So Many Strawberries
Strawberry shortcake, strawberries with goat cheese, strawberries with mixed greens and balsamic vinagrette served with a big steak... are any of you hungry yet? There's still time to plan your entire week's menu around the West Frederick Farmers Market,, (Saturdays, 10:00-1:00 on Baughman's Lane). This Saturday, the 30th, is the official kickoff for the season and while some of you have been coming for the past few weeks, the produce tipping point might just be this weekend. Vendors will be highlighting the season's best and yes, that means... STRAWBERRIES. But there's also going to be live music and a special "Passport" to your chance of winning a fabulous market basket (awarded the following week). So, if you've put off your market trip until now, you don't want to miss this weekend. Cakes for Cause will have strawberry shortcake biscuits and other vendors will have the other critical ingredients. We hope to see you there.
Help Us Help the Community!
In addition to making a difference for the Cakes for Cause program, on the 30th you will also make a difference for the United Way of Frederick County. As part of our ongoing effort to support other local non-profits, Cakes for Cause will donate 5% of their Farmers Market proceeds to our own local United Way. So your butter croissant, your lemon ginger scone, and your focaccia purchase goes twice as far. Thank you for coming out and showing your support.
The local United Way provides support for non-profit agencies that benefit & strengthen our community in so many ways. Founded in 1938, it raises more than $1,000,000 annually to address the core issues of education, income, and health for Frederick's most vulnerable residents. Allied Resource Management, LLC (ARM) will be matching any amount that is raised by Cakes for Cause. REMEMBER: there are no calories when it comes to supporting charity!
Swag, Swag, Swag
While we know that many of you are anxiously awaiting the opening of our café (so are we...by the way), you can show your Cakes for Cause spirit by getting one of our limited edition baseball shirts. As you know, we only print t-shirts in series of 100 so when they're gone...they're definitely gone. Our most recent shirt is a ¾ sleeve baseball jersey with our new street number on the back. They're hot and they're moving fast. Remember, if you've purchased one from us in the past, we throw a $2 discount your way and buying that first one is the way to guarantee that discount for yourself in the future. We have ladies and men's sizes.
How You Can Help
The Cakes for Cause Farmer's Market stand is staffed by volunteers. If you are interested in helping out, you won't be disappointed. It is a great way to meet new people in Frederick and it's a perfect opportunity for a school group, youth organization, or service group to get involved in helping our community. If you are interested in helping us, please click here.
Cakes for Cause
Friday, May 29, 2009
Cakes for Cause: StrawberryPalooza!
Farmar posters are finito!
Yeon and Dan stopped by this evening to help me make posters and I had fallen asleep! Good thing they came by- they helped me get the posters started and made a few with me before they headed out. I spent the rest of the evening making them and they turned out AWESOMELY. I did some in "diamond dust" which is technically glitter but don't tell anyone.
I am pooped! And my house is covered with prints and glitter. But I am happy. Stop by the market on Saturday and check the posters out- and of course, come for the Strawberry Festival!
Shannon
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Spring Harvest: May 24, 09
Spinach was getting ready to bloom so I harvested most of them. Same with the daikon- I never had a good luck growing a big daikon root. I should try sowing in last summer and growing in the fall. My mesclun is growing wild and you see big leaves of red mustard, kale, etc. Lettuce is finally ready for picking and munching. They are so tender and delicate. Dill and cilantro are growing crazy too (not shown in the photo). I harvested big bunches and gave some to my neighbors. I should find some good recipes that call for a large quantity of dill and cilantro. If you know one, please let me know!
Strawberries are in full swing. I am harvesting about a pint a day. Nothing is as sweet as the ripe strawberry you just picked seconds ago in the garden. I like them warm from the sun. Just like warm tomatoes off the vine, they carry extra quality in them.
My neighbor Ricardo told me that Glade-Link farm is now open for pick-your-own strawberries. Give them a call before you head out. Sometimes they have to skip a day so that berries can ripen for picking. Also, don't forget this Saturday (May 30) we have a strawberry festival at the West Frederick Farmer's Market! With music and raffle and strawberries everywhere, it is going to be a fun time at the market.
Yeon
Flowers for the market: May 23, 09
What can I say. Peonies were in full bloom. All the white peonies (with very pale pink undertone) are from my garden. Anything pink is from Shelton's back yard.
Ricardo also brought a beautiful flower arrangement which included iris, roses and peonies.
In my garden, my volunteer cosmos started to bloom this week. Spider wort, yarrow, and clematis are blooming now.
Yeon
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Strawberry Festival this Weekend
Hey don't miss the strawberry festival this weekend at the Farmer's Market. Here is the poster. Click on it to see it bigger:
Monday, May 25, 2009
Muskrat Meats and the Miracle Fruit Tasting Party
Hey friends! I am back from a crazy weekend of festivities over in Delaware. What did I do worth reporting here? First off, I saw the most amazing display in someone's yard promoting local food. They had a canoe with a mannequin, and the mannequin was holding a wooden box trap. Next to this creepy display was a sign advertising muskrat meats. I actually had a waterman tell me once that he was very fond of muskrat meat. If I remember correctly it requires special preparation, but I can't recall if that is because it's stringy, gamy, or fatty, or some combination of all three. Anyway I am ALMOST sorry I did not buy some and take it to camp with me because then I would have a better story. Lucky, for you, I got a picture:
The second thing worth reporting is that I went to a tasting party for miracle fruit. I keep reading about these parties, where people eat the fruit that temporarily nulls their sour taste buds, and I was starting to feel rather jealous. For this party, people were asked to bring things to try. I brought over some stuff for the buffet like limes, blueberry yogurt, sour patch kids, and celery. Lemons and limes taste like lemon and lime candy. Celery tastes like celery. Mustard tastes like candy. I did not eat the bittersweet chocolate because somebody told me it tasted wretched. My friend Oscar plied me with goat cheese. I will say the goat cheese was my favorite because the flavor was a great surprise and because it was fed to me.
Shannon
Friday, May 22, 2009
Chocolate Truffles: What I look forward to at the Farmer's Market
May's flavors will be dark (58.5% cacao) and milk/strawberry (41% cacao). I'll be trying new flavors this summer such as dark/chipotle chili, white chocolate, and a new combo I call triple treat which is a half/half white and milk chocolate ganache enrobed in dark chocolate.
Give his truffles a try if you haven't done so. You might be joining me in a weekly tasting club.
Yeon
