Don’t you love it when great food magically comes together with whatever you happen to have lying around? Last Saturday, we woke up to that perfect spring sunshine that makes you feel like you’ve got to spend the entire day outside…so we got dressed, grabbed a coffee and headed to the downtown farmers’ market. It was our first market trip of this season, and its live music, stalls brimming with gorgeous produce and general feeling of happiness made me wonder why I haven’t been going every weekend. First stop? TacoDeli‘s stand to fuel up on roasted veggie breakfast tacos, then off to the stalls to fill our bags with vegetables to grill with that evening’s steak. Of course, I couldn’t resist popping in a few extra treats from a couple of my favorite vendors, which is what inspired the spur-of-the-moment appetizer we savored that night on the patio…
It all started with this bread…a still-warm loaf of raisin-walnut from Texas French Bread. I’m telling you guys – this seriously might be my favorite bread ever. For those of you in Austin, it’s also available at their café’s on Wednesdays and Fridays…and for all you out-of-towners, well, now you know what to pick up as a souvenir on your next visit.
In the above pic, I’m falling in love with the honeydew lavender lemonade I snagged from Bola Pizza’s stand – topped off with Topo Chico, it was so refreshing, and I’m dying to recreate it at home. Anyway…back to the appetizer.
I knew I wanted something special to top my raisin-walnut bread, so we swung by the confituras stall where I proceeded to drool over every flavor on the menu. This locally-made small-batch artisanal jam is hands-down my favorite on the planet. Last year my cousin Sarah gave me the strawberry vanilla bean for Christmas, and I’ve been hooked ever since. This time, I was feeling the strawberry rhubarb.
That night, Adam and I sliced our bread, unwrapped the wheel of Saint Angel triple cream I had in the fridge, opened up our new strawberry-rhubarb and sliced a fresh plum. I set it all out on a big cutting board, and – you guys, it was the best appetizer – so simple and totally thrown together with what we had on hand. So while there’s really no “recipe” for today’s tasting, it was such a great reminder for me to occasionally put away the cookbooks, be spontaneous and think about how to combine fresh ingredients in a new way. You just might find that the most mouthwatering discoveries are born as a result…
What’s your favorite way to use up your loot from the farmers’ market?
*images by Camille
yumm yumm…following you
xoxo
This couldn’t have been any more right up my alley – I love the combination of cheese and fruit preserves! From the more traditional raspberry + Brie, figs + creamy gorgonzola (not the “blue cheese crumbles”!), membrillo + Idiazabal, to the slightly weird but good bittersweet orange marmalade + aged sharp cheddar or Parrano. YUM!
Farmers’ market loot is the best – one of my favorites is the selection of wild mushrooms. I bring home 4-5 different kinds from the market. They’re so versatile. Sauteed with olive oil and garlic – or ramps, this time of year – it can be a topping for crostini or pizza, or mixed with pasta, or cooked into a risotto.
Now I can’t wait for the weekend to go to the market! Is it only Tuesday?
That sounds amazing, Mia – my next trip to the farmer’s market is going to turn into a wild mushroom pizza, for sure!! xo
Oh my, this looks so delicious! I love dishes like this that are thrown together but work perfectly.
This posting makes me miss Nashville’s Farmers Market. It was wonderful and it seemed to go on forever. Here, we don’t have anything in comparison.
Why, OH WHY did I ever leave Austin? Oh yea, couldn’t find a job after college…can’t wait to get back!
Strawberry-Rhubarb compote is my favorite!! I love this time of the year because it’s my birthday and both strawberry and rhubarb are in season. I’m a big fan of mixing my sweet with savories so I could imagine how delicious this is.
I love picking up fresh in season produce, but most of all… herbs.
Yum, what a delicious snack! You’re making me hungry
Kate {Something Fabulous}
http://thesomethingfabulous.blogspot.com
{BESO HANDBAGS GIVEAWAY ON MY BLOG!}
This looks amazing, Camille! Yum!
This sounds so amazing! I walk to Texas French Bread all the time and I’ll definitely remember to try that raisin-walnut bread…yum!
This kind of food makes my heart sing. Such a lovely combination.
Mmm…
Your posts make me want to pack my bags and move to Austin ASAP! The crostini looks gorgeous. We have one good market here in Atlanta and I just like to grab whatever looks great and goes together (peas, mushrooms, carrots, etc). I saute it all together and put it over rice or quinoa. Really good!
BEAUTIFUL photographs. They make me feel like I am right there. If you could just include a soundtrack next time.
The jam, cream and bread looks very yummy.