Don’t let the recent sunny days fool you—it’s winter! And, while we can all expect a lull from upcoming cold and wet weather, rest assured that it will not deter the Montavilla Farmers Market from cranking away behind the scenes. Here’s a quick look at some of what we’re working on.
This Sunday (Feb. 12) is the final Winter Stock Up Market. Make sure to come out and load up on all the great seasonal produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, wine, and other great offerings. Follow this link to see a list of all the great products. Don’t miss out, it will be 16 short weeks until the official 2012 market kick off.
Speaking of our opening day, the first market of this season just happens to be our 100th market! Congratulations to all the customers, vendors, and community supporters that have helped to give the Montavilla Farmers Market longevity and vibrancy. Nicely done! In light of this historic milestone, we’re planning a festive day to celebrate future market shoppers—also known as the Montavilla community’s youth. Stay posted for more info on the upcoming fun, and make sure to note the June 3rd opening day celebration on your calendars.
Other big news: the Montavilla Farmers Market was awarded a New Seasons Grant to fund our Everybody Eats program through the 2012 season! We strive to make sure that our market is affordable to everyone, and New Seasons has been a valuable community partner in helping insure this happens. Huge thanks to them!
Join Montavilla Farmers Market Volunteer Corps! Our volunteers are essential to keeping our market buzzing along and you can sign up to volunteer for our 2012 season right now. Everyone can contribute! Volunteers are needed to sit on the board of directors; help set up and tear down the market; provide customer support at the information booth; work with our award-winning Durable Dish Program helping us reduce, re-use, and recycle; and best of all, you meet great people and make new friends right here in Montavilla. Please contact Taunia at taunia@montavillamarket.org for more information.
The holidays are now behind us, and the new year stretches out in front of us. 2011 was a fantastic year, and I look forward to 2012 and all the joys and challenges it will bring.
And I want to start the new year off right. I think it’s time to detox.
To be clear, I’m using the term ‘detox’ very loosely. Really, I’m just cutting back on processed foods, sugar, and carbohydrates. I’m going to focus on whole foods: fruits, vegetables, and grains. I’m going to do my best to eat simple, seasonal dishes. I’m going to be good to my body. There is no formula; this isn’t rocket science. I’m just going to do the best that I can.
If you’d like to join me, I’ve compiled a list of a few of my favorite “detox” recipes. These recipes have inspired me to eat better, and they’ve certainly made me feel better. Happy new year, everyone. Here’s to healthy, happy living!
HEALTHY RECIPES FOR THE NEW YEAR: A FEW FAVORITES.
I’m going to start off the list with my absolute favorite winter soup recipe: Curried Carrot Soup. This soup is hearty and filling, but bright, bold, and fresh at the same time. The curry powder and Thai chili add a subtle spice to the soup, which is perfect for cold winter nights (and for stuffy noses!). Bonus: the recipe happens to be vegan and gluten free!
Cleansing Ginger Chicken Soup from Bon Apetit: I made a big batch of this broth last week and I LOVE it. For the first few days after Christmas, I simply drank this ginger chicken broth on its own (alongside a simple kale salad). I still had quite a bit of the broth leftover (I made a giant batch), so I roasted some carrots, fennel, parsnips, celery and onions and added that to the broth, along with some leftover cooked chicken. It made for the best chicken and vegetable soup ever. It is full of flavor and nutrients, and it makes my belly really happy.
Kale and Peanut Slaw from The Kitchn: I’ve had this recipe bookmarked for ages, but I didn’t get around to making until last week. It’s simple, fresh, filling, and wonderful. (It’s also reminiscent of my all-time favorite salad: Raw Kale Apple Salad.)
Coconut Black Eyed Pea Soup from Boulder Locavore: A new year’s tradition (black eyed peas), transformed into an amazing soup. This soup looks rich, yet bright and refreshing (and healthy!). I will be making this soon.
Detox Salad from Oh She Glows: I’ve not yet made this salad, but how could I not add a salad called ‘Detox Salad’ to my list of detox foods? This salad contains SO many wonderful things, and I plan on making it sometime this week.
Miso Soup from 101 Cookbooks: I’ve made this miso soup recipe many, many times. I adore this recipe, as does my stomach.
Vegan Caesar Salad: This is my adaptation of 101 Cookbooks Vegan Caesar salad. It’s lighter than a typical Caesar and uses a mix of greens as opposed to iceberg or Romaine lettuce. It’s much healthier than a typical Caesar, and in my opinion – it tastes every bit as good. The secret? Capers.
Warm Chickpea & Butternut Squash Salad from Smitten Kitchen: I’ve also made this salad a zillion times. I like to eat it alongside hummus & pita, but it can be served on its own as a meal. The Tahini dressing is the key, as it really marries all the flavors together beautifully. This salad is also great leftover (and eaten warm or cold).
Balsamic Roasted Roots with Spinach Sauce from Sprouted Kitchen: I could easily include every recipe from Sprouted Kitchen in my roundup, but this recipe seemed particularly appropriate for the season. Plus, the photos are gorgeous.
Curried Quinoa and Apple Salad from Rosemarried: What’s not to like about quinoa with apples, curry, coconut milk, golden raisins and almonds? This is such a simple salad, but it’s full of bright and bold flavors. This is also my favorite weekday lunch recipe.
Spicy Slaw with Shredded Chicken from The Unexpected Harvest: This is a recipe from my dear friend Mari that I’ve had bookmarked for ages. Somehow, I’ve never gotten around to making it! It is a simple cabbage slaw with a spicy dressing, served with shredded chicken and soft boiled eggs. It looks hearty, without being too heavy.
Vegetarian African Peanut Stew from Big Girls, Small Kitchen: A hearty winter vegetable stew with sweet potatoes, peanuts, edamame, spinach and more.