Revisiting the Farmer's Market

It has been quite a few years now (possibly six) since I've gone to a Sunday farmer's market. Sure, I've ambled through a few farmer's markets within that time, but usually only because I stumbled upon them by chance, or boredom, and never with the intention of actually fulfilling a marketing list. I used to go to the Beverly Hills Farmer's Market every Sunday with my mom, grandma, grandpa, etc when I was 11 and 12 years old. In fact, that was so long ago that the location of the farmer's market has since moved from it's prior 1-block of Canon Drive to a weird, pseudo street parallel to Santa Monica Blvd behind the Public Library.

However, I love farmer's markets, and not just for the free samples. From a personal standpoint, I enjoy knowing that I am nourishing my body with both local and pesticide-free vegetables and fruits. From a culinary standpoint, I am exposed to new foods and/or ways of cooking them. And, from an observer's standpoint, I wonder at the pride, anticipation, or accomplished feelings that the farmers and vendors must experience as they put their produce out on display, offering up sliced samples in the hopes that you will decide that, yes, this particular vendor does in fact have the juiciest, richest tasting tomatoes at the market.

In the hopes of revisiting these past feelings and with the intention of stocking up on foods for the week, my mother and I headed to the Hollywood Farmer's Market at ten in the morning this Sunday. Why Hollywood, you ask? The Beverly Hills Farmer's Market is not only small and in a location that I do not like, but it brings up bad memories of the past, as I had been terminally ill during that time period in my life when I went to the market each week. Conversely, the Santa Monica Farmer's Market held on Main St and Ocean Park on Sunday is not too far away, but, from my experiences visiting it last year when I lived in Venice Beach, offers more cooked and prepared foods than it does fresh produce. My mother warned me that the Hollywood Farmer's Market would be large and crowded, and although I believed her, I truly was not prepared for the onslaught of human bodies and the three converging rows of vendors.

The selection was plentiful and varied to say the least, the most common vegetables and fruits for sale (aside from lettuces, of course) were avocados, oranges, grapefruits, squashes, string/Lima beans, strawberries, cherries, and blueberries. I was surprised at the abundance of kale variations available, and the noticeable lacking of raspberries, eggplants, and apples. Overall, it was a successful trip, and I ended up, using $32, buying both the items I had set out to purchase, as well as a few surprise goods.

My Purchases:

-2 super large 'bacon' avocados
-2 smaller non-Has avocados
-2 large bags of wild arugula (which means that it has flowers growing on it)
-1 pound of Persian cucumbers
-6 tomatillos
-1 bag chopped cactus
-2 nectarines
-2 bunches cilantro
-4 plum tomatoes
-2 yellow heirloom tomatoes
-1 bunch black kale
-2 small pots of genovese basil
-4 guavas
-1 container chopped Middle Eastern salad of cucumber, tomato, onion, lemon, etc

I'm glad I returned to the farmer's market and I plan on going again soon...if not next weekend, then the next. I suppose it depends on how much of the produce I eat within that time. But I am definitely not going back to the Hollywood Farmer's Market for a while. Too many people, too much selection. Even though it's tiny, maybe I'll just hit up the Melrose Farmer's Market.

'A' is for 'Addiction'

It seems like I've been talking about addiction quite a lot lately. I don't really consider myself as one who has an addictive personality, but I suppose I am prone to extreme enthusiasm and intense short-term interests.

Mulling over the fact that I've been drinking at least two raw juices a day for the last week or so, I realized that my fridge had become frighteningly full and quite green in content. I suppose I am a bit proud about this fact as my fridge, although normally quite green in selection, is even more green than usual. In fact it's almost as if spring has arrived inside my fridge as well.

I took a photograph of the interior of my fridge this morning because super healthy food content caught my eye as I reached for my SIGG water bottle.

Not only is my fridge overflowing with fruits and vegetables for juicing-- zucchini, cilantro,broccoli, cucumber, apple, carrot, kale, pepper, celery, and ginger-- but it's full of other health-packed foods. Some foods to highlight (and recommend to others) are: coconut water, soy milk, goji berry juice, a pitcher of iced oolong tea, and Vegenaise.

I love psycho-analyzing the interiors of fridges (as if they were cognitive beings!) to see what they reveal about the food preferences and even personalities of their owners.

I'd love to see what YOU have in your fridge as well, so please email me or comment on and post pictures and descriptions of the interiors of your fridges and what your favorite foods are!

I'm excited to see what (or if) you send in!

Peace!

Juicin' Like A Fiend

Apparently, I just can't get enough juice these days as I've been drinking at least two juices a day! As my friend Katlin so wisely commented, my Breville centrifugal juicer has indeed become my new favorite toy!

Because it's so fun (and yummy), I thought I'd do a post about some of the juices I've drank in the last two days. They might look a bit nasty, but they taste great. In a few days I'll do a post on the benefits of juicing and why it is better than blending your fruits and veggies. But for now, humor me and enjoy the pictures cataloguing my newest obsession.

Power Juice:

-3 stalks celery

-1 carrot

-1 green apple

-1 broccoli stalk

-1 zucchini

-lemon juice

Comment:

What a powerfully rich and healthy juice! Zucchini, a sadly unappreciated, oft ignored vegetable, is super high in potassium, Vitamin B and C, and calcium. It's also a great thirst quencher and its juice has been drunk for this purpose in tons of cultures worldwide for centuries. Carrots are high in antioxidants and Vitamin A as is celery (which is also high in Vitamin B). Apples are great sources of antioxidants and flavenoids which are important for a healthy heart and heart disease prevention. And lastly, broccoli. Broccoli, which is sometimes called a 'miracle food', is high in Vitamin C, folic acid, potassium, and is known to prevent a number of diseases such as lung cancer, diabetes, tumors, Alzheimer's, stomach and colon cancer, heart disease, and arthritis.

'S' is for 'Saturday' and 'Sinister Juice Bar'

I've been on a juicing binge lately, and, for the past three or so weeks it has been my habit to drink a tall glass of cold, live juice after my bikram class. Today, however, I thought I'd change things up a bit and alter routine...quite a lot.

Instead of heading to Bikram Yoga in Glastonbury for the noon class today, I decided to try out a new yoga studio, West Hartford Yoga, and to take a hot vinyasa class-- my first vinyasa (non-Birkam) yoga class in almost three months!!!

Stepping into the soothing, female empowering confines of the studio, I remembered why I used to love going to vinyasa yoga so much, but during class and after class, I remembered why I switched over to Bikram: I simply get a better workout that stretches, works, challenges, and detoxes my body far better than any other form of yoga. I also have to admit that it's hard to love something that you aren't good at. Although I have been practicing yoga for years, taking a three month hiatus on ashtanga/vinyasa style yoga has really taken its toll on my practice. It's quite bizarre when your body is so fit and competent at one form of excercise and yet completely inept at another.

After class, I decided to drive to a nearby raw food cafe and juice bar that I had read about on the internet rather than drive the 25 minutes home to juice, shower, and do homework. Let's just say, it was a bad decision.