Get ready to celebrate Mom
I hope everyone has a spring in their step from these warmer days and beautiful blossoms. Mother’s Day is just around the corner — lucky for you, we have some great gifts for Mom (or anyone in your life who mothers) this week: Agape Premium EVOO (a large bottle, because when you know, you know); Copper Faucet's delightful soaps and candles, and delicious-smelling diffusers, and Chloe Sikirica Pottery's head-turning ceramics.
Why not pick up a beautiful ceramic mug and some organic loose leaf tea from Teagevity? I’m a fan of their white peony blend. Its subtle flavor profile pairs nicely with a touch ofclover honey, and it’s packed with antioxidants too. Peony helps reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, and improve focus and calm! Whichever blend you pick, the always-smiling Trang at the Teagevity tent can enlighten you on its health benefits and tell you how to best brew it in both hot and cold weather. She’s a gem! If you’re curious to learn more about Teagevity’s journey, check out this awesome profile on them that ran in the Hudson Valley Magazine.
Mom not a fan of tea? Perhaps you’ll be able to find a handsome vase from one of our potters, and pair it with a bouquet from Titusville Farms! I scored some stunning pink tulips at the last market that opened, slowly and dramatically, revealing a delicate streak of purple inside each petal. Perfection!
Most of you probably know that you can keep flowers alive longer by trimming the ends at a slanted angle and changing the water every few days, but did you also know that keeping them away from your fruit bowl can be another factor in extending their life? The ethylene gas emitted from the ripening process withersnearby blooms. Bad news for me, as I love to keep a basket of Caradonna apples at the center of my table near my bouquet. Looks like some spring rearranging is in order…Speaking of...the Green Tree Textile Recycling Bin is always at the market and is the perfect (both sustainable and easy) way to drop off your closet discards - including belts and shoes!.
Tis the season for making everything cute, clean, and charming — so naturally, we have Hudson Valley Breads back at the market! I can’t wait to see what artisanal loaves Owner Claire Chen is bringing on Sunday. Get here early before she sells out as is her wont. Consider one of her sourdough bread "flights" to try them all.
As for other bakeries, customer-favorite Bien Cuit will be here of course, salesperson Gigge slinging wisecracks and double-baked croissants. They are always worth the line! As are the salty chocolate buckwheat cakes, one of our more sophisticated sweets at the market.
Few things are as sweet as the scallops at Pura Vida. Try this recipe for pasta with scallops and garlic for a quick and easy market dinner on Sunday. Boxing Day Cafe. That’s right, Austin will be here on Sunday, delighting us all with his Australian accent and delicious beverage creations. Have you tried all the latte variations yet? I'm trying beetroot next!
Hungry for lunch? Fearless Food Truck will be in attendance, in their converted horse trailer, along with Empabake Empanadas (welcome back!), Grumpy Dumpling, and, of course, crêpes from Chef Thierry at L'Escargot Voyageur always hit the spot.
Eager to cook a nice dinner on Mother's Day itself? Visit R&M for poultry, and make these crispy chicken thighs with roasted radishes. At the last market I overheard Yaseen, the farmer's son at Halal Pastures, telling a customer how tasty their radishes are in a stew. Good luck picking just one of their radish varieties which come in every shade of pastel. Or you can make a spring forward asparagus and tarragon tart and serve it with a bed of salad greens or baby spinach from Titusville.
How about a recipe you can make with the kids that pleases palates of all ages? Go for some flatbreads! This mushroom and kale version, courtesy of Tivoli and Madura Farms, would be perfect for the sophisticates in the room! Especially if you use smoked ricotta from Maplebrook Creamery. And for the little ones? Some Halal or La Trafila red sauce, Maplebrook cheese, and Letterbox sausages!
And speaking of motherhood, my book club is meeting tonight to discuss the novel "Tilt," by Emma Pattee, an incredibly gripping read about a pregnant woman shopping at IKEA for a crib when a major earthquake hits. It’s a beautiful ode to parental love, and a reminder why community is so important! I highly recommend it. If you read it, come talk to me about it at the market tent!
And finally, those of you who skipped the last market because of the cold and drizzle, rejoice — we’re lucky enough to have Homegrown Nurseries back at Irvington again this Sunday! I’ve planted my chamomile and broccoli seedlings, and am eager to shop for more for my container garden. What are you going to plant? I know, I know, that’s a question that only a day at the market can answer! And the unplanned surprises are half the fun. See you there!
