The Urbana Farmers’ Market has a great selection of farmers, producers, artists, food trucks, and even musicians at various corners of the Market. The Market participates in LINK match, which means that, for up to $20 in EBT/Food Stamps, an additional 2x in value is given to the shopper for use on fresh fruits, vegetables, fungi, herbs. TGTW supports a fair price for produce to local, family farmers and producers, but in the real world of socioeconomics, this puts fresh, healthy food out of reach for many people. The Link matching program makes it possible for people with limited financial means to obtain fresh produce at the Farmers’ Market.
This week, the following items were obtained:
- Eggs from The Joyful Wren. Not only are their eggs delicious, they are beautiful. They also are easy on the digestive tract!
- Round Steak from Triple S farms. Great for Rouladen, stir fry, tartar – the flavor is wonderful.
- Pork Sausage and sausage links from Moore Family Farm. Moore Family Farm was recommended to TGTW by a veterinarian colleague, who asserted that their animals were well cared for – “They do animal husbandry right”. Because of this, TGTW likes to support them by purchasing from them. They also have a great vegetable selection!
- Tilapia and lettuces from Kountry Fresh Farms / Koss Family Farms. The tilapia is so fresh, as are the lettuces. A favorite is panang curry style tilapia!
- Peaches and nectarines from Mileur Orchard – today, we were able to get ‘seconds’ peaches. These are just as tasty but smaller or funny shaped; sauces, leathers, canned chunks are all great ways to preserve these for a taste of summer later in the year. Nectarines were also available, for a “fuzz free” experience.
- Red and white spring onions from Sola Gratia, a local farm which grows for local soup kitchens and charities providing fresh produce to folks.
- A couple of interesting-sounding jams from Tiger Gardens. TGTW uses jams as a sort of “instant smoothie/lassie” component, as well as summer time flavored iced teas.
- New potatoes, both red and white, from Roth Produce.
- Dill and pickles from Green G Farm. Oddly, TGTW hadn’t thought of making pickles with this until … well, just now.
So, what to do with all this food?
The meat will go into the freezer for the time being, but usually the round steak is made into Rouladen or used in stir fry; mushroom beef or mongolian beef is popular around the dinner table. And.. well, it tastes really nice chopped up raw with onions and salt and pepper. M Planet loves raw meat; that germanic upbringing where raw ground round was served with salt, pepper, onions, and a good rye bread for special occasions (including a Very Strange Wedding) just .. is. Whilst in Europe, raw lamb, beef, and even pork (Worms! – actually, would never eat raw pork in the US. Germany is a small country and the animal inspection process for meats meant to be served raw is different there, and the spice mix is lovely) were a treat for both M Planet and the Feline OverLord. All the vegan/vegetarian people reading this are now cringing – don’t be a hater. Tofu literally ruins my life because of the phytoestrogens.
The ground pork is great in Wedding soup, but TGTW has been meaning to try making Scotch Eggs. Sometimes the Joyful Wren has small eggs, which would be nice for that attempt! But today, they were out of them – an egg is a perfect protein pack, and as such, a lot of eggs are cooked and consumed. Joyful Wren eggs are so beautiful, that our Artistic Side (VFP-McFergies) uses them for some of the art that they do! Tilapia is a really nice, light fish that poaches quickly and easily (and can be overcooked easily as well); the top favorites are Thai Style – panang curry, guiness and cream, white wine, and hard apple cider.
Peaches have so many potential uses – dried, leathered, canned, made into sauces, chutneys, juices. And then there is always ‘eating over the sink dripping down your face and hands’! Maybe another meringue pie – crisp. Oatmeal crisp with peaches. Love, love, love peaches – millions of peaches, peaches for me… which reminds M Planet of The Presidents’ song:
Then there are the Potatoes! Spring onions! Roasted, toasted, fried, buttered, herbed, mashed… TGTW loves potatoes and onions.
So the obvious missing element is .. tomatoes. The last time tomatoes were purchased from the Farmers’ Market, they were pretty but didn’t have much flavor. This is anathema to Mx Planet. There are several varieties budding on the balcony, so rather than tasteless large tomatoes, we’ll just be waiting for our Very Local heirloom babies to produce.