It is absolutely fantastic that gardening has become fashionable...and more so because many gardens are striving to grow produce from heirloom seeds.
From the farmers market this weekend I found an inspiring array of fruit, vegetables and flowers. Inspiring to photograph, to bring home and to plan meals around.
Sunflowers that on the most cheerless of days, will make you smile! As you can see, I brought some home and have been enjoying them in a vintage Wendell August vase.
A favorite booth at the farmers market sells this local blueberry scented honey. I need to go back and buy a bigger jarful...it is amazing in ice tea, on a peanut butter sandwich and in a vinaigrette as well.
I found this cookbook at a yard sale a while back and thought I would see if there was a recipe for zucchini bread...there are 10 recipes for zucchini bread and that does not include the recipes for zucchini and pineapple bread! Yes, the Society of Farm Women of Pennsylvania put together quite a cookbook.
Getting back to the farmers market, one of my favorite booths is the pickle booth. It reminds me so much of years gone by on the lower east side of Manhattan. They have half sours and sour pickles as well as pickled tomatoes, red peppers, olives and mushrooms. This booth always reminds me of the movie Crossing Delancey ...a modern day love story about a pickle man and a woman who works in a book store.
The heirloom tomatoes that we have been growing this summer are ripe and ready for use. They really don't look anything like the red tomatoes that we get at the market. Some of them stay green when ripe so you have to feel them for softness. I made a bruschetta with a few different varieties of the heirlooms and served it on bread that we toasted on the grill. Delicious!
Heirloom tomato bruschetta
3 ripe heirloom tomatoes
6 fresh basil leaves
1 teaspoon white balsamic vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
few grinds pepper
2 tablespoons extra vigin olive oil
Finely chop the tomatoes, rip the basil leaves into tiny pieces (or chiffonade), and mix with the other ingredients in a bowl.
Serve any way you like, but we liked it on italian bread that was grilled and rubbed with a raw garlic clove.
This post is being linked to A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday, Miz Helens Country Cottage for Full Plate Thursday, and Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday. I thank them all for being such gracious hostesses and hope that you will visit them.
♥, Susan
I wish that I was home to try out that bruschetta! The recipe seems simple enough to follow, though. Those tomatoes really are sooo delicious. The honey is, too! I definitely want to get some honey this weekend before going back to school.
Posted by: Jenna Ericson | August 02, 2011 at 11:57 AM
Hi! cute post! so interesting
You're invited to participate in my party "Step by step on tuesday"
I hope you sice 8/16
Posted by: Only Cute Things | August 02, 2011 at 05:12 PM
wonderful photos!
Posted by: Linda Makiej | August 02, 2011 at 05:13 PM
Thanks for the recipe! I'm going to try it!
Posted by: Mary | August 02, 2011 at 05:26 PM
There is nothing as delicious as a ripe heirloom tomato fresh from the vine! Your bruschetta looks delicious, Sue!
Posted by: Pat | August 02, 2011 at 05:37 PM
That looks like a wonderful farmer's market! Just the kind I love!
Posted by: heather | August 02, 2011 at 05:44 PM
Great photos! I love the farmers' market and exploring all the goodies they have available each weekend.
Posted by: Squirrel Queen | August 02, 2011 at 05:47 PM
I tend to over buy at the fresh farmer markets here. That is the best place to shop. They are little pricey now due to the hot weather.
Posted by: LaVoice | August 02, 2011 at 06:09 PM
Hi Susan, I am glad I found you, but not with the new link! I LOVE farmers' markets and heirloom tomatoes. What great photos. I would love to taste blueberry honey. Thanks for stopping by. xo,
Posted by: Barbara F. | August 02, 2011 at 07:06 PM
Your bruschetta sounds wonderful. Heirloom tomatoes are the best.
I was very interested in the blueberry honey also. Noticed you liked the Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper. The book, A Greater Journey by James McCollugh talks about James Cooper and Samuel Morse in Paris. Very interesting.
Posted by: Bonnie Morgan | August 02, 2011 at 07:39 PM
I don't believe I have tasted blueberry honey. I will look in nearby stores and taste it if it is available. Very interesting blog.
Joyce M
Posted by: Joyce M | August 02, 2011 at 07:43 PM
That is a good harvest. Lovely captures.
Posted by: Indrani | August 02, 2011 at 07:45 PM
Hi Sue....I have to admit Jersey has the finest fruits and veggies anywhere.....I missed out on the corn this year....I usually bring some home when we leave but forget to stop this time....
Thanks for the nice compliment on the new house....It is hardly a mansion....it does have great curb appeal....the whole subdivision looks like Colonial Williamsburg....I waited 40 years to live in a house that you could actually vacuum the entire first floor of the house and not do it from one electrical outlet....LOL
Moving in Friday....Saturday 50 pieces of new furniture are being delivered....pictures to follow!!
Posted by: Sue in Atlanta | August 02, 2011 at 08:23 PM
Nothing better than a farmersmarket for fresh fruit and vegetables. I love to go there for my weekly goods. Have a great week.
Posted by: Riet | August 02, 2011 at 11:04 PM
These are lovely! Yummy! Thx for sharing the receipe as well.
Posted by: Evergreen Tree | August 03, 2011 at 02:32 AM
Farmers Markets are great. Looks like you have a good one.
Posted by: Carol Hansen | August 03, 2011 at 06:59 AM
Nice collection of books! The honey looks so good. And those tomatoes, fantastic! Bruschetta is perfect for them!
Posted by: Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook | August 03, 2011 at 07:35 AM
Love all of your photos! The honey sounds yummy. We stopped at a Farmers mkt. last Monday in Cour D'Alene, Idaho. It was small, but we walked away with red onion jam, huckleberry jam (had to buy that one), and a wonderful picture of an old barn. Visiting farmer's mkt's while on vacation is one of my favorite things to do. Your bruschetta sounds delicious! YUM, YUM!
Posted by: Jann Olson | August 04, 2011 at 12:16 PM
My son made the greatest bruschetta out of some home made french bread and home grown tomatoes and herbs from our garden...all of our summer meals are based around the garden and what is ready...I love picking my dinner! Great pictures from the farmer's market...I love to go to ours!
Posted by: Linda | August 04, 2011 at 01:06 PM
Looks like a great farmer's market Susan! Dr. Pickle sounds like fun and I'll bet the cookbook has some great ideas:@)
Posted by: [email protected] | August 04, 2011 at 01:33 PM