I’m baaa-aack! Did you miss me? I hope you are all adjusting to our temporary encampment on the East Side of the Ave.. Sorry I couldn’t be there for the big switch. But I can report that, end to end, PA is still beautiful, and that coming home is still the nicest part of any road trip.
Don’t let this crazy 100° summer fool you…by now, it starting to look like Fall is still going to be a thing. If you haven’t already, it’s time to get the sweaters out of mothballs (is that still even a thing?) and find the jeans that fit you last April.
But the good news is that we still have some summer-like days ahead to enjoy…a day trip to the beach…an evening sitting under the stars with friends or lovers. Still some time to store up some good memories of life out of doors before we retire to the sofa and the hearth. But don’t wait too long.
Over at Tucquan, while there may still be some stone fruits to be enjoyed, the apples and pears have pushed their way to the front of the lineup. As they should. Notice a slight shift in descriptors. Soft, sweet, and sticky have changed to juicy, tart and crunchy. Corn and tomatoes still have some skin in the game, but the seasonal clock is counting down. So, think like a squirrel and start stocking your larder for the months ahead.
NOTE: If you’re a canner, NOW is the time to get those Ball supplies. If ya know ya know.
So gather ye red beets while ye may…and pickle them for the months ahead. Turn that eggplant into caponata, and do something tres French with the onions, garlic and chives you just bought from Tucquan. Mes amis, may I suggest the Triple Threat Onion Galette.
When life, or your neighbor, hands you more end of season tomatoes than you can eat, grate them down and freeze them for soups and pasta gravy (yes, I said gravy). So simple, get the kids involved. BONUS: they are perfect for that caponata recipe!
While we’re rethinking foods, it’s also time to warm up the cocktail menu. Those cool minty mojitos and fruity slushies need to make way for darker, more sophisticated indulgences. A vodka Dark & Stormy, bourbon Old Fashioned, etc.. Or get creative…sage and rosemary and honey are perfect for adding some body and mystery to that dark rum or barreled bourbon. So check out Pennsylvania Distillery …they may have just what you need. In the hops & malt dept., Conshohocken Brewing also gets into the spirits (see what I did there?) with its Nightmare on East Elm Street Pumpkin Ale.
With just a few weeks left of the Market season, this is a good time to take stock of things you might need to take care of before it’s too late: If you are the master turkey carver or ham slicer at most family feasts, you might want to make a stop at Hot Knives now and have Paul set the edge on that carving knife. Then in November, you can wow everyone at the table with your skills.
This week in the Music Tent: Dave Fiorenza returns with his guitar….His first appearance earlier this summer was interrupted by power outage, so we’ll see what surprises are in store for his next set.
And wherever we are, we’ll continue to make the Lansdowne Farmers Market a great place to spend an hour or two while the year winds down. Good food, good music, good friends.
Be there!
Terry B.