Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Saturday Groceries.

Rainy day be damned, I went to the second Portland Farmers Market this past Saturday.  It had returned for the season (and by season, I mean until December!) to the PSU Park blocks and despite just missing bus there, finding myself using an umbrella for the first time in over a year and grumbling more than I'd like to admit, I arrived, and got to work smiling and creepily eyeing vegetables.  
Looks like Portland.

It's mostly greens this early in the season but there are a ton of local vendors including Tastebud Pita (which I would have gotten if the wheat berry salad mix didn't have leeks, bummer for me), Dave's Killer Bread and Black Sheep Bakery.  Besides buying produce for myself, I went with the intention of buying my siblings gifts of jam and whatnot for my trip to the East Coast in a few weeks and forgot  - sorry Jenny!  Last year I brought my sister some of the sensational Blossom Vinegars.

My mini haul:

 a bag of giant Red Anjoi Pears $4
kale raab $2.25
yellow onion 50 cents (for a recipe!)
Maittake mushrooms $5

Later in the day, I hadn't enough of the rain and grocery shopping and headed to Fubonn.
I picked up white rice, dark soy sauce, wasabi powder, organic Ota firm tofu, rice noodles, green tea and red bean mochi, avocado, carrot, cucumber, nori and a bamboo rolling mat.  
It suddenly felt like the weekend to make sushi, which I'd never done by myself before. That was slightly embarrassing to admit...

From Fubonn:

Cuteness!  and Glutey-free.

The amateur sushi.

With cucumber, avocado, fried tofu tossed with sesame chili oil (frozen after my last Fubonn trip) and leftover Tempeh Croutons from a delish Joanna recipe I'll feature next post.

15 comments:

paula said...

those rice shells are so cute! and now I'm craving sushi.

DJ Karma said...

Great job on the shopping. Love those little rice shells- never seen those before!

Elyse said...

Wow, what a fabulous looking market! I try to go to the markets around San Fran and Berkeley as much as I can. They're so wonderful!! You got lots of great goodies. This post only confirms that Portland is a super sweet city. I've always wanted to visit, and now that I live on the west coast (so much closer than the east coast), I have no excuse not to get over to Portland!

Crystal said...

You guys are so lucky with your mushroom varieties readily available. So jealous!

Anonymous said...

I think your sushi looks fabulous! I've never made it myself, mostly because seaweed makes me gag in sushi quantities (but I'm trying to get over that). I wish our farmer's markets were open this early!

Unknown said...

i am so super jealous of those maitake mushrooms. our farmer's market season starts may 1st even though morel mushroom & asparagus season starts in 2 weeks.

the sushi looks yummy!!!

veggievixen said...

omg farmer's markets! the one around here is opening soon...i am so excited! those mushrooms are fantastic.

all your eats look awesome, but i'm impressed by your sushi. especially served w/ sesame chili oil!

Unknown said...

omg those are cute little shells. I want them!

Bianca said...

Your first attempt at sushi is impressive. I've made it several times and it still looks like crap. I can't seem to grasp the concept of not over-stuffing...and I need a better knife.

Our Memphis farmer's market opens in mid-April. I'm so excited!

Anonymous said...

Your sushi looks amaaaazing. Great job!

elizabet said...

Bring that sushi to my face!
(or a potluck near you.)

:) yum.

Anonymous said...

I'm so very, very excited for the Wednesday farmers' market!!!!!!!!! Annnnnnnnd, pretty sushi!

Nicole said...

Your sushi looks so good! I tried to make it once and it came out horribly. Booo! I just have no patience.

Mallie Jane said...

I think I saw you at the market this weekend....you wandered off before I could make you nervous with my anonymous internet awareness. It was like LeekFest over there this week, dude, I'm swimmin' in 'em.

jess (of Get Sconed!) said...

Mallie Jane - say hi if it ever happens again! <3