Summery Classic

I always forget how much I enjoy a Caprese salad. It's so simple to put together, but I hardly make it. Perhaps because it most certainly requires firm, ripe tomatoes that only summer can produce. In honor of the first day of summer, I decided to treat myself.

I made the salad a little different this time. Traditionally, basil forms the iconic trio, but I used chives instead. I saw them in the market and thought that the oniony note would be interesting. I was pairing the salad with a grilled portobello mushroom and I figured the heat from the mushroom would enhance the flavor of the chives, whereas I think it would have hindered that of the basil.

I layered the slices of fresh mozzarella with beautiful heirloom tomato. I sprinkled the chives on top and drizzled the plate with a simple vinaigrette of EVOO, balsamic vinegar and some herbs.

Post dinner, I was treated to the most beautiful sunset. Light pink clouds and an orange sun. Quite possibly the only time where pink and orange don't clash.

The fireflies have also emerged, one even landed on my shirt. I'm always amazed by those things.

Summer is here.

Farmer's Market Finds

I went to my first farmer's market of the season this week! What could be better than getting outside and checking out all of the local goods while chatting away with the farmers, artisans and bakers themselves? Oh yeah - sampling!! I love being able to learn about and try new foods direct from the source, and being a foodie, farmer's markets are for me like a toy store is to an eager child. 

I flocked immediately to Beltane Farm's table. They had an array of goat cheeses out to sample as well as a cooler full of goat milk yogurt. I tell you, it's not easy to find goat or sheep yogurt around here, so I was pretty stoked to see the single-serving yogurts alone. But once I tasted their chevre..my goodness, I was sold. I have never tasted goat cheese that creamy and luscious. I bought the herbed chevre and immediately dug in when I got home, putting them atop Bespoke crackers. 

Quick side note about these crackers. They were bought on a whim on vacation this winter and my cheese and cracker snob of a boy (and I mean that in the best way possible) deemed them the best crackers he'd ever eaten. That's some pretty high praise coming from him. They aren't just your average cracker, mind you -- these were oat-based and flavored with lemon and rosemary. Unique and absolutely delicious. So delicious, in fact, that when we got home with an empty bag, we went online and ordered six more. Don't judge. We ordered three more rosemary-lemons and we had to get the variety pack with the other two flavors to try.

Anyway, back to the farmer's market. I truly enjoy seeing what types of foods people are crafting these days. One booth had flavored pumpkin seeds, another had homemade artisan trail mix. There were jellies and jams, pies, pestos, and salad dressings. I hope to be one of them one day!

Aside from the goat cheese, I also bought some more plants for my garden. And by garden I mean pots with soil that line the back of our house. The patch of land where I planted the flowers is so rocky I'm not sure they'll even grow well, but we'll see. The Moorefield Herb Farm had a tempting display of herbs, fruits, vegetables and flowers.

The Caribbean hot peppers initially caught my eye because of my spice-loving friends. It's supposed to be hotter than a habanero, which scares me a little, but it should make for some kickin' hot pepper jelly. Eesh. As I was perusing the rest of her table, the strawberries also caught my eye. I've never grown fruit before and I was reassured that the Alpine variety, in particular, should grow well in a potted environment because they're so tiny. After a quick trip to Home Depot, my new plants are all nestled in their pots awaiting the rains.