FARMERS’ MARKET FEAST MENU (you are not going to want to miss this!!!)

MORDEN FARMERS’ MARKET FEAST

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16^TH, 2011

Appetizers

Bruschetta

Prosciutto wrapped Melon

Main Course

Apple Thyme Pork Roast

Beef & Roasted Root Vegetable Stew

Layered Vegetable Stack with Tomato Sauce

Herbed Oven Roasted Potatoes

PEI (just the name, not really from PEI) vegetable mix

Alnwick Soup

Salad

Corn on the Cob

Wheatsong buns

Dessert

Gluten-free Black Bean Brownies

Beverages

punch, coffee, tea

beer & wine (for purchase)

FOR TICKETS, CONTACT MEG DIAS (thegoodfoodco@live.com), LYNETTE FROESE OR THE MORDEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFICE!

BBQ’ed Beef on a bun with coleslaw…..

So, although my excitement level over the Morden Farmers’ Market is still as high as it ever was, I find myself having a tough time getting caught up on blogs (so this may be a bit long-winded).

So far this year, we have so many things to be thankful for…..

• the fantastic weather (it rained nearly every Thursday last year)
• an abundance of fabulous vendors
• a great organizing committee
• great buskers

and a one more that I am going to tell you a bit more about.

At the beginning of the market season, Alex from Exceptional Thymes approached the committee with an idea. He would feature a meal each week using products purchased from the local vendors. Now, anyone who knows me knows that this is something that I am very passionate about… local chefs using local food!!!!! I was over the moon excited! Now, I am ALWAYS overly optimistic (as my husband tells me) and sometimes get my hopes up a little too high. This time, my hopes were very high….. but Alex and Brenda have met my expectations and more. Their menu items have been fantastic, they have stayed true to using local products and supporting our vendors, and they do it all for $7 per plate!!!!!

This week they are featuring BBQ’ed beef on a bun (Ma’s Old favourites) and apple cider vinegar & spiced honey (sweetness and light) coleslaw….. can you say yummy? Not only do they make up these yummy meals, but they send you home with the recipe as well. I forgot to mention one more reason why I think they are fantastic…. you know those yucky styrofoam take-out containers ( I can’t stand them)??? Well, Alex and Brenda use fully compostable take-out containers and cutlery, how great is that????

So now I can truly say… come join us for a communtiy event filled with fantastic music, fabulous local vendors and STAY FOR SUPPER!!!!!

Today is the day!!!!!

Here we are.. the first market of the season! How excited am I? Well, to be honest… ridiculously excited. Last year felt like a fantastic market season for so many of our vendors, and it just seems to be getting better. We have so many of our favourite vendors coming back this year, and we have also added some amazing new vendors as well. I hate to single anyone out (and I promise to mention every vendor at some point) but I wanted you to be aware of a few of the “newbies”.

Jennifer Lee is a fresh face on the Morden Market scene and she is bringing a whole new product with her. She specializes in gluten-free products, ranging from lava cakes, to tortillas, to muffins…. and the list goes on. She also has a pretty fantastic mango chutney (which I served with chicken fingers the other day and was in foodie heaven!!!). Check her out on the east side of the market (along the Heartland building)!

We are also welcoming new crafters, including a jewellery crafter and a crafter specializing in alpaca wool products! If you have teachers that need a special thank you gift, here you go!

We will also have a BBQ being run by on of our  “veteran” vendors this year. There will be burgers and sausages available. We will also have seating available in the suncatch area (yes, I said seating…. picnic tables for you to sit and enjoy your meal).

I was a little less than enthusiastic yesterday (I am blaming it on the weather), but today the sun is shining, a breeze (not a crazy wind) is blowing and I am feeling like today is a great day to get back to market…. and of course, I am hoping that all of you feel the same way! See you this afternoon!

Mmmmmmm… market fresh food!

The market season is fast-approaching for the Morden vendors, and we have some new and exciting elements to our market this year!

I wanted to tell everyone about something that I am personally very excited about. Alex of Exceptional Thymes Catering approached the market committee about a fantastic idea. He is going to prepare a meal/menu item each week using ingredients from our vendors. These menu items will be available to eat at the market, or you can take them home for dinner with your family. Keep an eye out for his menu itmes, and ask a few questions so you are able to assemble the ingredients at market and try making it at home as well!!!

Let the planning begin…..

Our market gardeners have started their seeds, our meat producers are stocking their freezers and our crafters are busily making “fantastic finds”….

The planning committee has been meeting and getting organized for what will hopefully be another great market season. One thing has been asked that we (the vendors) need answered…. What would our customers like to see done differently this year?

If you have the time, please fill out our survey by following hte link below (it eill help us plan yet another great market year!)

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T6G2WB3

SUSTAINABLE LIVING FESTIVAL

The holiday season is upon us and it is a great time to be thinking about local and sustainable products that support your local community and contribute to a sustainable lifestyle.

MSTW’s CLER program in cooperation with the Morden Farmers’ Market is hosting a Sustainable Living Festival this Wednesday at the Morden Rec Centre. 

We will have some great local products that would make excellent gifts, along with a worm composting workshop, free movie and snacks plus local experts that can help you with your journey to sustainable living.

