Making the most of your farmer’s market haul

Written By Meredith Mortensen

Summer is the perfect time to revisit your local farmer’s market or farm stand. I sometimes make the mistake of buying ALL the things that look fresh and delicious, and end up with a bounty of veggies and fruits and no real plan to turn them into meals. To help you (and me!) avoid this problem, here’s a basic outline to keep in mind as you start shopping.

Try to pick out vegetables that will be great in these three dishes:

  • Pasta (tomatoes/corn/spring onions, basil/arugula/garlic for a pesto, wild mushrooms)

  • Salad (cobb, deconstructed niçoise, chopped Italian)

  • Grilled/steamed or sautéed as a side dish (summer squash and leeks, snap peas and asparagus, beans and cherry tomatoes)

Then, keep your eyes peeled for things that will make great snacks. Persian cucumbers and tender carrots to munch with some local or homemade hummus, a basket of sweet 100 tomatoes, and of course some berries or a basket of apricots.

Lastly, bring along your shopping list from this week’s CookWise recipes, which are bound to contain several things available at the market!

Meredith Mortensen
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