Category: Food: Local/Farmers’ Markets

Farmers’ Market Pasta from Our Archives
This recipe for a quick, fresh, farmers’ market pasta was buried deep in our archives from 2008. Today, we’re posting it anew so that a recent generation of BostonZest readers can try it out.

Farmer’s Market Pasta

When summer tomatoes and corn are at their best, let them star in this simple, uncooked sauce. You’ll be surprised at how creamy and rich it tastes.

For the sauce:
- 2 or 3 large, ripe tomatoes chopped into 1/2” cubes. (If you find heirloom tomatoes of different colors it will make a prettier pasta. The version in the photo has red, yellow, and green heirloom tomatoes.)
- 1/2 cup of olives pitted and chopped roughly. (Kalamatra olives are fine or if you can find a mix of green and black olives in the deli case, they would be perfect. That’s what I use. If they are in herb seasoning, so much the better)
- 2 to 4 large, fresh basil leaves sliced into chiffonade (very thin strips)
- 1 cup of sweet corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
- 2 or 3 scallions sliced into thin rings
- 2 or 3 sprigs of parsley chopped
- 1 small clove of garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh ground black pepper and salt to taste
- 4 ounces of goat cheese crumbled (One of my recipe testers, cj in Michigan used feta cheese and Kathie in Illinois tried it with Boursin.) Try any soft cheese you like if you don’t like goat cheese. )
Toss all of the sauce ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. This may be made a couple of hours ahead, making this a great dish for entertaining.

For the Pasta:
- 8 oz. dry pasta cooked in salted water according to package directions. We like small shells or orecchiette but any shaped pasta that will help scoop up the sauce is good.
- Drain the pasta but don’t worry about shaking off all the water, it will help form the sauce. (I usually scoop out a cup of the hot pasta water before I drain the pasta just to be sure I have some if the mixture looks a tad dry.)
Toss the pasta with the tomato mixture adding some of the reserved pasta water if needed to form a light, creamy sauce. Serve family-style in a big bowl or plate in individual soup or pasta bowls.

Garnish (optional)

Garnish each serving with a few basil leaves and, if you like, pass a chunk of Parmigiano Reggiano around the table and let each person grate their own.

Note: Today I took a bit of a short cut that added a big taste to this recipe. Instead of plain goat cheese, I bought a marinated goat cheese from Crystal Brook Farm at the Copley Square Farmers’ Market. This already had olive oil, garlic herbs, and pepper.

I prepped my heirloom tomatoes and corn from Stillman’s Farm, chopped more heirloom tomatoes, parsley, basil, and garlic from Atlas Farm, and the result was absolutely delicious.

This is a recipe that encourages improvisation. Let us know what riffs you play with it.

What’s on your Food Lover’s Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photos: ©2008 Penny Cherubino
July 26, 2013
Farmers’ Market Pasta from Our Archives
This recipe for a quick, fresh, farmers’ market pasta was buried deep in our archives from 2008. Today, we’re posting it anew so that a recent generation of BostonZest readers can try it out.

Farmer’s Market Pasta

When summer tomatoes and corn are at their best, let them star in this simple, uncooked sauce. You’ll be surprised at how creamy and rich it tastes.

For the sauce:
- 2 or 3 large, ripe tomatoes chopped into 1/2” cubes. (If you find heirloom tomatoes of different colors it will make a prettier pasta. The version in the photo has red, yellow, and green heirloom tomatoes.)
- 1/2 cup of olives pitted and chopped roughly. (Kalamatra olives are fine or if you can find a mix of green and black olives in the deli case, they would be perfect. That’s what I use. If they are in herb seasoning, so much the better)
- 2 to 4 large, fresh basil leaves sliced into chiffonade (very thin strips)
- 1 cup of sweet corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
- 2 or 3 scallions sliced into thin rings
- 2 or 3 sprigs of parsley chopped
- 1 small clove of garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh ground black pepper and salt to taste
- 4 ounces of goat cheese crumbled (One of my recipe testers, cj in Michigan used feta cheese and Kathie in Illinois tried it with Boursin.) Try any soft cheese you like if you don’t like goat cheese. )
Toss all of the sauce ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. This may be made a couple of hours ahead, making this a great dish for entertaining.

