Good morning!
Happy 4th of July to my American readers! I hope you are having a wonderful long weekend!!
I fully intended to post last night, however good intentions don’t always translate into actions! By the time Eric and I got back from the market, unpacked, cleaned up, had lunch it was 6pm and then we got a last minute invitation to go to a friend’s place for the night. But I am now here, rested up, and I have the Oakville Organic Farmer’s Market #3 recap!
The weather was finally sunny and hot, hot, hot! We were all hot and sticky before the market even started! I think between Eric, Karly, and I we must have drank a gallon of water.
Notice anything different here?
That would be a new canopy tent from Costco! Our other tent broke last Saturday after we got home from the market. We left it outside to dry out and the next day we went outside and it was in a heap on the driveway and poles were bent every which way. The rain had pooled on top and was just too much for the tent to take I guess. Mark my words, I will never buy a cheap tent again!
We headed to Costco and picked up the Ferrari of canopy tents! It is excellent quality, looks beautiful, and comes with 4 rain walls should we need them. Other vendors also commented that our tent felt cooler than other tents yesterday!
Empower is also hot, hot, hot.
For week #3 I sampled two new flavours in addition to our weekly Empower and Liberate samples- Classic and Present. Both flavours were a hit!
Present almost sold out!
GLO DOUGH!
I made a full tray this week and we sold every single one of them! I need to keep making more and more. I didn’t make chocolate macaroons this week because I ran out of my organic maple syrup.
They went fast!
Friday night I also made 10 Cherry, Banana, Coconut Butter Mini Loaves to sell at the market, but sadly I over-cooked them and they were too dry!
I froze the leftovers and I think Eric is going to take them to work this week. Next time, I will have to be careful not to overcook this bread. It was much better slightly undercooked than overcooked so please disregard my comments about it needing to cook longer….
We put out lots of mini Canadian flags for Canada Day weekend. Aren’t we festive!?
Some lovely blog readers came to visit me, including:
Daniela (left)…who has a connection to OSGMOM! Daniela was the winning bidder on OSGMOM”s purse that was up for auction in Shop 4 A Cause 2!! She is wearing the purse in the photo and she just loves the purse!
I also met another Angela (right) from Eat, Spin, Run, Repeat!
Week 3 was our best-selling week yet at the market. Empower continues to be our best-seller which is no surprise because it has always been a best-seller and we are also sampling it every week. Basically whatever we sample sells really well! The only flavour I don’t sample is Adore (s’more with homemade graham crackers) because that bar sells itself!
Our only complaint again about the market is that it starts late and finishes late (9:30am-2pm). At noon, it literally DIES off. I don’t even need to look at my watch because I know when it is noon because there are literally no people in sight.
Ninety-five percent of our sales occur between 9am-11am. I suspect everyone goes home to eat their garlic scapes at noon! I think that the market hours should be from 8am- 12:30. It is a bit frustrating standing there and not having any people walk by because I know we could be selling out every single bar if the market had more traffic. We also aren’t allowed to pack up early, so we basically just stand around and pass the last 2 hours with few customers. I think I might speak to the market director to see what her thoughts are about it…
I also did my ‘grocery shopping’ for the week!!!
I went back to the Baba-Link Organic Farm where I bought my Purslane last week. Pat is such a sweetheart! We have long talks about strange greens and Gooseberries.
Rainbow Chard…
Red kale and mixed greens…
Sugar peas…
Snow peas…
And some red!
I also went over to chat with Bob from The Fresh Veggies and I told him I had no idea what I bought last week! :lol: I think he was quite amused.
Those of you who guessed Fenugreek were correct!!! I guess I thought they said FENNEL but it was actually Fenugreek! Now I need to figure out how to eat it….
When Eric and I got home we both cracked open our favourite beer by Mill Street, Original Organic.
Sluuuurrrrrp! It felt so good on a hot day.
Then I made lunch featuring rainbow chard!
Despite how beautiful chard is, I have never been big on the flavour (or smell!). I figured I would give it another try to see if I could learn to appreciate it.
