Welcome to Week 1!
Side Dishes
This week, we are focusing on cooking side dishes. Side dishes are so much more than canned green beans with some butter or French fries with ketchup! They can be anything you can imagine - as long as at least two ingredients come from the farmers market!
But before we get to that, check out this video as I take you to my local farmers market! It’s always good to know what to expect and a few “tricks of the trade” before you go. I’m going to walk you through a few of them. Click the link at the bottom to read the full article and get a few more details.
Good luck!
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Have realistic expectations.
Know what’s in season and what to expect before you go. No, you will not find tomatoes in May or Strawberries in September.
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Come prepared.
Bring your own bags (both larger tote bags and smaller bags for individual things), small bills, and a shopping list.
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No bargaining.
Farmers will price produce at an appropriate rate. Take a walk through the market before making any purchases to scope out any available deals.
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Leave the dogs at home.
Most markets do not allow pets for obvious reasons. As much as I would love to take my pups everywhere, to the market is just not a good idea.
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Talk to the farmers.
Ask them how they grow their produce, how they use different items, and share what you are planning to do with your purchases.
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Be respectful.
Show everyone and everything the respect they deserve. The farmers, other shoppers, and the produce! Be a good human!
Cooking Demo:
Easy Greens & Beans
In this cooking demo, Lindsay from Full Bloom Acres will walk you through how to create one of her favorite ways to use kale, Swiss chard, beet greens or any other greens. This is the first cooking demo for the 2022 Farmers Market Challenge. You can download the full recipe in the “Week 1 Recipes” section below.
Here are your two bonus recipes for week 1. These are in a PDF so they can be easily printed and saved with your other favorite recipes!
This week's recipes are Easy Greens and Beans from the cooking demo above and a recipe for cabbage steaks. They are delicious grilled or roasted and can be seasoned however you like! Truly versatile!
Need a few ideas to get you started?
Watermelon juice? Berry Melon Power Smoothie? Braised Kale with Apples? Yes, please!
Check out the full recipe collection from Full Bloom Acres. You will find lots of delicious, plant-based recipes that are quick and easy to put together. Most of them use ingredients you can find at most farmers markets! Recipes are frequently added so be sure to stop back when you need some inspiration!
