Farmer's Market Bounty!

On Wednesday afternoons we go the Elk Grove Park to see what wonderful fresh produce we can find at the Farmer's Market. This year the offerings are a bit more expensive than in years past, but considering the prices in the stores there are still some great deals to be found.

Olivia and I see it as a treasure hunt...which stall has the best nectarines? Tomatoes? Peppers? Do we want to buy strawberries here or at the stand up the road from our house? We leave the house with a set amount of money (usually change collected throughout the week) and head out with high hopes. We are rarely disappointed.

Yesterday we got a great deal! We got there as they were closing (a great tip for getting the best deals) and quickly ran through trying to see everything before it was all loaded up and rumbling away in the trucks. We bought nectarines, peppers, onions, melons, cucumbers, two kinds of squash and tomatoes.

A sidenote: I readily admit that I am the only one in my house that will eat the squash. That's ok. I will prepare it the way I like it and eat my solitary supper with great relish! I will also ignore the faces my family will make as I eat it. Like my grandma always said: "Keep your eyes on your own plate!"

Back to our blessing...the tomatoes were a dollar a pound, a decent price for these large vine ripened beauties. After employing a complicated system of weighing the tomatoes in our hands and imagining what we would do with each one, we decided that we could eat at least 7 pounds during the week...sandwiches, salads, salsa. So we selected our tomatoes and paid our $7.00 to the vendor.

The tomatoes ended up being our last purchase of the day and we headed back to the car. As I passed between two stalls a man spoke to me: "Want a box of tomatoes?" I looked at the box he was indicating. It was a LARGE box heaped with tomatoes. "There are about 28 pounds of tomatoes there" he said, trying to convince me. I asked him how much for the box and he answered $10.00.

I told him I would check and dug around to see what money I had. I had eight dollars. He took the money without hesitation and told me to take the tomatoes. I picked up the box...which weighed AT LEAST 28 pounds and went home.

We have given tomatoes to bunches of people and still have plenty left to enjoy! What a blessing!

So, the point of telling this story is to encourage you to shop at the farmer's market and to give me a reason to post a fresh salsa recipe...here you go!

Fresh Tomato Salsa
2-3 medium sized fresh tomatoes (from 1 lb to 1 1/2 lb), stems removed, finely diced
1/2 red white or yellow onion, finely diced
1 jalapeño chili pepper, stems, ribs, seeds removed, finely diced (or a tablespoon of canned diced jalapeño's)
Juice of one lime
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Start with chopping up the fresh tomatoes. Prepare the chilies. Be very careful while handling these hot peppers. If you can, avoid touching them with your hands. Use a fork to cut up the chilies over a small plate, or use a paper towel or gloves to protect your hands. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water after handling and avoid touching your eyes for several hours. (I learned this the hard way!)

2. Combine all of the ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Taste. If the chilies make the salsa too hot, add some more chopped tomato. If not hot enough, add more chilies.

Let sit for an hour for the flavors to combine. Makes approximately 3-4 cups. Serve with chips, tortillas, tacos, burritos, tostadas, quesadillas, pinto or black beans.