Home From The Market | Pershing SQ 6July11

just a few things that made it home from the market…

Garlic | Ginger | Cilantro | Oranges | Grapefruit | Cucumbers | Kale | Tomatoesx3 | Celery | Eggplant

Yes, I quite like tomatoes.

Even as I buy mostly for soups and juicing, there are things I can’t resist.  The beautiful heirloom cherry and grape tomatoes caught my eye.  They’re still on the table.  Uh, aging.

N♥

Home From The Market | Hollywood 3July11

just a few things that made it home from the market…

Apples | Carrots | Beets | Fennel | Oranges | Cilantro | Onions | Kale | Red & Yellow Bell Peppers | Tomatoes

I went to the market yesterday with a different game plan.  Normally, there are a few things I have to get like onions and cilantro.  Everything else is about what catches my eye.  I’m drawn to colors, texture and things I’ve rarely had or never tried.  I hate eggplants, but that purple makes my heart go all pitter-patter.

Yesterday was all about what vegetables I could juice and what would compliment my growing need for a soup repitoire.  I’ve been sipping since Monday.  And, uh, Lentils.  I am so sorry.  I think we spent too much time together.  I’m kinda bored.

After I filled my tote up with fruits and veggies, I popped into the housewares emporium around the corner for a juicer.  I started researching them a couple of months ago.  Reading lots of reviews and watching some special folks doing demos on youtube.  I learned a lot.  I fell in love with one in particular.  Yeah.  I wasn’t sure how into juicing I would be to justify the $400.  And the dentist is taking priority right now, so that’s where the dough goes.  So, I decided between 2 entry level juicers from Breville.

This is kinda making me super happy right now.  It’s not as loud as I thought it would be.  Clean up is simple and pretty quick.  The pulp is a bit wet and there are some decent sized pieces that didn’t get juiced.  I’m okay with that, for now.  The Omega Vert is soooo in my future.

Juice 1: Apple/Fennel (Perfect Blends from here)

Juice 2: Carrot/Ginger/Apple (Perfect Blends inspiration from here)

Juice 3: Beet/Apple/Ginger/Cucumber (Woman’s Roar Energy Elixir inspiration from here)

Juice 4: Strawberry/Cucumber (Clear Skin Strawberry Juice from here)

I’m really happy that my dental drama forced my juicing hand.  This year, so far, has really been about forcing my health hand to think hard, pay attention and make better decisions.  Now, if I could just be comfortable saying I’m vegan just because I feel like it.

Next up, a new soup.  I’m making Gazpacho.

N♥

Home From The Market | Hollywood 26June11

just a few things that made it home from the market…

Strawberries | Yu Choi Sum | Eggplant | Onions | Cilantro | Persian Cucumbers | Yams | Green Peppers | Tomatoes | Ginger

I’m still not sure why I went to the farmers’ market the day before getting major dental work done.  Like, really, what the hell was I thinking?  It’s me and the floss/pick after most entanglements with anything green.  With crunch and chewy off-limits, I had these beautiful vegetables sitting on the table, cuddled up with the rest of the food in the packed fridge and chilling for time in the freezer.

While I was trying to figure out what to do with the bounty I had on hand, I was, also, thinking about the rest of the summer.  I have to go back in to the dentist for more work next month.  Basically it’s a summer of liquids and mushy freaking food.  Thinking thrive, not survive.

What to do? What to do?  (♥:Uh, juicer, Sweets.)

N♥

Home From The Market | Pershing SQ 15June11

just a few things that made it home from the market…

Kale | Yu Choi Sum | Onions | Tomatoes | Asparagus | Ginger | Thai Basil | Watermelon | Cilantro | Persian Cucumbers | Radishes

It’s all in the edit.  The delay, I mean.  It’s been a crazy couple of weeks and I couldn’t decide which images I liked most.  Still not sure if these are them, but, you know, whatever.  The food was good, smelled amazing, and tasted divine.  Okay, except for the radishes.  I left them out and they shriveled up.

