strawberries

KEEP IT SUPER SIMPLE

Fresh is flavorful. When you buy the freshest ingredients there's really no need to dress them up and get too fancy. You want to let them each shine in their wholesome goodness. An avocado from Rancho Mexico Lindo smeared on toasted bread from Belen Bakery is a great example of our KISS (keep it super simple) mantra. Kawano Farms early season corn needs little more than a quick bath in boiling water and a swipe of butter or sprinkle of salt, or slice it raw off the cob and add it to your salads. Suzie's Farms and kawano Farms have strawberries so sweet they make a perfect dessert without any additions. Celebrate the bounty of the season with less time cooking and more time eating together.

Here's a dinner idea that's quick, simple and farm fresh: Cut beets from Maciel & Family in chunks, toss in olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast for about 30 minutes. While they're cooking, chop the beet greens and bring water to a boil. When beets test tender, saute greens for a few minutes in garlic infused olive oil from Bistro Blends and boil fresh ravioli from Lisko Imports for just 2 minutes. Top ravioli with greens and beets and a dusting of Parmigiano Reggiano from Taste Cheese. Dinner!

A PRETTY WOVEN BASKET

Baskets full of candy delivered by a bunny. Colorful eggs stashed away into secret hiding places. Hello, Easter.

No need to rush from store to store to get ready; you can do it all on Date Street this weekend. Choose naturally tinted eggs from Schaner Farms or Descanso Valley Ranch, or make your own using beets, cabbage, and onion skins to dye your own like this. Paradise Valley sells gorgeous woven baskets to fill any time of the year - though the tiny ones are especially adorable when filled with eggs. For the rest of your basket there's beautiful Easter creations from Caxao Chocolates and cute specialty gifts from Casa Artelexia. Hop on over to Belen Bakery for hot cross buns or Bread & Cie for Russian Kulich, load up on gorgeous strawberries from Kawano Farms or JR Organics and some lemon quark from Springhill Farms for dipping, juice from Polito Family Farms to make mimosas and brunch is in the bag.

A MARVELOUS MARKET SALAD

Candy sweet and juicy strawberries, the spicy kick of arugula and green onions, creamy avocados and crunchy almonds. This is one of my favorite springtime salad combinations and a perfect addition to your table this weekend.

Here's how you do it. Pick up a bag of arugula from Sage Mountain, their spinach or spring mix would be fantastic here as well and toss it lightly with a basic vinaigrette using Bistro Blends Fig Balsamic vinegar and equal parts olive oil. Put it in a wide bowl and top with sliced strawberries and a few thinly sliced green onions from JR Organics. Add to that a diced avocado from Paradise Valley and a handful of coarsely chopped honey vanilla roasted almonds from Hopkins Ag. Sunflower sprouts or pea shoots from Suzie's Farm are also a nice addition. Or, consider substituting Nicolau Farm's fresh chevre in place of the avocados for a tangy rendition.

BLOOM AND GROW

Have you noticed your favorite farmers are looking a little fuller these days? We're hitting the up swing of harvest season and new crops are just taking off. We're saying so long to the broccoli and deep green hues of winter and hello to the colorful bounty that's fast taking over. Find tiny sweet strawberries at JR Organics alongside their tender lettuce mixes. The squash blossoms and baby vegetables at Valdivia are as irresistible as always. Suzie's has sweet sugar snap peas and carrots in every color of the rainbow - well, almost. And the juicy Valencia oranges from Paradise Valley never get old; neither do their avocados for that matter. Not colorful enough? Grab some flowers from Maldonado and watch spring blossom in your very own home!

BIG BERRIES ARRIVING

It's been a few weeks since Kawano Farms brought the first tiny, tasty strawberries of the year to the Adams Avenue Market, and they seem to just keep getting bigger!  These plump, juicy beauties are perfect for slicing into a salad of fresh spring greens from Suzie's or Maciel. cashel bleu cheese from Taste, crunchy roasted almonds from Hopkins or Smit, and aged fig balsamic vinnaigrette from Bistro Blends.  For a fantastic fruit smoothie, throw a handful of ripe strawberries into the blender along with the juice of a blood orange and a Meyer lemon from Rancho Mexico Lindo - no added sugar needed! 

GET HAPPY

Last week it was all clouds and rain and wind at Adams Avenue Farmer's Market, but this week there's sun in the forecast and you deserve a little sunshine in your shopping, so here's some things that always bring a smile to our faces:

- Strawberries from Kawano Farms for the summer sweetness they bring in the middle of winter.
- Pomelos from Lone Oak, an oversized citrus with a name that's fun to say, the sweet white flesh inside is delicious in your winter salads.
- Reusable shopping bags from Eco Green Monster that tucks nicely away in their own pouches, helping the envirnment one bag at a time.
- Make your own bouquets at Maldonado Flower Growers to bring some of that outdoor sunshine goodness into your home.
- Sweet treats from The Cookie Lady because really who dosen't love a cookie or cupcake?