apples

GREAT LOQUATION!

Loquats from Rancho Mexico Lindo are occupying prime real estate at the Pacific Beach Tuesday Farmers’ Market just a couple of blocks from the ocean. Look for yellow-orange fruits about the size of a small lemon with an aroma of apricot and pineapple. They’re most often enjoyed fresh just the way they come off the tree, or sliced into a salad with other fruits like navel oranges from Paradise Valley Ranch, the season's first white peaches from Lone Oak or Fuji apples from Smit Orchards.

Loquats  also make great pies and cobblers, on their own or together with other fruits, and you can find more great ways to use them here.  Loquat butter, mmmm. A native of Asia, the loquat is related to the apple but it is nicknamed the Japanese plum, probably because its flesh is similar in color and texture to a plum. They have a short life span once picked, so they’re not often available in supermarkets; pick them up fresh at the farmers’ market instead to enjoy the best loquation in the nation.

BREAK THE SLAW!
We’re making a slew of slaws from the fresh, crunchy vegetables at the Little Italy Mercato farmers' market this week.  If you think of cole slaw as a bowl of limp cabbage swimming in vaguely mayonaise-y dressing, you’ve been missing out on some great spring salads! Almost any of the fresh produce at the market can be made into a slaw, which is nothing more than fresh, raw fruits or veggies sliced thin and tossed with your favorite dressing.  

Stop by Suzie’s Farm and Smit Orchards to stock up for carrot-apple fennel slaw.  Lacinato kale from JR Organics, an avocado from Gilbert Quintos, and toasted almonds from Hopkins AG combine in this kale slaw.  Make up your own recipe using broccoli, cabbage or kohlrabi from Vang Farms; create a dressing of artisan oil and vinegar from Gianni's, citrus fruits from Paradise Valley Ranch, and Mikolich honey. Or use local olive oil from Marion's pastured eggs from Schaner Farms if you really like the mayonnaised version.  Just make sure everything in your recipe is fresh and local - it’s the slaw of the land!

However you and your clan choose to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, we at the Little Italy Mercato want to make sure you to have the most fresh, beautiful, and nourishing food available to make your day perfect. Whether you're planning to enjoy a very traditional meal, an eclectic potluck smorgasbord to meet all the needs of your community of friends, or whether you don't have a big meal planned at all but choose to revel in the day off from work and enjoy the outdoors with simple snacks and time for reflection- we've got you covered.

Delicious meals are made from delicious parts- so part one of your dinner could be a variety of chutneys, salads, or stuffings. Try this recipe for a savory apple pumpkin chutney, from San Diego food blogger Caron Golden. She uses pumpkin butter from Jackie's Jams, fresh sage leaves and red onions that you can find at Schaner Farms, and sweet pink lady apples from Smit Orchards or Fujis from Lone Oak Ranch. For a seriously satisfying salad- try using cooked wheat berries from Suzie's Farm and combining them with all sorts of fall veggies to complement your dinner. Roasted butternut squash and toasted red walnuts from Terra Bella Ranch with heaps of braised Swiss chard from Maciel Family Farms come together to create a little zip for a savory salad served warm or chilled. Add fresh grated ginger from Vang Farms for a twist or a handful of crumbled goat cheese from Nicolau Farms to blend it all together. And as you devise, shop, and put together your stunning meals, remember to utter thanks and gratitude for all that you will enjoy, have been given, and have to offer…

This past weekend was divine- with intermittent rain and blustery, grey days. It was time to hunker down, stay inside, and enjoy warm food and good company. Comfort food has a different tone though, when you live and work at the farmers' market. Comfort food means fresh pasta and braised greens, or upscaled, locavore-friendly grilled cheese sandwiches, or fresh spiced apple butter and biscuits...

Here are a few ideas for you for the next time you get caught in the rain, or the sunshine, and want a healthy(er) twist on cozy good cookin'.

Spaghetti with Braised Kale
Braise either curly or lacinato (Tuscan black kale), with chopped onions from Suzie's Farm and fresh garlic from Valdivia. Add the greens to a bowl of steamy, hot angel hair pasta from Likso Imports and squeeze a bit of fresh lemon juice with a bit of grated Parmesan Romano cheese from Mary at Taste Cheese.

