Day 159 LocalrootZ Project (June 10,2010)

Breakfast

Plain Swallowtail Yogurt

w/ Honey

Lunch

New Leaf Salad Mix

w/ Pepperjack Cheese

Dinner

Sweet n Spicy Lalibella Tempeh

w/ Collards and Asian Greens

So good... not only are teh greens that we grew amazingly tasty but the tempeh was the best we ever had.  Why? Well 2 days ago I drizzled some homemade hot sauce, maple syrup and cider vinegar over the tempeh and let it marinate... then i baked it under 450˚ for 10 minutes to get it crispy.  Tossed into a sautee of tat soi, napa cabbage and collards all grown by us, WOW !  This is gonna be a great summer...

Transportation Today

Work Commute : 22 miles bicycle

Day 154 LocalrootZ Project ( June 5,2010)

Farmer's Market

An early morning stroll down to Deering Oaks had me shopping lightly in preparation of eating some of our own garden delights this week...

I did manage to pick up some rhubarb from Alewife Farm, Yogurt, Provolone and Mozzarella from Swallowtail Farm, Chard from Fishbowl, Tempeh from Lalibela Farm, Tomatoes from Olivias and Green Garlic from Thirty Acre. Oh and a couple tomato plants... more more more!

Breakfast

Whole Wheat Pancakes

w/ Maple Syrup

Lunch/Dinner

Garlic Root Soup

w/ Salad

Dessert

Rhubarb Crisp

w/ honey ice cream

I was doing a little organizing in the fridge and discovered my cache of carrots, still crisp and sweet.  Not wanting to push my luck I decided I should use up the carrots and start a soup.  Simple and easy... a kitchen sink kinda soup with old scallion ends, green garlic leaves, lovage, baby beets n greens, shallots and a handful of dried and fresh herbs.  Simmer for a couple hours and serve...

Day 057 LocalrootZ Project (February 26, 2010)

Breakfast

Sunnyside Up Egg

w/ Browned Tempeh

(Garbanzo & Navy Bean from Lalibella Farm)

Slice of Spelt Toast

 Dinner

Steamer Clams

Pan Seared Scallops

over Chiogga beets
Glass of Villager White

Dessert 
Maple Honey Ice Cream
over Oatmeal Cookie

So today started off with a surprise call from work at 6am, just when i was about to hop on my bicycle my daily commute... Power Out ! Whoot woo... looks like those winds were a bit much for alot of the powerlines in the state of Maine and it also looks like I can hit the pillow for a bit longer and wake up to a fresh day of cooking and organizing for a soon to be productive weekend !  We started of with a small easy breakfast that was highlighted by some sample tempeh we got from Lalibela Farm.  They have been making a traditional soy bean based tempeh since the late fall if I recall correctly and Ive used it for many recipes throughout the last couple months of the project.  Anyhow she is experimenting with other bean types and we were lucky enough to have it on our breakfast plate.  I will say they both made a tempeh that had a texture and look similar to the soy based type they sell at the market.  However there were some slight nuances I noticed between the flavors... I personally thought the garbanzo was the best, it seemed creamier than the others, for me creamy is always good, where the Navy bean had a bit of acidity to the flavor, almost a citrus tang to it, that was even stronger than the soy type.  I think all three have there place on the shelf in my fridge.  The "alternative" bean tempehs also fill a niche where alot of people who typically avoid soy based products may find it appealing.  Keep up the good work guys... Check out their farm @ Lalibela Farm and pick up some their tempeh @ various grocers and the winter & summer farmers market.
After breakfast was complete we spent a few minutes straightening up the kitchen/ art studio and decided with the sun making an apperance and temps pushing 50˚, that it was time for a walk.  We headed over to Aurora's to purchase a pint of smiling hill farm cream for ice cream later and then proceeded down through the west end and along the trail that leads through the sculpture park, under the casco bay bridge and straight into Free Range Fish.  We picked up a handful of sea scallops and a nice pile of steamer clams that were harvested the day before.  From there we passed up to Longfellow books to check out a couple new releases that looked notable... we purchased a few new titles "A Little Piece of Earth" by Maria Finn & "Real Food" by Nina Planck... both looked interesting and we have developed quite the addiction to reading whenever the chance arises. After the book store we made a quick detour over to Downeast and grabbed a nice bottle of Villager White... produced by Oyster River Wine Growers to accompany our lunch /dinner.  Speaking of lunch/dinner it was fabulous.  A very simple meal with a few chiogga beets sliced thin and roasted in a dab of sunflower oil for about 20 min @ 475˚.  I then boiled 2 cup of water with a 3 crushed garlic cloves, 1 small stuttgarter onion, and a handful of laver seaweed... after this mixture steam off to about half I added a shot of Villager wine and a bag full of steamers, covered and steam for 10 minutes or so... unitl they opened up.  the scallops were just seared in some garlic butter and served over the roasted beets.

