Sunday Feature: Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up

This week’s special guest is Mar Vista Dad. Well, that’s not his real name, but since he’s my husband, he can be known that way. He’s also a wonderful cook and he decided to make fresh tomato pasta sauce with these beautiful tomatoes

Mar Vista Dad
and this delicious lemon basil.
Lemon basil.JPG
He chops garlic and sautes that in olive oil, then adds the coarsely chopped tomatoes and cooks just for a few minutes. Basil goes in last, just as you’re serving the pasta. Yum!! Thanks for cooking, honey!
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Sunday Feature: Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up

Today was a blustery day in Mar Vista, cold, windy and rainy, and only the heartiest of shoppers were there first thing when the market opened. One such hearty soul was Agnes Anderson, from the Sivananda Yoga Vendanta Center, who was picking up the ingredients for some split pea soup. The perfect thing to have on a chilly day.

Agnes Anderson
She first picked up some potatoes, then she got some carrots and celery.
Carrots and celery
She starts by sauteing the chopped vegetables in some ghee, with cumin and home-grown, dried oregano. Then, once they’re soft and the spices are really coming to life, she adds water and the dried peas. Then just let it cook. Sounds pretty easy — and, like I said, perfect for a day like today.
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Sunday Feature: Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up

Today I checked in with my friend Craig Jaffe as he shopped for dinner for his family, and it sounds really yummy! (That’s Craig on the right.) DSCN0662

He’s going to start with these clams that he’ll steam in white wine, with garlic, onions, salt and pepper, and then he’ll serve them in their broth.
DSCN0664
Then they’re going to have Chilean Seabass, sauteed in butter, dill, and salt and pepper, served with artichokes, garlic butter dipping sauce on the side.DSCN0663
I have to say, those are all some of my favorite foods. Wish I were invited over!

Craig is what we call a “Major Volunteer”, by the way (and so is his wife; must run in the family). He’s co-President of Mar Vista Elementary’s booster club, the MVSEG, he’s a cub scout den leader, AND he’s a coach on his son’s little league team up at North Venice Little League, which is where I run into him about three times a week now that the season is in full swing. Oh and by the way, he runs his own business, The Jaffe Insurance Agency. It’s amazing he has time to cook, much less make such amazing food!

 

An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

 

Sunday Feature: Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up

Today’s market shopper is my friend, Debra.

Debra at the market
She’s going to make something that sounds amazing: quinoa and red rice salad. 

 

The ingredients are: quinoa, red rice, carmelized onions, spring onions, arugula, pine nuts, dried apricots, and cilantro, dressed with olive oil and the juice and zest of one lemon. 

 

She’s also holding these cool-looking red carrots, which she’s going to glaze with a little butter and sugar. Thanks, Debra!!

 

ps Red rice is a special ingredient you need to get at Whole Foods (or I’m sure other places), so if you don’t feel like making the trip, you can substitute brown rice instead.
An original post by Sarah Auerswald.

Sunday Feature: Mar Vista Farmer’s Market Wrap-Up

Today was a big day at the Market! Crafts, Logos, Cooking Demos! Wild!

The market debuted its new logo today, created by the talented students at the Art Institute of California — Los Angeles, seen here on an apron. Awesome! And the students of the Institute’s Culinary Arts program were on hand to demonstrate mirepoix and it sure smelled good.
MVFM new logo

Join me after the jump for a run-down of the crafters, and of course, a new recipe!

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