A bit of spring from the Farmers Market...

Our weather has been decidedly unspringlike this week - lots of gray skies and rain, and even when the sun has been shining, the winds have been bone-chilling. Still, we decided to take advantage of a break in the rains to go back to the Farmers Market at the local fairgrounds this morning, after having a bite of lunch off one of the gourmet food trucks. (BBQ sandwiches this week - really tasty!) We came home with strawberries and pears, plus lots of fresh looking veggies, and even some fresh pasta to cook for dinner tonight. Margaret managed to avoid the flower vendor this week, but not the farmer's booth with the bundles of beautiful peach blossom branches for sale. Even if spring hasn't found its way here outside, at least it looks and feels a bit more like spring inside.

A pot of persistant nasturtiums...

Late last fall three nasturtium seeds were planted in this big pot, tucked to the back of some starts of lettuce. Two of the three flowering seedlings were got eaten by bugs, but that was okay - it left more room for the lettuce! Then, the lettuce was all picked, and the one, still small nasturtium plant did little in the pot - barely growing and without a single flower. That was then...

Not long ago Margaret decided that it was time to turn that large pot, the one closest to the sliding door to the kitchen, into her herb garden pot. But, the nasturtium seemed to have other plans - suddenly blooming for all it's worth, and shooting off that long vine that's threatening to crawl clear across the patio. Can she bring herself to dig it out and start anew with culinary herbs. Well, maybe not quite yet. Now, in full glory, that plant certainly deserves a bit more time to flourish.

A belated St. Paddy's Day Feast with our friends...

...was held here last night and a great time was had by all. As always, our camera shy buddies wanted nothing to do with having their pictures taken.

In planning this gathering, Margaret had spent lots of time trying to figure out how to combine "Shamrock" into a centerpiece for the table. With some florist foam, two colors of mums, and a couple of two inch pots of the seasonal plant, she feels like she pulled it off. (With help from Larry who did all the necessary carving on the foam base.) And, in the kitchen, a candle floating in a "sea of emerald" illuminated the buffet set-up.

As a couple of our holiday group members are avoiding meat for the time being, small compromises were made in the menu - starting off with a "Galway Spinach Salad", (with bacon on the side!), a glazed ham, and a Vegetarian Irish Stew. We baked beer bread made with Guinness; the heavy dark brown stout, a little brown sugar, and a sprinkling of caraway seeds in the dough made a great accompaniment to the meal. To finish, one of our guests brought the tastiest chocolate cupcakes with frosting made from Bailey's Irish Cream, and coffee ice cream on the side. Once again, it was a lovely evening of good food and conversation with great friends.

Off to the Fairgrounds...

...for some food shopping and lunch. We've been talking about going to the weekly Thursday morning Farmers' Market at the Orange County Fairgrounds (practically in our backyard!) for weeks. Recently we learned that some of the area's "Gourmet" Food Trucks are at the fairgrounds on the same day as the Market. It was just much too good a combination of things to continue to miss!

While this local Market doesn't have the Carnival atmosphere of the one we experienced up in San Luis Obispo in October, it does have a lot of interesting offerings! The produce, (all local, certified, and most organic) was beautiful. We came home with blood oranges, tangerines, strawberries and Bosc pears, plus potatoes and asparagus to accompany a grilled tri-tip for Sunday dinner. There were also stands with bread and other baked goods, dried herbs and rub mixtures, dried fruits, nuts, honey, fresh pastas, seafood, and cut flowers. There was even one stand with small potted vegetables and herbs, ready to be planted in someone's garden. Many of the sellers were pleased to offer samples, like the man who had seventeen different flavors of humus for sale, plus of course, pita bread. And yes, we did bring home a few more things besides the fresh fruits and veggies...

Our first meal from a "Gourmet" Food Truck...

...will most certainly not be our last! We scoped out the Market first, so we would know the places we wanted to return to for more perishable items. Then, just steps away, we saw ten of the area's favorite Food Trucks lined up, adjacent to an outdoor dining area. For our first "Gourmet" meal, we chose burritos from Piaggio's Argentinian menu. (Tasty! We'd go back!) Then, we had the most outrageously gooey cookies from "Chunk-N-Chip. (And, yes we'd go back there, too!)

From what we've heard, some of the trucks we saw today are there every week, but not necessarily all of them. So, each return visit holds the possibility of an entirely new culinary adventure. Offering at trucks not pictured from today included Greek, Sushi, Sliders of all types, Tropical Ices and cupcakes - in other words, something for everyone. We'll, no doubt, be going back to sample other treats there soon.

Home from the Market...

One of our last stops at the Farmers' Market was at the flower vendor's stall. The tiny bundles of Sweet Peas were too beautiful not bring home. Sitting on the dining room table, their sweet smell of Spring is wafting through the entire house.

Strawberry season has arrived...

Last fall we made our first visit to Tanaka Farms to pick our own pumpkins. Tanaka is a thirty-three acre organic farm that sits in the heart of one of Orange County's largest residential area. It sells its produce to county residents through a CSA program and at the farm stand on the property that is open daily. This weekend was the beginning of the farm's annual Strawberry Tours - an hour and fifteen minute tractor drawn wagon ride around the farm, with a stop that offered the opportunity to pick and enjoy fresh strawberries right out of the field. Such a deal!

Last fall we'd only gone as far as the "U-Pick" pumpkin field, so today we enjoyed the opportunity to ride around the farm and see, up close, fields of various crops. (We were also offered tastes of fresh picked lettuce, spinach, carrots, cilantro, snap peas and Chinese broccoli en route.) The farm also raises some stone fruits, and we were quite surprised to see, that they have a area with fruiting banana trees, as well. From the pictures of the field where we picked strawberries today, you might notice that the berry plants are interspersed with onions - a "trick" of organic farming - the insects that are most likely to attack the fruit are repelled by the odor of the onions.

We came home with two pints of strawberries that we picked ourselves, as well as some other goodies (including Angel Food Cake) from the farm stand. And, we think that we'll go back in the summer and take in the Watermelon tour.

Fabulous freesia...

It's kinda "slim pickins'" in the freesia pot this year. (Means that, come fall, it'll be time to start over with lots of fresh corms.) But, some of the stems that did appear this year seemed to burst into bloom overnight. For such little flowers, they can certainly fill the room with their sweet fragrance.

A special project for 2011...

Late last year we attended a benefit for Share Our Selves, an amazing organization that is helping the homeless and economically challenged of Orange County with food, clothing, medical care and a variety of social services. We wanted to do more for this group, and looked into volunteering, but the openings available at this time required more time on our feet (on an unforgiving surface) than we felt either of our backs would tolerate. It was my Aunt Anne who suggested that crocheting hats and other cold weather accessories might be one way to help. I jumped on the idea and in a couple months time have made thirty two scarves, hats in mens and womens sizes, as well as headbands in womens and child sizes, all from twelve skeins of yarn in three neutral colors. At Aunt Anne's request, here is a picture of a few of the original group of pieces, plus my first attempt at a kid's cap, done in a new color of yarn. Since she has offered to send me some of her collection of yarns, I'm more than happy to share a bit of my handwork with her here!