Tip of the Day 6/4/11

Let's head to the nearest Farmer's Market today and plan our menu for the next week.  This time of year it is great to go to the market and choose the freshest in season produce and plan your menu based on what it is instead of planning a menu then shopping for the needed ingredients.  Experiment and substitute with different herbs and vegetables.  If the recipe calls for potatoes, try a rutabaga instead.  Salads topped with fresh crisp veges and fruit with just a little steak, chicken, or seafood are perfect.  Grill the meat one night cooking an extra serving to cut up the next night and serve in a salad.  Cook a big pot of fresh green beans, new potatoes, and onions with a little ham or bacon and you have a meal with cornbread or other crusty bread.  Simple is the key to summer meals.  Be daring at the Farmer's Market.  I always ask the woman at our vege stand (we have them on almost every corner) what she would recommend doing with certain produce.  The seller is always willing to make a recommendation.  Enjoy the bounty of the season.