Monday, October 20, 2008

glorious produce

gloria! gloria! gloriiiia
glorious! proooooduce! proooooduuce!

I went all out at the Portland Farmer's Market this past Saturday.  I spent almost $20 on fresh produce, jubilantly buying yellow tomatoes, peppers and fresh basil in what is now late October. It was my first time in months going by myself, and was relaxing and adventurous. Pushing through out of towners and families with dogs and strollers to get to my favorite stands, and compare who's selling eggplant for how much a lb..

My haul included, with estimates:

 sweet, hot and bell peppers
eggplant $2/lb
a sweet onion! $1/lb
yellow and red tomatoes $1.95/lb
bag of garlic $3
basil $2
Asian cucumbers 2 for $1
broccoli
kale $2

Now here's the pasta dish I created using fresh vegetables and whatever the hell I had around - 

Hodgepodgepasta

With chipotle sundried tomato sausages, broccoli, garlic, fresh basil, eggplant, hot peppers, kale, olive oil, tamari and nooch.  Probably more..
with flax & multigrain spagetti from Trader Joe's.
It's fairly terrifying to think about, and certifiably hodgepodgey, but it was actually tasty.

Back to my market adventure, where I show you photos of things that caught my eye and some I wish I'd bought...

Chanterelles

Yellows!

Purples and Oranges!

Whites!

Where I bought my broccoli and more hot peppers.

Leaving the market for the day.  

I fought the urge to run back for more tomatoes, and immediately ran and caught the streetcar to another part of town after I took this photo, camera in hand.

Don't you just love that this market goes until December????

19 comments:

mel said...

We're totally pasta twins! I've also been living off of farmer's market hodgepodge pasta with TJ's flax spaghetti.

Karla said...

yes, i am happy it goes until December! especially since i don't have to work it anymore (i did the Hot Lips booth for a time).....working in the cold = the suck.

Meg said...

OH MAN! Is it Chantarelle season? I loooove Chantarelles. In a wrong way. Wish they weren't so expensive though. :/

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

BEYOND glorious.

Bex said...

I envy you who have good deals at your farmers market. I shop at the market to directly support the farmers but it really don't cut the price down much.

Bianca said...

Til December?! You're so lucky! All our markets close next weekend! Yet many of the farmers have told me they'll have crops through November. They're talking about organizing a DIY market until the crops run out...I really hope they do. I think I'll cry next Saturday when I'm buying my last tomatoes.

VeganView said...

You are soo lucky your farmers market goes until Dec!! My closest one is pretty much over :( I have always wanted to try those purple cauliflower. Your goodies look spectacular!

Agnesss =) said...

HEY HEYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WooooooW such a wonderful VEGGIES.................. I'd LOVE to get some hah :))

Well...and your dish looks absolutely DELISH!! :D
Creative!! =D

Love your blog...it's a nice inspiration!! :))

Well...I've just started my own BLOG...if you have some time visit me pls :))

YOU'll make me HAPPY with a comment :))

www.agnesworldofveganpleasures.blogspot.com

Enjoy the day!!

Jen Treehugger said...

That looks such a nice Market. I've never seen Eggplant that are actually white! I always thought they were a myth. Cool!
I'm loving the look of the HodgePodgePasta.
YUM!

allularpunk said...

what a beautiful market... yay! ours only goes until november here, and right now it only has potatoes and pumpkins, for the most part.

tofufreak said...

until december?! lucky! so much variety, too!

funwithyourfood said...

I love how that market looks so outdoors-y

great haul!

Teddy

Adriana said...

Beautiful pictures. Heirloom tomatoes were selling for $4.99 a pound at the Hollywood Farmer's market. I'm growing a lot of the items on your list.

APLACEFORUS said...

Oh I wish our garden could have stayed open until Dec. I need to check the farmers markets... I think Oct 11 was the last one.. And white Eggplant? How beautiful. I think I will have to try the hodgepodge pasta thing. I have a lone zucchini and a bunch of tomatoes and mushrooms.. I dont usually add pasta. Looks yummy though!!

aTxVegn said...

All that produce is just gorgeous! I can't wait for broccoli and cauliflower to be harvested here. (I've probably said that already) Our markets are year round and I am very happy about that!

Melisser; the Urban Housewife said...

Ooh, the colors! so lovely.

Terry Hope Romero said...

Great photos! I want to live like a smurf in those Chanterelles. What a gorgeous market! Love how it looks like it's in the woods.

Anonymous said...

Don't you just love hodgepodge meals? Sometimes they are the best ones.

site said...

Little doubt, the dude is completely just.