Okra

2 Sep

Every week I see okra and always shy away from buying any because what can you really do besides fry it? You can tell I’ve lived in the South all my life. I figured that many of you probably feel the same way, and I starting researching recipes. As I found several recipes, I realized that many of them contain some kind of tomato or citrus. The reason for this is the same reason most people fry it, to avoid the sliminess when cooked. Mix it with a little acid and you are good to go. So okra is perfect for jumbo, chili, or just stewed with tomatoes to top rice. Here are a few of my favorite recipes:

Do you have any favorite recipes you like to cook with Okra? Send us a comment and share your recipe.

Gitano’s Argentinian BBQ

31 Aug

Came across this great article in the Nashville Scene about Gitano’s delicious street food at our Market.

“Among the innumerable taco trucks, the occasional hot dog or snowball stand, and rumors of additional looming developments (pizza!), Nashville has a true left-field surprise: a tiny mobile grill cart dispensing Argentine sandwiches and desserts.

We first encountered Gitano Herrera and his awesome Buenos Aires Grill at the Woodbine Farmers’ Market, where he’ll be this afternoon (and most Tuesdays through next month) from 4 to 7 p.m. We haven’t tried his eggplant sandwich, but we’ve found it hard to resist his choripan — a stout little sandwich of grilled sausage, homemade chimichurri and slivered tomato on a soft, fresh roll. The sweetly spicy sausage gets a light crust on his small but evidently powerful grill, and the chimichurri intensifies its flavor without overpowering the whole.

Better still is Gitano’s panqueque, a thin crepe onto which he squeezes a thick reddish-brown ribbon of homemade dulce de leche — a substance one onlooker aptly described as “caramel on steroids.” Imagine a pastry filled with the texture of custard but the taste and intermittent crunch of creme brulée crust. Small wonder folks were lining up for these as Gitano was trying to pack up last weekend.

Gitano comes to Nashville by way of New York, where he manned a bar for several years, and he says he ultimately hopes to get his own place. For now, he says, he’s happy reproducing some of the street food he loved in Argentina.

For additional buzz, slip over to the adjacent table for Banjamin’s “elixir,” a sauce made with the thermonuclear heat of India’s fabled bhut jolokia “ghost pepper.” Use only a drop at first, unless you’re nursing a cast-iron gut — or you’re ready to sprint across the lot to Izzie’s shaved-ice cart.” By Jim Ridley

Izzie’s Ice

28 Aug

When I think of street vendors, especially icy ones, the first thing that comes to mind is shaved ice with high fructose corn syrup in electric blue drizzled on the top. However, Italian Ice is not a snow cone. It’s a non-dairy frozen dessert that’s made from real fruit. They start with fresh fruit, which they either squeeze or puree. Then, after using their own (top secret!) all-natural recipes, they process it in an Italian ice machine. It then must be maintained at 16° to get that smooth texture, which is vital to real Italian Ice. Izzie’s Ice is all natural, no preservatives or dyes and it’s real fruit. Last week I got Tuti Fruiti and the week before I had Watermelon, both delicious flavors.  Not only was it refreshing, but you could really taste the fresh fruit! Of course, you can see why this is a perfect fit for the Farmers’ Market. Make sure to grab one of their delicious flavors each Tuesday at the Woodbine Farmers’ Market. You can also visit their permanent location at 1000 Riverside Drive in East Nashville.

“One great reason to try Izzie’s, particularly for families: A small (roughly 5-ounce) serving is $2, a large (roughly 8-ounce) serving is $3. And in an era when a trip to the frozen yogurt shop can run you $7 or $8 per kid by the time they load on the toppings, Izzie’s is a steal.” Nashville Scene.

Movie in the Garden- Food Inc

26 Aug


Mark you calendars, get out your blanket and get ready to enjoy this great documentary!

Watch the full episode. See more POV.

Bring Your Neighbor = Free Tote

26 Aug

One of our missions at the Woodbine Farmers’ Market is to foster community. It’s too easy to sit inside your house these days and never meet your neighbors. Now that the weather is nice, we thought we would motivate you to get out and meet your neighbors. If you bring a neighbor to the Market in the next 2 weeks, you get a free tote bag. Just stop by our booth and introduce them to us.

Here are some pointers on how to do that:

Approach People

  • Unless you live in a ghost town, chances are that you’ll see people walking in and out of the apartments and/or houses nearby. These people are called your “neighbors.” They also represent socializing prospects, so suck in your shyness and say hello.
  • The Spotting. Check out your neighbor from a distance. Is she pushing a baby carriage with one hand and trying to keep screaming kids at bay with the other? If so, now may not be the ideal time to approach her. On the other hand, if your new neighbor is whistling as he moseys inside, hands down in his pockets, smiling at nothing in particular, the timing is probably right.
  • The Approach. Don’t sneak up on your neighbor. Walk in view of her; even wave as you approach. This may sound obvious, but think about how freaked out you’d be to talk to someone who scared the living daylights out of you.
  • The Greeting. As soon as you reach your new neighbor, introduce yourself in whatever way you feel comfortable. “Hi, I’m Sam. I just moved in,” is fine (if your name is Sam, that is). Unless your neighbors are complete social misfits, they will pick up the slack at this point and offer an excited, welcoming reply.
  • The Conversation. Keep the conversation steered toward common ground: living in the area, neighborhood activities, things to do about town. Invite them to the Farmers’ Market. Most importantly, watch for signs that your neighbor is finished talking. Don’t keep her there any longer than she wants to be there. And don’t start asking invasive questions about your neighbor’s personal life. In good time, you’ll learn more private details. A nice, quick conversation involving something like “There’s a great new Farmers’ Market down the street on Tuesdays, I’d love to meet you there and grab a lemonade” will be fine.
  • The Exit. Regardless of what was said or not said, how you finish it off is the most important part of “being friendly.” Leave your new neighbor thinking that you are relaxed, easygoing and someone he is going to look forward to running into at a later date. If you followed these steps carefully, odds are, your new neighbor is going to say something like, “Hey, I’d love to join you at the Market. What time should we meet up?”
  • Besides meeting and greeting people on the street, you could also “invent” a reason to talk to them. We like to call it the “cup of sugar” technique. Yes, it’s desperate, but it works. Just go up to your neighbor’s door (preferably at a decent hour) and ask to borrow a cup of sugar or some equally nonthreatening ingredient. Whatever the reason, seize the opportunity to start chatting your neighbor up, perhaps even inviting her over in a couple days to sample the cake/pie/whatever you’re making with the help of the ingredient you borrowed. (Remember to actually make the dessert, or they’ll be onto you.) If you borrow something, return it immediately. We’re talking within the hour.
  • Read more: How to Meet People in Your Neighborhood | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how-to_4845396_meet-people-neighborhood.html#ixzz0xiPTedCm
    • Page 1 of 131234510...Last »