4.26.2009

Eats Shoots and Leaves

The kumquats and oranges are gone. The apples linger and the strawberries are in.

But $30 doesn't go nearly as far when you buy strawberries.

And strawberries don't last long in a family of four.

So they will be a rare treat.

local bounty, week 7

Week 7 at the farmer's market was a slim bounty. My money went fast, and I was left wandering the booths with one single dollar clutched in my fist. A bunch of greens caught my eye - must have been the sign that read "$1 per bunch".

pea shoots are edible

Pea shoots. I had no idea that they were edible, delicious in fact when sauteed with a little olive oil and dusted with sea salt.

The discovery of pea shoots led me down a new path - to try something new each week at the farmer's market. This week it will be broccoli leaves. We've already sampled the stalks of the leaves, which are best eaten raw, and the leaves we will chop and saute with a little garlic and olive oil.

local bounty, week 8

Week 8 at the farmer's market was much more bountiful. We passed up the strawberries and loaded up with apples, asparagus, broccoli leaves, broccoli rabe, carrots, daikon, pistachios, popcorn, portabella mushrooms, potatoes, and sugar snap peas. Quite a haul for $30.

Bountiful and beautiful.

portabella

Portabella mushrooms from Mushroom Adventures in Marysville, CA. Check out their mushroom growing kits - looks like a fun project.

34 comments:

  1. Pretty 'shroom.
    Enjoy your shoots!

    I think we eat asparagus every day now. That's what spring is for!

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  2. good haul - love your mushroom pics
    lisa x

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  3. oh my! that looks so yummy!

    I hear you on the strawberries. I think we may end up growing some. My dad used two old railroad ties to make a raised bed, and it grew enough strawberries for a family of five. We even made jam.
    I have fond memories of sitting in the patch and eating strawberries straight from the plant. I can remember a time or two having a furry rabbit not to far away also chomping down!
    :) have a great week! karen

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  4. It took me a long time to get my "grown up" taste spuds and enjoy mushrooms, but now I LOVE THEM! Your brother has taken even longer, but he is coming around!!

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  5. berries are expensive. but oh, so very good. My last csa sack is this coming week- I usually just take $25 to the market and come away with almost more than we can eat- greens, radishes, salad (though I have my own arugula patch this year) and even a box of strawberries or peaches or plums that we treasure. I look forward to seeing what you find!

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  6. I actually went up to the farmers market this weekend, but I was meeting up with a friend from Grass Valley who just moved back to the area, so I didn't email...I still would love to meet up, if you are still up for it!
    I somehow missed the mushrooms, but I didn't miss those strawberries, maybe that is why I didn't get much, spent most of my money on those!!!

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  7. there's a little szechuan place near us that serves seasonal greens- our first pea shoots - and now i know to hit up the hmong stand for them. they are GOOD STUFF, yes?
    I love the new stuff rule. we do it too - kohlrabi and daikon being our new faves.
    have you checked out the new jamie oliver book from the library? he talks about mushroom growing on a log stump - cute and delicious. now you've got my wheels turning...

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  8. you and me both loving the mushrooms and the market.

    i love to use portabellas as the base for pizza instead of crust. little individual pizzas topped however each one likes.
    xo

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  9. You're doing a great job! I'm curious about the broccoli leaves. Did they taste broccoli-ish or like collards or something? We skipped the market yesterday because we'd already gone out to the farm the day before. Our excuse was to buy produce, but the real reason was the potato donuts!

    There's portraits of the nine new chicken ladies on the blog. I hope you get a chance to check them out.

    Happy spring feasting!

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  10. I'm so glad that you posted about pea shoots! We grow Austrian Peas as a cover crop and the kids love eating them raw, right in the field. I think I'd prefer them sauteed and I'll try that next time.

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  11. Ooh. That looks so good after our weekend in the Bay Area with relatives. Let's just say there weren't a lot of veggies that were obvious on our plates...unless you saw the ketchup...my stomach needs a few days to recover.

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  12. Oh, how this is making me miss the farmer's market in my hometown! Wonderful pics!

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  13. LOVE LOVE LOVE the new banner!

    DANG that's a haul for $30.

    I have a return email coming to you. Sometimes, when I have a lot of thoughts on a subject, it takes me a little time to sort the pertinent ones. HA!

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  14. I really love your farmers market posts. And that photo of the mushroom. :)

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  15. We tried beet tops last night! What a surprise! Since the beets were stunted during growth we don't expect too much from the root but the tops are wonderful and healthy, more so than the beet.
    Olive oil, garlic (lots for us) and saute' w/ a little water salt and pepper. If you see them, try them.
    Love
    Dad

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  16. With Sat. games being a thing of the past, I will have to join you at the market soon. Broccoli leaves - really? hmmm.

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  17. my favorite header so far! looks great.

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  18. Gah! I can't wait until our farmer's market comes. I don't think ours starts until June. JUNE! In the meantime I'll simply drool over your finds. ;o)

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  19. Looks like a delicious haul. Who knew about the pea shoots!? Thanks for sharing that tidbit. I'll have to check our market for them too.

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  20. I'm looking forward to farmer's markets. Right now where I live, we've only just had our first daffodils blooming.

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  21. I'm so jealous! Our market doesn't open up for another couple of weeks, but I can't wait!

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  22. Dad harvested and sauteed the beet leaves from our winter garden. They were good, I'm saying cautiously, I wouldn't want to eat them every meal but will eat them once in awhile. They are better for you than the actual beets!

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  23. LOL, I didn't see Dad's comment before I made mine.

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  24. I love pea shoots! It's one of the few kinds of greens I can get my husband to eat.

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  25. I love the farmer's market, ours is not nearly as prolific (we lack the sun) but I enjoy checking out the wares each week and seeing what is in season...my boys started off the year hoping for Pumpkins, and very patiently (every week (5 so far)) have asked if the Pumpkins are in yet.

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  26. Hi there! I just left a comment over at Vintage Chica at the same time you did, and I followed your link. So glad I did! What a wonderful blog!!!

    Looking forward to reading through it some more soon!

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  27. hi...i just found your blog ad love it! i have to learn how to crochet so i can make these projects. you might want to check my blog.

    octoberfarm.blogspot.com

    i will be following you!

    joyce

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  28. hi...i just found your blog and i love it! i really want to learn how to crochet and make these projects! you might want to check my blog too!

    octoberfarm.blogspot.com

    i will be following you!

    joyce

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  29. hi...i just found your blog and i love it! i really want to learn how to crochet and make these projects! you might want to check my blog too!

    octoberfarm.blogspot.com

    i will be following you!

    joyce

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  30. Oh the benefits of living in strawberry country - they are like a buck a pound around these parts when it's in season. Your bounty looks wonderful my friend.

    I don't know what is up with my reader, but it wasn't working right so I am here a bit late, sorry about that, I am about to change readers.

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  31. yum! Those pea shoots are so pretty and your mushroom photo is stunning, it makes a lovely header too.

    It'd great to try new things!

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  32. did not know that about pea shoots either. our cat ate all of our fledglings :0(

    have never had daikon but saw it this week at market, how do you use it?

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  33. I'm drooling! We are in such a different season on this coast and I can't wait for what's on your counter!

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