Feeding My Dogs Joey & Lark: March 2013 Update
If I can cook for humans, I asked myself, I should be able to cook for canines, right? Right! Only there’s not a lot of cooking involved.… Read More »
Fresh From Our Farmers: Redwood Empire Farmers Market Opens
On Saturday morning, not long before the kick-off of the Rose Parade, a new farmers market opened in the west parking lot of the Santa Rosa Veterans Building. The Redwood Empire Farmers Market is the fourth farmers market in Santa Rosa. For a summary of Santa Rosa markets, check out a recent post here. On opening day, there were 44 stalls, 42 with vendors, one with a magician and one that serves as the market’s information booth. When it comes… Read More »
Fresh From Our Farmers: Petaluma Saturday Market Opens For Its 26th Season
The Petaluma Farmers Market, located in Walnut Park a few blocks south of downtown, opens for its 26th season this Saturday, May 19. There will be about 50 vendors, most of them returning, a few new. Many of the vendors attend several markets a week. Among them are Hector Alvarez, with honey, honey products, eggs, garlic, chiles and other vegetables. The Patch starts its 2012 season here; you can expect early zucchini, onions, potatoes and such from this Sonoma farm,… Read More »
A Good Bean For Your Slow Cooker + Soup Recipes
I’ve been experimenting with several varieties of heirloom beans from Rancho Gordo (based in Napa) and there’s one that has really impressed me, the Hutterite Soup Bean, which you can read about in more detail here. Last night, as the lovely rain continued, I finished the last of the soup I’d made on Monday and was inspired by a very large–2 1/2 pounds–smoked ham hock from Victorian Farmstead to pull out my slow cooker. Then I thought of the beans. I… Read More »
Fresh From Our Farmers: Sonoma Valley
On Friday morning, the Sonoma Valley farmers market is filled with customers–shopping, chatting and lingering over nibbles such as hummingbird-shaped cookies and lumpia–as a stream of moms, grandparents and nannies usher babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and pups into the adjacent park. Two vendors, Paul’s Produce and Oak Hill Farm, are located nearly across with each other, with their similar harvests an evocative expression of this valley’s <<ital>> terroir<<ital>>. Both have extraordinary carrots, with the thinnest of skins, an appealing snap and… Read More »
Fresh From Our Farmers: Sonoma Valley
The Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers Market is one of the county’s year-long markets. In mid-Autumn, it offers a glorious way to shop for nearly everything you need to feed yourself and your family. … Read More »
Fresh From Our Farmers: Occidental
The Occidental Farmers Market, held Friday afternoons and evenings from 4 p.m. until dusk from June through October, is one of the county’s prettiest markets and a true reflection of its community. … Read More »
UPDATE: Fresh From Our Farmers: Sonoma Valley
Since 1985, the Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers Market has offered shoppers pristine produce, locals eggs, meats and cheeses, unique crafts and a pleasant place to linger every Friday morning, from 9 a.m. to noon.… Read More »
My Meat Box, Part 2: A Little Chicken
As I cook my way through my first subscription to a meat CSA, I am increasingly pleased with the results. But you don’t need to be a subscriber to enjoy these recipes for local pastured chicken from small producers.… Read More »
My Meat Box, Part 1: First Pick-Up
After hesitating for years, I have signed up for a meat CSA. Here’s the story of picking up my first box. … Read More »