Santa Monica Farmer's Market

I just returned from a visit to Los Angeles to visit my son who lives there. I timed my flight arrival on Wednesday to make sure I could make it to the farmer's market at the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

This is one of my favorite things. It was one of my favorite things when I lived there. If you go to Los Angeles, go to the 3rd Street Promenade on Wednesday mornings. You'll be glad you did.

Enjoy!

My Favorite Time Of Year

Well, it's my favorite time of year except for the heat. I still have not taken the time for a nap on the porch, but I figure if I keep the hammock looking enticing, one day I'll fall into it and have a nice, long nap. It's on my list of things to do.

It's the fresh vegetables that make it my favorite time of year. I've been really enjoying my CSA boxes....I get them from Moore Farms in Alabama.

I usually get their "farmer's pick" box, which means whatever is fresh and ready to pick that week, that's what you get in your box. I like the surprise each week. Everything has been really delicious...fresh lettuces, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, kale, fennel....love it!

The recent box also included kohlrabi and beets that I need to cook this weekend. Kohlrabi I'm not really familiar with and beets are not my favorite. But I'm definitely going to cook both this weekend. I think I'll use some of the kohlrabi raw in a slaw and cook the rest, as an experiment. The beets I plan to roast. Beets are not my favorite but honestly, I've never had fresh beets. So my challenge this weekend is to try these two new-to-me vegetables.
I'm so glad the season is upon us. And I'm trying to stick with my plan of eating what's in season, when things are at their peak. I've also been visiting local weekend farmer's markets and plan to try new ones this summer, branching out from my usual in-town markets. Can't wait!

Pickled Peaches

I've been doing a lot of canning last week and this week. This is one of many posts about all the wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables that have come my way lately.


On Sunday, I went with my Aunt Tootsie to a peach orchard in Hollanville, Georgia, Griggs Orchards. Hollanville, Georgia is in Pike County, about 60 miles south of Atlanta. My aunt has been going here for years and knew how to get there....thank goodness. It was a lovely drive on country roads and we had homemade peach ice cream at the farm stand when we got there. It was a great treat on such a hot day!

These are the clingstone variety. Later on the cling free peaches will be ready. Those will be perfect for making peach jam. I bought a large basket of peaches, about 60 or so. This is a small portion of what I got.










On Monday I made pickled peaches. They are seasoned with fresh ginger, cinnamon sticks and cloves. These will be a welcome treat around Thanksgiving and Christmas. But I think I'll have to break into them long before then!