Jo-On-The-Go

Jo-on-the-Go is literally exhausted from all the running around she does for her family. Her busy days are consumed with her full-time job, soccer practices and games, household chores and errands, church activities, and dinners on the run. Farmers Market? What is that? Jo knows the value of buying fresh produce, but at the Market she becomes more like Wanda, indecisive and unsure. Jo would benefit greatly from delivery services such as The Wise Choice that packages and delivers boxes filled with locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Placing an order for NC Goodness is as easy as logging in online. Then, all she’d have to do is slice and dice and stir fry; or slice and dice and grill; or slice and dice and roast; and save leftovers for the busy days ahead.

Cindy Cooks-A-Lot

Meet Cindy Cooks-A-Lot. And I mean she cooks A LOT. She cooks in huge quantities for a large family, pretty much every day. You can spot Cindy at the Market filling up her red wagon, and making trips to her car to unload and refill - once, twice, maybe even three times. She demands fresh, buys in season, and preserves those flavors for future use. Her pantry is filled with home-canned goods; her freezer runneth over. Cindy is an avid gardener who understands and appreciates the hard work that goes into growing fresh fruits and veggies, and she never leaves the market without at least one new flowering plant or herb for her garden. Hooray for Cindy Cooks-A-Lot!
Tomorrow, Jo-On-The-Go.

Roast with Root Veggies

Here's my New Year's roast. It was sooooo yummy and easy to prepare. Leftovers will be added to canned tomatoes for a warm and satisying soup and sandwich dinner tomorrow.

Rutabaga, turnip, carrots, and onions

After roasting for a couple of hours, I added the veggies and drizzled A-1 steak sauce.

Ready to eat.

Who Shops at the Market?

There are all kinds of people from all walks of life who shop at the Market. Through the years I’ve identified four types of customers.  On any given day you may relate to one of these shoppers. Today I want to introduce to you, Wandering Wanda.

Wanda heads on out to the Market on those lazy days when she really has nothing else to do. After having lunch at one of the Market's restaurants, Wanda casually strolls around, just looking. When she spots an unfamiliar vegetable, she wonders, What is that?  How does it taste? What other foods go well with it? I'd buy it and cook it, but I don't know how. How can I use it in one of my meals? Wanda's mind is a frenzy of questions. So many that she quickly becomes both fascinated and overwhelmed. She never imagined so many foods grew here in NC. The options are great. How will she ever choose?

Unfortunately, Wandering Wanda is the shopper who often goes home empty handed. Occasionally, she’ll purchase one new item intent on giving it a try. But more often than not, she'll buy something that is familiar, a food that she has already tasted, one that she knows how to prepare, or better yet, one that can be washed and eaten as is. Can Wanda step out of her comfort zone? Does she even want to? Only Wanda can answer.

Tomorrow, I'll introduce my friend, Cindy Cooks-A-Lot.

Christmas Eve Dinner

This year's Christmas Eve dinner was the best ever! The veggie was zucchini with onions, and one of my daughters put in a late request for corn on the cob. Our dessert was a homemade version of Chili's chocolate molten cake, courtesy of my husband. Sooooo good!

As I plan the New Year's day meal, I'm thinking how blessed we are to have access to fresh, locally grown winter veggies. Rutabagas, turnip roots, onions, butternut squash, radishes, greens. Mmmmm. They will go well with a slow-cooked roast. What are you cooking for New Year's Day?

Homemade Cheesy Cream Potatoes

Every Christmas I gift my family by cooking whatever they request for Christmas Eve dinner. I decorate the dining room table, and serve a hodge-podge of favorite dishes. One year we had spaghetti with hot dogs; another year, sweet potato casserole with fried tilapia. Now that my daughters are older they are better at choosing foods that go well together. This year's menu consists of fried chicken, sweet potato casserole, cranberry sauce (how hard is that!), and "homemade, not the kind you add water and cook in the microwave, but homemade cheesy cream potatoes". Sounds like someone is paying attention to my food philosophy! I'm adding something green, and a dessert that has yet to be announced.

Homemade Cheesy Cream Potatoes

Wash, peel, slice and dice 6-8 medium potatoes. Cover with water in saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook for 20-25 minutes, until tender. Remove from heat and drain. Salt and pepper to taste. Add 1/2-3/4 stick butter. Use mixer on low speed to mix while slowly adding 1/4-1/3 cup milk, maybe a little more or a little less to get desired consistency. Transfer potatoes to serving bowl and cover with shredded cheese. Just before serving, microwave for 45-60 seconds until cheese melts.

 

Mom's Holiday Punch

We all look forward to my Mom's Holiday Punch. It is the BEST ever! So simple to make and freeze ahead. Simply mix 2 packages lime kool-aid, 2 cups sugar, 2 quarts water, and 46 oz. pineapple juice. Then, freeze. Before serving let it thaw just a little. Pour in 1 quart ginger ale (about half of a 2 liter bottle), and chop up the ice block. Yummy and such a pretty green color, too.

Mom serving Holiday Punch