Many of us have heard the term, Farm to Table, which to me simply means eating the food that comes directly from the earth rather than via a grocery store. The only way a city girl like me can get that kind of fresh and probably the most flavourful produce is by going to Farmer’s Markets.
My first time was in Whistler where I met Chef Norm and was introduced to the now famous Nonna Pia’s Balsamic reduction. To this day I use it in salads, fish and even desserts.
Recently I visited Trout Lake Farmer’s Market with my daughter and her friend, an aspiring chef Nadia Karmali. She showed us many unusual vegetables including the Warba potatoes which are creamier and have a very short season. My favourite find was the Rootables, chips made out of root vegetables like yams, sweet potato, beets, parsnips and taro.
Stay tuned for Nadia's recipes!
Visit your local Farmer’s Market…Not only will you be supporting the local farmers but you may also discover new items that stretch your culinary senses or learn a farmer’s secret of preparing fresh offerings in new ways.
SUMMER'S END
Sunflowers in bloom are beautiful to see because of their bright color and late summer is the perfect time to harvest it for a tasty snack.
If you haven’t already, visit the Chilliwack Sunflower Festival (Address: 41310 Royalwood Dr., Chilliwack, BC.)
Also, try the following delicious sunflower recipe I found in the Vancouver Sun. It is compared to corn on the cob, with a taste of artichoke mixed with eggplant.
Recipe:
Take a partly developed head of sunflower (so the seeds are softer.
Remove the petals.
Wash the head and rub it with oils, salt, pepper, paprika, thyme and onion powder.
Place it face down on the grill for about 5 mins. With a lid on.
Remove and eat.
I always think farming is an idealic life; animals, nature spaces and producing what you need. What more could one want?
When I am told, “Well you have to wake up at the crack of dawn to feed the animals!”
I say, “Wouldn’t you want to nurture that purpose of putting the needs of others before your own?”
Farming is a need and I hope we can raise the next generation of caring, earth-conscious farmers.
I love reading Grandma Duck’s Little Helpers to young children at this time of the year when summer holidays are coming up and children are looking forward to visiting grandparents and family in the country, possibly a farm.
Donald Duck is going on a trip and leaves his nephews Huey, Louie and Dewey to spend the summer on Grandma Duck’s farm. There are many chores on the farm and when Grandma Duck asks the triplets for help, they are willing but always busy with other things. In the end, the young ones learn an important lesson when Grandma Duck doesn’t share the cake she bakes from the wheat that she had planted, harvested and milled all by herself.
There are so many fun things children would rather do like swimming, biking and fishing rather than chores or studying during the summer. This book teaches you the value of hard work, helping and self-reliance to rip rewards.
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