the same day, it feels like there’s lots to celebrate. 

Don’t forget your market flowers from Thousand Leaf Gardens orTitusville Farm to keep a smile on your face all week long.

Happy Fourth!

And, see you at the market!