For the Pasta:
- 8 oz. dry pasta cooked in salted water according to package directions. We like small shells or orecchiette but any shaped pasta that will help scoop up the sauce is good.
- Drain the pasta but don’t worry about shaking off all the water, it will help form the sauce. (I usually scoop out a cup of the hot pasta water before I drain the pasta just to be sure I have some if the mixture looks a tad dry.)
Toss the pasta with the tomato mixture adding some of the reserved pasta water if needed to form a light, creamy sauce. Serve family-style in a big bowl or plate in individual soup or pasta bowls.

Garnish (optional)

Garnish each serving with a few basil leaves and, if you like, pass a chunk of Parmigiano Reggiano around the table and let each person grate their own.

Note: Today I took a bit of a short cut that added a big taste to this recipe. Instead of plain goat cheese, I bought a marinated goat cheese from Crystal Brook Farm at the Copley Square Farmers’ Market. This already had olive oil, garlic herbs, and pepper.

I prepped my heirloom tomatoes and corn from Stillman’s Farm, chopped more heirloom tomatoes, parsley, basil, and garlic from Atlas Farm, and the result was absolutely delicious.

This is a recipe that encourages improvisation. Let us know what riffs you play with it.

What’s on your Food Lover’s Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photos: ©2008 Penny Cherubino
July 26, 2013
Farmers’ Market Pasta from Our Archives
This recipe for a quick, fresh, farmers’ market pasta was buried deep in our archives from 2008. Today, we’re posting it anew so that a recent generation of BostonZest readers can try it out.

Farmer’s Market Pasta

When summer tomatoes and corn are at their best, let them star in this simple, uncooked sauce. You’ll be surprised at how creamy and rich it tastes.

For the sauce:
- 2 or 3 large, ripe tomatoes chopped into 1/2” cubes. (If you find heirloom tomatoes of different colors it will make a prettier pasta. The version in the photo has red, yellow, and green heirloom tomatoes.)
- 1/2 cup of olives pitted and chopped roughly. (Kalamatra olives are fine or if you can find a mix of green and black olives in the deli case, they would be perfect. That’s what I use. If they are in herb seasoning, so much the better)
- 2 to 4 large, fresh basil leaves sliced into chiffonade (very thin strips)
- 1 cup of sweet corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
- 2 or 3 scallions sliced into thin rings
- 2 or 3 sprigs of parsley chopped
- 1 small clove of garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh ground black pepper and salt to taste
- 4 ounces of goat cheese crumbled (One of my recipe testers, cj in Michigan used feta cheese and Kathie in Illinois tried it with Boursin.) Try any soft cheese you like if you don’t like goat cheese. )
Toss all of the sauce ingredients in a large bowl and set aside. This may be made a couple of hours ahead, making this a great dish for entertaining.

For the Pasta:
- 8 oz. dry pasta cooked in salted water according to package directions. We like small shells or orecchiette but any shaped pasta that will help scoop up the sauce is good.
- Drain the pasta but don’t worry about shaking off all the water, it will help form the sauce. (I usually scoop out a cup of the hot pasta water before I drain the pasta just to be sure I have some if the mixture looks a tad dry.)
Toss the pasta with the tomato mixture adding some of the reserved pasta water if needed to form a light, creamy sauce. Serve family-style in a big bowl or plate in individual soup or pasta bowls.

Garnish (optional)

Garnish each serving with a few basil leaves and, if you like, pass a chunk of Parmigiano Reggiano around the table and let each person grate their own.

