By SKY Farmer’s Market, skyfarmersmarket.com
Friday, April 12th, 2013 8:00 AM CST
FARM to FORK
Cooking local, cooking fresh. That is what it is all about today. If you go anywhere like a big city and have dinner at a recognized establishment or a place where the locals keep secret and you find it difficult to get reservations, chances are you are going to be eating local and fresh ingredients. The reason it is difficult to get reservations is because the food is spectacular and the reason for that is because of the chefs going to market. They have a connection and a relationship with their farmers.
Buy fresh, Buy local is the slogan for most celebrity chefs this day and time. Good for them but good for you too. YOU have the opportunity to be the same as a Jamie Oliver, Emeril or Wolfgang Puck. YOU can buy fresh and buy local at your SKY Farmers market. This is a very important message that needs to be passed along to folks.
There is a beautiful opportunity here as well. You have the option to bring your kids to market with you and allow them to help you shop for the family meals. It is really a lot of fun for them to help mom and dad pick out the produce, but this teaches them some responsibility and a lesson in forging relationships with people who work hard to provide it. It is also the perfect time to speak to them about why it’s important to…
Support your local Farmer’s Market
With the constraints placed on farmers in this country, we really do owe it to ourselves and to them to give our support. If you can, and you can, try to find farmers who take the harder road and grow organically—your family’s health, not to mention a better ecosystem and a lighter carbon footprint, will be your reward.
The vendors are able to showcase the very best of what is in season locally—small dairies (J D Farms) sell milk, cream, and cheese from cows living perhaps only a few miles away, and farmers bring in produce that heralds the arrival of each season. How exciting is it to see those products on our tables, picked at the peak of ripeness and full of vitamins, nutrients and fiber.
An added bonus is that there is no excess packaging to recycle, and no annoying little stickers to pry off your fragile produce. Also, small farmers often grow different and unusual, heirloom and seasonal varieties of produce.
Here, at the SKY Farmers Market not only do we have beautiful food but we also have some very talented artisans. We offer everything from funky tie dyed t-shirts to hand made pens and jewelry. One of the best features and benefits that are offered here is the ability to ask for custom works. I have done this in past years and had wonderful results. Specifically I had a shirt made…I picked out the style and requested the colors. The result…several people wanted to know what store I bought my designer shirt… Saks, Neiman’s or Barney’s…I proudly said SKY Farmers Market.
OVEN- BAKED CARROT FRIES
This is a super recipe for the kidos. Take advantage of the time to make some wonderful memories and develop their palates…who knows the world’s next James Beard Award winner might come from Bowling Green Ky. And from your kitchen mom.
1 1/2 pounds carrots (10 medium)
2T olive oil
2 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
Pinch of pepper
Preheat oven to 425. Line the jelly-roll pan with aluminum foil
Using the sharp knife and cutting board, cut away the tip and end of each carrot. Place 1 carrot on the board and hold with with one hand. Holding the peeler in the other hand, run it over the carrot, always peeling away from you. Turn the carrot as needed to peel completely. Repeat with the other carrots. Using the sharp knife, cut 1 carrot in half crosswise. Next, cut each half in half lengthwise. Finally, cut each half in half lengthwise again. You will end up with 8 sticks from the carrot. Repeat with the other carrots.
In the mixing bowl, combine the carrot sticks, olive oil, rosemary, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir with the rubber spatula until the carrot sticks are evenly coated with all the other ingredients.
Dump the carrots onto the foil-lined jelly-roll pan, scraping out any herbs clinging to the sides of the bowl. Spread the sticks out as much as possible. Bake until the carrots are tender and well browned, about 20 minutes. Using oven mitts, remove the pan from the oven. Serve the carrot fries hot or at room temperature
Makes 4 servings
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
1 1/4 cups semisweet chocolate chips,
Or 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups heavy cream,
Well chilled
Fill the small saucepan half full of water. Choose a small, deep heatproof bowl that that fits snugly on the saucepan. Be sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Add the chocolate to the small bowl and set the whole thing (water-filled pan and bowl) over medium heat.
Heat the chocolate, stirring often with the wooden spoon, until it is melted, about 5 minutes. During that time, the water should simmer, not boil. Adjust the heat up or down as necessary.
Turn off the heat. Ask an adult to remove the bowl from the saucepan of water. Set the bowl aside to cool slightly.
Pour the cream into the large mixing bowl. Using the electric mixer set on medium speed, beat the cream until slightly thickened, about 30 seconds. Add the warm chocolate to the cream. Continue beating on medium speed, scraping down the sides of the bowl with the rubber spatula, until soft peaks form, about 1 minute. To test, turn off the mixer and lift the beaters. If the cream makes soft little peaks that flop over slightly, it is ready
Spoon the mousse into serving cups or glasses. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving
Makes 8 servings
TUESDAY MARKET TIME
These two recipes can easily be made with fresh local ingredients and if you happen to miss the opportunity on Saturday REMEMBER the Market is also open on Tuesdays. Sometimes Tuesday is an even better day because of the ease and convenience. The crowd is a bit smaller and you can still order your produce from ODaniel Farms and pick it up already bagged and tagged.
Lip Lickin’ Scones
will be available this Saturday. Allison Wiediger will have her world famous scones and artisan breads available. Yahoo! They are addictive so be careful. My dogs love them too but they also love the dog treats that are available at SKY. Peanut butter seems to be a favorite among the locals so get there early and let your four legged child choose a weeks supply of tasty treats.
And while they are picking out treats you can start eyeing the plants you have been thinking about planting all winter. Now is the time to start filling your raised beds and planters with beautiful herbs and plants. Because these plants are raised locally they will transition much easier and produce prettier, longer lasting blooms.
I have saved the best for last…. We will have a LIVE BAND at the Market on Saturday. My friend and yours DAN CROCKER has provided us with some talented artists who will be performing bluegrass hits. The Alley Cats will be performing so you better brush up on your Allison Krauss favorites and get a request list going. They will be FAB ! Be sure and bring the kids they are sure to love it.
