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Well worth the wait

Posted at 5:50 PM on June 17, 2008 by Sareen Dunleavy Keenan (4 Comments)

People always ask how we can afford to shop this way. Brendan and I both work for non-profits and I have yet to cross to the adult side of 30, which I hear might bring more money my way..? Ok, I know it takes more then just a simple b-day, but here is hoping that I can afford to buy every product out there when it is in season.

But there is a small part of me that doesn't want to ever be able to afford those items that are truly out of reach. Shopping with my mom recently made her fear that all of her lessons in frugality have been lost on me. She had recently seen me eating strawberries and noticed that the store we were shopping at had them for $8.99 a pint. Naturally, she assumed that I was shelling out the $8.99 for a simply strawberry fix. It wasn't until this week when I called her with the price report to inform her that the price was now $2.99 a pint. It is all about seasonality!

Brendan and baby took the bike n' trailer over to the farmers market and found great things. The store a couple of weeks ago had local asparagus for $5.99 a pound. Not great. Well, Brendan found $4.99 a pound for asparagus that had already been cleaned and woody bits removed. These were beauties and quite a steal.

But for me, spring has been completed by the best sugar snap peas in history. I forgot how wonderful these little darlings can be. Seriously, if you can get there this week, do it. We tossed them in a pot with a tiny bit of water, let that steam the veg and that was it. I could have eaten my weight in these peas. I don't remember anything that has ever been as satisfying as a single ingredient.

Apparently, in my world, absence truly does make the heart grow fonder. I haven't had a true pea since last summer. Now I understand why. Months of parsnips and radishes came to this gift of spring. Let's hope you make it to the market before I do, because the bike trailer will be loaded with peas this weekend. Happy shopping.

Comments (4)

Yes!
The absolute wonder of what is fresh. I too, bought sugar snap peas on Saturday at the Market along with new baby potatoes. I went home and made a feast of potatoes and peas in a cream sauce. Devine.

Our family tradition, going back to the early 70's is to go to the farmers market early Saturday morning and come home and make a breakfast feast out of what was new at the market this week. Think strawberries and cream, corn on the cob, radish and cucumber sandwiches, peas and potatoes in cream sauce, eggs and hot peppers the list goes on and on - until the market shuts down.

Posted by Diane J Lorvig | June 18, 2008 5:34 AM

A friend gave me about 8 new potatoes that she couldn't find a use for, but had been given to her. It is funny how this project works, everyone seems to think I am starving for food because of all that one thinks that you cant get. For now, I am just too focused on what you can get that my enthusiasm for the project runs very high right now.

I think your family tradition might just become ours because I am already dreaming of the peas that will be brought home tomorrow. How could I possibly wait??

Posted by Sareen | June 20, 2008 5:22 PM

Today was strawberries and cream - I picked up the Cedar Summit Farm heavy cream from Farm in the Market yesterday on my way home from work in anticipation. Definately worth waiting for.

Posted by Diane J Lorvig | June 21, 2008 10:42 AM

Diane,

I actually work Saturday mornings during prime farmers market time. Brendan is the main shopper, so in addition to enjoying the fabulous finds, it is a surprise every week. I am just dreaming of strawberries! I sure hope they are in my kitchen when I get home today.

Posted by Sareen | June 21, 2008 1:39 PM