Farmers Markets, CSAs, and More

Although I'm still not posting regularly on this blog, I wanted to post information I've collected on local (Fairfield, CT area) resources for where to BUY LOCAL!!! This is by no means a complete listing, but provides links and contact info for many area farms and farmers markets.

Remember, eat locally, change globally!!!

Websites of Interest
http://www.localharvest.com/ Find farmers markets and CSAs in any area.
http://www.cityseed.org/ Connecticut farmers markets, educational programs, information
http://www.buyctgrown.org/ Find Connecticut farms, CSAs, recipes
http://www.michelnischan.com/ Official site of Chef Michel Nischan
http://www.dressingroomhomegrown.com/ The Dressing Room: A Homegrown Restaurant

http://www.cityseed.org/CitySeed, New Haven, CT

Local Farmers Markets
Greenfield Hill Farmers Market, 1950 Bronson Road, Fairfield. Saturdays, June-October 12:30-4pm.
Westport Farmers Market, 25 Powers Court (behind The Westport Country Playhouse), Thursdays, June-November, 10am - 2pm. www.westportfarmersmarket.com
Winter Market at the Fairfield Theatre Company, 70 Sanford Street, Fairfield. Saturdays, January-April, 10am-1pm. www.westportfarmersmarket.com

Area Community Supported Agriculture Programs (CSAs)
Fort Hill Farm (Organic)--18 Fort Hill Farm Road,New Milford, CT 06776-3306
(860)350-3158
http://www.forthillfarm.com/ (local drop-off points)

Gazy Brothers Farm—391 Chestnut Tree Hill Road, Oxford, CT 06478

(203)723-8885
http://www.gazybrothersfarm.net/ (local drop-off at Greenfield Hill Farmers Mkt)

Sport Hill Farm (Organic)-- 596 Sport Hill Road, Easton, CT 06612

(203)268-3137 http://www.sporthillfarm.com/ (farm pick-up only)

Stone Gardens Farm—83 Sawmill City Road, Shelton, CT 06484 (203)929-2003 http://www.stonegardensfarm.com/ (farm pick-up only)

Stoneledge Farms (Organic)--359 Ross Ruland Road, South Cairo, NY 12482
https://www.stoneledgefarmny.org/ (pick up at Trinity Church, Southport)

I AM POSTING TWICE PER WEEK ON MY OTHER BLOG, SEASON TO TASTE!! Visit me there at:

www.twolia.com/blogs/season-to-taste

Thanks!

Picture courtesy of Gazy Brothers Farm.

Full Plate

In 2008, I filled up my plate,

with classes and projects I did instigate.

I'm happy to say, I love what I do,

but this time I bit off more than I can chew.

Now in 2009, I'm strapped for time,

so I'm taking a break from blogging at The Secret Ingredient Online!

Please visit me at my other blog, Season to Taste, at

www.twolia.com/blogs/season-to-taste

I post original recipes, photos and tips TWICE weekly (which is part of the reason I'm so busy!). Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss a recipe!

For more information about my cooking classes, visit my website, The Secret Ingredient Cooking School, at www.TheSecretIngredientOnline.com

HAPPY COOKING AND I'LL BE BACK SOON!

Photo of Nick Tahous Garbage Plate by dangler.

Favorite Food Finds of 2008

I follow several food blogs, and it seems as if everyone is putting together their "Best of 2008" lists this week. So, I decided to follow suit and create a list of my own favorite things from 2008. Think Oprah's "favorite things" show without all the fancy give-aways! Here it goes:

Favorite local restaurant: Osianna in Fairfield. Blogged about it ages ago---still love it.

Favorite lunchtime discovery: Roly Poly sandwiches. These sandwiches can be ordered cold or warm and have tons of interesting combinations to choose from. They are big too, so half a sandwich is more than enough. I'm especially excited about the new Fairfield location on the Post Road (next to Vincent et Isabelle French Bakery)! Where have I been all these years?

Favorite cookbooks I got this year: I've cut back considerably on cookbook purchases, but these I received as gifts and are great: 1. Mediterranean Fresh by Joyce Goldstein. A beautiful collection of salads and small plates with great photography. 2. Cooking with All Things Trader Joe's by Deana Gunn & Wona Miniati. The perfect book for the busy cook---lots of yummy recipes using great short-cuts available at Trader Joe's.

