August 12th, 2012
“In times past, markets were the centers of towns and villages, the place people gathered to buy or barter goods and services and to catch up on village news.”
In some ways that is true today, as the resurgence of farmers markets are taking towns by storm.
Local agriculture and family farms are an important part of our past, present, and future.
It had been 2 years since I stopped in Boulder. This city is one of the healthiest and fittest in the country.
The scenery is gorgeous; the Flat Irons on the background, watching over Boulder.
The Farmers’ Market in Boulder is one that is supported by the community and visitors. It is huge. 150 vendors. The Market is located at 13th St., between Arapahoe and Canyon; next to Central Park in Downtown Boulder. Website? http://www.boulderfarmers.org
It began in 1987, and it is a Colorado non-profit corporation, established to provide an outlet for local agricultural producers to sell their products directly to the public.
The producers participating in the Market range from professional farmers, to week-end growers with small acreage, backyard gardeners and hobbysts.
Local food establishments, musicians, and monthly art shows are selected to appear at the Market.
Some of the produce has been grown conventionally; all certified organic has been certified as organic by the state of Colorado.
 
When it comes to food, Boulder is very progressive. The Market offers so many gluten free products; the food establishments do so, as well.
It was so funny, when we stopped at Boulder Granola I thought I would get some gluten free granola. I was telling the lady that I was from Delaware. She asked, Rehoboth Beach? She grew up in Rehoboth and even went to school there. Her name was Anne. Small world.
Strolling through the market with my friend, Cindi….buying wine, cheese, and taking it all in.
Talk to you later….
August 11th, 2012
It does look like a winter squash, but, once cooked it does look more like spaghetti. Low in calories and full of flavor. And, if you are watching your waistline, well, at only about 40 calories per cup, it is perfect.
This step can be done before or while the bolognese is cooking. I usually microwave the squash. Prick it with a fork in various places. Put in microwave for about 6 minutes. Turn around and microwave for another 6 minutes. This is for a medium size squash. Cut in half, scoop the seeds out. With a fork separate the spaghetti-like strands and place in a bowl until the bolognese is ready.
Easy Ground Turkey Bolognese
3 bacon slices (cut into small pieces) or about 2 ounces of sausage (your choice)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, diced small
1 large carrot, diced small
1 celery stalk, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lb. ground turkey
2 cups crushed tomatoes from a 28-ounce can
red-pepper flakes
some sea salt and ground pepper
grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish
In a large nonstick skillet, cook bacon or sausage over medium heat for about 8 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic, and cook until vegetables are tender.
Add turkey to skillet and cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon until almost cooked through. Add bacon, vegetables tomatoes, and a pinch of red-pepper flakes. Simmer and cook until the sauce is thickened.
 
Season with salt and pepper.
Serve over the spaghetti squash and sprinkle with Parmesan.
Enjoy and make it your own!!
Note: This recipe is gluten free. Please check bacon, sausage and tomatoes to make sure they are gluten free.
August 10th, 2012
My blog is my diary and it is taking me from the Delaware Beaches, at sea level, to Colorado, to much higher levels. Definitely, a change of scenery.
Visiting my good friends, that live in Lookout Moutain in Colden, Colorado.
Golden is located on the Colorado Front Range with easy access to Denver. Buffalo Bill’s grave is in Historic Golden.
Lookout Mountain is one of the larger foothills which overlooks Golden.
My friends’ home reflect the Bolivian influence. This is also where Joan Baez used to live. Our guest house was their transmitting station for the music of the times.
  
The scenery is beautiful. The caretaker, Wendell, has his own place which is a conversation piece in itself.
  