Note: Today I took a bit of a short cut that added a big taste to this recipe. Instead of plain goat cheese, I bought a marinated goat cheese from Crystal Brook Farm at the Copley Square Farmers’ Market. This already had olive oil, garlic herbs, and pepper.

I prepped my heirloom tomatoes and corn from Stillman’s Farm, chopped more heirloom tomatoes, parsley, basil, and garlic from Atlas Farm, and the result was absolutely delicious.

This is a recipe that encourages improvisation. Let us know what riffs you play with it.

What’s on your Food Lover’s Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your kitchen & dining needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny Cherubino
Photos: ©2008 Penny Cherubino
July 26, 2013
At the Market: Fruit Is Popping up All Over!

These July Red apples are among the first of the local, apple crop to pop up at the Foppema’s Farm (still known to some as Keown Orchards) stand at the Copley Square Farmers’ Market.

Since we shop this market twice a week, we include many photos from this venue. However, many of the same vendors appear at other markets around the area and the same local crops will be in-season at most Massachusetts markets.

Stone Fruit like these plums plus some white and yellow peaches have also made their appearance.

And, it is the height of blueberry and raspberry season. We bring our own berry containers to the market to transport these delicate beauties home in top condition.

The Word from the Farms & Markets

Peter Ward, Manager of the Central Square Farmers’ Market, broadcast this shout out after the heat wave. “…we thank customers who toughed it out and shopped during the prolonged heat wave. The Farmers Market stays open for business rain or, in this case shine. And a tip o’ the cap to the folks who picked crops, weeded and bailed hay back on the baked farm fields.”

(These particular squash blossoms were from Flats Mentor Farm.)

Ben Sommer, Copley Square Farmers’ Market manager, said he bought, “… some very delicate squash blossoms from Siena Farms the other day. These ephemeral and fragile blooms can be best used stuffed with burrata from Fiore Di Nonno, or some fresh herbed Chevre from Crystal Brook Farm, then fried up, a great and easy appetizer.”

In Season, Right Now!

This is the height of the summer season. The stands are full of the foods you’ll want to savor while they last. Field tomatoes, sweet corn, summer squash, blueberries, greens, new potatoes, onions, herbs, carrots, turnips, eggplant, peppers, cabbage, beets… The list goes on-and-on.

Get Some Before It’s Gone!

Barbara Hamilton of Hamilton Orchards tells us that we were seeing the last of her red currents and green gooseberries. Foppema said they are still picking red currents.

Coming Soon!

Our favorite Saturn Peaches are just a couple of week’s away. We’ll buy them by the bagful and eat them daily until their season wanes.

Market Tip: If you are in a hurry and need to ask who has a specific item, stop by the Market Manager’s Table at your local market. The staff there can usually answer questions like this or they will know how to find out quickly.

Follow all our Local Food/Farmers’ Markets and At The Market reports:

What’s on your Food Lover’s Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your Kitchen & Dining needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 25, 2013
At the Market: Fruit Is Popping up All Over!

These July Red apples are among the first of the local, apple crop to pop up at the Foppema’s Farm (still known to some as Keown Orchards) stand at the Copley Square Farmers’ Market.

Since we shop this market twice a week, we include many photos from this venue. However, many of the same vendors appear at other markets around the area and the same local crops will be in-season at most Massachusetts markets.

Stone Fruit like these plums plus some white and yellow peaches have also made their appearance.

And, it is the height of blueberry and raspberry season. We bring our own berry containers to the market to transport these delicate beauties home in top condition.

The Word from the Farms & Markets

Peter Ward, Manager of the Central Square Farmers’ Market, broadcast this shout out after the heat wave. “…we thank customers who toughed it out and shopped during the prolonged heat wave. The Farmers Market stays open for business rain or, in this case shine. And a tip o’ the cap to the folks who picked crops, weeded and bailed hay back on the baked farm fields.”

(These particular squash blossoms were from Flats Mentor Farm.)