Favorite food-related tv shows: Everyday Food and America's Test Kitchen--both on PBS. I love these shows because they are so practical....not all the flash of some of the Food Network shows. Just good, straightforward cooking and tips any cook will appreciate.

Favorite new wines: Luzon Verde Organic Jumilla Red Wine from my favorite wine shop, Mo's Wine and Spirits on the Post Road in Fairfield. It is a simple red wine perfect for every night drinking...remember a glass of red wine a day is good for you! Plus, it's organic! At about $8 a bottle, you can't go wrong.


Favorite new cheese & crackers: Cambozola---- a fantastic combination of Camembert and Gorgonzola. I found it at Trader Joe's. And on that note, the Gorgonzola Crackers, also at Trader Joe's. Great on their own or with mild cheese.

Favorite new gadget: The Bialetti Mukka Express stovetop cappuccino maker my husband bought me for Christmas. It is just like the Bialetti "macchinetta" I blogged about earlier this year over at Season to Taste, but has the added attraction of a built-in milk frother for perfect cappuccini in under 5 minutes.

Favorite tip: This is from my friend Elena in Italy, whose family was in the restaurant business. If you have champagne left over, don't toss it. Put the handle of a spoon into the neck of the bottle and refrigerate. I've had it stay bubbly for an entire WEEK!

Favorite "can't wait" for 2009: From the owners of Fairfield's Fraiche restaurant, Fraiche Burger which will be opening in the early part of '09 on Main Street in Bridgeport.

What are YOUR favorites of 2008-----or things you can't wait for in 2009? Let me know by leaving a comment! I'd LOVE to hear from you!

Happy New Year and all the best in 2009!

Champagne photo by dotw.

Lighten Up with Italian Egg Drop Soup

I love all the wonderful food and confections that go along with the Christmas season, but round about now, the waistband of my jeans is begging for mercy. According to my somewhat schitzy scale, I gained 70 pounds in the last week. Clearly, my scale is malfunctioning, but I definitely overindulged this holiday season. Time to get back on the wagon, my friends!

In the warmer weather, I love eating salads for lunch....cucumber and tomato salads are my favorite. However, in the winter, I find it difficult to get excited about salad. I crave warmth in the colder months, and soup always hits the spot. It makes a perfect light lunch or starter to dinner. I make all sorts of soups, but one of my favorites is a simple egg drop. Egg drop soup is most commonly associated with Chinese cuisine, but the Italians also have a version of egg drop soup called "stracciatella" which means "torn apart". This describes the way the egg forms ribbons, resmbling torn cloth, in the broth. What I like about this soup is that it is delicious, nutritious, and extremely simple to prepare. The best part? At 89 calories per 1.5 cup serving, you can start to amend for all that fudge you ate over the holidays!

Italian Egg Drop Soup

Serves 4

6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

2 small cloves of garlic, smashed

1 egg

1 teaspoon olive oil

3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat leaf (Italian)parsley

Place the broth and garlic cloves in a medium sauce pan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove the garlic and discard.

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and the olive oil.

Reduce the heat to medium-low, and while whisking, slowly pour the egg mixture over the top of the soup. The egg will cook in ribbons within the hot broth.

Finally, add chopped parsley and serve hot.

Nutritional info: Calories-89, Total fat-5g, Saturated fat-1g, Carbohydrates-5g, Cholesterol-53mg, Sodium-127 mg, Dietary fiber-0g, Sugars-1g, Protein-9g

Note: This soup will have a thinner consistency than what is usually found in Chinese restaurants. If you happen to like your egg drop thicker, simply whisk together a tablespoon of corn starch together with a tablespoon of water to form a "slurry", and then whisk that mixture into the soup.

Photo above by VForguson.

Restaurants: Cafe Lola, Fairfield, CT

Cafe Lola, a "Bohemian French restaurant", opened its doors on Veteran's Day, 2008, in the former location of the Cuban-fusion restaurant, Islas. The Islas owners had outfitted the space with an entire tiki-hut theme, but Cafe Lola's owners were able to see through the jungle. They transformed the space into something quite nice--- a palate of creams, burgundies, and browns, with a few other rich colors thrown in as accents. Collections of wrought iron crosses, gilded mirrors, and sconces decorate the walls. A large, farmhouse-style buffet stands in the center of the dining room and holds the wines served by the glass, and hidden in one of the drawers (as discovered by my four year old), is the delicious bread. Down a few steps is a lower dining area, which features a pillow-lined banquet and the small bar (which is not for sitting, rather serving). This newly renovated restaurant is not quite casual bistro, but not quite fancy, froo-froo French either. It is an atheistically pleasant space which is cozy and inviting.

