What a better time of year to have your garden going out back, or your potted garden on your patio in full swing. You should be getting those tomatoes in a few weeks. For those of us that don't have the space, because they rent, or don't have the time to have a garden, the farmers market is the place to go. Don't know were they are in your area? That's easy, get online and search for farmers markets in your area. There is bound to be one in your neighborhood or in the surrounding areas. It should also tell you the days of the week, mostly Saturdays, some Sundays and usually a day in the week like Tuesday and or Thursday.
During the summer especially i would thin that you are eating what you can get fresh, plan your meals around it. If at your farmers market they sell eggs, fresh poultry, or beef, take advantage of that!!! You are going to pay a little more for these items at a farmers market, but the quality is unmatched. Just think that you could build a relationship with a good vegetable farmer, you can do the same with your local butcher, hell, you may be even able to have him bring specialty cuts to the market just for you. With the vegetable farmer you could end up getting stuff discounted at the end of the day when they are just trying to go back to the farm with nothing. Trust me, they do these things and you have the benefits of a fridge full of fresh produce.
You ask, how do i base meals around what i have, that's up to you and your imagination, a few cookbooks, or even typing in the ingredients into a search you will come up with something great and inspiring.
The benefits really go without explaining if you really think about it, you are helping a local farmer stay in business, you build a relationship with this farmer, you know were its coming from, unlike picking up a cucumber in the grocery store and seeing produce of Peru, no you are seeing a name you recognize. Ask the farmer if he has a certain way they would prepare there produce, you will be surprised. And and one more thing, they for the most part are pesticide free and or organic farms, again another reason to eat from the farmers.
Out here were i live, i can hop on a train and go train stop to train stop about 20 minutes in each direction and be at a farmers market with no problem. Alot of them around here are at the train stations at each town, Saturdays are swarmed around here with people going to market to market. to me there really is no reason not to enjoy fresh local food, i mean really, a tomato that tastes like a tomato, seriously, you wont eat another store bought tomato again i promise.
Last, but not least, get the kids involved, teach them good eating techniques. Bring them to the farmers market with you and help you pick out food for the week, and incorporate that into there school lunches and at dinner, bring the whole family together and cook a meal that you all got fresh at the farmers market. There's not a place on Earth i rather be then at a dinner table amongst friends and family and eating the best food possible, fresh, local, and delicious.
No comments:
Post a Comment