Escarole and Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese

You know this. You know how you like it. Be creative with what you can find at the market and make a sandwich that you'll be remembered by. Start with a decent portion of sourdough or your favorite loaf from Belen Bakery. Take home a hefty slab of Spring Hill Goat Cheddar or maybe their dry Pepper Jack cheese, and shred it carefully. Pick out a beautiful specimen of frisee or escarole from Suzie's Farm or JR Organics. Sautee slices of white onion with a bit salt until the onion begins to carmelize. Meanwhile, brush the bread with some olive oil and layer on the onions, escarole, and cheese. Then grill it until its crispy and melty in the pan, add pepper or salt if needed, and serve immediately...

Spiced Apple Butter

Spiced apple butter on warm toast is a treat from heaven. Luckily, Smit Orchards and R& L Farms have you covered for tart Fuji's and sweet Pink Ladies. Or try combining apples and asian pears for more complexity. Cook the apples down with spices like ginger, star anise, cinammon and cardamon. Add lemon and a bit of sugar, mash it all together once its cooked, and you have yourself an excellent addition to any brunch.  

You know those greens you find in certain salads with really assertive flavors, like peppery arugula or bitter endive and dandelion? When paired with sweet citrus fruits like oranges, ripe pears or crunchy apples, and figs, you change the flavor experience of your daily dinner salad from great to sensational. Roasted nuts (almonds, walnuts, or pecans) bring out the even more sweetness in the greens. There are endless possible variations on this theme, especially if you account for dressings and oils or other heavier decorations. If you're hankering for something fresh, tasty, and not overly saturating, try combinging fresh arugula from Suzie's Farm with Valencia oranges from Paradise Valley Ranch, and roasted almonds from Hopkins AG. Or, for an easy lunch salad, combine frisee (that curly, fancy looking lettuce at Suzie's), with quartered ripe apples, toasted pumpkin seeds from the gorgeous varieties available at Maciel & Family, then top it with thin sheets of tender slices of beef that you can pick up from Son Rise Ranch and cook until they're perfectly roasted and juicy. 

Too much summer sun can sizzle beets in the ground, keeping us from enjoying their sweet nourishment all year long. But lately there's been a beautiful resurgence of colorful pink, orange, and deep red shades of beets on our farmers' tables. It's definitely appropriate weather for soups, so why not make the best with the best and try out this delicious Orange Scented Beet Soup.

PIck up a bundle of bright red or golden beets from Maciel Family Farms, choose the most crip and shiny Pink Lady apple from Smit Orchards, and take home a couple of shallots from the Produce Stand. Roast and slice the beets, and blend them all together in a food processor. Add a bit of fresh squeezed orange juice from Paradise Valley Ranch, a dash of lemon juice, salt, brown sugar, and balsamic vinegar from Bari Olive Oil . Serve warm, with small dollops of Nicolau Farms goat cheese and sprinkle with a few fresh chives from Suzie's. 

If you simply want to create a gorgeous addition to another dish you have planned, roast the beets in a bit of foil until the skin is easily penetrable with a fork. Remove, let cool, and season to taste with sea salt and fresh black pepper. Serve with a dash of chopped parsley or freshly plucked mint. it's perfect!

Just in the nick of time, when your tongue has has enough of sweet nectarines and tart plums, when the days are shorter and the nights are cooler, Mother Nature just seems to know what we need, doesn't she? 

If you haven't strolled the Little Italy Mercato lately, don't be shocked at the abundance of gorgeous winter squash, bright colored apples, pomegranates, pears, and persimmons lining the streets under our vendor's tents. Not to mention those outrageous red walnuts from Terra Bella Ranch! Try this fanastic fall inspired dish this weekend and cozy up at home with a good movie, some good company, and savor the flavor!

Pick up a couple of delicata squash from Suzie's Farm and some honey crisp apples from Smit Orchards. Half the squash, lengthwise and scoop out the guts, keeping the seeds for later roasting. Rub the inside with a bit of butter or olive oil. Chop the apples into bite size chunks, and nestle them into the belly of the squash. Using butter, sautee garlic and fresh shallots from Schaner Farms and add a bit of fresh sage too, for balance. Then add chopped red walnuts from Terra Bella or raw almonds from Hopkins Ag. Add this mixture to the top of the squash, and bake until tender. Top with fresh Parmesan Reggiano cheese from Taste Cheese and let it get a bit crispy. Enjoy and celebrate the harvest season!