Ben Sommer, Copley Square Farmers’ Market manager, said he bought, “… some very delicate squash blossoms from Siena Farms the other day. These ephemeral and fragile blooms can be best used stuffed with burrata from Fiore Di Nonno, or some fresh herbed Chevre from Crystal Brook Farm, then fried up, a great and easy appetizer.”

In Season, Right Now!

This is the height of the summer season. The stands are full of the foods you’ll want to savor while they last. Field tomatoes, sweet corn, summer squash, blueberries, greens, new potatoes, onions, herbs, carrots, turnips, eggplant, peppers, cabbage, beets… The list goes on-and-on.

Get Some Before It’s Gone!

Barbara Hamilton of Hamilton Orchards tells us that we were seeing the last of her red currents and green gooseberries. Foppema said they are still picking red currents.

Coming Soon!

Our favorite Saturn Peaches are just a couple of week’s away. We’ll buy them by the bagful and eat them daily until their season wanes.

Market Tip: If you are in a hurry and need to ask who has a specific item, stop by the Market Manager’s Table at your local market. The staff there can usually answer questions like this or they will know how to find out quickly.

Follow all our Local Food/Farmers’ Markets and At The Market reports:

What’s on your Food Lover’s Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your Kitchen & Dining needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 25, 2013
At the Market: Fruit Is Popping up All Over!

These July Red apples are among the first of the local, apple crop to pop up at the Foppema’s Farm (still known to some as Keown Orchards) stand at the Copley Square Farmers’ Market.

Since we shop this market twice a week, we include many photos from this venue. However, many of the same vendors appear at other markets around the area and the same local crops will be in-season at most Massachusetts markets.

Stone Fruit like these plums plus some white and yellow peaches have also made their appearance.

And, it is the height of blueberry and raspberry season. We bring our own berry containers to the market to transport these delicate beauties home in top condition.

The Word from the Farms & Markets

Peter Ward, Manager of the Central Square Farmers’ Market, broadcast this shout out after the heat wave. “…we thank customers who toughed it out and shopped during the prolonged heat wave. The Farmers Market stays open for business rain or, in this case shine. And a tip o’ the cap to the folks who picked crops, weeded and bailed hay back on the baked farm fields.”

(These particular squash blossoms were from Flats Mentor Farm.)

Ben Sommer, Copley Square Farmers’ Market manager, said he bought, “… some very delicate squash blossoms from Siena Farms the other day. These ephemeral and fragile blooms can be best used stuffed with burrata from Fiore Di Nonno, or some fresh herbed Chevre from Crystal Brook Farm, then fried up, a great and easy appetizer.”

In Season, Right Now!

This is the height of the summer season. The stands are full of the foods you’ll want to savor while they last. Field tomatoes, sweet corn, summer squash, blueberries, greens, new potatoes, onions, herbs, carrots, turnips, eggplant, peppers, cabbage, beets… The list goes on-and-on.

Get Some Before It’s Gone!

Barbara Hamilton of Hamilton Orchards tells us that we were seeing the last of her red currents and green gooseberries. Foppema said they are still picking red currents.

Coming Soon!

Our favorite Saturn Peaches are just a couple of week’s away. We’ll buy them by the bagful and eat them daily until their season wanes.

Market Tip: If you are in a hurry and need to ask who has a specific item, stop by the Market Manager’s Table at your local market. The staff there can usually answer questions like this or they will know how to find out quickly.

Follow all our Local Food/Farmers’ Markets and At The Market reports:

What’s on your Food Lover’s Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your Kitchen & Dining needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 25, 2013
Summer Egg Overflow

This past weekend, I boiled up an overflow of eggs in my favorite little cooking pot. That always makes Ed happy because he loves having hard-boiled eggs ready for eating.

The Ukrainian egg is not edible but the rest can make a quick snack or meal.

I see cooked eggs as an ingredient. Above, you can see one of our favorite quick suppers, Curried Eggs with Cauliflower.

