This will start an occasional series of odd little sketches of the customers who come to our farmers' market booth in Nampa. It's an odd sort of interaction - the regulars come back enough that we get a view of their personality, but we often don't know even names or much about them.

Darlene is a tiny, thin grey-haired lady that comes regularly. She and her husband will buy all the black kale we can bring - she's even asked us to bring our "seconds", holey, bug-eaten, torn or otherwise generally unsaleable leaves. We don't charge her for these of course... They juice them for the vitamins.

She's both funny and crabby and sometimes we can't tell which she's being.  She snaps at her husband who takes her crochetyness in good humor. We always look forward to her arrival with a combination of pleasure and caution.

Deborah Madison, author of the wonderful cookbook/journal _Local Flavors_, had a memorable quote in an interview: she said you should not go to a farmer's market with a premade shopping list. Instead go with no preconceptions; find what's fresh, new and aromatic and base your recipe on what you find. Case in point: last night's dinner at our house!

Tilapia with Fruit Chutney
   2 half-pound tilapia filets (from the grocery store actually)
   2 not-quite-ripe apricots <From the guy from Emmett>
   12 Bing cherries <Joyce's booth>
   12 Ranier cherries (some a bit overripe) <Joyce's booth>
   1 green onion <Lori Martin's booth>
   12 fresh apple-mint leaves <from our garden, picked as the fruit simmered>
   1 tsp D. B Cooper Green (Karen's brother's homemade jalapeño-cilantro-lime rub)

Chop fruit and onion into 1/4" bits; simmer with a tablespoon or so of water in a small pan. Add finely chopped mint and spice powder. Simmer until fully cooked.

Brush tilapia filets with olive oil; broil for 6-8 minutes directly under high heat until just done. Transfer to plate and cover with a layer of chutney.


Potatoes and Turnip
   3 fresh Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and chunked <from Rick's booth>
   2 white turnips, peeled and chunked <from our garden - unattractive but healthy roots>
   2 TBsp butter
   Milk

Boil potatoes and turnips together until tender in enough water to cover. Drain; return to pan, add butter and a splash of milk. Mash with a wooden potato masher; add a bit more milk if needed to make it smooth.


Pollinator Paradise Salad
   Fresh-picked leaf lettuce (Speckles, Ruby Queen, dark Romaine, whatever varieties Karen chose to plant and pick - NO Iceberg!!!)
   Fresh snow peas <from Lori>
   Black Kalamata olives <no, not local, unfortunately>

Parma Ridge Idaho chardonney (well, could have, actually used a cheap California)

YUM!
 

I notice on a few friends site that there's a link (to an online dating service which I'd rather not have here) for movie-style ratings for blogs.

I guess I need to talk about my missionary uncle Dick who owned a sheep and a couple of asses, and who passionately loved my dad's sister.... wouldn't want to have my journal rated too tamely after all!

Just saying hello... not sure where this will be going!