Leroy is the dog always watching for deer, elk, and bears.
Denver looked beautiful at night.
Our evening was one of laughter and catching up as we ate crabcakes. Yes, I brought crab meat from Jimmy Lynn’s.
My posts may be a little erratic but they will be here or there during these 6 days.
Talk to you later….
August 8th, 2012
If you are visiting the Delaware Beaches you should stop by the Rehoboth Art League located at 12 Doods Lane, on Saturday, August 11th and on Sunday, August 12th. Or, Saturday, August 18th and Sunday, August 19th. It is the 39th Annual Outdoor Fine Art and Craft Show.
Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
There will be over 120 selected artists. The location is the historic 4 acre shady campus and beautiful gardens. Food, Music, & Entertainment. Children’s activities, as well.
Free parking and shuttle service. $5.00 entry free per week-end. For more info., please call 302-227-8408 or visit http://www.rehobothartleague.org.
My friend, Susan Gladstone, is a potter. She will be one of the exhibitors at this outdoor show. Her booth is #53. Please stop by and tell her I sent you.
 
Susan is originally from Baltimore, Maryland, but she is making Rehoboth Beach her home. The Happyrock Pottery is located at the Shops at Celebration Mall at 20 Baltimore Ave. in Downtown Rehoboth Beach. Tel. 410-375-7120.
Her specialty is Raku pottery which has small cracks that turn black. These are made by the deposits of carbon in them, turning them black no matter what color of clay used. The final product is so unique.
Watching Susan work was so relaxing. As a professional she made it look so easy.
From throwing the moist lump of clay….this is what goes next.
          
Susan will have small pieces also at the show. The hands of a potter…..
Have a good one!!
August 8th, 2012
Just like any farm or garden, the farm changes with the season. Good Earth Market is no different. It is the oldest USDA certified organic farm in Delaware. You probably have passed it on the way to Bethany Beach. It is only 4.7 miles west of Bethany in the unincorporated town of Clarksville. The address is 31806 Good Earth Lane, Rt. 26, Clarksville, DE 19970. Tel. 302-537-7100. Website? http://www.goodearthmarket.com. The owners are Susan and David Ryan.
Hours of operation are:
Summer: Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Winter: Monday – Saturday from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Sunday, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
I stopped by the other day; I wanted to see how it would look at this time of the year. There is plenty of parking.
It did look so pretty; everything in bloom, herbs ready for picking.
Just picked organic vegetables that are, at times, still warm from the vine.
This is a full service market, offering dairy, non-dairy, local items like organic eggs, jams and jellies, cereals, juices, cookies, frozen foods and meals, a full gluten free grocery and food department…check the website; better yet, stop by.
Herbs can be cut to order and cut flowers in season are always available.
 
 
Sandwiches and salads are available daily. Call in your order and they will have it ready for you when you arrive.
 
Good Earth is a busy farm. It offers events to the community and our visitors.
So, What’s Happening at the Farm?
Tuesday, August 14th – Jump into Rain Gardens. Join Good Earth Market, The Delaware Center for Inland Bays & Environmental Concern. Learn about them and how they benefit the environment. You will be able to participate in planting a demonstration rain garden at Good Earth, so please dress appropriately for the outdoors and bring your garden gloves. Gain skills, and enjoy refreshments at the new Earth Market Cafe.
This event is free. You must register in advance. Please call Sara Hilderbrand at 410-745-9620 or email dir.educate@wetland.org.
Saturday, September 15th – Semi-Annual Arts & Crafts Show at Good Earth. Local favorite artists will be back. There will be glass, woodwork, paintings, soap, clothing, and pottery. One of a kind items. A local philanthropic organization will have a Bake Sale Tent. Rain date? Next day, same time, same place.
Farm Dinners at Good Earth Market & Organic Farm
I have fallen for farm dinners. Farms, farmers and chefs team up, producing a meal made with local produce; most of it you will find out is growing on the farm, where you will sit at a table set out on one of their fields for a unique experience.
Menus are often not decided until last minute; not knowing what will be ready for picking on the farm.
On Tuesday, September 18th Good Earth is hosting a Farm to Table Feast, benefiting The Global Delaware Fund, http://www.theglobaldelawarefund.com. Local grown ingredients will be prepared by Plate Catering; paired with the perfect wines, http://www.plate-catering.com. Call 302-537-7100 for reservations. Dinner will start at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are $95 per person. Rain date? The following day.
These dinners are so much fun; you can bring friends or make new ones.
Good Earth Market & Organic Farm is also the perfect venue for weddings and private parties. The east side of the farm can hold up to 500 guests.
The Herb Garden and Flower Garden is the perfect spot for cocktails and ceremonies.
For more information, please contact Leanne Silicato at 302-227-7117. Website http://www.makemydayevents.net.
Have a Great Day!!
 
