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.

Summertime Monday Dinner

Sweet white corn and heirloom tomato risotto with white corn from G&S Farm in Brentwood (Mountain View and Palo Alto farmers' markets), tomatoes from Baia Nicchia in Sunol (Menlo Park farmers' market), shallots from Borba Farms in Aromas (MV farmers' market) and olive oil from Soul Food Farm in Vacaville

Side of zucchini and yellow summer squash from Happy Boy Farms in Watsonville (Mountain View farmers' market)

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

Typical Spring Dinner

Potato leek soup: Yukon gold potatoes from Full Belly Farm, leeks from Fat Cabbage Farm, onions from Swank Farm

Spinach salad: spinach from Happy Boy Farms, raspberries from Rodriguez Farms, goat cheese

Bread & olive oil: baguette from Acme, olive oil from Soul Food Farm