A friend recently blogged on her "go-to meals," what she cooks when the cupboard is nearly bare and there's no time for trips to the store or involved cooking. During Market season I have my own variation, the what-did-I-buy-this-week? meal. At the last Thursday market of the year I went home like the Black Sheep of nursery rhyme, with three bags chock-full of goodness. The result? A delicious meal tonight: Deborah Madison's Curried Butternut-Squash-and-Pear Bisque, Skagit River Ranch Beef Sausage, simmered kale and beet greens with garlic, and (to my husband's amazement) fresh corn on the cob. Granted, my kids only ate the sausage and corn, but that only meant more for us. (If any blog followers have suggestions for getting children hooked on vegetables, I'd love to hear them. But I must say, I can't do the cook 'em, puree 'em, and hide 'em in everything from morning waffles to mac & cheese to brownies thing. Blah! Even I, vegetable lover, do not want them in my brownies.)
Speaking of Skagit River Ranch, mark your calendars for Thursday November 12 and tune in to Channel 9 KCTS for the television premier of GOOD FOOD: THE MOVIE. This film, which has been making the rounds in film festivals, college campuses, and other settings, describes the resurgence of the family farm in the Pacific Northwest, including the Vojkoviches' Skagit River Ranch in Sedro Wooley.
If you haven't had a chance to visit the Saturday Bellevue Farmers Market yet, swing on by between now and November 21. Hours run 10-3, and there's a full array of offerings: produce, salmon, meat, cheese, honey, and treats. I'll be hitting it myself for some flowers and that luscious Samish Bay cheese covered in chives.
And speaking of flowers, from the Fan Mail bag:
Frequent BFM patron Carrie N. of Bridle Trails reports, "I was responsible for table centerpieces at Grandparents' Day for my son's school. Given the shoestring budget, I didn't know if we'd be able to afford fresh flowers and wasn't sure the Market would even have any so late in the season. I was excited to find so many beautiful flowers there, and the prices were so reasonable I was able to buy enough for all the tables and still come in under budget. This wouldn't have been possible if I had to get them at Costco or Trader Joe's, and the variety wouldn't have been as good. The farmers were so helpful, and thank you to the Market volunteer who took the time to write me out a receipt. It was a great experience."