August 7th, 2012
Usually, when I write a post on my website, I know what I am talking about. This particular post is written from hearsay. I have not gone through the experience of having one of my children get married. I have boys too. So, it is a little different.
But, plenty of friends have gone and are going through the year’s preparation of a wedding. Catering, florists, reception venues….the list. Bu,t when it comes to find “the dress” they all had to travel to Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Wilmington, Philadelphia, and New York.
As I was strolling through the town of Historic Berlin, Maryland with my good friend, Debbie, we were surprised to see this new bridal boutique in town. The name? Bustle. It is a mother and daughter team, that wanted to have something together. They think “that finding your wedding dress is an occasion to be celebrated”. So among the many quaint shops, this new boutique is offering the bridal party a pleasant experience.
From the Delaware Beaches it takes about 45 minutes to get to Berlin, depending from which town you are driving from.
Bustle has dresses for everyone in your wedding party. The telephone number is 443-513-4248. Website? http://www.bustleonmain.com. The owners are Jennifer Davis & Kathy Walsh.
You can schedule a private appointment. Champagne and sweet treats will be provided.
 
Some of the designers are: Mikaella, Winnie Couture, and Mia Solano.
It seems that the trend Fit & Flare enhances both types of body shapes, giving curves to some and enhancing the curves of others for a fabulous look.
 
