Hey, hot shot!
I'm talking about salad mix of course. Obercreek Farm's kicky salad mix which sells out early at every market. You know what I like to use it for? As a spicy “bed” for my seared Pura Vida scallops.
Scallops are pricey. Yes. However, you only need four or five per person, so a little bit goes a long way. Serve with some bok choi and some couscous on the side and, voilà, dinner. Or, if scallops aren't your thing, tangy crab cakes from the Pura Vida kitchen also taste great on a bed of hot shot salad mix with a drizzle of lemon juice and a drizzle of Agape Premium EVOO.
Thousand Leaf Garden Farms is also bringing beautiful bagged salad greens to market this winter. Farmer Mary Kate Chilemi says she plunges the greens in very cold water, several times, before drying and refrigerating them to make them last extra long. There is no need to wash them before serving but if you choose to, do wait until you're about to serve to keep the greens as bouncy fresh as possible. Mary Kate would prefer not to bag her greens but she says it is truly the only way she's found to extend their shelf-life. In exchange for the plastic bags, she's forsaken all other plastic on their no-till biodynamic farm. We like that. You can bag your own greens at the Titusville Farm tent, where you'll also find some really lovely kale to make the delicious curry recipe below.
It won't be as cold at the market this week. Still, cold enough to treat yourself to some hot mushroom, carrot and ginger soup from Del Norte Empanadas. Or, some rich, thick hot chocolate from Raw Chocolate Love, purveyors of organic, raw and unadulterated chocolate bars in tempting flavors like espresso, rose and chai latte.
Nirmala of Bombay Chutney will be here with her delicious chutneys (I've reserved my mint as we are down to the last drop) and her frozen samosas for easy weeknight dinners.
Winter produce pickings are slimmer than summer's but no less flavorful or fun to cook with. Consider this recipe for kale and sweet potato curry. Or this recipe for roasted Kabocha squash and bechamel lasagna.
Meat is currently at the top of the pyramid, don't you know. Whether you eat meat regularly or only once in a while, for health reasons, pastured meats from small, sustainably-minded farms not only taste better but are better for the environment. Between R & M Farms andLe Roux Trading Co. you should be able to find will every cut of beef imaginable.
Just because it's winter doesn't mean you can't enjoy some good ribs. Try this recipe for oven-baked bbq short ribs, or this Mark Bittman recipe for oven spare ribs that'll make your home smell delicious.
If you want to smell delicious...Ash Hopper Botanical Skin Care returns after a long hiatus so this is the time to stock up on everything from Sea Buckthorn Serum to Emerald Body Oil to Pine Tar soap.
Also back this week: Abby Prager and her fabulous Unofficial Ice Cream. This week she's bringing "baklava" ice cream and blood orange sorbet. At press time, Abby was still mulling over what her third flavor would be. (Back in my food writing days, I interviewed an ice cream developer in San Francisco who told me she dreamt up all her flavors while swimming laps in the pool. Curious what gets Abby's creative juices flowing.)
And, apologies in advance to those who are doing dry January, but we are bringing a Hudson Valley winery to the market this week. Rosina’s Winery is based in Middletown, NY. You can read all about the winery, their varietals and the terroir, here.
Baker Amy Germann, of Elderberry Rd. is taking the winter off so Noble Pies is stepping in to fill the pie void.
Matt, our trusty knife sharpener will be here THIS Saturday. And just in time to cut all those winter squash! Please remember that while the giving season is officially over, there are many in Hastings woh still rely on the food pantry to feed their families. The Donate button is always at the bottom of the newsletter. Since we suspend gleaning during the winter months, consider donating the equivalent of a bunch of carrots or a pound of potatoes.
See you at the market!