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Farmers Market Recipes

Farmers’ Market Recipe: a Little Good, a Little Naughty Sweet Potato Muffins

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by Chelsea Cochrane

A recipe so good, you’ll think it’s bad… But it’s actually packed full of healthy ingredients, like sweet potato, ginger, turmeric and coconut oil. Just baked in a deliciously moist, soft muffin, possibly dusted with some powdered sugar. It’s the best of both worlds!

Sweet potatoes are in season at the Covington Farmers’ Market! They’re a great healthy, nutritious food, packed with complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber, antioxidants like beta carotene, vitamins C, E & D, as well as minerals like manganese and iron. You can find them in a variety of sizes and colors at the market, all locally harvested and fresh for a full nutritional punch!

Picking Your Sweet Potatoes

The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a member of the morning glory family, native to tropical regions of the Americas. There are many different varieties, ranging in taste, texture and consistency. Generally speaking, orange potatoes are the sweetest, and the darker the orange the sweeter. For this recipe I would suggest a sweeter potato, but feel free to do a mix. When in doubt, ask your farmer!

Go ahead and cook your sweet potatoes well ahead of time to allow for cooking, cooling and mashing time. You’ll want 3 cups total mashed potato when you’re done, so you’ll need about 3 pounds of sweet potato to start. It’s a good idea to go ahead and do extra just in case – you can always use it in another recipe, like this one:

Farmers Market Recipe: Garlic Mashed Sweet Potato & Turnips

Sweet Potato Muffin Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups of mashed sweet potato (see instructions)
  • 2 cups of flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. ginger powder
  • 1 tsp. turmeric powder
  • 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
  • 1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup cane sugar
  • 3/4 cup coconut oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • optional – powdered sugar for dusting

Directions:

(Note: Cook the sweet potatoes well ahead of time to allow them to cool down completely before handling.)

  1. Pierce holes in the sweet potatoes with a fork. In a lined baking sheet, roast at 400 degrees for 45 minutes, or until soft enough to poke straight through with a butter knife.
  2. When completely cooled, peel off potato skins and mash insides thoroughly. Measure out 3 cups.
  3. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and powder, salt, and spices.
  4. In a small bowl, combine the sweet potato, sugar, coconut oil, egg and vanilla.
  5. Portion evenly into muffin tins. Bake at 325 degrees for 30 minutes.
  6. Allow to cool on a rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.
  7. Make it a little naughty with some powdered sugar dusting, if you like. After all, it is the holidays!
Local Events Shop Local This Week at the Farmer's Market

This Week at the Covington Farmer’s Market by Charlene LeJeune

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Wed Farmers Market signHappy, happy Tuesday! I am looking forward to a lovely day tomorrow with blue skies smilin’ at me (and you, too.) Why not join us for a delicious turkey and cheddar wrap with a nice steamy bowl of Hot & Sour soup from Nanette? Or perhaps you may enjoy a serving of crunchy egg rolls from Kandi. Jeff and Kristen will not be at either market this week, but we will see them here next week. Frankie will have mini pies and fruit breads and crunchy nut brittle – that’s, if you’re good. Natalie will be here with fresh strawberries and Mr. Houston will have yard eggs, red & green cabbages, broccoli, turnips, and greens.

Crispin Schroeder will play at the Covington Farmers Market this Saturday

Crispin Schroeder will play at the Covington Farmers Market this Saturday

Those blue skies will be smilin’ again come Saturday morning and the melodic tunes of Crispen Schroeder will shine out from the gazebo. I know most of you have tasted Dong’s scrumptious Korean pancakes (‘cause I’ve seen them floating around the market like they were Lola’s parmesan fries). Well, Dong will sample and sell Korean BBQ this coming week. Can’t wait to taste it!

Crystal (Betty Rue Gluten-Free) is now offering finishing salts. I wasn’t sure what a finishing salt was so I looked it up and found that they enhance the depth of natural flavors in your meal. “As you eat, food and salt combine—first a flash of salt… then the food… a flicker of salt and now fuller food flavors, and then a faint spark of salt catches at the richest and most complex flavors of the food. With finishing salt, the relationship of salt and food evolves with every bite. The rewards are increased intensity of flavor, greater flavor complexity, exciting new textures and even aromas, and a heightened awareness of the very process of tasting food.” I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Rosalie Apothecary has many different tea blends to suit your tastes. I tried one this weekend called Carob Café and found the flavors of roasted carob and cacao, dandelion root and clove very soothing. You can even make a coffee substitute by brewing this blend stronger. Try her other blends, such as Hibiscus & Spearmint, Gypsy Cold Care, or Mulling Spice. Since they are loose teas, she even has cute little muslin bags to brew with. Perfect!