Total cost of meal $18 for two people including bottle of wine

Cheap. Simple. Easy. Delicious

Transportation Today

Errands : 6 miles Walking 

Winter Farmers Market (week one)

Today was the first ever Winter Farmers Market for Portland... yes there was the nice preorder pick up happening every couple weeks in Deering Oaks and Monument Square but the newly acquired indoor spot (8 Free St.) serves the purpose of a farmers market just fine.  Cassi and I rolled in at about 10:15 with the hours posted as 10-1.  From the moment we stepped in it was apparent that Portland was glad to have the market up and running.  The space was bustling with people... Lots of great products and a few new faces on the producer front.  Goransen, Swallowtail Farm and Hahn's End stood out as people and goods we had yet to see in the Portland area.  The market was also full of familiar producers; Lalibella, Freedom, Fishbowl, Olivia's, Thirty Acre, Tourmaline and a couple other meat farmers who we aren't as familiar with, seeing as we live the pescatarian lifestyle... but to each his own, Im sure they produce some fine cuts of meat.  One noticeable problem was the absence of Mother Oven Bread (an integral part organizing the Winter Market) as well as a few other producers who I heard through the grapevine may be setting up tables.  I was told that the city of Portland gave the organizers only 24 hours notice that "certain" vendors needed to set up a day prior for a health inspection before they were able to sell their products.  With a hurdle like that for someone like a fresh bread artisan... I can only imagine the problems that caused for someone who needs to spend days preparing starter and excess loaves in order to provide the public with a top notch product.  Hopefully these issues will be squared away by the time next week rolls around... I know we will be there every week for the next 9 weeks they have committed to running the market !

Here's a few shots of how it went down...

 

  

 

 

Here is what we took back to our west end apartment....

Goransen Farm

1 Bag Curly Kale

2 Bags Red Russian Kale

Winter Carnival Squash

Kombocha Squash

Swallowtail Farm

1/2 # Butter

Ball of Mozzarella

Tub of Ricotta

Hahn's End

Fiddler's Reach Cheese

City of Ships Cheese

Thirty Acre

2 Black Radishes

1 Red Cabbage

Tourmaline Farm

Quart Raw Goat Milk

Fishbowl Farm

2 Bags Baby Spinach

Dried Chili Peppers

Smoked Chipolte Peppers

we also got gifted a couple samples of Lalibella Tempeh made with Garbanzo beans and another with Navy Beans !  Thanks, Jamie

Oh yeah and the eggs are from Sunrise Acres in Cumberland and were purchased @ Aurora Provisions on our walk home from the market.

Day 036 LocalrootZ Project (February 05, 2010)

Breakfast

Gala Apple

Lunch

Smiling Hill Farm Plain Yogurt

w/ Raw Honey

Dinner

Leftover Haddock n Stuffing

w/ Winter Green & Carrot Sautee

 

  

  

 

Dessert

Oatmeal Cookies

Let there be GREENS !  I have to thank Jamie & Andy of Lalibela Farm for grabbing Cassi & I some greens (Red Russian Kale, Curly Kale & Spinach) from Goranson Farm who sell their 4 seasons produce @ the Brunswick Winter Farmers Market...and will soon be @ the Portland Winter Farmers Market coming February 13th !  Greens, Local Tempeh, Mother Oven Bread... I can't wait !  Anyhow we are so appreciative for the recieving some greens a little early because it's been a long 35 days !  They tasted great sauteed with some shredded carrots and a little seaweed butter !

  Transportation Today
Work Commute : 15 miles Bicycle
Errands : 6 miles Walking 

Day 022 LocalrootZ Project (January 22,2010)

Breakfast

Sunflower Sprout Omelet

w/ slice of Garlic Spelt Bread

Lunch

Plain Smiling Hill Farm Yogurt

w/ Raw Honey

Raw Chantennay Carrots

Dinner

Tex Mex Tempeh

w/ cabbage and tomatoes

Side of Corn Bean Dip

Transportation Today

Work Commute : 15 miles Bicycle

Errands : 3 miles Walking 

Day 015 LocalrootZ Project (January 15,2010)

Breakfast

Pea Shoot Omelet

w/ side of Fermented Carrots

& Spelt Toast 

 

Lunch

Plain Sheep's Milk Yogurt

w/ Raw Honey

Raw carrots

Dinner

Exotic Casco Tempeh Stir Fry

Ok so this was a such a wonderful concoction that i must share it with you...

Exotic Casco Tempeh Stir Fry

1 package Lalibela Tempeh

1 1/2 c Green Cabbage

1 Large Carrot

1c Wheat Berries (cooked)

6oz Sunflower Sprouts

2 tbls Butter/ Sunflower Oil

2 tbsp Raw Honey

3 tbsp Maple Syrup

1 tbsp Hot Sauce

1 Bulb Garlic

1 Small Onion

Saute garlic & onions in Butter/ Oil mixture... add in Tempeh and brown. Add cabbage (shredded), wheat berries & honey... stir fry for 2-3 minutes.  Then in large bowl combine stir fry w/ raw sunflower sprouts.  Toss in mixture of Maple Syrup & Hot Sauce.... Top off with large shredded carrot.

Serve !

This was the best tempeh dish I ever made... the nutty flavor of the tempeh combined with the hot sweet sauce created a thai peanut type flavor that I would never have thought we could find using all Maine ingredients !

 A special shot out to Jamie & Andy of Lalibela Farm.  

They make a mean tempeh and if you wanna know more about where to find this great product made using all Maine soybeans learn more here Lalibella Farm ! Keep up the great work.

Transportation Today

Work Commute : 15 miles Bicycle

Errands : 3 miles Walking