Cool Down with Cucumbers!
Peak summer splendor has arrived, and the market is bursting with beautiful produce and flowers! From stunning sunflowers, heirloom tomatoes, and berries galore, now is the time to make the most out of what the bountiful Earth is giving us!
I, for one, have been loving to cool down with cucumber water on these hot summer days! I just slice a cuke and pop into my glass, and boom, extra refreshing! I’ll take it over lemon water any day, but hey, that’s just me (and my commitment to local produce).
Obviously, ucumbers are a huge favourite of mine, so I’ve been excited to see all the varieties popping up at the market, from the Persian kind (sweet, thin skinned, and low on seeds) at Halal Pastures, to the Japanese kyuri at Titusville (firmer crunch). Whichever cuke you choose, there’s so many different ways to use them! Grab some Maplebrook Farm Creamery feta, Halal basil, and Madura Farm cantaloupe, and make this delicious salad.
Or, how about this creamy cucumber side, featuring White Moustache yogurt? It would go down a treat with these lamb flatbreads with za’atar, courtesy of R&M Farm and Zeena Bakery. Rather roast a whole shank? Simply make a za’atar paste with some Agape Premium EVOO, minced garlic, and lemon juice, then rub all over and roast to your liking.
Or keep it simple with this crunchy, refreshing cucumber salad with mint, scallions, and crushed peanuts, and heed the proffered advice: “the better the cucumber, the better the salad.” Truer words have never been spoken! I'm excited to serve it up along with some grilled chicken from Letterbox Farm.
Speaking of cucumbers, please welcome back Doc Pickle, who were absent at the last market because they were at… what else… a pickle festival! Ask Shim how it went.
To satisfy your sweet tooth, we’ve got Aux Petites Delices and Noble Pies at the market, as well as our elusive and talented monthly visitors, Bitchin’ Babkas. They're bringing some deee-licious new products to Irvington this weekend, such as their wildberry rugelach with blueberry and concord grape jam, wildberry linzer torte bars, raspberry danish babka, and honey bun (honey and cinnamon) babka. And, of course, their classic challah pull-apart rolls are a must have! Worried you won't be early enough to secure the babka of your dreams? You can always get in touch on social media to arrange pick up.
For home baking, I’m absolutely entranced by this blackberry opera torte diva cake from Zoe Bakes. Look at those layers! It’s so architectural. And there’s always a crumble, if, like me, your baking skills are really more in line with “pile of ruins” than “Sagrada Familia.” But hey, we get better at what we practice!
And for at-market noshing, we’ve got the wonderful Kinwich Sandwich Truck. You can bet they’ll be slinging some beautiful breakfast sammies, as well as making the most of tomato season while it’s here. Can’t wait to see what they’re cooking up! And premium, authentic Argentinean empanadas salteñas from Del Norte are back too. Juicy, perfectly spiced beef and potatoes in a delicious baked crust. Yum all around!
Music is the ever-amazing Milton, so grab a table and help us celebrate the tail-end of National Farmers Market Week. See you there!
