Farmers Market in February

What's better on a snowy February morning than heading out to the Farmers Market. Yes you heard me right the Farmers Market. That's what the kids and  I did this morning. We visited the Indoor Winter Farmers Market at Crocker Park.

Nestled in a small store front next to Aladdin's Eatery, it may be small but it is packed full of goodness. The market is part of the North Union Farmers Markets. The Indoor Market at Crocker Park opened in January 2013 and will run until March 16th. It is open every Saturday from 9 am to noon. Anyone that has visited the traditional Farmers Market at Crocker Park will recognize many of the vendors that have set-up roots in the Winter Market. 

The kids and I were happy to be greeted by Gray House Pies as we opened the door. The kids were treated to samples of some of their wonderful flavors and then we purchased one of their individual size sunshine cherry & peach pies to share for dessert after lunch. Gray House is looking for our help. If you like their pies please vote for them under the Best Desserts on the Cleveland City Voter's Hot list.  

We then picked up some pasta from Ohio City Pasta. Today we chose "spicy lime cilantro" and "roasted red pepper". We also picked up a container of their yummy garlic butter. With it we created the recipe below:

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Ohio City Spicy Lime Cilantro Confetti Pasta

Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Yields: Approximately 4 servings








Ingredients:
3 tbsp olive oil
1/2 large sweet onion (Vidalia or Walla Walla) chopped
1 large bell pepper (red, orange or yellow) chopped
2 small zucchini diced in small cubes
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 lb Ohio City Spicy Lime Cilantro Pasta
3 tbsp Ohio City Pasta Garlic Butter

Directions:
Fill a large stock pot with water. Place stock pot on high heat and bring water to a boil.

In a large skillet add olive oil and place on medium heat. Add onion and saute for 2-3 minutes until
it starts to turn translucent in color. Then add peppers and saute for another 2-3 minutes. Add
zucchini salt and pepper and continue to saute until zucchini becomes slightly tender about 7-8
minutes. (You don't want the zucchini to become mushy so watch and don't be afraid to taste!)

While zucchini mixture is cooking, add a generous amount of salt to boiling water in stock
pot. Place pasta into water and cook per package directions (Ohio City Pasta is fresh pasta so the
cooking time will be only 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 minutes). Stir pasta in pot to prevent sticking to the
bottom of the pot.

When pasta is finished add drained pasta to the sauteing zucchini mixture. Do not be afraid to get a little of the pasta cooking water into the pan this will actually help to create a more sauce like feel.

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Head over to  our What's for Dinner tab to see this and others of our favorite recipes!.

We needed something else to add to our future pasta feast so we headed over to our friends at PJ's All Natural Farms and Greenhouse.  We picked up some wonderful looking zucchinis.  They also had some other beautiful winter vegetable selections such as potatoes, turnips, radishes and more.  You definitely should check them out for high quality chemical free produce.

Our final stop was to the gentlemen at Woolf Farms.  We picked up some sweet and juicy Fuji apples.  They even gave the boys a sample.  I think the kids enjoyed them what do you think?  He's too busy chewing to smile. Trust me...he loved them!!!

So that was our day at the Indoor Winter Farmers Market at Crocker Park. Please go check it out and support or local growers and producers.  I know you'll agree their quality is superb, hospitality top notch and pride for what they do inspiring!