What's Cooking at the Market

This Saturday morning I'm making some of my favorite easy recipes at the University District farmers' market. The cooking demo starts at 10:00am. Last week the demo tent shifted from the front of the market (near University) to the side (along 50th). This cooking demo shift happened because Rockridge Orchards is now where Rama Farm was for the last few summers. (The lines for Rama peaches are so long it was hard to get to other vendors near them.) So now Rama Farm is now where the information booth used to be. The information booth is where the demo tent--right across from Rama.

I'm looking forward to whipping up a cherry vinaigrette, a creamy Northwest greens soup and an amazing fruit and hazelnut dressing served over berries and apricots. Who doesn't love all this great Northwest produce?

I'm also selling The Northwest Vegetarian Cookbook at a discount. (The retail price is $19.95 and the books will sell at the market for $18.00.) For those who are interested, I'm offering a chance to win a free copy of my cookbook. All you have to do is enter the drawing--name address and phone number--and the winning entry will be drawn on Sunday July 25th. I'll call the number and post your name if you win. (But you must confirm my phone message in 48 hours or I'll draw a new name.) Last week's winner was Brett Lukens from Port Angeles.

The University District market is the perfect place for a demo to celebrate my book. I've shopped at this great community market for years. I've met some of my best friends here, and 9 farmers and 1 beekeeper at this market are featured in the profiles of my book. Read about how Nash Huber of Nash's Produce was instrumental in starting PCC Farmland Trust, or how Bob Meyer of Stoney Plains was instrumental in starting the University District Market--the bell that starts sales at this market, rings for Bob. You'll also discover the challenges of tree fruit growers like Mair-Farm Taki and Grouse Mountain Farm. I wish I could have included all the farmers' stories, but Timber Press voted for an equal number of Oregon farms--which all makes for delicious reading. I'll write more about Oregon farms in the upcoming weeks when I visit the markets and farmers there.

See you at the market!