Produce is trickling in

And I mean trickling.  I've seen some snap peas, some greens, and some raspberries.  I give it one more week until we're in berry heaven.  This Spring produce isn't really fulfilling, though.  Bring on the peaches, the corn, the cukes, and the heirloom tomatoes!  If it's going to be hot outside, let's have some Summer produce!

Buffalo!

Okay, it's really called bison, but it's yummy!  Gunpowder Bison sells locally produced bison products at the Sunday Catonsville farmers market.  We like to grill the bison kebabs (marinate first), maple ginger sausage, and burgers.  The dog likes to wolf down the bison biscuits.  One word of caution: have a look at their cooking instructions.  Bison is lean 9less fat than skinless chicken!), so it becomes tough if you overcook it.  Bonus: they take credit cards, and they might even give you a handy reusable tote. 

The bison are pasture-raised and grass fed by necessity, and the meat is high in iron.  The bison are raised without hormones and other nasty stuff. You can visit their farm or submit orders for large quantities or special items.

Still waiting for good produce....but we have soap!

Family Affair produce is stocking some really nice locally made soap: Zen Martha's.  A Catonsville gardener brews up these terrific-smelling bars.  I bought a bar of the lavender soap, but they also had cucumber and several other scents.  These soaps remind me of the old fashioned kind great grandmothers used to make, but they have updated scents.  Good stuff!

P.S.  While you're there, browse through the wooden bowls made by a local craftsman.  The woods used vary, but I picked up one made out of old ship wood.  Cool!  These bowls are not suitable for food, but they make nice decorations and gifts.

Catonsville Sunday farmers market begins this week

11-3 behind Friendly's on Frederick Rd.  Now I don't have to use so much gas going into Baltimore.  Click here for a list of vendors.

Spring Greens & Goat Cheese

I stopped at the Johns Hopkins East Baltimore farmer's market today and picked upa huge bag (called half a bag!) of mixed spring salad greens from Zahradka farm.  Sping greens are probably at their tastiest right now.  They tend to become bitter and bolt later in the season unless they are protected from the heat.  They won't last as long as a head of iceberg lettuce from the store, so use them up quickly.  I plan to use mine as the base for a dinner salad.  I'll add some home grown herbs and top the greens with grilled chicken breast, some organic goat cheese from Firefly Farms and pistachios.  This dish is best dressed with a homemade vinaigrette made French housewife style: shake some oil and vinegar in a jar with some mustard, salt, pepper, and a little sugar.  Proportions to taste.

STRAWBERRIES!!!!

Local berries from the Eastern Shore are rolling in.  They mature a couple of weeks earlier out there.  My friend and I found 2 quarts for $9 at the B-more farmers market.  Keep your eyes peeled for these babies.  They are gorgeous, and they are so much tastier than the imports that we see at the grocery store. 

Make sure you ask where the berries were grown.  Some 'farmers' are selling the grocery store variety.  Local berries will be small, very red, sometimes misshapen, and they will smell like berries.  Grocery store berries tend to have whitish parts, be perfectly formed and they don't smell or taste like much.  Eat them within a day or two.  They are picked ripe and they soften quickly.

If your berries are starting to turn, cut off the caps and freeze them for later use in smoothies or daiquiris.  Or, boil them with some water and sugar (add balsamic vinegar for a twist), and use the sauce to top ice cream or pound cake.  You can find locally made ice cream (Moxley's) at Bean Hollow on Main St, EC.  You can also find poundcake at one of our local bakeries: Atwater's, Sweet, SugarBakers, etc..

Maryland milk & meat delivered to your door

I can't say enough good things about the delicious milk and dairy products from South Mountain Creamery.  There's something comforting about pouring your morning coffee cream from a glass bottle that was packaged less than an hour away.  But it doesn't stop at milk and dairy (eggs, butter, yogurt...).  South Mountain will bring you meat and poultry.  It's all tasty, and all you have to do is sign up on their website and put in your order.  Leave a cooler on your porch, and come home to farm fresh groceries.  I'm partial to the ground lamb for shepherd's pie, and the sausages are yummy, too.  You can also find an array of other items for delivery.  Sadly, they do not deliver toilet paper and toothpaste, so you'll still have to hit the supermarket once in a while.