Double Up Farm

Seriously, Kate? a month with no posting, and what brings you back is a pie? And it is not even a pie you made? Yeah, baby. Not everyone likes mincemeat pie. But it has always been my favorite. At the age of 8, when given the option to have any kind of birthday cake I wanted, I requested a mincemeat pie. But everyone else in my family hates them, so I have gotten out of the habit of making them. Today, the lady in the market booth next to me (Queen City Kitchen) brought

I love being at the Farmer's Market - but in the winter, our hours are cut and we are only open from 8:00 - 10:00. Now, people who buy veggies want to get up that early. But people who want cuddly, snuggly woolens - well, they are still sleeping tucked up into their wools!!! So we are "extending" our hours and participating in a Pop Up Market this winter. You can find us on Dec. 8 from Noon - 3:00 next to The Loyalist Market, along with my personal coffee vendor, Good Cup

There is no better time of year for serious foods than spring easing into summer. And if you are not shopping at your local Farmer's Market, why not? I grow a lot of my own food, but there are some things I don't. And man, the foods this time of year are just amazing. Dinner on Thursday was a delicious omelette (with eggs courtesy of my ladies), topped with my new favorite sauce: Chimichurri from Empanadas 2 Go. I am basically putting this sauce on everything I eat - sure

Saturday was supposed to be the day I stopped eating grain. Grain does not really agree with me - I am not allergic or anything, but I feel much much better when I limit the amount I eat. But then, at the Farmer's Market, Minnie had fresh bread. Normally, she sells out so fast I cannot even get down there to buy anything, but today it was a bit slow. I looked at that bread for two hours before I couldn't stand it anymore. All this to say, we had French Toast for dinner!!!

Last night was the annual banquet for the Union County Farmer's Market vendors. We give out awards, kind of like the ones from high school. And, I know that they are not important in the grand scheme of things, but I am just thrilled that I won the award for my category (crafters). Does this mean I can raise my prices???? #FarmersMarket

All the goodness of the Farm will be out in full force at the Craft Fair!! #FarmersMarket #Sheep #Crafting

Behind the scenes at the market booth - with a special photo-bomb from my daughter-in-law, Kim. Or as I like to call her, my daughter-in-love (because technically, they have not set a wedding date and are not married YET, no matter how much subtle pressure I keep bringing to bear - keeping my fingers crossed for a Thanksgiving wedding.....) Last spring I ran across a little clothing item called Elephant Pants. These are big, baggy pants, that come with wonderful graphics of

Here's the thing: I consider myself just shy of curmudgeon. I tend to like dogs more than I like people, and I am never happier than when I am home on the farm. But dang it - I am just loving the community at the Farmer's Market. Don't get me wrong, I still hate selling things. But the people I am having the opportunity to meet - the amazing discussions I am having with people I would never have otherwise met. Honestly, I am having to rethink my entire persona - because.

Such a busy time of year, I keep forgetting to post!! This is the latest activity - a few of my spinning buddies and I thought this would be a great way to get some exposure for our hand spun and hand dyed yarns. Super excited!!! #FarmersMarket #Crafting

Well it's a hot one - like 7 inches from the midday sun 94 degrees, and I felt every one today!! Today was not as much fun as normal, mostly because I am wearing a full leg brace trying to help the hamstring problem . But sales were good, the market really hops in the summer when all of the produce vendors get their harvests in. I have taken the responsibility of eating a watermelon every week from a different vendor. It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it. The mos

Meals prepared from the Farmer's Market push all my buttons (the good ones!!) The food is as fresh as it gets, the variety seems boundless, prices are good, the people and the experience are fun. But of course, it all comes down to the foods, doesn't it?? Tonight was one of my favorites - easy, fast, delicious, and oh so adjustable to suit your taste, or your pantry!! Fresh Tomato Pasta 4 cups small red tomatoes, cut into quarters (Fancy Farms) 1 cup fresh cheddar curds (B

This really started on Saturday, with a busy day at the Farmer's Market - lots of fun, but 8-9 hours on my very sad knees made for a painful night! One of the activities at the market was a cooking demo for a shaved salad, so I made one for dinner tonight. Delicious, but it really needed some feta cheese. Sunday, I went with a friend to watch herding dog trials. Wonderful people, cool weather, amazing dogs and wonderful sheep. They needed a scribe to take notes, and my f

I mean seriously, you knew this was gonna be about food, right? Excellent haul from the Farmer's Market today - fresh tomatoes and duck eggs. I had a batch of yummy cornbread I made yesterday. So for dinner tonight, I made Israeli Shaksuka, served over southern cornbread (seasoned with my own home grown paprika - the shaksuka, not the cornbread - what kind of idiot would put paprika in cornbread....). The duck eggs have more body than the chicken eggs and are (were) delici

Since I started blogging, I have really tried to create engaging titles, you know, to encourage people to read the blog. However, it has dawned on me that I am kind of doing this for me (well, and also my soon-to-be daughter-in-law who likes my recipes and is a marvelous cook). Anyway, I sat here for 10 minutes trying to think of something clever. You see how that worked out. This morning I made a batch of Salisbury Steak meatballs. Very tasty, although next time I will l

I really love my children, and in fact, have loved everything about them from the moment I got pregnant. But I have never really thought I would be a good nana. And, I am not really anxious for my daughters to make that happen. But lately, watching a good friend fall in love with her grandson, I have been thinking it might not be so bad when it happens. And also, a lady I work with at the Farmer's Market makes these bootie sandals - I have been ogling them for weeks, just

Well - quite the fattie weekend (defined as a weekend almost wholely devoted to food). Sure, I spent wonderful times with friends on the farm, and had a great day at the farmer's market, but really...the FOOD!!! Saturday morning, my favorite happy meat farmer brought me a ham!!! I adore ham, but it is quite hard to find humanely raised pork which has been processed into ham - he had one done as a spiral sliced ham, no less. Oh happy day, kaloo kalay, she chortled in her jo

I know the idea was that I would go to the Farmer's Market to sell the burgeoning stash of crafts I am producing. But I gotta be honest - what I am loving are the vendors!! Also, I may be spending more money than I am making. Now, this is money I would have spent anyway on stuff I need (want, must have). So in reality, I am saving the gas money for making extra trips. Today's haul: A pasture raised pig (well, the butchered results from one) Adorable baby sandals for my f

Farmer's Market was a bit of bust today. The wind was so intense whipping through the barn that we could not keep anything on the table. So we gave up at 11:30 and called it a day. However, I did make sure I snagged a fix of my latest obsession: cheese curds!!! Once again, I would like to share a photo, but I have eaten them all in a frenzy. My local dairy guy has been gone for two weeks so I have had a curd hiatus and am afraid I had a bit of a fatty once I got my hands

I have never thought too much about pheromones - other than where bees and wolverines are concerned. But I swear my daughter is sending out some kind of invisible signal. When I go to the Farmer's Market, sales are slow. Spencer shows up and they double and triple. Of course, it might be nothing more than the fact that she smiles and I tend to huddle and frown. I wonder if I can get her to wear a bikini when the weather warms up..... #FarmersMarket

We have 30 year old cedar posts on my property, so beautiful. And even after all this time, they smell so amazing when they are cut. I have a lot of them in use as fences, but I also have loads them in neat, tidy stacks. And lately, I have started making things with them. Business card holders, pencil holders, and sometimes, these little signs. Mostly, I just love running my hands over this wood and admiring it. #Crafting #FarmersMarket