Month: August 2018

Kickoff Labor Day weekend at the market & stock-up for your cookouts!

We hope you spend time with family and friends during this long holiday weekend. And for those of you who made it through the first week of school – congratulations! It’s always challenging to adjust to new routines so we hope you’re able to slow down, share a delicious meal with loved ones, and spend time outdoors this weekend. Be sure to join us tomorrow for a seasonal cooking demo with local foodie Nicole Cardon. Trust us – you never want to miss what Nicole is whipping up. And if you need a little inspiration for your holiday cookouts, check out these two simple recipes below.

***************
Eggplant Salad

Ingredients

  • 2 Eggplants
  • 1 Bag Arugula (or lettuce of choice)
  • 3 Medium-Sized Tomatoes (or 1 Pint Cherry Tomatoes)
  • Pea Shoots
  • Cheese (of choice)
  • 1/3 Cup Olive Oil
  • 1/4 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
  • Salt and Pepper

Directions

  1. Slice your eggplant longways into 1/2 inch slices. Place olive oil on both sides and toss on the grill for about 1-2 minutes per side.
  2. In a separate bowl, combine the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Set aside.
  3. Prepare plates for the salad. Dice your tomatoes and place on the salad plates. Remove the eggplant from the grill and place next to the tomatoes on each plate. Top with arugula, pea shoots and cheese.
  4. Drizzle with oil and vinegar and season with salt and pepper (to taste). Enjoy!

***************
Potato Salad

Ingredients

  • 1.5 Pounds Potatoes
  • 1/2 Cup Whole Milk Plain Yogurt
  • 1 Onion
  • 1 Bag Arugula
  • 1 Bunch Dill
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)

Directions

  1. Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the potatoes. Bring to a simmer and allow the potatoes to cook for 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes can be pierced with a fork. Drain the potatoes in a colander and allow to cool.
  2. Slice the potatoes into bite-sized pieces and add to a large bowl.
  3. Dice the onion and cut the arugula and dill into small pieces.
  4. Once cooled, toss the potatoes in the yogurt. Add the onion, arugula and dill to the mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  5. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving. Enjoy!

Want to learn more?

Read the rest of the August 31, 2018 newsletter or sign up to receive the next newsletter in your inbox.

Get ready for back-to-school & celebrate the end of August at the market!

These past few days of cooler weather remind us that fall is right around the corner. Even though I know the temperatures will warm up again, I cannot help but be excited for a new season and new produce to arrive in the upcoming weeks. Summer crops are slowing down at the market so be sure to swing by and pick up some of your favorite warm-weather fruits and veggies before new colors fill our farmers’ tables.

Tomorrow we’re in for a special treat as chef Kyle Wilkerson and Candace Crank of Heirloom Restaurant host a cooking demo on the market lawn. Join them from 9-11 am to sample their delicious meal and be sure to ask them which local farmers they purchased their ingredients from.

Also, mark your calendar for next Saturday, September 1 when we host a seasonal cooking demo with local foodie Nicole Cardon. Trust us – you never want to miss what Nicole is whipping up.

Want to learn more?

Read the rest of the August 24, 2018 newsletter or sign up to receive the next newsletter in your inbox.

Check out what the Homefries Kids are cooking on Saturday, August 18!

We hope you’re enjoying the last few weeks of summer vacation! We’re gearing up for fall and planning several fun events for the market community that we’re excited to share with you in the upcoming weeks. Also, we wrote a blog post about tips and tricks for packing lunches. Check out our website and let us know what advice you have for packing lunches in a time crunch. Cooking with seasonal food doesn’t always have to be time-consuming and we hope you’ll enjoy the tips we discuss in the article.

Also, please join us for the last Homefries Kid’s Cooking Class of the season tomorrow. Check out what chef Jeff Crane and the young foodies are creating on the market lawn from 9:30-11:00 am. There are a few spots remaining in the class so register today. Also, if you’re around on Wednesday, bring your kiddos to the last Sprouts Kid’s Club for the season. We’ve had a blast teaching your children about seasonal eating, farming and local food and appreciate you sharing part of your summer with us.

Want to learn more?

Read the rest of the August 17, 2018 newsletter or sign up to receive the next newsletter in your inbox.

Spend a Beautiful Afternoon at Wellness Wednesday

August is half way done and it seems like the month has flown by! School is starting back up and the last few weeks of summer are ready to be enjoyed.

At the market, we have been busy preparing our last couple of Sprouts Club activities and gearing up for Fall kid’s activities and Saturday morning events. We are so excited to share all of our hard work with you!

Our Sprouts Club meeting this week will be hosted by market friend Chris Apple. Chris will be sharing a fun activity about seeds and every kid that participates will receive $3 to spend at market when the activity is completed.

There are just a few spots left for our last Homefries class of the year on Saturday, August 18! Homefries cooking class is for kids ages 8 -13 and meets from 9:30 to 11. Sign up here!

See you this afternoon!

Want to learn more?

Read the rest of the August 15, 2018 newsletter or sign up to receive the next newsletter in your inbox.

