Market Report
- Friday, 28 April 2017
Essential to any good cook’s essential ingredient list is the globe onion. A well stocked pantry will have on hand at the very least, one or two varieties.
The two main types of globe onions are pungent and mild. Both are classified into either long-day or short day bulbs, the length of daylight time required for the actual bulb to form.
Mild variety onions are typically large and juicy with thick rings and thin, papery skins that peel easily. They can be cooked, but are the likely candidates to be used raw on sandwiches, in salads and the like. These are the ones that make great onion rings.
Unfortunately, mild onions are very poor “keepers”. Even in ideal storage conditions, they will only maintain their eating quality for a couple months. Ideally, a windfall of mild onions can be preserved in pickles, salsas and chutneys.
The two main types of globe onions are pungent and mild. Both are classified into either long-day or short day bulbs, the length of daylight time required for the actual bulb to form.
Mild variety onions are typically large and juicy with thick rings and thin, papery skins that peel easily. They can be cooked, but are the likely candidates to be used raw on sandwiches, in salads and the like. These are the ones that make great onion rings.
Unfortunately, mild onions are very poor “keepers”. Even in ideal storage conditions, they will only maintain their eating quality for a couple months. Ideally, a windfall of mild onions can be preserved in pickles, salsas and chutneys.
- Thursday, 20 April 2017
Just when that reservoir of supper ideas runs dry, it’s time to circle back to the cue line on past great performances.
Quiche is one of those forgotten dishes that deserve a chance to rejoin the menu lineup.
Spring ingredients seem to lean in to the concept of quiche done right. A luscious pie filled with savory, cooked to perfect, ingredients.
Asparagus, peas, spinach, mushrooms, alliums, scallions and fresh herbs make for a bright start to a sensational dinner. Let’s face it, brunch or lunch are fair territory for a good tasting quiche, too.
Any excuse for homemade pie crust gets star status. The shell should be par-baked first to get a solid, firm texture going prior to filling with dairy and supporting cast members.
Quiche is one of those forgotten dishes that deserve a chance to rejoin the menu lineup.
Spring ingredients seem to lean in to the concept of quiche done right. A luscious pie filled with savory, cooked to perfect, ingredients.
Asparagus, peas, spinach, mushrooms, alliums, scallions and fresh herbs make for a bright start to a sensational dinner. Let’s face it, brunch or lunch are fair territory for a good tasting quiche, too.
Any excuse for homemade pie crust gets star status. The shell should be par-baked first to get a solid, firm texture going prior to filling with dairy and supporting cast members.
- Thursday, 13 April 2017
Once a harbinger of spring, asparagus is now available nearly year round with imported product from Peru and Mexico.
Even so, when fields in California begin to sprout up tender tips, by early April, it’s indicative of a seasonal shift in local eating habits.
An elegant vegetable with long, tender shoots that are generally categorized as white, purple and green varieties, all belonging to a plant in the lily family.
The shoots of the green and white varieties are usually hand-harvested when the stalks reach a height of around eight inches and are one quarter to half inch thick. The compact, tightly packed leaves (resembling scales) at the top of the stalk are prized for their soft, to crunchy texture and mild, provocative flavor.
Green asparagus is traditionally the most common variety grown in the United States. Purple or white asparagus is usually available on a limited basis in specialty and farmers markets.
Even so, when fields in California begin to sprout up tender tips, by early April, it’s indicative of a seasonal shift in local eating habits.
An elegant vegetable with long, tender shoots that are generally categorized as white, purple and green varieties, all belonging to a plant in the lily family.
The shoots of the green and white varieties are usually hand-harvested when the stalks reach a height of around eight inches and are one quarter to half inch thick. The compact, tightly packed leaves (resembling scales) at the top of the stalk are prized for their soft, to crunchy texture and mild, provocative flavor.
Green asparagus is traditionally the most common variety grown in the United States. Purple or white asparagus is usually available on a limited basis in specialty and farmers markets.
- Thursday, 06 April 2017
It won’t come as a surprise that color has a profound effect on mood. With Spring in gear, plan to lift more than a mood by surrounding work and home spaces with bright flowers, flowering plants and potted herbs.
Placing pots of color in work environments and around the house can seriously boost productivity and contribute to our mental clarity throughout the day.
While there are many high-tech ways to improve air quality, one refreshingly easy method is to bring living plants into our living spaces. Better indoor air quality helps to keep the immune system strong. Breathing fresher air is invigorating and brightens up the day.
Placing pots of color in work environments and around the house can seriously boost productivity and contribute to our mental clarity throughout the day.
While there are many high-tech ways to improve air quality, one refreshingly easy method is to bring living plants into our living spaces. Better indoor air quality helps to keep the immune system strong. Breathing fresher air is invigorating and brightens up the day.