Farmer's Stand Inspiration

I'm so lucky to be in a town that values farmers and fresh food!

On my way to dinner with my mom, brother and boyfriend last week, we noticed the farmer's stand that the city opened a couple of weeks ago and I couldn't wait to go back after they left for some inspiration.

And I'm so glad I did. Its open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, while the larger farmer's market is open on Wednesday and Saturday. *I'm in heaven*

I'm in the process of making some refrigerator bread and butter pickles (more later today when they're done) and whipped up some sauteed yellow wax beans. They just looked so pretty that I couldn't resist!

And some pretty pictures of details in the downtown area. I'm really enjoying exploring my new home for the summer! And I CAN'T WAIT! for the farmer's market Saturday. 

What are your favorite dishes inspired by fresh ingredients?

Foodie Friday

I forgot to post this, but I had a really good TJ Maxx and Marshall's run yesterday! I picked up a sushi recipe book for 75 cents and an Italian stovetop espresso maker for $6. And its pink so it matches my other coffee appliances. I am pretty proud of myself!

I had a busy and wonderfully productive Friday! I woke up and made some really, really easy freezer strawberry jam with my U-Pick strawberries. Couldn't have been simpler :) I haven't tried it yet, but it looks fantastic!

Easy Strawberry Freezer Jam (from a Swap-Bot swap)

Ingredients:

4 cups strawberries, crushed and coarsely chopped

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 pouch freezer pectin *very important that it is freezer specific*

Mix fruit, sugar, and pectin by hand, gently, for 3 minutes. Let stand for 30 minutes to thicken.

Ladle into 5 8oz  freezer jars (I used plastic Bell ones)

Place in freezer. The jam will last for 1 year frozen or refrigerated for 3 weeks. If it lasts that long... It works the same for a lot of fruit.

I also whipped up some homemade marshmallows yesterday and we made s'mores with them tonight. They didn't brown up really well because they melted really quickly. But the vanilla tasted wonderful with the chocolate and made some pretty tasty s'mores!

I even finished up making my blackberry sorbet. It was tasty and highlighted the freshness of the blackberry perfectly!

Blackberry Sorbet from The Perfect Scoop by David Lebovitz

Makes 1 quart

Ingredients:

4 cups blackberries, fresh or frozen

1 cup water

2/3 cup sugar

2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Puree the blackberries in a blender or food processor with the water and sugar.  Press the mixture through a strainer to remove the seeds.  Stir in the lemon juice. 

Chill the mixture thoroughly, then freeze it in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

It was a wonderful, food-filled day! Enjoy the recipes!

Foodie Friday (and Saturday)

Sorry this post is up late!

My Foodie Friday was delicious! I helped my friend move out of her apartment for the summer and she treated me to this delicious little Mexican restaurant, El Burrito, in 5 Points and it was just the perfect lunch.  The food was cheap, tasty and quick! And, there were tons and tons of limes. Limes are the BEST with Mexican food, and they are a personal favorite of mine. Did you know that limes taste good in sweet tea? They do ♥

Also, another friend and I went to Fruiti Cup for frozen yogurt to celebrate almost being done with finals and to walk around in the pretty day.  Mine was amazing- kiwi frozen yogurt, chocolate frozen yogurt, kiwis, chocolate cookie dough, a little bit of brownie, and mangoes. Mmmm!

My friend's froyo (frozen yogurt)

Later, I got crafty and made felt dahlias with this tutorial and made one for me and the other two for gifts. Sooo easy, and I used hot glue to make it easier and held the petals down with clothespins.

What do you think? I can't wait to make them into brooches once I get the pins! Oh, if you make them, make note of the scale! The yellow one, that followed the instructions, fills the palm of my hand is a little more whimsical, but the blue one is a little smaller. Just play with the size of the back circle!

Foodie Friday

New section! 


I have come to love Fridays, because they are the day that I can go grocery shopping and walk to at least one gourmet food store in Columbia after my classes because I am done at 11am... for this semester. But nonetheless...


I went to the Gourmet Shop today in 5 Points. Quite possibly one of my favorite places on the planet. I bought myself a couple of croissants to pair with my leftover lemon curd and bought a cute little orange marmalade, mostly for the jar, but also in case I get bored with lemon curd soon.

I adore the Gourmet Shop... I feel like a foodie so much when I just go to browse. Their bakery, pastry, and cheese counters are to die for. And they have a bunch of cool kitchen stuff that I don't need at the moment, just lust after when I walk through!

Also,  I got some grocery shopping done at Food Lion, nothing special, just some Roma tomatoes and Italian bread for Bruschetta on Sunday afternoon.  I didn't have time to get cheese and basil because I wasn't going straight back to my room, but I will get those before lunch!

Also, I got an amazing package in the mail! I ♥ Macarons came in the mail from Wal-Mart! (It was cheaper to do that then go through Amazon and it came faster in the mail).

Its mostly a technique book, which is perfect because anyone can come up with delicious flavor combos, right? I am so excited! Now, I have to start compiling the tools I still need, like a scale. 

And the other food adventure for the day, I got a delicious veggie wrap from Cool Beans. Yum!

Oh, yesterday I got a recipe card in the mail from a swap for freezer strawberry jam. I am so excited for that as well!

I am in the middle of some crafty projects that I will be posting this weekend!