During the height of the local food season, the foods we don’t get in our CSA share we get from roadside stands, farm stands, and farmer’s markets. Five years ago, our little town of Provo had one very small farmer’s market. All the vendors (there had to have been less then 20) fit in a small parking lot across the street from where they now hold the market every weekend. And while it is still considered a small market, with more crafters and artisans than farmers, it has come a long way and will continue to grow as people shop for their food needs directly from the source.

Now the downtown Provo market on Saturday morning isn’t the only market you can go to during the week. Here are all the farmer’s markets (that I know of) in Utah Valley. Be sure to visit one of them this week!

THANKSGIVING POINT FARMERS MARKET
By the Water Tower at Thanksgiving Point, Lehi
Fridays, from August 3 – October 5
3:00 – 7:00 p.m.

PROVO FARMERS MARKET
500 West 100 South (south side of Pioneer Park), Provo
Saturdays, from July – October
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

SPANISH FORK FARMERS MARKET
City Parking Lot, 40 South Main Street, Spanish Fork
Saturdays, from August – October
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

HAPPY VALLEY FARMERS MARKET
The Shops at Riverwoods in Provo
Saturdays, from July 2 – October 15
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

BYU LAVELL EDWARDS STADIUM FARMERS MARKET
La Vell Edwards Stadium South Parking Lot (1700 North Canyon Road, Provo)
Thursdays, from July 28 – October 27
3:00pm-8:00pm

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August is the peak of the summer season. There are so many different fruits and vegetables that are growing around our state. I thought it might be nice to have a list of fruits and vegetables that are in season right now, fruits and vegetables that you may be able to find at your local farmer’s market or grocery store. Continue reading “In Season Right Now” »

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I love using herbs fresh, especially dill. I like to use it in sauces, soups, as a garnish and especially with crisp summer cucumbers. I tried (for the third year in a row) to grow my own herbs and finally they’ve grown enough that I can actually use them! Until they flower, that is. It’s so exciting to have my own little garden, even if it is only a foot and a half wide.

Keep reading to see some facts I learned about dill and check out a recipe we love using it fresh from the garden. Continue reading “herbs: dill” »

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Our family loves chia seeds, for their nutritional value, and the crunch they add to whatever you sprinkle them on. My toddler likes to lick her finger, stick it in the jar of chia seeds, then suck them off like candy or sugar. We sprinkle them on our oatmeal, muesli, on salads, add it to dressings, smoothies, and anything else we can think up.

Keep reading to find out a few more interesting facts about chia seeds. Continue reading “fyi: chia seeds” »

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I love July in Utah.

The holiday and celebration of Independence Day is prolonged with the celebration of Pioneer Day twenty days after the fourth. It means that flags, banners and firework stands are not taken down until the end of the month, and that celebrating with red white and blue food is not unusual, but rather festive. This is the breakfast we had Independence day morning, red white and blue in all the right ways. Continue reading “recipe: banana oat blueberry pancakes” »

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Snap peas are also called sugar snap peas. They are one of our favorite summer greens, because we bring them along as a snack for our various adventures. They are good to eat both raw and cooked. They have a wonderfully crunchy texture, a sweet and fresh flavor, and great health benefits.

Keep reading for a few more facts about sugar snap peas. Continue reading “fyi: sugar snap peas” »

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We have been getting a lot of sugar snap peas in our weekly CSA pick-up, about two pounds a week! My little toddler has always loved peas, and being able to eat the pod they come in is an added bonus. She literally gasps with joy when she sees bowls of them. We have been eating them mostly raw, dipped in veggie dips, hummus, pestos and the like, but we’ve also cooked them in wonton soup, and sauteed them until their flavor is heightened to its peak. Continue reading “recipe: sauteed sugar snap peas” »

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Raw vegetables surround us; carrots, snap peas, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes, to name a few. We love to slice the bigger vegetables into matchsticks or slices, dip them in a yummy sauce, and eat them in the sun. This veggie dip is perfect to pair with your next picnic veggie platter, or might I suggest at your holiday weekend barbeque?

There really are no definite measurements, add everything, taste, then add more of what you want. The measurements given are merely guidelines.

creamy veggie dip

about 3/4 – 1 cup of cream cheese, greek yogurt, coconut cream or a mixture of them all
about 1/2 – 3/4 cup a soft cheese (chevre or ricotta), optional
1 – 2 small cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup sweet onion, minced
a few spoonfuls of stoneground mustard
a few sprigs of fresh dill, fronds only, minced
a drizzle of honey
a squeeze of lime
salt, to taste
almond milk, cream, or buttermilk, as needed

Combine all ingredients, mixing well. Add milk, cream, or buttermilk (any kind) a little bit at a time until it reaches the consistency you like.

Cover, and allow to chill for at least an hour before serving.

notes:
start with one clove of garlic, taste, then add another clove if you think it needs more.
if you don’t like the bite that raw garlic and onion gives, saute them in butter or oil for a few minutes until soft.

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We have been spending alot of time away from home this first week of summer playing in the sunshine and warm temperatures so our meals and snacks have been fresh, fast and easy peasy. I have made sure to keep snacks with me as often as I can when we’re out and about, simple trail mixes and snacks that I can prep and store days before, and when consumed don’t make too much of a mess. And because it’s so warm (and because I don’t like finding melted messes in the bottom of my toddler’s carseat) I make trail mixes with things that can stand the heat, at least until naptime. Continue reading “recipe: quick and easy trailmix + other snacks” »

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Last weekend I ran my first half marathon (I still can’t believe it actually happened) and after the race my husband made me a “recovery shake” that I think I will be making after many more of my long weekend runs and whenever I get a craving for something cool, peanut buttery and a little bit of chocolatey goodness. Continue reading “recipe: chocolate peanut butter milkshake” »

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