Farmers Market Haul

[brigdh]

I love my farmers market. I haven't managed to get to it for the last week or two (being out of town last Saturday), so there were many things I needed to buy today. It's raining slightly, off and on, so all the piles of vegetables were glazed with water, and looking supernaturally shiny and colorful, almost glowing.

My haul: two quarts of juice (one of grape-apple and one of raspberry-apple), half a dozen large brown eggs, fresh butter, four bosc pears, a bunch of broccoli rabe, a bunch of celery, a half-pound of crimini mushrooms, and a stalk of brussels sprouts. I have never had brussels sprouts before (a combination of my parents never having cooked them and the cultural meme that says they are yucky), so they are my culinary experiment for the week. I read somewhere that it's better if you can get them still on the stalk, and so I have something that looks like a giant, green, spiky tree branch, with tiny green balls on it, in my bag. I do have to say they smell delicious. I'm extremely fond of broccoli, so I think I will like these.

Comments

[darkelf105.livejournal.com]

I love brussel sprouts. They are best off the stalk. I like them with cracked pepper, a bit of salt and a little bit of olive oil.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I've found a couple of recipes that look really good, and I totally can't wait to try them!

[pocketmouse]

I like brussels sprouts, but I have to say that I like them better frozen than fresh. I think this comes from a lot of experiences with finding bugs on the fresh ones. Though they were still good after picking the outer few leaves off.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Ew! I've been pretty lucky with my farmers market. I don't remember ever getting something with bugs on it. I can totally see why that would put you off.

[supremegoddess1.livejournal.com]

Brussel sprouts are often an acquired taste....they are fairly bitter and can be hard to cook to the right consistency...

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

I tried stir-frying them with olive oil, and lots of salt and pepper, and it was delicious, if I do say so myself. :) Very mild, but with a soft of nutty, spinach-y taste.

[supremegoddess1.livejournal.com]

I'm glad!

[aonekosama.livejournal.com]

Brussels sprouts! I love them best cooked and with lots of butter on top. But a friend came up with this delicious creamy pasta sauce with brussels sprouts and broccoli, seasoned with pepper and various herbs... Ah, now I want some!

As a side note, I didn't even know brussels spouts grow on a stalk. I googled, and it looks amazing. In Finland they just come in small green plastic boxes.

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Mmmm, that sounds good. I stir-dried them with olive oil, and lots of salt and pepper, and it was delicious.

They're usually sold in a box or bag here in the States, too. I've only ever seen them still on the stalk in the farmers market. It does look amazing! Kind of hard to fit in my refrigerator, though, hee!