Farmer’s Market: Making the most of the season

One of my resolutions this year was to make the most of my local Farmers Market. I usually go to the one in Lincoln Square on Tuesday mornings and Thursday evenings, which works out well for me. On Tuesdays I pick up enough fruit to last me through the work week and on Thursdays I pick up the staples to cook over the weekend. Maybe I throw in an occasional treat from Angel Food Bakery, too.

I’ve slowly been expanding the items I get from the Farmers Market. After trying a fabulous heirloom tomato salad at Graham Elliot Bistro, I started buying chocolate cherry tomatoes. They are the guilt-free chocolate solution of my dreams. I can’t stop eating them unless it’s to pick up another fresh peach. Between the two? Wow, yum.

I also picked up a half-dozen fresh eggs. I’d been eye-balling this stand for weeks, and the lady finally cornered me with her sales pitch: they come from happy, bug-eating, free-ranging chickens. Sold. They’re expensive eggs, but I’m willing to keep the chickens in bugs if that’s what it takes.

In renewed passions, I’ve started buying kale again after I noticed one of my co-workers using it in place of bread for sandwiches. It seems crazy, but her sammies don’t fall apart. I’ll see how I do. And finally, plums are back in season! I haven’t seen my favorite gumball plums yet, but the red heart plums I found this week I’ve kept me pretty happy.

Have a Farmers Market find? Share what makes you happy!