Save time packing lunches with these easy tips!

The backpacks are full, the lunchboxes are packed, and your schedule is filled with sports practices and after-school activities. It’s back-to-school time! That also means that it’s back-to-work time for many of us who are wrapping up the last vacations of the summer and are gearing up for the fall. We’re here to help you easily pack lunches and nourish your body this year.

While it’s easy to grab a granola bar, can of soup or 100-calorie bags of snacks, these foods will not provide your body with the vital vitamins and nutrients it needs to perform at its best. In an ideal world, we would have an endless amount of time to prepare our meals using seasonal ingredients from the farmers’ market. However, busy schedules and unanticipated events make this a challenge. That’s where freezing your meals comes in handy!

Some of the tastiest produce arrives at the farmers’ market in the summer so it’s a great time to make your favorite meals and freeze the leftovers for a quick lunch. Check out the suggestions below:

1.) Purchase bread at the farmers’ market or bake it at home to make sandwiches with all types of fillings, such as cheese, jam, nut butter, vegetables and more. It’s easy to slice and keep bread in the freezer so you can quickly make a last-minute meal.
2.) Who doesn’t love pizza for lunch? A kid favorite is to pack a pizza lunchable. Simply make your own pizza crust or cut whole-wheat pitas into triangles and place in the freezer. The night before, place the crust in the fridge. Pack with cheese, vegetables and homemade tomato sauce and your kid can build their pizza at lunch time! You can also make homemade pizza for dinner and freeze leftovers for future meals.
3.) Make soup in bulk, store in the freezer in individual containers and pack it for lunch during a busy day. You can serve with homemade bread or cook noodles the night before to add to the soup.

The trick for freezing lunches is to place everything in mason jars or plastic containers so it is the correct serving size for your meal. The night before school or work, take the meal out of the freezer and let it defrost in its container overnight. If it is soup or something that needs to be eaten warm, heat up the container the next morning and place the meal  in a thermos so it stays warm until lunch time. It’s that simple!

We know that it’s difficult to get back in the swing of things after a fun summer. Make your life easier and keep your body healthy by planning ahead so you always have nutritious meals available for you and your family. Don’t forget to pick up the best-tasting produce for these meals at the farmers’ market and maybe learn a few new recipes from our vendors along the way!

Celebrate National Farmers’ Market Week with us on Saturday, August 11!

Happy National Farmers’ Market Week! Why do we love shopping at local markets? Check out the top 5 reasons below and share with us what you love!

Farmers’ markets:
1.) Preserve farmland
2.) Stimulate local economies
3.) Increase access to nutritious food
4.) Support healthy communities
5.) Promote sustainability

In honor of this weeklong celebration, we’ve been hosting a meal challenge. We  created a meal list for breakfast, lunch and dinner and shared 21 recipes with you. You’ll find the shopping list online for what you can pick up at the market . Don’t worry if you’re joining the challenge late – the recipes are still perfect to use in the upcoming week. Check out our website for the full details and enjoy cooking with seasonal, local produce from the market. Also, swing by the Info Table tomorrow to pick up a special temporary tattoo!

Finally, don’t forget that registration is open for our final Homefries Kid’s Cooking Class of the season! We hope your young chefs can join Jeff Crane on Saturday, August 18. Register today as the class is capped at 15 students.

Want to learn more?

Read the rest of the August 10, 2018 newsletter or sign up to receive the next newsletter in your inbox.

Announcing our National Farmers’ Market Week Meal Challenge!

Summer is flying by and August is already here. We hope you’re enjoying the last few weeks of vacation with your family and that you’re savoring the delicious flavors of the season. This weekend we’re excited to welcome the team from the Samaritan Health Center , a free and charitable clinic in Durham. They will be discussing blood sugars, healthy diet options, info about the clinic and how to access services there. Be sure to swing by the lawn from 9-11 am to chat with them!

Also, National Farmers’ Market Week kicks off on Sunday. In honor of this weeklong celebration, we’re hosting a meal challenge! We’ve created a meal list for breakfast, lunch and dinner and have 21 recipes to share with you. You’ll find the shopping list online for what you can pick up at the market tomorrow and on Wednesday. You can also pick up a scorecard at the market tomorrow. Keep track of how many local meals you cook and drop off your scorecard next Saturday, August 11. Everyone who submits a scorecard will be eligible for a prize! Check out our website for the full details.

Finally, we’re excited to announce that registration is open for our final Homefries Kid’s Cooking Class of the season! We hope your young chefs can join Jeff Crane on Saturday, August 18. Register today as the class is capped at 15 students.

Want to learn more?

Read the rest of the August 3 2018 newsletter or sign up to receive the next newsletter in your inbox.

National Farmers’ Market Week Menu & Shopping List

Happy National Farmers’ Market Week! What better way to show your support for our local farmers and food producers than by cooking your meals with all seasonal ingredients? Below you will find a suggested menu and shopping list for our Saturday and Wednesday markets, along with recipe ideas. Keep track of how many meals you make and turn in your scorecard at the market on August 11 (Note: You can pick up a scorecard at the Info Table during the market). Also, please tag us in your meal photos (#durhamfarmersmarket #lovemymarket #farmersmarketweek). Enjoy!