We will start the evening off at 4:30pm with a farmers’ market/craft show/sustainable and local products showcase!!!!! Here is what you can expect from the farmers’ market:

• baking from some of our fabulous vendors
• beef from Thousand Hills Ranch
• pork & other items from Breezy Way farms
• produce like garlic, carrots & potatoes from many of our fabulous vendors
• crafts and sewing and oh so many other great gift ideas!!!
• soaps & other fantastic products from M&R ideas
• USED handbags.. made from recycled seatbelts!
• prepackaged mixes & seasonings
• preserves like yummy jams, red pepper jelly….

Here are a few of the other things you can expect:

• displays from the Climate Change Connection, the Green Action Centre, A Rocha
• a table with green cleaning and other product ideas from Norwex
• a table showcasing the green/eco options that Pampered Chef has for all of your cooking needs
• displays from local businesses including BioHeat Resources & Exner E-Waste Processing
• a worm farm building workshop
• a green cleaning workshop
• Local Master Composters available for discussion/questions/etc.
• information available from groups such as the Stanley Soil Management Association and the Manitoba Agro Woodlot Program
• local woodworkers showcasing their products, some of them made with locally harvested/reclaimed wood!

We will also announce the winner of the Hands for Change artwork contest, which many of the local schools were able to participate in. The winning artwork will receive a worm compost/farm for their classroom.

Last but not least, we will be screening the film FRESH!!!!!

The movie is FREE, and we will have snacks and drinks for your enjoyment!

http://www.freshthemovie.com/

Our fantastic sponsors for the event include: PVC, ARocha Prairie Canada, BioHeat Resources, Co-op, and the Hillside Community Church.

 

SEE YOU THERE!!!!

I refuse to say it… I just might jinx it!

Looking forward to market tomorrow… the ??????? looks promising. There is still a ton of great produce to be had, come out and enjoy some great fall ??????? and stock up on local goodies!

What a great (?) day!

So, as everyone may have noticed, last Thursday the weather was miserable to say the least. We (the vendors) showed up in full force (minimal absenteeism) and started setting up our little gimmicks in the downpour. This alone amazed me… our vendors are pretty tough, our weather has been dreadful most Thursdays, but still we show up and most of the time we have  smiles on our faces! We hoped it would let up, but it was certainly not looking like it!

Do you want to know what is even more amazing? Our customers showed up in the cold miserable weather, they showed up!!!!!!! So how fitting a day… customer appreciation on a cold miserable day… there is no other day that we could have appreciated our customers more. Oh, don’t get me wrong, we appreciate our customers every Thursday, but when umbrellas, rubber boots and rain jackets are required for you to make it out to the market, we are EXTRA appreciative. Customers were rewarded with giveaways, games and treats…. and the vendors had great time as well.

Caring and Sharing was able to raise an impressive amount of money on our raffle, and YFC set up their BBQ and had a steady flow of people getting their supper from them!

So, unless mother nature has a trick up her sleeve, the forecast is for a nice Thursday this week… but, regardless of whether it it raining or the sun is shining, our vendors will see you there! AND WE SURE DO APPRECIATE YOU!

Customer Appreciation Day!!!!

This Thursday is at the Morden Farmers’ Market. There are a lot of things going on… let me try to list them.

The vendors are having a little competition…. each vendor must come up with a little way to show their customer appreciation for the fantastic market season we have had. Next year’s membership and a permanent spot are at stake, so it should be good. Come out and see what the vendors can come up with (I have heard a few ideas, and I think it will be fun!!!).

Morden’s Caring & Sharing will be there and we are doing two things to try to support them… we would love to see everyone bring a tin for the bin (non-perishable) and we are setting up a little raffle to raise funds for them to purchase the things they will need to fill up their hampers! Bring down a non-perishable and see what special little offer we have for you!

The weather has been less than forgiving, but the veggies are plentiful and the vendors are eager! Come out and enjoy some fun and stock up on some amazing veggies & fruit! (Last week I bought cantaloupe and watermelon…. I can’t tell you how amazing they were!!!)

Bring on the harvest veggies!

When the weather starts to cool down, we sometimes forget about farmers’ market… but you will be sorry if you do. The pumpkins are in, the squashes, and so many more fantastic veggies.

Now is the time to chop and freeze (or can) tomatoes, roast squashes and cube them for the freezer, blanch corn and freeze it, and the list goes on…

http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/roasted-fall-vegetable-salad-111416.aspx

http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/cheesy-harvest-vegetables-94562.aspx

http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/farmers-market-zucchini-saute-110474.aspx

Not sure what to do with those beautiful squashes that are popping up at market???

http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/butternut-squash-parmesan-119046.aspx

http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/cheesy-spaghetti-squash-87399.aspx

http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/parmesan-spaghetti-squash-carbonara-85067.aspx

http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/butternut-squash-puff-84217.aspx

What about those root vegetables?

http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/balsamic-roasted-vegetables-119031.aspx

Use fresh cooked pumpkin instead of canned for these recipes (1 can of pumpkin = 1 3/4 cups fresh cooked pumpkin!)

http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/pumpkin-carrot-cake-brown-sugar-119033.aspx

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/downeast-maine-pumpkin-bread/Detail.aspx

(this last recipe is easily my favourite, cut out the oil and use applesauce instead for a fat-free(ish) option!)

These squashes to the right….. are hubbard squashes and they cook beautifully and make fantastic “pumpkin” pies! Ask Tina Morgan at Patch of Plenty about them!

Keep your eyes open for details to come for our Customer Appreciation Day on September 23rd… This market season has been a huge success and we (the vendors) want to say a huge thank you to our customers!

See you  in a few hours!