Inspired by the market

One of the reasons that I like shopping at the farmers' market is being inspired by what I see and what looks good. On a recent trip to the Mountain View farmers' market, I saw all the heirloom tomatoes and was inspired to make...

A heirloom tomato (Happy Boy Farms), roasted beet (Nunez Farm), basil (Happy Boy Farms), goat cheese salad with olive oil from Soul Food Farm for dinner on Sunday and...

A heirloom tomato (Happy Boy Farms) soup with roasted corn (G&S Farm) and fresh basil (Happy Boy Farms) for dinner on Monday. Yum.

Walking The Market

I love walking the Mountain View farmers' market on Sunday mornings and figuring out what I cook for dinner during the week. Especially during the summer, there is such an abundance of delicious produce to choose from where a meal builds itself. This past Sunday, one meal came together when I had the idea to do a skirt steak salad - and I quickly added corn, peaches and red peppers - accompanied by a tortilla espanola (Spanish omelette).

Tortilla espanola with russet potatoes from Zuckerman Farm, yellow onions from Swank Farms in Hollister, eggs and olive oil from Soul Food Farm in Vacaville

Build your own salad:

Salad mix from Happy Boy Farms in Watsonville

Sweet white corn from G&S Farms in Brentwood

Cilantro from Nunez Organic Farm in Watsonville

Red peppers from Borba Farm in Aromas

Grilled skirt steak from Pampero Ranch in Sunol

White peach from Kashiwase Farm in Winton

Miso salad dressing from Nago Foods

Monday Dinners

You know, it's easy to prepare meals on Mondays with local, sustainable food - because I have typically just gone to the Mountain View farmers' market on Sunday morning.

Here was tonight's dinner:

Mixed green salad from Fat Cabbage Farm in Pescadero, with cherry tomatoes from Rhodes Family Farm

Grilled rib-eye steak from Pampero Ranch in Sunol

Steamed broccoli from Nunez Organic Farm in Watsonville

Roasted Bintje potatoes from Thomas Farm in Watonsville