From the Market // Last Days of Summer... and Fall Preview!

Transitional months between the seasons are just a bit depressing, especially when all the great summer fruits and vegetables are waning away. The variety of goodies this time of year tend to be either over-ripe or under-ripe, but you're bound to find the last bit of berries and peaches (great for cobblers and pies). 

The plus side is that fall is just around the corner, theoretically. Once our trademark Californian Indian Summer passes, there are loads of fall crops to look forward to: 

Apples

(crisps! sauces! pies!)

Beets

(roasted, of course)

Brussel Sprouts

(buy on the stalk, they are more fresh)

Chard

(colorful greens, so fun)

Eggplant

(my favorite vegetable)

Figs

(green, purple, Adriatic varieties... one of my favorite fruits)

Kale

(curly or dinosaur - the best)

Leeks

(yummy with potatoes)

Okra

(slice and fry them up, n'awlins style)

Parsnips

(great with a chicken noodle soup)

Pears

(poached, braised, liqueured, baked, broiled)

Persimmons

(my favorite sign of fall)

Pumpkins / Squashes

(fall = duh)

Quince

(pastes, jellies, etc.)

These late summer/early fall fruits and veggies are a sampling from the Larchmont Farmer's Market this weekend - don't forget to check out their incredible flowers!