Today, for about the first time ever, I convinced Stuart to join me at the farmer's market. Can I say how much I love going to the farmer's market? There's something pure about buying your food freshly picked or butchered or made from the people that produced it. Over our vacation, I got Stuart reading "The Omnivore's Dilemma" which I read back in February and it's really got him thinking. And so he was intrigued to join me in wandering the market - sampling apples, smelling homemade soaps and potpourri, oohing & aahing over the colorful fall flowers, and selecting the basis for our meals this week.
The farmer's market has also turned into a year 'round event, so I have a feeling we'll be frequenting it almost every Saturday morning from now on. It was so much more fun with him there - it really is a family friendly place. On the way home we realized that since grocery store prices have gotten so high lately, we actually spent probably only about 5-10% more than we would have for the same items at the store. That makes the market even that much more appealing. In fact, the only thing that would make it more perfect would be if Joe, Nick and Ally could come along - but the four-footed members of our family unfortunately aren't welcome there.Back home with our grain-fed antibiotic-free steaks, fresh mozzarella and fabulous haul of just-picked veggies tucked away it was time for a bike ride. Not a bike ride with a capital B, but a bike ride. A leisurely 20-something miles at an easy pace. Chatting, stopping to take pictures of the colorful leaves, and basically doing what some might call 'base training', but today I called being together.
The only downside was that a lot of other, not quite as trail savvy folks had the same idea. We dodged and weaved around a few oblivious people on bikes and on foot. Overall though, it was just gorgeous. It's now early evening on this idyllic day and I'm working on dinner. Those steaks are marinating in home-grown rosemary and wine. The mushrooms have been sauteed for a yummy mushroom barley risotto. And a soft red wine has just been uncorked. Time to put on some college football, light some candles and enjoy knowing that there's no rush. No 6hr bike rides or 2hr runs await us tomorrow. I admit it...I really do love autumn.
6 comments:
I really want to read that book too!
I highly recommend it. The first section is a little disconcerting and really makes you stop and think about your food choices. It's a process, but I know it's causing us to start making changes around the edges of our daily diet.
As long as I can eat my steak!!
Give Stuart my congrats on his achievement.
Which farmer's market do you go to? We used to go the the Arlington one every weekend, and got out of the habit. You just reminded me of how much fun we use to have going to it. I want to get into the habit again.
I'm all about the Falls Church market. It's smaller than Arlington, but easier parking and I think it's a little more friendly and "small town-ish", to the extent you can get small town in DC!
Oh, and I'll NEVER be a vegetarian. Only if all the meat in the world has disappeared would I give up meat. But, if I can justify to myself that it's just a little bit more healthy than buying from Safeway, then all the better!!!
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