Do you find that you buy more eggs in summer when farmers are offering fresh collected eggs from their hens? If so, here from our archives is a list of some of the ways you can use them.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a birthday or wedding gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 23, 2013
Summer Egg Overflow

This past weekend, I boiled up an overflow of eggs in my favorite little cooking pot. That always makes Ed happy because he loves having hard-boiled eggs ready for eating.

The Ukrainian egg is not edible but the rest can make a quick snack or meal.

I see cooked eggs as an ingredient. Above, you can see one of our favorite quick suppers, Curried Eggs with Cauliflower.

Do you find that you buy more eggs in summer when farmers are offering fresh collected eggs from their hens? If so, here from our archives is a list of some of the ways you can use them.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a birthday or wedding gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 23, 2013
Summer Egg Overflow

This past weekend, I boiled up an overflow of eggs in my favorite little cooking pot. That always makes Ed happy because he loves having hard-boiled eggs ready for eating.

The Ukrainian egg is not edible but the rest can make a quick snack or meal.

I see cooked eggs as an ingredient. Above, you can see one of our favorite quick suppers, Curried Eggs with Cauliflower.

Do you find that you buy more eggs in summer when farmers are offering fresh collected eggs from their hens? If so, here from our archives is a list of some of the ways you can use them.

Do you have an Amazon Gift Certificate to use? Or do you need to buy one for a birthday or wedding gift? Remember to click over to Amazon from here to support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photography: © 2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers’ comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 23, 2013
At the Market: Flowers, Too!

You see many customers at area farmers' markets carrying bouquets of flowers in addition to their food purchases. This mixed bouquet above is from Atlas Farm at the Copley Square Farmers' Market.

My friend Liz raves about the lilies and other flowers she buys from Stow Greenhouses.

And, it's worth a trip to the Newton market for the wonderful arrangements from Old Friends Farm.

The Word from the Farms & Market Managers

Lily Carone from Atlas Farm says, "… we have River Valley Farm Blueberries – a rain loving crop which are so plump and sweet this summer, it almost makes us pause in cursing the weather…"

Louisa Denison, Manager of the Harvard University Farmers' Markets, sent out a recipe for Blueberry Lemonade.

From Jan at Warren Farm & Sugarhouse

Blueberry Lemonade
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4 small lemons)
2 cups water
*2 cups fresh blueberries
*1/2 cup maple syrup
Garnish: lemon slices
Process first 4 ingredients in a blender until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Pour through a wire-mesh strainer into a pitcher, discarding solids. Serve over ice, and garnish, if desired. Yield: 5 cups

In Season, Right Now!

Blueberries, gooseberries, raspberries, cherries, new potatoes.

Lily from Atlas said, "This week, we added white sweet spanish onions and eggplant to our harvest list….and peppers are not far behind. Our own raspberry crop on our new land in South Deerfield is full of flavorful bright berries too…leaving little to be desired."

Looking Forward!

The crew from Old Friends Farm sent a message to their ginger fans. "Our ginger crop (bless it's little rhyzomial heart) is the weediest we have seen in years – it's actually quite embarrassing. You would think we would have it down by now… We just finished weeding it, and its already time to start at the beginning again." This ginger should show up in September.

Follow all our Local Food/Farmers' Markets and At The Market reports:

What's on your Food Lover's Shopping List? Shop Amazon for all your Kitchen & Dining needs and support this site!

Details:

Words: Penny & Ed Cherubino
Photos: ©2013 Penny & Ed Cherubino

Note on Comments: We monitor comments constantly and anything that is pure spam, inappropriate, or nasty is swept away. In addition to readers' comments, we welcome hearing from the people, places, and services we cover. Often, those add great insights for our readers. As long as it doesn’t become a pure ad, we’d love to hear from you. We do reserve the right to edit ads and links out of comments.

July 18, 2013