Summer has finally arrived! It has taken long enough for the chill to wear off and we are now in full blown summer mode–walking or biking everywhere, enjoying every meal al fresco, pushing bedtimes later and later, cranking out the margaritas!
With the warm weather also comes farmer’s market season. We do almost all of our grocery shopping every week during the summer at our local farmer’s market. Not only is going to the farmer’s market necessary to stock the kitchen, it’s also a great weekly activity we look forward to doing together as a family. Our farmer’s market jaunts almost always turn into an entire day of fun outside, ending with a home-cooked dinner made entirely with our morning’s haul.
Here are a few of our favorite summer recipes that feature ingredients that you will find right here in Colorado, at your local farmer’s markets.
Simple Buttery Spring Pea Pasta with Prosciutto
Farmer’s Market Finds:
- Eggs. More often than not you’ll find local eggs at your farmer’s market, so make sure to pick up a dozen or two to use for breakfasts for the week and for this delicious pasta.
- Parsley & Basil. Herbs are a mainstay at most farmer’s markets and both of these grow beautifully during Colorado summers.
- Peas. Now is NOT the time to use up the frozen peas in your freezer! Save those for winter and buy fresh peas at your market, straight out of the ground.
Braised Potato Salad with White Beans
Farmer’s Market Finds:
- Potatoes. You can find a plethora of potatoes at the summer farmer’s markets in Colorado, so make sure to stock up for this perfect BBQ side dish.
- Goat Yogurt. At many farmer’s markets, you will find fresh and local cheeses, milks, and yogurts and they are completely worth searching for! At our local market, a nearby goat farm brings all of their delicious options and we always keep some goat cheese and yogurt in our fridge during the summers.
- Scallions. Where we live, scallions grow like weeds! So they are definitely easy to find at your local farmer’s markets and are fantastic in tons of different summer dishes.
Herbed Goat Cheese & Radish Tartines
Farmer’s Market Finds:
- Radishes. You will find radishes all summer long at the markets and there’s never a week that we don’t pick up a bunch. You can sauté them with olive oil and herbs, dip them in hummus for a quick snack, or my very favorite, slice them and eat them with good butter and a sprinkle of salt.
- Garlic. If you’re anything like our family, you use garlic in almost every meal. Grab several heads, because don’t kid yourself, you’ll use it all before the following week’s market.
- Microgreens. These are the perfect little bit of green to throw on top of almost any summer meal. Spicy and tender and so delicious.
- Bonus! Remember the goat yogurt I mentioned earlier? Grab some goat cheese from the same farm for this dish!
Farmer’s Market Finds:
- Stone Fruit. The Colorado Western Slope is famous for it’s delicious peaches and other fantastic stone fruits that are available in the summer at the farmer’s markets! One quick tip: if you can hold out, wait until mid-July before you pick up the stone fruit. They are much, much more juicy, sweet, and delicious, and completely worth the wait.
- Arugula. Farm-fresh arugula is one of those things that makes all the difference. Skip it at the grocery store and buy it at the farmer’s market. Every time we buy arugula from the store, it ends up tasting somewhat bland and goes bad way too fast. At the farmer’s markets, however, you’ll find super spicy local arugula that will last you well beyond a week at home. That is, if you can stop yourself from eating it by the handful straight from the fridge…
- Beets. There are countless ways to enjoy this well-growing root during the summer. Boil and pickle them. Roast them. Even save the greens and sauté them up with butter and some of that local garlic you bought!