TigerBait treats 2

Tiger Bait Raw Whole Foods – Dehydrated Chicken Treats for Dogs & Cats

You can’t forget your little four legged buddies. Tiger Bait raw pet foods now offers dried chicken strips for your furry friend. I’m sure your pet will LOVE the raw foods they have. Hopefully, Andy and Tiffany will be back at the market this week. Right now they have their hands full as their nanny goats are beginning to have their kids. Ishmael of Mt. Hermon Pork tells me that they will have both green onion and Italian sausage available this week. He also told me of plans he has to make some gourmet type sausages which sound amazing!

I had a chance to taste some of Lena’s biscotti this past weekend; it was deeelish! She makes them with whole grains and almonds and they are crispy and perfect for dipping into a steamy cup of coffee. She also has those magnificent toasted bread rounds which are great instead of chips for dipping into Nur’s roasted red pepper or chipotle hummus or Hot Tamale Mama’s spinach artichoke dip.

Coffee Beans from Coast Roast

Coffee Beans from Coast Roast

We have lots and lots and lots of great things here at the Covington Farmers’ Market such as fabulous lip and skin balm from Michele (Sweet Home, Sweet Earth), or homemade marshmallows from Betty Rue, or a great gourmet coffee from Coast Roast, but you won’t find them if you’re not here. Come join us for a great start to your day!

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

Local Events Shop Local This Week at the Farmer's Market

This Week at the Covington Farmer’s Market by Charlene LeJeune

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Farmhouse Dairy at the Covington Farmer's Market

Farmhouse Dairy at the Covington Farmer’s Market

You’re probably already settling back into the school days routine – drop off, work, pick up, ball practice, ballet, piano lessons, cheerleading, homework, baths, dishes…OK…breathe! So when do you have time for preparing evening meals? No worries; it’s under control. We have our own version of fast food called The Covington Farmers’ Market and that goes double on Wednesdays where you can pick up wonderful meals to last throughout the week. Check out our attached menu.

Before you know it, Saturday will arrive with Snow in the gazebo – Robert Snow and the Hot Tamales, that is, so don’t get any ideas about cooler weather just yet. However, hot or cold, rain or shine YOU will definitely want to be out there on Saturday because we have TWO special demos for you. First, Donna Caire will present “Growing Wild in St. Tammany” and, no, this is not a parenting course. Donna is a recent graduate of the Louisiana Master Naturalist program and she is going to have samples of plants that grow wild in St. Tammany Parish such as lyre leaf sage, blue vervain, elderberry, ruellia, pine, French mulberry, plaintain, golden rod, turk’s cap, pine, wild strawberries, etc. Learn about the medicinal and edible properties of these plants and discover other opportunities in the area to learn more about wild plants. And, to go along with that, Linda Franzo of the Passionate Platter will also be on-site whipping up Vibrant Vinaigrettes for greens and grains. You’re gonna love it!

If you forgot to pick up supper on Wednesday (or you’ve already eaten it all), then pass by Spanish R Us for pupusas or enchiladas, just heat and serve. Or stroll over to Hot Tamale Mama and try out those magnificent stuffed shells or her vegetarian tamales. What can be easier than heat and eat? A dinner with whole grain pasta (7Grain) topped with Tomato Blossoms & Mushroom Dreams Sauce (yours truly) takes no time at all. Cynthia offers delicious Italian pasta, sauces, and ravioli for more quick dinners.

Don’t forget the bread – baguette, ciabatta, whole wheat, harvest grain – warmed in the oven and spread with fresh creamery butter (Mauthe’s), Vincent’s Skordalia, velvety chevre (Farmhouse Dairy), or a fruity jam or jelly (Robin or Althee). Amazing! Angel’s awesome stuffed artichokes make a fantastic appetizer or a meal in itself.

For another quick meal, try barbecuing some shrimp. Peel your shrimp, sprinkle with a tablespoon or more of my Shrimp on the Barbie seasoning, top with pats of Mauthe’s butter and “barbecue” in the oven. While that’s baking, prepare as many servings as you need of Lena’s organic corn grits or heat up a carton or two of Hot Tamale Mama’s New Orleans Cheese Grits. When all is finished, scoop a serving of grits into a bowl, top with a generous portion of BBQ shrimp and enjoy! You did pick up bread, right?

Hot Tamale Mama, Norma Jean, and Nanette all prepare extraordinary summer soups that make for quick meals. Just add a salad and bread and you’re good to go. Now, wasn’t that easy? Or, just as easy, you can try one of Nanette’s new simmer sauces. Just add meat or veggies, simmer, and serve. Your week does NOT have to be stressful. Why not make us part of your routine?

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

Wed Market Menu 9-3-14