My first visit was early one midweek evening, when I walked in with my children. The staff was very nice and accommodating, letting the kids choose their own chairs (none of the chairs match--which I love--they are a wonderful hodgepodge of wooden cafe chairs, cane-backed seats, and comfy, upholstered "princess thrones" ). They did not offer a children's menu, but I never like to order from them anyway, so it suited me just fine. However, if your child can't drink out of a regular glass, be sure to bring your sippy because they do not have cups with lids (and their beautiful glassware is very heavy!). Keep in mind that I wouldn't necessarily categorize this as a restaurant for kids, even though I had a great experience with my children. Unless you go before 6pm during the week, or perhaps for lunch or brunch, you're probably better off going with people who won't fight over the princess chairs.

The the menu is pretty straightforward French bistro fare. It is divided into two sections: Petite Plates and Grand Plates. The "petite" section of the menu includes soup, salads, and other classic French starters like mussels, pate, and even ratatouille (which got a big reaction from the kids). The entrees include larger portions of some of the same things found on the appetizer menu (like the mussels and ratatouille), plus other French favorites like steak au poivre, duck breast (with cranberry-orange sauce), and beef burgundy.

On each of my visits, every single dish was delicious. The steak and lamb dishes were tender and flavorful. The chicken and fish dishes were light and delicious. The salads and soups were excellent. Two of my favorites were the "grown-up" mac and cheese (made with thick cut bacon and Gruyere cheese) and the Moules au Curry (curried mussels), which I ordered on a recommendation from my friend Anne over at SuzySaid.com. Yum!

The dessert menu also features all the French classics, but my favorites were Crepes Suzette (crepes with orange zest, Grand Mariner and ice cream, which I thought would be on fire since it said "flambe"---but it wasn't) and the Pot de creme au chocolate (thick chocolate pudding "pots"). Both were terrific. Our friends had the Brioche bread pudding, and judging from their very clean plate, I think it is safe to say they enjoyed it as well.

Cafe Lola is small, so be sure to make a reservation on weekends....because it is sure to become a hot-spot as soon as word gets out!

Cafe Lola
57 Unquowa Road

Fairfield, CT 06824

203.292.8014
http://www.cafelolarestaurant.com/

Festive Side Dish for the Holidays

If you need a simple, speedy, scrumptious side dish for your holiday table, I have the recipe for you! My Zucchini & Red Peppers with Pine Nuts goes perfectly with a wide variety of entrees, from beef, to chicken, to fish. My family does a traditional Italian-American all-fish-feast on Christmas Eve, and a few years ago I created this side dish to go along with the main course, which is, of course, fish. What I love about this dish is that the green zucchini and red peppers look very festive, and the pine nuts and some Parmesan cheese give it amazing flavor. Even better, the whole thing cooks in under 10 minutes!

This weekend, I will be featured on Connecticut's News Channel 12 during their show called "What's Cooking". Because it airs so close to the holidays, I figured this was a great dish to demonstrate. Be sure to check it out over the weekend for hints on chopping and cooking techniques for this dish. It airs several times (Saturday, December 20th and Sunday, December 21st--both days at 7:00am, 10:30am, 2:00pm, and 1:30am). Once I have the link to the segment, I'll post it on both this blog and my cooking school website at http://www.thesecretingredientonline.com/. Please note that due to a recent schedule change, the "What's Cooking" show may be listed as "Educational Notebook" on your television listings.

Happy Cooking and Happy Holidays!!

Zucchini & Red Peppers with Pine Nuts

Serves 4-6

2 medium zucchini, cut into 2" long matchsticks

1 large red bell pepper, cut into thin, 2" long strips
2 tablespoons pine nuts
1-2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

olive oil

salt & pepper

Heat about 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.

Saute for about 2 minutes, then add the zucchini to the pan. Season with salt and pepper.

Cook for another 3-4 minutes and then add pine nuts.

Continue to cook for another 1-3 minutes, or until all the veggies are tender, but not mushy.

Remove to a plate and top with grated Parmesan cheese. Serve hot.

Note: The vegetables should gently saute and not get too much brown color. If they begin to brown too quickly, reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking.