I LOVE going to the Haymarket farmer's market in the North End - I never spend more than $15 for a big bag full of fruit and vegetables. The produce varies by what is in season (obviously!), so I never get bored by the same old things.
Wondering if your favorite fruit or veggie is in season? Take a look at this website:
http://localfoods.about.com/od/finduselocalfoods/a…
It was very hard to decide, but here are three of my absolute favorite recipes with fresh vegetables as the main attraction.
1. Tomato Pie
This is my favorite summer food to eat. EVER. Something about the combination of fresh tomatoes, cheese, caramelized onions, and bacon really makes this dish out of this world. It is a great side dish or can be served as the main entree with a side salad!
Recipe here: http://www.midwesteastcoastgirl.com/#!Tomato-Pie/c…
2. Quinoa Veggie Salad
This one is super easy to customize - the fresh lime/olive oil dressing really helps keep the focus on the veggies and the addition of any crunchy veggie sounds delicious to me.
Recipe: http://www.midwesteastcoastgirl.com/#!Favorite-Qui…
3. Simple Brussels Sprouts
I'll admit it, I used to HATE Brussels sprouts. It turns out, I just hated the way I had consumed them (microwaved - gross!). When sprouts are pan-fried or roasted in the oven, they develop a lovely flavor that cuts down on the bitterness and makes them super tender.
All you need is:
- 2-3 cups Brussels sprouts, rinsed and chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar or brown sugar
- Walnuts, toasted (optional)
To make:
- Sauté garlic and olive oil until garlic softens.
- Add Brussels sprouts and cook until tender (about five minutes).
- Lower heat and add coconut sugar to caramelize a little bit.
- Sprinkle toasted walnuts in, if desired, and serve hot.
