With September, one can feel the hints of the changing season. The nights are cooler. We have been spared the incredibly hot temperatures faced by much of the western half of the country until early this week and have enjoyed some very pleasant days. There are days which seem so full of moisture that it most certainly must rain….. but it doesn’t. The available produce mirrors this time between summer and fall. The “fruits” of summer – corn and melons, tomatoes and peppers, garlic and onions – are still abundant, while the cooler season/shorter day crops are beginning to appear again, such as lettuce and green onions.
Have you tried Leek and Potato soup? Such a simple soup – a pound of trimmed leaks (the tough upper greens composted) sauteed in three tablespoons of butter or olive oil along with a pinch of thyme and a bay leaf for about 10 minutes. About a pound of potatoes (more or less, and a firm, waxy potato is nice) cut into small pieces plus about five cups of water is added, brought to a boil, and then simmered for about 30 minutes. This may be your finished soup, or you can blend for a smooth soup (my favorite) and add milk or cream. Once you’ve added the milk, you won’t want to boil again, but the soup freezes well. It is an adaptable soup….add carrots or boullion. Blend or eat chunky. Or use your leeks another way….a customer said last week that she uses leeks in everything, including on top of a chicken casserole – the leeks become crispy on the top when baked. Or, try a potato and “leak” soup (“there’s a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza….”).
Many of the market craft vendors will be at the fall craft shows, but Fayette County Farmers Market shoppers will have the opportunity to purchase crafts before the busy craft show season. This includes home-knitted and crocheted blankets and hats, baby slippers and fall and Halloween decorations, as well as handmade soaps and lotions. You will find much to pique your interest, and stuff many stockings down the road.
This week, sunchokes and recipes for cooking them will be available. This vegetable, in the sunflower family and native to Peru, is also known as the “Jerusalem artichoke.” It is delicious raw or cooked and is considered a potato substitute for diabetics and those on low-carb diets, because of the inulin (a carbohydrate related to fructose, but largely indigestible) present in the roots.
Come for the crafts, the desserts, the meats and the produce. But don’t forget our children’s activity…this week our market’s short shoppers will enjoy assembling an indoor mini-garden kit and learn how to grow their very own sweet potato vine at the craft table in the market Info booth.
And Trey Tompkins of UpLuck Photography will join the market this week as our Community Guest. Well known in Washington Court House for personal training and physical fitness, Trey is also a gifted photographer who serves on the board of United Way of Fayette County. You can find UpLuck Photography pieces for sale at The Atley Homestead, Indigo Roots, on Facebook, and this Saturday at the Farmers Market in dowtown Washington C.H. Come by the community tent this week to check out UpLuck Photography and you can even sign up for the United Way Scarecrow Festival 5k which is held Sept. 21.
The following list contains the names and products of the vendors that expect to set up this Saturday. Other vendors may participate as well.
Engedi (Beth Day, Alana Walters, Janet Bick): Assorted home baked goods (cinnamon rolls, bread, yeast rolls, cookies, pies), as well as a children’s activity.
Gerhardts (Kevin Gerhardt): Super sweet corn, watermelon, and a few cantaloupe.
Greens & Greenery (Katrina Bush): Beeswax hand creams and lip balms with essential oils and natural insect repellent. Seasonal produce grown with organic practices– tomatoes, lettuce, onions and leeks, kale, swiss chard, cherry tomatoes, sweet peppers, sweet potatoes. Sacred (holy) basil (tea). Dried catnip. Buckeye candies, peanut butter & chocolate fudge. Mini-pumpkin pies.
Jones Farm Fresh Produce (Jon & Taylor Jones): Apples (Honey Crisp, McIntosh, Gala), garlic, green beans, squash, cucumbers, red and gold potatoes, onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, acorn and butternut squash, chicken- patties, chicken breast, wings, cheddar chicken bratwurst and chorizo links, ground chicken, beef- ground and patties, pork- sausage patties, bulk sausage, pork chops, sweet Italian links, maple links, turkey- ground, drums and wings.
King Farms (Jeff & Sandi King): Honey dew, and watermelons, (green beans?), cucumbers, vine ripe tomatoes, orange and red cherry tomatoes, squash, green zucchini.
Margaret’s Memories (Sharon Fulkerson): Dryer balls, knitted towels and wash cloths, baby blanket, vintage quilt, fall decorations, hand warmers, socks, aprons.
Persinger Produce & Cottage Foods (David Persinger and Julie Mosny): The Pie Lady will have local honey, assorted pies, oatmeal and pumpkin cookies, cinnamon rolls, buns bars, cinni mini’s and banana cake. The Jam Man will be there with assorted jams & jellies including no added sugar apple butter, a spiced tomato jam, elderberry jelly, pineapple habanero, and peach habanero, and assorted Texas sheet cakes.
Rose Family Farms (Andy and Betty Rose): Variety of cheese breads, beer bread, coconut/pineapple bread, zucchini bread, desserts, hard candies, gummy candies, small craft ornaments, and fresh rosemary.
Wood Designed by DW (Debbie Welch): Handmade, unusual wood crafts. Hand made crocheted dishtowels, clothes, potholders, pocket books and baby booties. Special orders welcome. Cookies, fudge.
Bridge View Garden (Hunter & Lorelle Rohrer): Seasonal produce including red raspberries, cherry tomatoes, green beans, sweet potatoes and red potatoes.
B.Y.E Gardens (Brian and Elaine Yoder): tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, candy onions, sweet corn, winter squashes, sweet potatoes, sweet breads, small pies, cinnamon rolls, brownies, lemon cookies, butterscotch cookies.
By Thy Hand (Mark and Lori Chrisman): Angel food cakes, specialty breads, pies, cookies, dip mixes, noodles.
Chilcote Farm (Bruce & Marlene Chilcote): Honey, COMB honey, cookies, and donuts.
Cozy Baby Blessings (Nancy Cutter): Handmade baby essentials including, fleece blankets, crocheted blankets, crocheted hats and booties. Flannel receiving blankets, burp cloths, bibs and bunny ear teething rings (12 new fabrics!) as well as crocheted pot scrubbers.
Donaldson Workshop (Roger Donaldson): Wooden spoons, cutting boards, wooden sandwich trays, and walnut spatulas.
