Gone To The Beach

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Treats from the Farmers Market

new palest blue plates for summer.
Cape Cod freebie thrifted glass shell plates.

Hi! It's Wednesday, so it's market day! One of the best things about the farmers market, is, I think, the element of surprise, of uncertainty. For sure if you think you're gonna buy pale blue chicken eggs and red oak leaf lettuce something more enticing will sway your fickle culinary imagination.

I was all set to head out today and..oh my! a thunderstorm cloudburst barrelled in...then right out again. Left the area a bit steamy, but the sun was shining again, so off I went. I didn't expect any vendors to still be there at the plaza, but the white tents were up and there were lots of yummy things buy. No eggs though, sigh. No eggs meant no egg salad sandwiches for a cool supper out on the deck.

Now what?
My favorite Italian guys from Brooklyn were there with all their enticing goodies.

I bought my standby: fresh mozzarella.

This is a cheese like fresh creamery heaven. I served it with some antipasto---olives, arti-hearts, mushrooms--- bought earlier at the Italian deli in town, drizzled on some fig balsamic vinegar. Dash of lemon pepper...mmm. (add some salami, some crusty bread, and this could be an entire meal...)

But yes. I was seduced by the homemade eggplant rollatini, even if it meant I'd have to heat up the oven.

So yummy.

Some zucchini from my regular veggie guys. They also had buckets and buckets of gorgeous kale...but I was a bit lazy, you can tell? So no elaborate kale washing tonight, that can be another day.

At the Brooklyn guys' tent I also got a bag of fresh pappardelli, which are Italian egg noodles, nice and wide and tasty.

I love noodles but am not too fond of the dried store-bought "Pennsylvania Dutch" offerings. I buy pappardelli instead. Of course now I either have to freeze the fresh noodles or make a roast something for the weekend. Maybe a crockpot pot roast? Can't miss, sometimes hungry beach goers love a full crockpot instead of BBQ.

The vinegar seller is new. Next week I plan to try one of her herbed olive oils. And there is a new cheese man too. And a new veggie grower who has lovely bundles of fresh herbs. Can't wait.

I ended up with my big old LL Bean post office tote full. Next I think I'll have to plan some new market bags, a new fun project?

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

[it got so dark, all the streetlights came on!]

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Who Are All These People...

And why are they on my beach!!??

Gully seems puzzled too, especially since no one is feeding him.

Well, okay, the crowds aren't really on MY beach. It just seems that way because I am used to just being me, all alone, on the wide expanse of shoreline.

Fourth of July weekend was stunningly gorgeous, maybe the best 4th weather I can ever remember in all my years here...

So the beach got as busy as it ever gets.

And truly they are not on my beach, the people mostly are at the two town beaches. They tend to herd around the lifeguard stands.
My private beach got plenty of use too...as neighbors came out with friends and family. But lots of space, as you can see. It isn't Coney Island in July here.

Here is my daughter's haul of seaglass! Just one morning's walk. No wonder there is none left for me to find later.

I finished one of my doll quilts.

This was a quilt along by Cheri Payne. You'll have to scroll back to see her quilts, as she's on summer break now. here She specializes in prim, old fashioned quilts. I can't decide if it should be tea stained now, or not? [It's awfully bright.] It would be cute for an American Girl doll, or for fall decorating with apples and pumpkins.

Here's my lavender toes. Mel knows why I have lavender toes! Just a fun thing. Next week, turquoise? Melon?

As soon as the people start to leave, my birds come running out.

They are hungry! And they aren't shy of me.

This is the big oystercatcher family from the now-gone dune. The little mama had a very nice brood of three, all big guys now.

Back at the house...put the first load of sandy towels in the wash then cool off and have some deck time, what we used to call cocktail time in Cape Cod. No alcoholic drinks needed, just some cheese and crackers and ice tea or lemonade, while we decide if we should grill hot dogs or call out for Chinese?