Weekend Project: Farmers Market Tour

Hi everyone! I feel like it's been ages since I posted even though it's only been three days. But those have been three very long days and I am happy to report that I am about 90% moved in and unpacked in my new place. It's pretty remarkable, I know, but I had help from Virginia (unpacking, hauling things around and arranging my book shelves) and my mom (the best, most thorough cleaner I have ever met- my floors are sparkly). Since I start working today, I really wanted to have my new home as set up as possible since I know I'm going to be very busy learning the ropes at ReadyMade. I spent yesterday afternoon hanging pictures and I'm comforted to have my favorite things in site as I adjust to everything in my life being new.

On Saturday morning, my mom and I went to the downtown Des Moines farmers market which is stunning. It's immense. Seriously huge. Not wanting to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume, we did a walk through to get ourselves oriented then set about buying a few plants (I have a lovely little herb garden now!) and buying food for the week. Oh, I just love supporting local produce and producers when it all tastes so good! Above is a tomato salad with basil that I made for lunch when we got home from the market.

We had olive ciabatta from La Mie bakery and fresh chevre from Reichert's Dairy Air along side the tomatoes
.

This is a view of the market at about the halfway point. Pretty amazing, right?


Blue Gate Farm was my favorite vendor this week. I got a dozen eggs from them (which I fried up in local butter last night along side a salad for dinner- yum!) of varying shades of brown, creme and greenish and a jar of this mint syrup. I added it to homemade iced tea and have decided I'm going to live off the stuff throughout the summer. I also explored their website a bit and am seriously considering trying to sign up for their winter CSA, if I can find a new friend to split the load with that is.

These are some of their greens. I have to say that they did a lovely job with presentation—all of the produce was in white enamel bins and was spread out on blue plaid table cloths.

The market also has a load of baked goods (many that are Dutch I believe), like these chocolate crinkles. We actually bought a whoopie pie from this same vendor. It is so fun to get to know a new city through it's farmers market and it makes me feel like I will definitely find some like minded people here to befriend.

I hope you all had a lovely long weekend and have an easy entry into this shortened work week. (I'm skipping Tuesday's regular installment of Instant Heirloom this week due to the holiday and instead will share a lovely project that I did over the weekend in my new home!)