Be it one in a church parking lot on Main Street or a cluster of tobacco-chewing part-time farmers with produce in their pick-up trucks in Tiny Town, USA or a large one that takes up a city block. I love to walk around with my camera & snap pictures of the people buying a weeks worth of whatever & the busy vendors trying to sell them some more.
I love the smells. Even the smell of over ripe cantaloupes & watermelons.
But most of all I love the colors.
Vivid colors that I would paint IF I could paint.
So instead I take pictures.
~Summer Bell Peppers & Tomato Relish~
3 large red bell peppers
3 large green bell peppers
6 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 pound plum tomatoes, seeded, chopped
6 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3 large red bell peppers
3 large green bell peppers
6 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 pound plum tomatoes, seeded, chopped
6 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
~Preheat oven to 400°F
~Brush bell peppers with 2 tablespoons oil & place on baking sheet.
Roast peppers until tender & begin to brown, turning occasionally, about 35 minutes.
Cool peppers 5-10 minutes. Then peel, seed & slice.
Heat remaining 4 tablespoons of oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
Heat remaining 4 tablespoons of oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add tomatoes and garlic. Sauté until tomatoes soften, about 5 minutes. Then add peppers. Sauté about 3 minutes.
Add cilantro & vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.
~Serve Bell Pepper & Tomato Relish Tennessee style with pinto beans seasoned w/Tennessee country ham, corn bread, fried okra, green beans & fresh creamed corn.
Now after that feast you should plan something light for desert.
Not!
~Fruit & Creme~
Pound Cake
Heavy Whipping Cream or Half and Half
sliced Strawberries, Peaches, Blackberries, Blueberries
Sugar
~Make a Pound Cake or buy one frozen at the grocery store (they're actually really good).
Cube it & place cubed cake in pretty glasses - why not use you're best crystal - you know, those glasses you've not used in 30 years.
Then layer washed sliced/cubed fruit.
Something colorful like blackberries (blackberries will be kinda sour so set them aside in a bowl with lots of sugar before adding to other fruit), strawberries, peaches, blueberries & plums.
Next comes the good stuff...
Pour HEAVY whipping cream on top of everything then sprinkle with sugar & top with a sprig of mint.
Nothing tastes better & it'll be beautifully displayed in your antique crystal glasses.
In January, the Nashville Farmers Market outside shed is empty.
In February there's a Spring light at the end of the Winter tunnel with a little activity.
March is a teaser. Making me think that Winter has finally left.
Just as I start to dream of seeds & bulbs I'm reminded that March dies a slow death in Nashville with one last drop in temperature. But toward the last of the month & just as I think I'll never see warm weather again, it seems that someone switches on a light & Glory Hallelujah Spring is here!
And so it begins. Summer's bounty brought to you by Mother Nature & some hard-working farmers.
It may be late summer now but things are still bumping at the Nashville Farmers Market.
And I bet at yours too.
Visit one today & support you're local farmers.