Into the skillet went chard, sweet potato, tomatoes, garlic scapes, green onion, sunflower oil, seasonings, sea salt, curry, etc.
When I cooked the chard I was reminded at how much I detest the smell of chard! Ewwwww.
I sprinkled it with my seedy glo dough crackers…
It looked beautiful!
However, sadly I had to choke this down. I am still not a fan of chard. It is so strange because I will literally eat ANY GREEN, but chard just doesn’t jive with me.
Luckily I had lots of spices and sea salt on it though so they helped mask the taste!
More energy later on…
Look what else I bought!
Yes that would be a delicious basil plant!
Sadly, the one I trans-planted did not make it (I should have left more stem on it and I clipped it too low!). I bought this basil plant from Clover Roads Organic Farm.
I told the farmers that it was likely I could kill their dear basil plant and they still trusted me and gave me a pep talk. Thanks Inge and John! I told them I will bring them a progress picture when it grows….gulp!! I dream of it growing so big that I will be eating copious amounts of basil on my sandwich every day just to keep up.
You can see the hope in my eyes! (I also think you can see the basil plant quivering with fear…)
I shall sing to it every day. I need a name for it though…
Thanks to Karly for the beautiful hanging flowers she gave me for my birthday last month! I am happy to say I did not kill them!
Today’s question: Are there any greens you refuse to eat and just can’t like the taste no matter how much you try them?
I’m off to bake an order and then Eric and I are off to the beach for an open-water swim. We have totally been slacking in the swim department, so hopefully it goes well. Have a great day!
I hate swisschard too! No matter what, I just can’t take the bitter aftertaste!
You should probably name your plant Planty. That’s what I would do!
Rucola. I hate rucola! Why does it have to taste like that – it looks so pretty!
Wow you and your pics look extra beautiful today! :)
Juice them Juice them Juice them!!!!!
I dont really like the taste of chard either…but in green monsters you cant even tell!!! And also if you try cooking them again, try de-veining them first…it makes it a little less bitter and much easier to chew!!
Good Luck!
Love your blog! The Farmer’s Market looks amazing! I haven’t been to Oakville in awhile- wish I was there this weekend for that!
Swing by my blog to check out my giveaway! :-)
Congrats on your farmer’s market success!! You are awesome!!
I love that you’re planting in that adorable outfit haha. I have faith in your gardening abilities! Basil will thrive I’m sure. :)
Oh I miss farmers markets! We have one here in Cambridge that occurs every day, and it really is nice, but it’s geared a bit at tourists. There is a lovely fruit stand, but nothing is really all that local (because it’s Cam, maybe?)
Good luck with basil :)
did you know a Whole Foods is opening in Mississauga by Square One *drool*….it’ll be less than 10 min from my place……so excited!!
AHHHH seriously?????? When does it open!?!?!?
not until next year…..but still excited nonetheless!! :D Here’s the link of the announcement:
http://www.mississauga.com/news/business/article/620113–whole-foods-market-to-open-at-square-one
Have you tried chard in a green monster? That might help – I like mine with lemon, beets, and ginger. Or you could juice it since you are lucky enough to have one of those!
As for the fenugreek – it is common in Indian recipes. Here’s a really simple (despite the long ingredient list) one that I LOVE.
1 cup red lentils, or toor dal
4 cups water
3 cups kale, washed, center rib removed, and sliced or chopped
1 teaspoon canola oil
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon chopped garlic
½ teaspoon coriander
½-1 teaspoon cayenne
½ teaspoon ground cumin
⅛ teaspoon fenugreek (you’d use much more fresh)
¼ teaspoon asafetida
⅛ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
salt to taste
Cook the dal in the water until it is soft, about 30-40 minutes. Use a blender or hand blender to completely puree the dal in its water. Set aside.
In a deep skillet or wok, heat the oil over a medium-hot burner. Add the cumin and mustard seeds and the garlic, and cook for one minute. Add the kale and stir. Add one tablespoon water and cover the pan. Stir every minute or so, and cook until the kale is wilted, about 4 minutes.
Add the dal and remaining ingredients to the kale. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes. Serve over rice.