It used to be that the “June Bride” was all you heard about. One of the most popular months to get married is October!!
On September 29, 2012 is Berlin’s First Outdoor Wedding Show, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Register online at http://www.berlinweddingevents.com.
So, if you are looking for that perfect dress, give them a call. You don’t even have to travel far; Berlin is another of those gems that is becoming a destination.
Have a good one!!
August 6th, 2012
It is so funny, I have never been invited to a chef’s house. It was a first and I was looking forward to it. Except, I was going to bring a dessert and that already had me going. I was hoping I was not going to mess it up. I even offered to make a flan. Now, that should be an easy one for me. I took a practice run the night before and what a flop it was!! I had tried a new recipe and it was terrible. Into the disposal it went. My host does not know this. If he reads this post, he will find out that I was, actually, nervous.
I ended up making the flan just like they make it in Puerto Rico; sugar, milk eggs…I was getting my confidence back. It looked great on the pan, but will I be able to flip it? I did. A little sideways but it looked presentable. Fresh fruit on the side. I wrapped it, and off we went to Matt Haley’s house. I have mentioned before that before I met him, personally, I was a fan of his restaurants. His company is SoDel Concepts. You can check it on this website, right on the right hand side. Click on it. You might want to also check Global Delaware on this website, so that you can see the other side of this chef, and what else he is doing.
I think I took a turn too quickly so when I opened my trunk there was caramelized sugar all over the mat. All I could think was, please let it be edible.
Now, the difference between an amateur and a professional is that the professional makes it look so effortless. Matt was saying how he did not know what he was cooking for dinner until an hour before. Oh, a friend gave him fresh caught rockfish. He had it ready to go in the oven. So easy, no stressing, you know.
The next guests were arriving. When I was growing up in Puerto Rico, I went to Catholic school. The sisters (nuns) were in our lives every day. Therefore, when Matt told me that Sisters Rosita, Maria, and Asuncion were coming for dinner, I was totally at ease. These women are amazing. Let me tell you a bit about them.
Rosita, Maria, and Asuncion came from Spain many years ago. Their order is Las Carmelitas. They have had a presence in Sussex County for over 18 years. They have seen about 5,000 babies go through their hands. They are the heart and soul of La Esperanza, along with many others that are helping the Hispanic community in Georgetown, Delaware.
Faith, Hope and Charity are the 3 theological virtues. La Esperanza means Hope and it is the last thing someone loses. The sisters are giving faith, charity and hope to many that are in need. La Esperanza was founded in 1996 “primarily to provide support to the increasing number of immigrant workers arriving in Sussex County from Mexico and Guatemala”.
La Esperanza offers family services including transportation, and translation services to families. They also provide non-English speaking victims of crime important information and support. It is located at 216 N. Race St., Georgetown, DE. Tel. 302-854-9262 Website? http://www.laesperanza.org. If you would like to volunteer, donate or just learn about it, please visit the website.
These sisters put me to shame. What they do in a day is unreal. Busy until late at night, offering support, smiles and prayers. La Esperanza serves 8,000 individuals and families each year, including children.
The next two guests were arriving. Also from Spain but in the community for many years. Their business is Hoy en Delaware, the Spanish newspaper, which is distributed through the State of Delaware. Jose Somalo is the Publisher and Virginia Esteban is the Editor. You can find Hoy en Delaware on Facebook. And you can also visit their website http://www.hoyendelaware.com.
Matt’s appetizers were simple and delicious; roasted peppers, sardines, cheese.
His rockfish was cooking in the oven and it looked so good.
Potatoes and string beans on the stove.
The salad greens were in the salad bowl. Apples, pine nuts and cheese were also added.
Check the dressing, he said. Light and delicious it was. Equal measurements of buttermilk and sour cream, lemon zest and herbs.
A quick mixing of the salad…my photo does not do justice.
I am telling you…effortless. I kept checking to see if he would lose his cool, but he did not, even when he had to slide the rockfish into the serving dish.
We were all chatting away, getting to know each other. Dinner was ready.
On the table were flowers, hot peppers, and a homemade relish, all with the kind of heat that wake up your taste buds.
Grace was all that was left to do…and to thank our host for a wonderful dinner.
There is something about gathering at a table to share a meal that puts everyone in a great frame of mind. The conversation flowed; a lot of laughter, as well.
My dish had a little bit of everything including some of the roasted peppers from the appetizer plate. Matt mentioned that he loves simple foods. You should be able to taste the food you are eating. A potato should have that earthy taste, for example. The fish was awesome!! So was everything else.
It was time for coffee and dessert. Oh boy. Matt told me to serve the 3 desserts we had.
The torrejas were brought by Jose and Virginia. This is a traditional Spanish dessert and the best way to explain it to you is that it is almost like a French toast. Great with coffee and not overly sweet either.
The Brazo Gitano or Gypsy’s Arm is a filled Spanish sponge cake, with a cream filling
And, my flan.
I managed to serve everyone but no thanks to Chef Matt. I had just a regular spatula for serving; let’s put it this way, it was hard to serve the flan. Anyway, everyone thought all the desserts were very good.
The photo shows on top the torrejas, then the brazo gitano and then my flan with fruits.
It was a great evening full of enlightening conversation. It was so nice meeting them all.
Dinner with family and friends…..priceless!!
August 5th, 2012
Crabs and more crabs. I really do love them. There is something about them. A pile of crabs, pitchers of beers, if so desired, and the picking of the crabs talking with fellow diners. At the Delaware Beaches we have several restaurants considered crab houses. I go to all of them. As long as my crabs are heavy, and a decent size, there is nothing better than the taste of a blue crab.
The Surfing Crab is located at 16723 Coastal Highway, just north of Lewes, Delaware. There is plenty of parking. You know how important that is at this time of the year. Tel. 302-644-4448. Website? http://www.thesurfingcrab.com. It does not take long from Rehoboth Beach. They open Monday to Friday from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday from Noon until 9 p.m.
There is more on the menu than crabs, but for me, that’s all I go there for. I have also ordered them steamed to go.
If you go today, you will find that they have all sizes; even those large ones.
The Surfing Crab has all you can eat crabs, as well. They will come with fries, coleslaw, and potato salad. No sharing, you need to eat the whole crab and there is a limit of 2 hours.
Crabs are steamed to order, unless you call in.
There is also a full bar available.
I would have to say that they have been consistently good. Their prices are also competitive with everyone else. Crabs are expensive, that’s a given, but worth it.
So, if you are in the mood for crabs, now you know where to go.
Let me know how you like them….talk to you later.
Note: The Surfing Crab is sensitive to customers with a gluten allergy.
 
|
Comments Off on Boulder, Farmers’ Market, Colorado, Celebrating 25 Years