I cannot believe its already the end of July, time has flown by. I have a new found admiration for women that work full time and look after the house. I am working full time this summer as a Culinary instructor at Harlem Children Zone and when I get home at 5, I really do not feel like cooking, but the produce that is available at the farmers market is so fresh and delicious that it would be really sad to not use it
I am part of a CSA( Community Supported Agriculture) where every week, I pick up a bunch of fruits and vegetables that come from a local farm, the cost is 14 dollars and produce is different every week and you never know in advance, so come Tuesday, I decide what to cook using all the fresh produce. I also go to the farmers market near work in Harlem and near my house weekly. I love the colors of all the fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers. In July the fresh produce is abundant and all local. The taste is so different from the produce at the grocery store.
I have realized that exploring farmers markets is one of my favorite past times, I am like a kid in a candy shop and don’t realize how much money I have spent till I get home. In Miami, the Coconut Grove Farmers market was amazing, in Chicago the Lincoln Park farmers market was divine and here the 67th St market is exhilarating. Whenever I travel, I love to explore the markets. The European fresh markets are huge and so diverse. The St. Joseph market in Barcelona has been my favorite so far.
So this week, I got some yellow squash, nectarines and red peppers and mint. I made a salad with red peppers and mint and added quinoa and chick peas to make it more substantial. I made a nectarine crumble and I roasted the yellow squash with olive oil and garlic. Such simple ingredients but explosive fresh taste. I used good quality olive oil and fresh garlic and freshly squeezed lemon juice for my salad dressing.
In conclusion, we have less than 6 weeks of summer left and I hope everyone is able to go to a farmers market and taste the juicy, crunchy flavorful produce. I even love the fresh butter and cheese at the market. I have to admit that the fresh fruit breads and muffins are my weakness!!