To Market to Market…6/11/2015

Pics from Heirloom Farmer’s Market, Tucson, Arizona.

I was on an urban “nature” walk and decided to make a stop at the market. I was immediately tempted by a French restaurant’s bread and pastries. They looked delectable! I had to take a couple of the pics through pastry cases. Keep moving, I told myself…make your way to the fruit & veggies, haha. I’ll indulge next time perhaps.

Jalapeño-Apricot Jam? Yes, please! Some of the jams have a hint of tequila, I was told.

These onions looked so appealing to me. I wanted to take a bite out of one like a big apple, lol.

Even though the sweet treats got me initially, I am always equally (if not more) excited by all the fresh veggies. I don’t know why I get so happy when I see them. It’s not as if I haven’t seen a beet or carrot before. There’s just some endorphin sparkage or something that happens while gazing at all the veggie goodness.

The garlic was huge! The farmer informed me that a lot of the garlic Americans consume is from China. He said it’s a lot less strong than the version he had out for the day.

And, just so you know, they have bacon, bacon, BACON!

These gorgeous sunflowers and a furry friend made my lovely market trip complete.

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

To Market to Market…4/16/2015

Pics from the Farmer’s Market at the Downtown Mercado, Tucson, Arizona. I love this market at the quaint Mercado, with its live folksy musical performances and enticing surrounding local restaurants. Kumquats caught my eye this trip, and I quickly found a dish for them (Moroccan Tofu with Apricots, Olives, & Almonds. Apricots were replaced with the kumquats, will post a pic soon). Of course, I enjoyed some raw, as well. I spotted a variety of kale (Russian, Siberian, white, among others, I was told by the farmer), turmeric tonic, nopales, herbs, cholla buds…and, well, so many exciting things this trip. I am always drawn to pasta, and this time I snagged a bit of a dessert chocolate and cherry gemelli. I am not extremely fond of chocolate desserts (except candies, fudge, and brownies), but I love cherries and dark chocolate combined. So, we’ll see how it goes! I saw a batch of raw pecan fudge I might try to replicate. Yums!

We have Farmer’s Markets year-round in Tucson (because of our warm climate), so make sure you stop by a few if you’re in town.

To Market to Market…11/25/2014

Food Conspiracy Co-op, Tucson, Arizona. View pics from previous posts here and here.

‘Go Local’ & get your last minute Turkey Day shopping in at the Co-op, Tucsonans! Turkeys, wine, growlers of beer, cheese, pies, fresh baguettes, pastries, and more await you at Food Conspiracy. Hop on the new Tucson streetcar, and it will drop you off right in front.

Yum…cheesecake in a jar!

If you’re not in Tucson, this might be a quick, last-minute dessert idea for you. Don’t forget how easy it is to make your own homemade cream cheese (links here and here).

If you get hungry while shopping and looking at all of the goodies, you can grab a bite at the hot/cold bar. They always have a great selection of healthy eats, soups, and salads. I won’t tell on you if you decide to put one of their fab dishes on your Holiday table, either 😉 .

Also, Candy Cane Season will soon be upon us, so make sure to scope the sweet treats while you’re there!

And, make sure to check out some of the awesome classes the Co-op offers. Get the lastest info on their website, social page, from the store bulletin board, or in the newsletter. There’s always something fun going on, including free yoga sessions! Be there or be square!

To Market to Market…11/24/2014

 

Maynard’s, Tucson, Arizona. Maynard’s is part market and part restaurant (kitchen). It’s a concept that works exceptionally well. No, I didn’t just go to the market to drool over the macarons. I went to drool over the macarons and the chocolate covered caramel apples. If you happen to be in Tucson on Thanksgiving and want someone else to do the cookin’…Maynard’s Kitchen has you covered. It ranks in my top 10 places to celebrate a special occasion in Tucson. Everything sounds smashing, especially the hunter’s salad and Grand Marnier cranberry sauce. The market also has a fab selection of wine, cheese, and pastries if you do plan on celebrating at home. Check out a few more of my pics from the restaurant and market here.

To Market to Market…11/8/2014

Pics from Food Conspiracy Co-op, Tucson, Arizona (find other pics in this post). Check out these cool gourds (pic above)! And, of course you need a tea straw:

I always feel like whatever stress or chaos has been going on in my life leaves as I enter the Co-op — as if it breathes a sweet, refreshing mist into my soul. My Tucson friends, head to 4th Avenue (as I know you want to do) for fabulous Co-op finds. Also, make sure to scope the monthly calendar for all the fun opps at the Co-op:

To my other wonderful readers from many different places in the world: I hope you will enjoy a few pics from our local establishment. Please stop by if you are in Tucson! The Co-op is located along 4th Avenue, home to an array of eateries, eclectic shops, and artistic expressions. And, there is a stop for the new Tucson streetcar just across from the Co-op entrance.

To Market to Market…10/24/2014

Pics from Grantstone Asian Market in Tucson, Arizona. I haven’t had a market post in a while, so I thought it was about time. Some people want this store to be fancy. It isn’t. It does have quite a few items I find useful, though. My friend who hails from North Africa introduced me to this market, and I continue to come back. It reminds me of mom-and-pop-type stores back East, even though it’s fairly large. Besides the merch, one of the main reasons I return is the staff. They make you feel appreciated — like family. And, it’s great to support local business.

To Market to Market…8/4/2014

Heirloom Farmers’ Market at Rillito Park, Tucson, Arizona. This is a very large FM (at least as far as Tucson goes). There’s a horse race track located behind it. My favorite item this trip was local white grapefruit. Growing up, I used to drink so much grapefruit juice, I would break out with a rash! I would still keep drinking it, though. I thought perhaps I could use some for a cocktail, but it was too good not to eat it just as it was. I made a “purple plate” with purple okra (SO Good!), purple green beans, purple cauliflower, teeny tiny purple graffiti eggplant, and purplish-black tomatoes. Other great finds: bok choy (though I love the baby bok), sweet corn, white eggplant, komatsuna greens, pink pomegranate, and a few other odds & ends.

 

To Market to Market…

From Jasmine Market, Tucson, AZ. I thought the pale green curly veggie in this pic was perhaps a type of squash. I was informed it is a type of cucumber. I was told how to pronounce it, but I am sure I butchered it. I’ll have to write it down next time. Anyway, I loved it! It has very small seeds and is mild in flavor. It might be my new favorite variety.