What is in season?
The easiest way to find out what is in season is to take a walk around your local farmers market. What a way to get excited about food, purchase it as fresh as possible, and probably entice yourself to try something new!
Remember, when you shop locally at your farmers markets, or buy farm direct, you not only get top produce at a fantastic price, but you support an integral part of your own home community. Lots of farms offer the opportunity to come buy in bulk right from their land and that can be a fantastic way to stock up and save money at the same time.
Contact your local friendly farm today and see if that is an option for you! If you're not sure where to look, use this directory to get you started: http://www.localharvest.org/
If you can't wait until your next farm day to do some research, here are some highlights to watch out for in the fall:
Apples: Perfect to add in some crunch and sweet treats to your day, while adding lots of fiber and fun too!
Artichokes: Roasted and succulent. Save these for a nice leisurely Sunday night dinner so you can savor!
Beets! Raw they are crunchy and sweet. Roasted they are softer and less sweet- more rustic. Always beautiful to look at. Enjoy them raw, roasted, pickled, or pureed!
Broccoli: Loaded with nutrients. Fantastic raw, steamed, roasted, pureed, in soup, as a side.
Brussels Sprouts: (We can never get enough of these in my house in the fall). Fantastic chopped and roasted or sauteed with just a little olive oil and garlic. Simple, delicious,and packed with nutrition!
Cabbage: So versatile! Raw in slaw, steamed, sauteed, fermented, paired with apples and sausages, tossed in soup.
Carrots, practically a year round friend, they are so nice to roast in the colder months, either sweetened with some honey, or savory with garlic, onions, and other root vegetables.
Cauliflower: Roast them with the Brussels sprouts, mash them with potatoes, top your shepherds pie with them. Delicious!
Grapes: Sweet crunchy grapes! You might be surprised about how many local resources you have for tasty fall grapes!
Kale: Gets nice and sweet as the cold months go on! You can bake it into chips, chop up small and steam or saute, toss in with your soups and stews, or steam and freeze for another day!
Squash: One of the highlights of the fall season, in my opinion. Roast them whole and then break them down if the process of chopping up squash is scary to you. Mash and spice up for side dishes, puree for soups, chop and toss with other root vegetables for side dishes.
There is always more, but this is a fall highlights list. Go check out what you can find at your local farm!
Curry Cauliflower soup
* 1 head cauliflower- chopped
* 2 carrots- chopped
* 2 medium red potatoes- chopped
* 1c peas- out of the shell
1c cooked garbanzo beans
* 16 oz coconut milk
* 4c vegetable broth
* 1-2 tbsp red curry paste- season to taste with this
Heat vegetable broth, coconut milk, and curry paste in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Stir to blend flavors.
Add in potatoes and cook for 10 minutes. Add in carrots and cook another 3 minutes. Add in cauliflower and peas and cook another 5-10 minutes.
Great as is or eliminate potatoes and add some brown rice instead!
Serves 6-8
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