Shopping List for Saturday, August 4
*Denotes that this ingredient is for later in the week but should be purchased at the Saturday market.

Bread & Grains

  • Chocolate croissant
  • Bread for grilled cheese sandwich
  • Crackers (Elodie Farms)
  • Cornmeal (Brinkley Farms)

Protein

  • Kefir (Celebrity Dairy)
  • Eggs
  • Bison
  • Lamb*
  • Shrimp
  • Italian Sausage*
  • Whole Chicken*

Cheese

  • Chevre for tapas night and lamb sliders
  • Favorite cheese for grilled cheese
  • Pimento cheese (Boxcarr Handmade Cheese)

Produce

  • Cucumbers
  • Tomatoes
  • Basil
  • Dill*
  • Eggplant
  • Blueberries
  • Watermelon
  • Peaches
  • Blackberries
  • Corn
  • Potatoes
  • Cilantro*
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Cherry Tomatoes

Odds & Ends

  • Hot pepper flakes (Catbriar Farm)*
  • Tamales (Soul Cocina)
  • Chips, salsa and guacamole (Cilantro Artisan Foods)
  • Coffee Beans (Caballo Rojo)
  • Jam
  • Kimchi (Spicy Hermit)*
  • Favorite Fullsteam Beer
  • Favorite Honeygirl Mead

Sunday

Breakfast – Frittata * Don’t forget to brew extra coffee to freeze for Monday’s breakfast!*

Lunch – Bulgar Wheat Salad with Tomato and Eggplant

Dinner – Tapas Night! Don’t forget beer from Fullsteam and mead from Honeygirl to share with all your friends!

Monday

Breakfast – Breakfast Yogurt Shake: Mix leftover coffee with kefir and place in ice cubes trays. Freeze overnight. In morning, place cubes in blender, adding water or milk as needed. Can add peanut butter, almond butter, banana, etc. Pair with chocolate croissant from Loaf.

Lunch – Grilled cheese and preserve sandwich with peach and tomato salad

Dinner –  Shrimp Boil with Corn and Potatoes

Tuesday

Breakfast – Fruit Smoothie: blueberries, blackberries, peaches, and kefir from Celebrity Dairy

Lunch – Tamales from Soul Cocina with sliced cucumbers and tomatoes

Dinner – Jack’s Grilled Bison London Broil

Shopping List for Wednesday, August 8
*Denotes that this ingredient was purchased at the Saturday market.

Bread & Grains

  • Cornmeal (Brinkley Farms)*
  • Pasta (Melina’s Fresh Pasta)
  • Pizza Dough (Melina’s Fresh Pasta)
  • Polenta Bread (Loaf)

Protein

  • Eggs
  • Ground Beef
  • Sausage (Fickle Creek Farm)
  • Whole Chicken*
  • Lamb*

Cheese

  • Chive Cheese (Boxcarr Handmade Cheese)
  • Your favorite Boxcarr Cheese for pizza

Produce

  • Arugula
  • Basil
  • Bell Peppers
  • Carrots
  • Cucumbers
  • Garlic
  • Onions
  • Peaches
  • Potatoes
  • Tomatoes
  • Dill*
  • Corn
  • Cilantro*

Odds & Ends

  • Kimchi (The Spicy Hermit)*

Thursday

Breakfast – Eggs with chive cheese from Boxcarr and sliced tomatoes

Lunch – Your favorite Melina’s pasta with meatballs

Dinner – Whole Roasted Chicken with Rainbow Potato Salad

Friday

Breakfast – Toasted Polenta Bread with scrambled eggs

Lunch – Chicken Salad made with leftovers from roasted chicken

Dinner – Kimchi and Corn Salsa Tacos

Saturday

Breakfast – Cornmeal pancakes (Arepas)with over easy egg

Lunch – Toasted bread with cheese, tomato, basil, and cucumber

Dinner – Lamb Sliders

Meal Alternatives

 Breakfast – Breakfast sandwich: toasted bread, eggs, sausage, and tomato slices

Lunch – Egg salad sandwich

Dinner – Grilled pizza with goat cheese, arugula, and grilled peaches

Start August of Healthy at Wellness Wednesday!

The last official month of summer is here and Wellness Wednesday is in full swing! The produce at market now is colorful and delicious, making it easy to make the market a one stop shop for the week. Eating the fruits and veggies from the Durham Farmers’ Market helps support our local community and gives you and your family the healthiest eating options.

We have a truly awesome activity planned for our Sprouts Kid’s Club meeting today! Don’t forget, every kiddo that completes the activity will receive $3 to spend at the market on fruits or veggies.

This Saturday we will be welcoming the Samaritan Health Center to the market to discuss blood sugar and healthy eating. This is a wonderful opportunity to receive expert advise on how to improve your diet and make sure you are living your healthiest!

See you this afternoon!

Want to learn more?

Read the rest of the August 1, 2018 newsletter or sign up to receive the next newsletter in your inbox.