Playing With Your Food – Week 15

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Sep 252014
 
Fishwives - Mandy's Chowdah - cred Barb Taylor

Mandy from Mandy’s Wicked Chowdah, serving up the good stuff.

“Playing With Your Food” is a weekly post highlighting a few of the many great uses for the wide range of produce and artisan food at the Salem Farmers’ Market, a Salem Main Streets project.  The Salem Farmers’ Market takes place every Thursday from June 12 to October 23 from 3 pm to 7 pm on Derby Square.  While we can never predict exactly what our farms will be able to bring each week, we do our best to reflect some of the fun items we’ve found recently and what’s likely to be available for the upcoming week.  Hopefully this will give you a few new ideas to play with, and inspire you to try some new things at the market.

There’s still a wealth of fresh produce and ingredients pouring in every week, but let’s face it – some weeks you just don’t want to overthink it. Some weeks you’re just not up for cooking.  Some weeks, you need someone else to take over.  Thankfully, our Salem Farmers’ Market vendors have you covered yet again!

Valicenti Organico - cred Barb Taylor

Valicenti Organico will always have friendly advice for pasta and sauce pairings.

One of your surest stops for an easy meal is sure to be Valicenti Organico.  From lemon basil linguine to squid ink spaghettini to chard ricotta ravioli, any of Valicenti’s amazing pasta options will cook in under 10 minutes.  Pair it with a jar of red gravy, “alla Norma” sauce with eggplant, or (if you’re lucky), some of their amazing butternut squash based Golden Gravy and you’re good to go!

If you need a snack RIGHT NOW, consider swing by Milk and Honey for some of their amazing empanadas, or cheese and spreads to take home as hors d’oeuvres.

Rowand’s Fish Market has more than just fresh fish – they also have a number of prepared dishes ready for you to take home.  Grab some shrimp cocktail ready to go for an appetizer, salmon burgers or fish cakes for a main course, or even a cup of seaweed salad for the perfect light snack.

Not only is it looking a little grey today (perfect for a cup of delicious, gluten-free chowder), but Mandy’s Wicked Chowdah is thinking ahead!  Buy 5 or more packages for $6 each and start stocking up for winter.  She said it, not me.

Need dessert?  Market newcomer Jodi Bee Bakes has been hitting it out of the park week after week with any array of seasonal goodies baked with locally-sourced ingredients. While Jodi has a number of gluten-free and vegan options, those of you who might be suspicious of such labels won’t question it again after sampling any of her wares.

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You read that right – maple donuts with almond glaze from Jodi Bee Bakes. They just happen to be gluten-free and vegan, as well!

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Playing With Your Food – Week 14

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Sep 182014
 

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Playing With Your Food” is a weekly post highlighting a few of the many great uses for the wide range of produce and artisan food at the Salem Farmers’ Market, a Salem Main Streets project.  The Salem Farmers’ Market takes place every Thursday from June 12 to October 23 from 3 pm to 7 pm on Derby Square.  While we can never predict exactly what our farms will be able to bring each week, we do our best to reflect some of the fun items we’ve found recently and what’s likely to be available for the upcoming week.  Hopefully this will give you a few new ideas to play with, and inspire you to try some new things at the market.

It may not officially be fall yet, but we’ve definitely entered the season for one of the most beloved symbols of fall food – APPLES.  If you’re like me, your eyes are probably bigger than your stomach when it comes to purchasing apples or apple cider.  Suddenly, you find yourself with three bags of apples and two gallons of apple cider that really need to be used within a week.  What to do?

Confession time – I am terrible with pie.  “Easy as apple pie” has no relevance to me.  So here’s a list things that I find EASIER to make than apple pie:

 

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Boxes of Far From the Tree Hard Cider ready to go!

 

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Playing With Your Food – Week 13

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Sep 112014
 
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Eggplant varieties at Long Hill Orchard

Playing With Your Food” is a weekly post highlighting a few of the many great uses for the wide range of produce and artisan food at the Salem Farmers’ Market, a Salem Main Streets project.  The Salem Farmers’ Market takes place every Thursday from June 12 to October 23 from 3 pm to 7 pm on Derby Square.  While we can never predict exactly what our farms will be able to bring each week, we do our best to reflect some of the fun items we’ve found recently and what’s likely to be available for the upcoming week.  Hopefully this will give you a few new ideas to play with, and inspire you to try some new things at the market.

It’s true – the days are getting shorter, the nights are getting cooler, and some of those trees are starting to look suspiciously….not green.  But don’t worry, we still have almost 2 months of market days left!  In my opinion, this is really the best time for produce at the market because you can get almost anything.  If you love the summer produce, we’re still swimming in summer squash, peppers, melons, and greens and herbs of all sorts, but those who can’t wait for fall are already seeing apples, parsnips, and a few winter squash.

That said, now is the time to continue celebrating the summer produce while we still have it!  If you liked our first post about corn, tomatoes, and eggplant, get ready for a few more ideas.

Clark Farm 3 - Week 4

Corn at Clark Farm

Tomatoes

Eggplant

Corn

And even better….

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Pretty eggplant varieties at Heavens Harvest Farm

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Playing With Your Food – Week 12

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Sep 042014
 

Clark Farm - Week 6

“Playing With Your Food” is a weekly post highlighting a few of the many great uses for the wide range of produce and artisan food at the Salem Farmers’ Market, a Salem Main Streets project.  While we can never predict exactly what our farms will be able to bring each week, we do our best to reflect some of the fun items we’ve found recently and what’s likely to be available for the upcoming week.  Hopefully this will give you a few new ideas to play with, and inspire you to try some new things at the market.

This week on “Playing With Your Food“, we’re proposing something a little different – come see how the pros do it.

This Saturday evening, September 6, from 6 pm to 8 pm in Ames Hall, the Salem YMCA is hosting its first annual Salem’s Best Chef fundraising event, featuring chefs from Finz, 62 Restaurant and Wine Bar, the Ugly Mug Diner, and Scratch Kitchen, along with entertainment from Branches Steel Orchestra.

For the competition portion of the event, each chef will be given a basket of secret ingredients, “Chopped” style.  The majority of the ingredients will be sourced from the Salem Farmers’ Market.  In the basket there will be a protein, a vegetable, a fruit, and a unique spice provided by Salem Spice as well as some other surprises.  If you’ve enjoyed our recommendations for using your market goodies this season, this event is sure to give you some true inspiration!

There will be a panel of judges that each chef will be asked to prepare a dish for in about an hour’s time.  You might notice our fearless leader Kylie Sullivan of Salem Main Streets making an appearance as one of the judges.

Karen Scalia of Salem Food Tours, a good friend of Salem Main Streets and the Salem Farmers’ Market, will serve as the emcee for the competition, with Mark Scalia adding commentary and laughs to the rest of the evening’s proceedings. Karen will be asking questions and imparting facts and details about the restaurants and general Salem culinary facts. The Salem YMCA SAYMedia center will also be filming the chefs as they cook and showing it live during the event so that attendees can have a view of the chefs’ artistry at work.

As part of the event, attendees will experience a “Taste of Salem” with eight local, Salem restaurants participating and sharing a taste of their menus for all to enjoy.  Howling Wolf Taqueria, Scratch Kitchen, Opus, Tavern in the Square, the Lobster Shanty, the Clam Shack, the Tin Whistle, and Ken Rothwell Catering will all be part of the event.

The event is planned for Saturday, September 6 from 6-8pm in Ames Hall at the Salem YMCA and is being sponsored by the Salem Waterfront Hotel. Admission is $50 per person and includes a free drink ticket.  Creative Salem, led by Social Palates founder John Andrews, is also playing a major role in the event’s production and promotion.

All proceeds from the event, support the Salem YMCA. The event proceeds will help to ensure that everyone, regardless of income or background, has the chance to learn, grow and thrive at the Y.  Come join us for a wonderful night with great food for a great cause!

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Playing With Your Food – Week 11

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Aug 282014
 
Mill River - Week 4

The lineup at Mill River Winery

“Playing With Your Food” is a weekly post highlighting a few of the many great uses for the wide range of produce and artisan food at the Salem Farmers’ Market, a Salem Main Streets project.  While we can never predict exactly what our farms will be able to bring each week, we do our best to reflect some of the fun items we’ve found recently and what’s likely to be available for the upcoming week.  Hopefully this will give you a few new ideas to play with, and inspire you to try some new things at the market.

Of course, as hard as it is to admit with the delicious baked goods you can get at the market, man does not live on bread alone.   Sometimes, you need something to drink with that bread, too!  Thankfully, we have you covered at the Salem Farmers’ Market.

Mill River Winery is a main stay of the market.  Based in Rowley, Rick and Donna and their team are always happy to introduce you to their wide array of wines.  If you’re at all suspicious of New England wines, a few sips will quickly change your mind.  From their “Naked Chardonnay” to “Plum Island Red Dory”, Mill River has a wine for every palate.  Don’t forget that a splash of wine is also a great way to liven up your pasta dish with fresh produce from the market!

FFTT Cider - Week 1

Far From the Tree Cider – Photo Credit Social Palates

We were thrilled this year to introduce newcomers Far From the Tree Hard Cider.  Salem locals Al and Denise Snape have only been in business for a few months now, but you would never know it from the strength of their product and their devoted following.  A quick sampling of their three primary varietals – Roots (dry cider), Spring (with hops and mint), and Rind (Saison-style with coriander and orange rind) – will change everything you thought you knew about cider.

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Raspberry Acetosa Mojito

Of course, making your own is always the most satisfying!  Whether you use them as an alcoholic aperitif, as a mixer for cocktails, or even as maple syrup alternative on pancakes (Yes.  Do this.), cordials and fruit syrups are a great way to make your seasonal market produce last longer.  Here are a few ideas:

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