It's the middle of August and you know what that means? Fetch your baskets…it's a great weekend for shopping at your local farmers' market!
Check out these helpful tips and ideas found in Farmers' Market Favorites Cookbook.
Ask the vendors what they do with the produce that's left at day's end. Often you can get a good price break on ripened fruits or veggies that are ready for canning or freezing.
Look for heirloom fruits & vegetables...varieties that Grandma & Grandpa may have grown in their garden. These fruits and veggies don't always look picture-perfect but their flavor can't be beat.
Take the kids along too! Let each choose a favorite and help prepare it...even picky eaters will want to eat their very own veggie.
At the flower stand, pick up colorful blooms like zinnias and dwarf sunflowers. Arrange a generous bunch in a tall stoneware crock for a cheery centerpiece.
Trying your hand at pickle making? Don't get into a pickle! For best results, ask for a pickling variety of cucumbers rather than using regular salad cukes.
Sun-warmed ripe tomatoes...is there anything more irresistible? Serve them simply, drizzled with a little Italian salad dressing and some chopped fresh basil.
Garden-fresh green beans make a super side dish and it's a snap to keep them colorful and crisp. After boiling and draining, transfer to a colander. Dunk them, still in the colander, in a large bowl of ice water. Lift the colander after a minute, and they'll be ready to eat.
Oops, you got carried away and brought home too many fresh veggies! Save them by cooking up a big pot of soup or stew and freezing it in meal-size portions.
Check out these helpful tips and ideas found in Farmers' Market Favorites Cookbook.
Ask the vendors what they do with the produce that's left at day's end. Often you can get a good price break on ripened fruits or veggies that are ready for canning or freezing.
Look for heirloom fruits & vegetables...varieties that Grandma & Grandpa may have grown in their garden. These fruits and veggies don't always look picture-perfect but their flavor can't be beat.
Take the kids along too! Let each choose a favorite and help prepare it...even picky eaters will want to eat their very own veggie.
At the flower stand, pick up colorful blooms like zinnias and dwarf sunflowers. Arrange a generous bunch in a tall stoneware crock for a cheery centerpiece.
Trying your hand at pickle making? Don't get into a pickle! For best results, ask for a pickling variety of cucumbers rather than using regular salad cukes.
Sun-warmed ripe tomatoes...is there anything more irresistible? Serve them simply, drizzled with a little Italian salad dressing and some chopped fresh basil.
Garden-fresh green beans make a super side dish and it's a snap to keep them colorful and crisp. After boiling and draining, transfer to a colander. Dunk them, still in the colander, in a large bowl of ice water. Lift the colander after a minute, and they'll be ready to eat.
Oops, you got carried away and brought home too many fresh veggies! Save them by cooking up a big pot of soup or stew and freezing it in meal-size portions.