The evenings are indeed surrounding us earlier and there's a slightly brisk feeling in the air. But we've strung the lights at our Pacific Beach Tuesday Farmers' Market and are making the best of the shorter days! It's become quite the atmosphere for leisure, good spirits, and of course romance! If you're in the mood for a sweet treat while you're in the neighborhood, want a lovely place to stroll with your beloved after sunset on the beach, or need to pick up all the ingredients to make your own, homemade dessert delicacies, visit us this week for some sweet ideas!

Baked Apple Cookie Bars: Head home with a tub of yummy toasted granola from Safari Crunch, juicy honey crisp apples from Smit Orchards, and a few Pumpkin Praline cookies from The Cravory. Chop everything well and mix with butter, eggs, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves) and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. You can enjoy them warm, or freeze them to pack into school lunches for easy, "healthy" treats.

Slightly Sinful Saute: Persimmons are the select fruit of fall. Like orange hued tomatoes, their ripe pulp simply falls apart and melts in your mouth. For a quick, and slightly sinful dessert, peel and cut-up a few Fuyus (the shorter, stalkier variety) and sautee gently in butter and cinnamon, followed by a splash of Grand Marnier. Serve with a slice of pumpkin bread from Belen Bakery or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Take-me-away Take Away: If you simply want to enjoy dessert onsite with us while you stroll between the stalls, stop by Moncai Vegan for a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie, double chocolate brownie, or one of their mouthwatering lemon cakes. And its all vegan! If you're really in the mood to impress, choose a few dazzling tarts or a creme brulee from Lisko Imports and sit down and spoon feed your friends! 

Rather than dining out and spending an exorbitant amount of money for an exotic and romantic meal, try creating your own autumn atmosphere at home with fresh produce from the North Park Farmers' Market. This week, the stalls will be overflowing with pumpkins and winter squash of all shapes and sizes- perfect for roasting in the oven and pairing with hearty cheeses, breads, apples, and dark leafy greens.

Try something new and go for fondue! Roasted pumpkins or Kabocha squash from JR Organics make perfect bowls, and their earthen flavors create a taste sensation when paired with any soft, creamy cheese like a Gruyere from Taste Cheese. Add a dash of white wine to perfect the fondue. Cut out a lid from the squash, remove the seeds, (save them to bake) and some of the flesh. Rub the inside with olive oil and a few springs of thyme or sage. Bake at 375 degrees for around 30 minutes, with the "lid" of the squash in place. Get really daring with your fondue and enjoy a gooey, warm goat cheese from Nicolau Farms (you can find an excellent fondue recipe here).

Serve individual pumpkin bowls sprinkled with roasted & salted pumpkin seeds and a fluffly loaf of sourdough bread from Belen Bakery, and a side of roasted honeycrisp apples from Smit Orchards, topped with cinnamon and honey.

You can't deny the the season for warmer foods and cooler temperatures is here. October has already brought us beautiful foggy mornings, deliciously warm afternoons, and brisk evenings when we can and should be gathering with friends and family to eat together, meet together, and give praise where it's due to the incredible flavors of Fall. 

This week at the North Park Farmers' Market, be sure to do your homework and taste all the gorgeous offerings our vendors have to offer. Fuji apples and Royal Flame grapes from Smit Orchards are in their prime! Persimmons from John Gilruth are begging you to try them, and pears, pomegranates, and passionfruit from R&L are heavy with sweet juices. The guys at JR Organics are proudly stacking their orange glowing pumpkins and squash, so roll them around and pick out your best for jack'o'lanterns and pies. Don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for fresh broccoli, leeks, and carrots from Suzie's. It's time to cook it all down into warm soups and feed your folks!

Take home a slab of yummy gruyere cheese from Taste Cheese, just plucked earthen potatoes from Produce Stand, some fennel and chives or some yummy ham from Da Le Ranch and whip yourself up a soft, warm gratin that will beckon the neighbors for dinner. Drink wine or cider, take things slow, and catch up on everything that fell in between the cracks this summer...

Fall is fabulous, isn't it??