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Community Corner

Patch Picks For The Farmers Market: August 30

There is nothing healthier than eating simply prepared foods, at their summertime freshest. Try Chinese spinach, prepare a good-for-you fresh gazpacho, eggplant, and sit and enjoy the music. Life is good.

Are you trying to eat healthier and introduce more fruits and vegetables to your dinner table? Perhaps your other goal is to try a few new vegetables during the Farmers Market season. If you are, there is no better time than right now when the vendor’s tables are teeming with fruit and veggies of every kind. Last week, I was introduced to a new vegetable myself.

Try the Chinese spinach. It is lovely to look at (it is purple), and extremely high in nutritional value. It is packed with vitamins A, B, C, E, and is high in protein. Stefeny Anderson, our former Farmers Market Manager, gave the cooking demonstration last week at the market, and she told us that it is best prepared simply. I tried it stir-fried in a little peanut oil, garlic, and fresh ginger, and seasoned with salt and pepper.

A few weeks ago I put together a large batch of gazpacho (cold tomato/vegetable soup) for the market volunteers. They have been asking me for the recipe since then. “If you publish it,” Valria Lopez, the market manager said, “Then we’ll all have it.” OK, Valria, this one’s for you — click on the pdf to the right for the full recipe.

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To editorialize about this recipe, I would say that the key is to not over-process the vegetables in your food processor or blender. Chop each vegetable individually. You can get your tomatoes from Westover Farms, your cucumbers, onions, garlic and peppers from any of the multiple vendors that are carrying them right now.

Do you eat eggplant? I know that it required some coaxing for my husband, but now he has learned to love it (or at least not say anything about it!).

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The old stand-by for eggplant, is eggplant parmesan, of course, but we are talking healthy preparation today, and that is usually covered in cheese. Not that there is anything wrong with that, mind you. But another thought is ratatouille, and I don’t mean the movie!

Ratatouille is another summertime go-to because it uses the freshest vegetables from farm to table. In its simplest form it is a mixture of eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, garlic and veggies. It can be served as a side dish, can be served at room temperature or over fresh pasta (that you’ll get from the market, of course!). Google "ratatouille" and you'll find a number of options that you can whip up to your taste preferences.

Now that you have loaded up on your veggies, grab a good-for-you green iced tea from Theo Dorres Aromatics and enjoy the sounds of folk music sounds of Sunday Speedtrap performing at 5:30 p.m.

For September 6, it is cultural day, and Whistlestop Ale House will be demonstrating at the market.

 

 

 

 

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