It’s really really good!
Thank you for the recipe!
It’s awesome to hear that you’re doing so well!
I just have a quick question about your products. I know your bars definitely aren’t peanut/nut free, but what about your Glo Balls or mini loaves? I am dying to try out some of your stuff! :)
im sorry I don’t guarantee that any of my products are nut free!
I’m glad to hear better results at the Farmer’s Market. Are you planning on selling the glo doughs on your website? They look like they are a nice sweet snack. I’m not a big fan of swiss chard either but will try any green atleast once. :)
I might sel the glo dough within the GTA but im not sure it would have a long shelf life shipping elsewhere
I used to be so afraid of kale. That all changed once I tried kale chips, now they’re my favorite. :)
Glad you’re doing well at the farmers market! That Glo dough looks so good.
I would totally talk to whoever is running the market. 9:30 is totally a late start time . . .
I’ve never had chard . . . I would have no idea how to cook it really
should I say totally again?!?!?1 hahaha
hahah omg this made me laugh
I came across your blog over the weekend and I am really enjoying your posts. I am going to try my first green monster tomorrow. You are so inspiring and i like how real you are.
thank you! Glad you enjoy the blog :)
Aw I love hearing about your experiences at the Farmer’s Market
We have a bunch where I love but I have yet to go this summer, ahh! This week I’m going for sure. :)
Oh my gosh, I can’t wait to make that bread. How do you think Cacao Bliss would be in place of the coconut butter?
Love all the vegetables! I haven’t really tried Chard so I’m not sure of my opinion on it. I have an aversion to mustard though, because one time I put a bunch in my GM. Baaaaaad idea. I’m also not a big fan of raw zucchini/squash. I absolutely adore it cooked, but raw.. bleh. I can’t do it. :/
Aw I love hearing about your experiences at the Farmer’s Market
We have a bunch where I love but I have yet to go this summer, ahh! This week I’m going for sure. :)
Oh my gosh, I can’t wait to make that bread. How do you think Cacao Bliss would be in place of the coconut butter?
Love all the vegetables! I haven’t really tried Chard so I’m not sure of my opinion on it. I have an aversion to mustard though, because one time I put a bunch in my GM. Baaaaaad idea. I’m also not a big fan of raw zucchini/squash. I absolutely adore it cooked, but raw.. bleh. I can’t do it. :/
So glad the farmer’s market is going well for you! You are so inspiring! Love your pictures too :-)
I’ve liked every green leafy veg. I’ve ever tried… I guess I’m lucky! I grew up eating swiss chard, btw.
I actually bought rainbow chard for the first time this past week. I was so excited to try it and I hated the taste:(. I am not giving up as I still have quite a bit left. I’ll just try and find some new ways to cook it in hopes the pretty veggie will satisfy my palate:).
Love love love your blog!!!
Hi Angela!
First, congrats to the farmers market going awesome. I’m really jealous to live so far away I can’t come to visit and buy some Glo Bars… have to put it on my to-do-list! :) By the way, is it possible for me to order Glo Bars, even though I live in Europe? That would be sooo awesome, they look absolutley delicious!
And, I gave your In A Jiffy Spelt Veggie Burgers a try yesterday, and they turned out great (even though I mixed up the recipe and threw eveything in the food processor…)! I’m so happy, have been a little afraid of making veggie burger, but it was a piece of cake (burger? hehe. :P)! Defintely will try some other! And your enchiladas… yum. Sooo yummy, couldn’t stop eating. :)
Hope you had a great weekend and a good start on your week! :)
Glad you enjoyed the burgers! I am making a spin-off of that recipe tonight!
I dont ship to the UK at the moment, but I hope to in the future! Need to figure out all the paperwork and application stuff. Shipping food is a huge process!
Great market recap! (love the tent) I’m inspired to plant an herb garden — I’m going to try some bucket / deck gardening, why not?! Currently, swiss chard and beet leaves are on my dislike list – because I ate way too many of them. I guess that’s why I need to try to eat more seasonally; perhaps I’ll avoid food burnout?