A very happy Tuesday, friends! Look at this day! What a gorgeous reprieve from the cold and damp! And tomorrow will be more of the same. Do yourself a favor and get to the Covington Farmers’ Market; we have lots of great stuff for you! You all know about the great dishes served up on Wednesday such as, Chomper’s pulled pork sandwiches, Kandi’s delicious chicken porridge, Cynthia’s Italian-style meatballs and red gravy, and Nanette’s crunchy veggie wraps, but we have a few new vendors. The Egg Ladies are there with plenty of farm fresh eggs. Faust Farms is new as well, offering plump sweet strawberries. I bought half a flat with all the intention of making jam; unfortunately, there aren’t enough left to make one jar. Oh, dear. I guess I’ll have to get more tomorrow. New on the menu: Frankie baked an amazing Peppery Cheddar Bread. Similar to banana bread, it has a light cheddar flavor with hints of black pepper. Kandi has put her best sauces – Sweet Chili and Nuoc Mam – into pint sized jars to add that special something to your own meal creations.
St. Tammany Humane Society will be a regular with lots of great information on upcoming events. They are ready and willing to answer all your pet care questions. Good nutrition is a must for your four-legged family members. Stop by Tiger Bait, a Saturday vendor located by the oak tree, to find out about their raw pet food and why it’s best for your little friend.
Saturday, sweet Saturday, will finally roll around and ‘round about 9:30 am, Joe Manuel will croon out lively tunes in the gazebo. And, in the demo tent, it’s Herb Serendipity Day! Linda Franzo of the Passionate Platter will demonstrate how to make and serve Garden Herb Pesto with homemade Raviolis. It’s always great to have Linda visit the market and share her vast knowledge on using and cooking with herbs.
Everywhere you look is evidence of Spring’s promise of abundance and produce tables were laden with freshness. Nick’s tables were loaded with brightly colored Swiss chard, including one that resembled rhubarb. Green onions, kohlrabi, speckled butter lettuce (it looked as good as it sounds), sunflower shoots, fresh parsley and tiny quail eggs filled in the rest of the space. Baby carrots, radishes, and spring tendergreens filled Brandon’s tables along with that delightful granola that Marietta makes. I saw cabbages, kale, and red spring onions on John’s table and, gracing the edges, were bouquets of Nancy’s sweet peas. Jessica has Tuscano kale and lots of large goose eggs. Mr. Houston has been working hard harvesting a fine crop of spinach, Swiss chard, curly kale, flat leaf kale, Tuscano kale and Siberian kale. Kale is one of the most nutrient dense vegetables available, providing large amounts of Vitamins C, A, K1, and B6, plus potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper and manganese. Since they are, as all our vegetables, picked fresh-from-the-garden, you get the most benefits.
Those of you who were hardy enough to brave the scowling skies and blustery winds of last Saturday were treated to a spicy seafood soup prepared by Spanish R Us. Rebecca won’t have that every week, but she will have her famous Central American tamales and pupusas. Her creamy avocado & cream cheese salsa makes a great dip or a magnificent sauce for homemade enchiladas. Travelling to the other side of the world (and the market), Nur is once again preparing Baba Ganoush (her special eggplant dip) and also another eggplant dish called Shaqshooka, made with eggplant, tomato, garlic, onion, and a secret spice blend. While you’re over there, you’ve GOT to try her new shredded carrot salad with yogurt, garlic, dill and 3 squirts of deliciocity.
Blustery or beautiful, there’s always something great to find at the market. With a steamy cup of coffee in hand, you can explore length and breadth of the Covington Farmers’ Market and all the goodness we have to offer.
Lots of love,
Charlene LeJeune
Abundant Life Kitchen
The Covington Farmers’ Market is open each Wednesday, rain or shine, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire and every Saturday from 8a.m. to 12p.m. on the side lawn of the Covington Police Station, 609 N. Columbia St. Call (985) 892-1873 for information or visit www.covingtonfarmersmarket.org
