Farmers Market to Your Table

Farmers Market Delights

 Support your local farmer's and benefit from healthy, wholesome produce and beautiful flowers for your home. Our local Farmer's Market just opened for the season and I made my way through pesto stands, freshly made apple cider donuts with your choice of powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar, and picked up fresh and locally grown tomatoes, peaches, blueberries, raspberries, flowers and more.  Did I mention the smoothies and hot brewed coffees?  You can find everything you need for a tasty harvest breakfast at Farmers Markets. Fresh eggs, syrups and potatoes for hash browns plus all the vegetables you need for tasty omelets. If you haven't visited your local Farmers Markets, you don't know what you are missing.  

 Here is a very simple recipe to make homemade tomato sauce for your family and friends using those fresh tomatoes from your market or your own garden. This recipe will make a quart of sauce...modify for your needs....

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped garlic (I use jarred ready to use chopped garlic I can keep in the fridge)
20 medium ripe plum tomatoes, washed, cored and cut into quarters
 Fresh basil (you can use dried)
Small bag of tomato paste (I am a huge fan of Amore Tomato Paste in a tube that you can reseal after you have used the portion you need)
1 tablespoon sugar, teaspoon salt & pepper, chopped onion (optional).

Use a Dutch oven or large pot, cover bottom with olive oil and add chopped garlic and onion.  Brown on low-medium heat until fragrant.  I use my freshly washed hands, take each tomato and squeeze into the pot until all tomatoes are in pot.  Add tomato paste, basil, salt, pepper and sugar and stir occasionally while cooking over low heat for 60-90 minutes.  After the tomatoes have cooked down, I pour into my blender or food processor and blend into smooth sauce for 30-45 seconds.  Use immediately on pasta of your choice or freeze the sauce for use at a later date. Will refrigerate for 3 days.  It's a great way to support the farmers in your area and feed your family a healthy meal.

If you are planning a get together this week,  you can make this sauce ahead of time.  All you need to do is heat it up and add to the pasta of your choice.

Support your local small businesses today!

           

SOUP TUESDAY - DO YOU HAVE A VITAMIX?

VITAMIX TOMATO SOUP

I have had my eye on the VitaMix Professional Series 200 for over a year and I finally took the plunge and purchased it recently.  It is on the pricey side I admit , however, if you like to cook like I do and are committed to fresh foods, this is an item to put at the top of your Christmas list!  It can be used for smoothies, dips, hummus, salsas, grinding your own flour or coffee beans and fresh soups.  One of the fastest and easiest meals and an absolute favorite at our lakehome particularly in the winter months is the Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese Combo.  Here's a simple recipe for your Vitamix for fresh Tomato Soup.  I made it yesterday and it is now a front runner in my weekly meal rotation!  It's a great lunch item or a weekend simple supper. The beauty of the Vitamix is the steel blades turn with such power when pureeing your soup, it actually heats the soup after 4-5 minutes.  It's done when you see the steam come out of the top!  Blends and cooks at once!  Easy clean up too.  Drop dishwashing detergent and a cup of water in your Vitamix,  put top on and turn on until its clean, rinse and you are ready for next time!

Ingredients: (this is for single serving so modify for your needs)
1 box of POMI strained tomatoes (see note on bottom)
1 or 1 1/2 roasted red pepper from jar
Dash of heavy cream
Salt, Pepper, Dried Oregano and Dried Basil to taste

Try a spoonful of plain yogurt on top when serving!  Delicious!

*I did try fresh tomatoes that I washed and quartered with this recipe too and I loved the taste just as much!


** Pomi strained tomatoes can be purchased on Amazon.com for $8.69 per carton or Soap.com for $6.25 for a 2 pack.  By the way, if you aren't familiar with Soap.com check it out for great deals from household items, groceries, school supplies, makeup, diet and fitness....ALL DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME!

*** CHECK OUT BISTM.COM THIS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12TH WHERE I APPEAR AS A GUEST BLOGGER.  YOU WILL LOVE THE WEBSITE FOR AWESOME CLOTHES YOU CAN BUY OR SWAP!!  THEY HAVE A CHILDREN'S CLOTHING AREA IN THE WORKS AND COMING SOON!!  CHECK IT OUT!