First, my camera seems to be out of commission so I have scoured the archives instead of taking pictures at the market today.

Cabrillo Farmer’s Market ( today I went to the downtown Santa Cruz market, but you get the idea)

I have been out of town the last few weeks and eating other peoples’ cooking. Add to that the fact that summer produce is at its peak, I got a bit carried away today at the Farmers’ Market. I had two very full and heavy bags! My refrigerator is full and now I have to be on top of things so that none of it goes to waste. I thought I would go through my purchases with you and my plans for them.

I am hungry for fruit this week. I bought strawberries which honestly will probably just be eaten as is. I am surprised I didn’t eat all of them already! Windmill Farms of Live Oak has the best berries I have ever eaten! Yum.

I bought plums, a new to me variety called Yummy Giants and yes, they are. They are for a cooking trade with a friend and will become hand pies.

I bought lacinato kale, basil, cilantro, and cucumbers from Route 1 Farms. I ate some of the kale tonight with green beans also gotten at the market from Mell-o-dee Ranch, from whom I also got some eggs, corn,  and blackberries. The eggs are going into some homemade mayonnaise amongst some other things. Basil and Cilantro will become pesto, which I have written about here. Cucumbers are being combined with lemons from my tree to become soda. ( a future blog post there) The corn is being pickled tomorrow, based on a variety of recipes I found on the internet. ( also, a future blog post, provided I get my camera working!) Blackberries will be blended with some kefir tomorrow morning for a smoothie.

I treated myself to some raw cream from Claravale Dairy. I am lactose intolerant but occasionally I put raw cream in my coffee substitute drink in the morning and it doesn’t seem to affect me in the same mucus-y way that pasteurized dairy does. We are so lucky here in this part of California to have this dairy . Almost daily, I read on the internet stories of raw milk dairies being raided, shut down by the FDA. Please educate yourself on this subject and support your small local dairies.

I came home with a nice sized newly “processed” pasture raised chicken and a small bag of chicken feet from Fogline Farms in Soquel, Ca. I will roast the chicken and have enough for probably 4 meals. I am likely to eat the legs and thighs as is. I will make some chicken and fig salad from the breast. Then, the carcass and some of the feet will be turned into delicious chicken bone broth. That, in turn, will go in the freezer for future use.

I also got carrots and radishes which will go into salad and just for munching. Thanks, Blue Heron Farm.

A bottle of Mint Cooler from Creative Cultures rounded out my purchases. After momentarily forgetting where my car was parked and having to carry those heavy bags a few more blocks than planned, it gave me a boost for sure!

Please use the comment section to share what you have gotten recently at your farmers’ market.

Strawberry season is upon us here in Santa Cruz

I wait all winter for the first strawberries. Now, Spring is here and the season is in full swing. I am happily eating strawberries almost every day. I lived in Oregon for many many years. They grow wonderful berries there and I was quite the snob about California strawberries. They always arrived in the stores before the local berries, and usually being desperate for some new kind of fruit, I would purchase some. And, every year, every time, I would poo poo them, saying that Oregon strawberries were FAR superior to California berries. ( of course, for many years, Oregon had the reputation of poo pooing anything Californian!!)  And now that I happily live in California, while not putting down Oregon berries, I do know that what makes each region’s berries “the best” is eating them when they are fresh, in season, and have not travelled in a truck to get to my kitchen!  And, of course, that they have not been sprayed with pesticides. Strawberries are high on the list of foods that are SO important to eat organic. Not only does that improve our own health, and the health of the planet, please always remember the health and well being of the workers who picked those berries ( and so much of our food).

My favorite way to eat strawberries, I must admit, is straight from the basket. Nothing added. Sometimes, the basket is empty by the time I get home from the farmers’ market or the store!

Sometimes, less is more. And sometimes, it is nice to add something special. Have you ever had balsamic syrup ?? oh my. It is a lovely little bit of elegance that is so easy to do.

In researching ideas for this blog, I found this recipe, which called out to me. Not that I go on that many picnics, but wouldn’t a glass of strawberry wine be lovely on a warm day, shared with a friend ?

And I recently made this beverage found in Eat Fat, Lose Fat .( by Dr. Mary Enig and Sally Fallon)  Shrub is an “old-timey” beverage from before the days of soda pop. Now, that is an invention that changed the course of peoples’ nutrition for sure.  You can make it with any fresh seasonal fruit.

Strawberry Shrub

2 cups crushed strawberries

1 cup coconut vinegar ( you can experiment with other vinegars such as apple cider which is what was originally used, or champagne vinegar would be good)

5 cups purified water

Mix all the ingredients in a large jar and cover tightly. Let sit on the counter for 2 days. Strain. Serve with pinch of salt, and dilute with sparkling water. You will not really taste the vinegar per se. It is tart and refreshing, and because it is fermented is so good for your digestion. Enjoy!

There are so many fabulous ways to enjoy strawberries. What are some of your favorites ?