I love farmer's markets
I recently discovered that there's a farmer's market every Friday morning near my apartment, and have been going rather religiously. Right now the selection is fantastic, with gorgeous produce that gleam like gems in the sunlight. But where gems are cold and hard, these give off a warm fragrance that perfumes the entire block. I had to prevent myself from buying everything: the creamy white turnips, the dark-leafed greens, the blushing squash, the new red potatoes with a hint of soil still clinging to the skin, the brilliant magenta radishes. (And I don't even like radishes!)
I still came home laden down with several pounds of goods: four different varieties of apples, some perfectly ripe Empress plums, Bartlett and Devoe pears, violet-skinned Japanese eggplants, nearly translucent orange carrots, sun-kissed tomatoes, and a few unblemished zucchini no longer than my hand. It's all sitting in bowls on my dining room table, creating a still life so beautiful (to me, anyway) that I don't want to eat it. Alas, unlike diamonds, these won't last forever.
There are also stalls that sell baked goods, fish, and turkey. I haven't gotten the courage to buy any meat, yet, but I did pick up a cheese danish from a table that I've been guiltily eyeing for a while. The lady also sells cookies, muffins, pound cakes, bread, and pie. If the quality of the danish was anything to go by, I'll have to give everything on her table a try. It was perfect: a base that not too sweet, with a hint of cinnamon swirled through the soft, tender dough; a cheese topping that was like a thin, sinful layer of cheesecake; and a few zigs of royal icing to add just the right jolt of sugar. Perfect with a mug of coffee.
I still came home laden down with several pounds of goods: four different varieties of apples, some perfectly ripe Empress plums, Bartlett and Devoe pears, violet-skinned Japanese eggplants, nearly translucent orange carrots, sun-kissed tomatoes, and a few unblemished zucchini no longer than my hand. It's all sitting in bowls on my dining room table, creating a still life so beautiful (to me, anyway) that I don't want to eat it. Alas, unlike diamonds, these won't last forever.
There are also stalls that sell baked goods, fish, and turkey. I haven't gotten the courage to buy any meat, yet, but I did pick up a cheese danish from a table that I've been guiltily eyeing for a while. The lady also sells cookies, muffins, pound cakes, bread, and pie. If the quality of the danish was anything to go by, I'll have to give everything on her table a try. It was perfect: a base that not too sweet, with a hint of cinnamon swirled through the soft, tender dough; a cheese topping that was like a thin, sinful layer of cheesecake; and a few zigs of royal icing to add just the right jolt of sugar. Perfect with a mug of coffee.