Farm To Market Days

Summer may begin in June but, for many parts of the country, gardens don't reach their peak until August. Modern grocery stores manage to keep us satisfied with produce year round, but there is nothing like the flavor of farm fresh tomatoes, peaches, or sweet corn. And there is nothing like the experience of buying from local growers who are proud of their wares.

The first farmers' markets started over a century before the Declaration of Independence. Since then, it has become an American tradition to buy fresh produce, flowers, eggs and cheese from markets and roadside stands. In the beginning, farmers would brave muddy roads in their horse-drawn wagons. As time went on, farmers made the weekly trek to town in pick-ups, where they'd pile bushels of fruit and vegetables high on the tailgate of their trucks. Today, many lucky city dwellers visit markets that are open every day.

My favorite though, is our county farmers' market held on the courthouse grounds. It's open only on Saturday mornings, and only June - October. It may sound inconvenient but, for my family, it's a summer ritual. We wake early and arrive disheveled, rarely taking the time to comb through our hair. For breakfast, we buy scones from our favorite bread stand and snatch up the best looking fruit we see. My son is an expert at choosing "chin dripping" peaches, always looking for the most fragrant and the heaviest peach that can sit in the palm of his small hand. My husband lounges on the grass and watches the people go by as I scribble a list of what is available, anticipating the culinary treats that only summer brings. There is nothing like fresh corn on the cob, cold gazpacho with homegrown tomatoes, or homemade fruit sorbet. We always have a batch of sorbet on hand, each week a different flavor. Sometimes we experiment by combining fruit with fresh herbs, but most of the time we simple puree 2 cups of fruit with a little citrus juice and a bit of honey, and then freeze it in an ice cream maker. My boys and their friends think it's a decadent treat.

Summer vacation is about to end, and our weekly ritual will soon give way to soccer games and birthday parties. Lucky for me, the farmers will be back next year with their trucks piled high, just as they've done for generations.

MARKET FRESH FRUIT DIP

This makes a terrific afternoon snack on a warm summer's day. When entertaining, serve in a honeydew melon half and decorate the rim with fresh blueberries and mint sprigs.

Ingredients

1 Pint Strawberries

2 Teaspoons Lemon Juice

3 Tablespoons Honey

4 oz Cream Cheese, Room Temperature

1 Cup Plain Yogurt

Assorted Fruit Slices

Directions

1. Wash the strawberries and remove the green tops.

2. Place strawberries in a blender or food processor with lemon juice, honey, cream cheese, and yogurt. Puree until smooth.

3. To make a honeydew melon bowl, cut the melon in half and scoop out the seeds. Slice a 3 inch diameter circle off the rounded bottom of the rind so your bowl will sit flat.

4. Serve with slices of your favorite summer fruit. Peaches, plums, apples, and melons all work well and make a colorful presentation.

Copyright 2004 Nine Twenty Press

http://www.togetherparenting.com

You have permission to reprint this article electronically or in print, free of charge, provided that each article is:

1. Printed in its full form with no changes

2. Includes an active link

3. A courtesy copy of your publication is sent to the above contact

4. And the following byline appears at the bottom of each article:

About the Authors: Rondi Hillstrom Davis and Janell Sewall Oakes are the co-authors of the award-winning book Together: Creating Family Traditions. To check out their website that's jam packed with family ideas, visit

To subscribe to their online newsletter, go to http://www.togetherparenting.com/feedback.asp

To subscribe to their online newsletter, go to http://www.togetherparenting.com/feedback.asp

In The News:

---

Fancy Up Your Muffins

We introduced muffins to you last week and many of... Read More

Home Made Ice Cream Recipe for Coffee Can Ice Cream

The very best thing about having birthday cake is the... Read More

The Official Parenting Cheesecake Recipe

Whoever writes all those fancy cookbooks has never been a... Read More

Best Recipes: Chicken with Apples

Ingredients1½ cups quick-cooking rice 2 large onions, thinly sliced 250g... Read More

A Scone Recipe for Dinner or Lunch

There are two ways to pronounce scone. "Skon" in England... Read More

Spanish Food - The Tasty Tortilla

It certainly is a poor man or woman who cannot... Read More

Easy Trail Mixes

Before you set off on your next family walk or... Read More

Tayberry Jam

The taste of Summer, bursting with flavour and anti-oxidant effects.... Read More

Chocolate Tasting Techniques

First of all start with an empty stomach. This has... Read More

Four Easy Zucchini Bread Recipes

Tired of the same old zucchini bread recipe and want... Read More

Ground Turkey Recipes

Our family has recently made the switch from ground beef... Read More

Try Truffles!

Want to serve an elegant, yet easy, dessert? Try truffles.... Read More

Spanish Food - How To Prepare Boquerones

Whilst on your travels in Spain and pausing to take... Read More

Farm To Market Days

Summer may begin in June but, for many parts of... Read More

Summer Basil Pasta Salad

With the long hot days of summer, you will find... Read More

Simply Salads

"It is just sensible."exclaimed my friend. She was referring to... Read More

Cooking Roast Prime Rib on the Grill

Love the taste of prime rib? Love the taste of... Read More

Easy Summer Salads, Lighter Foods For A Brighter Summer

Easy summer salads are the way to go, now that... Read More

Weight Loss Recipe: Crustless Quiche

Crust-less QuicheQuick and easy, this meal is great either hot... Read More

Fresh Fruit: The Sweet, Healthy Dessert

Americans love dessert so much that some of us eat... Read More

So, You Have A Crockpot - Now Youll Want Crockpot Recipes

To those of us that don't know, crockpot recipes are... Read More

School Lunches the Frugal Way!

It seems that school starts earlier every year. So it's... Read More

Oatmeal-Apple-Raisin Muffins

These muffins are not only tasty, but they're also a... Read More

Chili Recipe - A Red Chili Nightmare!

This chili recipe is, indeed, a really nightmare! Taste it... Read More

Canarian Recipes for Shrove Tuesday

For the British at least, Shrove Tuesday is probably better... Read More

The World According To Penne

Penne pasta is a product of Naples, Italy. The pasta... Read More

The Secret To Making Perfect Chili Fit For A King

Every autumn my thoughts turn to making chili. The garden... Read More

English Cucumber Sandwiches

Have you tried English cucumbers yet? They're a little different... Read More

Provence Steak Recipes

Want an international flair for your steaks? Try a Provence... Read More

6 Steps to Beating Childhood Obesity

These days kids would rather spend time on the computer... Read More

Thai BBQ or Barbeque Chicken Recipes

What makes Thai BBQ chicken recipes so delicious? It is... Read More

The Taffy Pull (A Story and a Recipe)

One year when I was growing up on our Wisconsin... Read More

Low Fat Flaming Bananas Treat

Nutritional Information: Serves 3, Fat: 8 g, Cal: 299, KJ:... Read More