Portland: Sauvie Island and cooking explosions

Thus our big day of food begins:

This is the part of our story where we show you the bounty of our harvest and the amazing food we cooked from our pickings:

Sauvie Island is about a 10 minute drive from the city. It's the largest island along the Columbia River, at 26000 acre and is mostly comprised of farmland and wildlife. The flat terrain lends well to bikers and many come to the island to ride their bikes. The loop is about 20 miles around.

Our main objective that afternoon was to visit the humongous blackberry bushes that surround the island off the road and collect tons of berries to bring home and bake with. This was, after all blackberry season at its prime and we were going to make a party of it.

Also, there were a couple of 'pick-your-own' farms off the road that we were hoping to stop in at to see what was still growing... The peach trees were picked and all that was left were piles of moldy peaches on the ground. Still gorgeous, but not so delicious. Rows of overgrown cabbage, lettuce tall and flowering, and hundreds of blooming flowers, ready to be picked and taken home.


When we got back to the house, in addition to the bounty of the farmer's market, we had a collection of amazing finds we picked at the farm: peppers, broccoli floretts, pears and Italian prunes.

We were anxious to get cracking in the kitchen. On the menu: pimientos de Padrón, stuffed zucchini blossoms with ricotta, mozzarella and mint. Polenta with fresh corn, roasted peppers and jalapeno cheese curds from Rogue creamery that we bought at the Saturday market. Fresh mixed green salad with cukes and oat leaf lettuce from the market and finally for desert, blackberry crumble with brown sugar ice cream.
Take a look!

Ricotta was mixed with grated assiago, mozzarella, minced mint and an egg. Blossoms were stuffed with the mixture, dipped in egg then coated with Panko (Japanese bread crumbs).

Padrón peppers, a staple in Spanish tapas, are a rare find. L had picked up a little box of them the previous week and we were excited to try this fresh, green savory treat! Easy prep: heat up a hot pan, pour in some oil, throw in the baby green pepper and cook till browned and popping. When they are done, slide out of the pan and coat generously with sea-salt.

Finally, our amazing blackberry dessert. Simple butter, oats, sugar and flour to make a crumble topping. Nothing like eating the literal fruits of your labor with dozens of thorn scratches and stains on your fingers to show for it for days to follow.

Portland: Saturday Farmer's Market

It is really not to believe that this abundance of farm fresh food happens here every week, March to December in the Rose City.
The Portland Famers Market circulates locations throughout the week culminating in the largest and most exciting one, the Saturday Market at PSU In addition to farm stand with the fare we are all used to seeing at markets across the country, this farmers market (like the rest of this city) has pop-up food stands serving everything from tamales to buttery baked goods to fresh crab legs in cocktail sauce.
In spite of the very persistent rain we hung out with all morning, we were able to eat our way through the stalls, buy up some amazing produce and plan our menu for that night's cooking project. Zucchini blossoms, tomatoes of all sorts and colors, amazing mushrooms, spring onions and herbs, greens and all kinds of goodies!

The most delicious breakfast biscuit I ever experienced was from a stand called Pinestate Biscuits. A tender, flaky buttermilk biscuit is cut in half, served with a piping hot smothering of creamy and savory vegetarian shitake mushroom gravy. I requested mine with an addition of egg and cheese (for protein, of course). We fought over who got the last bite.


The market has an endless roster of amazing things to eat and drink. A coffee stand rub by CAFE VELO professes: Each cup of coffee is individually ground and brewed to order in porcelain filter holders from a constantly changing selection of seasonal Stumptown single origin coffees. We also feature a French press for those who prefer fuller body press coffee. Pretty cool.

Also, the market features pepper growers who roast their own hot peppers over a giant turning metal cage rigged up to a propane tank (to wet to photograph!) and a super cool pizza booth making fresh pizza and breads in their brick oven.

We were too stuffed to taste it all - and of course wanted to save some for next week...

Cheers!

Portland: Mini Farmers Market, First Thursdays...

After our afternoon wanderings, we met up with L for a little taste of what is to come at Saturday's huge farmer's market. First a stroll around the Pearl district; beautiful buildings with magnificent landscaping. Then to the market for blackberries, pears, peaches and nectarines. Unbelievable produce and flowers.







First Thursdays Art walks featured hundreds of street artists selling and displaying their work and many studios and galleries open to all with snacks and wine to boot!

Spring comes to VT. Memorial Day Weekend (part 1)

Having my very first guest over the Memorial Day weekend was a delight! I was able to play tour guide in a place I am just beginning to familiarize myself with. The multi-shaded green landscape was a perfect backdrop to the weekend, painting a most perfect pastoral setting to an adventure over the hills of the North East Kingdom.

The adventures were many and the sites visited varied. I think that I'll cut the blog in half and recount some of the highlights.

After an early morning shift at the cheesehouse, I was off to Burlington airport to pick up Jenine and Ruby. (Jet Blue rocks.) Our first stop after the pickup was City Hall Park in downtown Burlington. That Saturday was the first of the season when the artists and crafters would be coming to the weekly farmer's market to showcase and sell their art. Also, there would be a ton of food and I, big food fan, was ready for some springtime produce. There were some awesome food vendors selling all kinds of delights, from preserves to cheeses to (I think most of you will agree that root beer floats are not produce but we can make an exception)
The square in front of city hall was totally happening. Quite the hippie scene complete with dogs off leash, wild dreaded dudes and lots of grass lounging.

From the market, we wandered around Main and Church Streets in search of brunch. We had all had a long and early start to the day and were ready to chow down on some home cookin'. Big ass lines at brunch are not just a NY thing, as it turns out. We skipped the 35min wait at a recommended joint in town and took a chance at a super cute diner called Henry's. Good call. Henry's was awesome. The food, pipin hot and delicious, the decor gave me plenty of fabulous photo opportunities and the waitresses with their awesome uniforms were fantastic.