 

N♥

HFTM | Pershing SQ 8June11

just a few things that made it home from the market…

Persian Cucumbers | Cantaloupe | Onions

My apartment smells sickly sweet from the cantaloupe that wasted away in front of me.  It sat there, all week, making sure its scent danced on air.  Always noticed, always ignored.  Yeah, smart.

I bought less to avoid this very thing.  Oh, well.

Just a few hours away from another trip to the market.  Thinking no more melons for me.  Wait, watermelon.  I want watermelon.

N♥

 

 

HFTM | Pershing SQ 1June11

just a few things that made it home from the market…

Lemon | Cauliflower | Tomatoes | Apricots | Apple | Kale | Honey Mandarins | Thai Basil |  Yu Choy Sum  Ginger | Dill | Cucumbers | Brussel Sprouts

N♥

HFTM | Hollywood 29May11

just a few things that made it home from the market…

Cherries | Strawberries | Red Cabbage | Tarragon | Cilantro | Onions | Celery | Chinese Broccoli

I ran to the market before I headed over to the JazzReggae Festival at UCLA Sunday.  Got there earlier than normal, but felt rushed.  Kinda went on auto-pilot and didn’t have a chance to overthink anything.  Worked out fine, I guess, since I finally picked up some artichokes.

Bought my second pint of cherries this week, too.  And just like earlier in the week, they’re gone already.  That scene from The Witches of Eastwick was on a loop with every pit spit.  (♥: Ewwww.) Sorry, it’s true.

Getting up early next Sunday and taking my time.  Wonder what’ll be calling my name at Pershing?

N♥

 

HFTM | Pershing SQ 25May11

just a few things that made it home from the market…

Ginger | Cherries | Peaches | Garlic | Onions | Peas | Thai Basil | Chinese Broccoli | Kale

Yeah.  The cherries and peaches are gone already.  Artichoke hummus, too.  It didn’t even make it home for the class picture.

I was just in one of those “Dude. Yes, feed me.” moods.  Plied with samples, I couldn’t resist.  I bought the artichoke hummus and it barely made it to the office fridge.  I tried to keep my Alice Waters-ian breathy enthusiasm to a minimum.  ‘Cause breathy and garlicky are confined space crowd pleasers!  But, man, was it gooood.

This weekend, I’ll be stocking up on Goya chickpeas and finally get my ‘choke on. (♥: Umm, that sounds…) Ohhh.  Right.  If they’re still in beautiful abundance, I’ll be picking up some artichokes at Hollywood on Sunday. (♥: Better.)

It’s gonna be a hummus summer.  I can feel it.

N♥

 

HFTM | Pershing SQ 18May11

just a few things that made it home from the market…

Tomatoes | Cabbage | Strawberries | Chinese Broccoli | Dill | Cilantro | Scallions | Squash | Onions | Carrots | Golden Beets | Persian Cucumbers

Guess I’m giving you very little of what made it home on Wednesday.  Let’s see what Sunday brings.

Nikki ♥

HFTM | Hollywood 8May11

just a few things that made it home from the market…

Celery | Onions | Cabbage | Chinese Broccoli | Cilantro | Red Leaf Lettuce | Spinach

There were cherries in abundance at the market on Sunday and I passed them by.  I could only see shades of green and those onions.

Okay, so, the market was full of artichokes, too.  The short time I’ve spent on the ‘choke has mostly been at some casual dining establishment drowned in my old friend, cheese.  I vaguely remember sucking on some leaves, but that’s just not an endorsement.  They were so pretty in stall after stall, though.  Watching the FM budget and so unsure of what to do with them, I didn’t get any.

Yeah, that worked.  I’ve been thinking about them for days.  I might’ve come up with a way to handle my “IDK, I’m Scareds” when it comes to produce: budget for a little Wow! and uh, just buy a few.  Then, it’s just about a little research and maybe, a recipe.  (♥: You follow those?) Fine.  Somehow, I need to fix them, then see.

Wonder if I’m worried about wasting money, wasting food or not being able to do something right.  Won’t find out until I jump right in.

N♥