The Pearl Market is now in its second week. Tuesday started out with Pearl Alley being a wind tunnel but the vendors continued to set up shop and bring to the downtown the very best of freshness, handmade, baked and stitched.
Some of the freshness in season now is Asparagus, Radishes, Green Onions, Herbs, Lettuce, Kale and other greens and some early Strawberries. If you want to plant some of your own garden vegetables; the market offers a nice variety of garden bedding plants like tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers and flowers.
One of the vendors bringing these garden goodies to Pearl Market from Williamsport, Ohio is Farmer Bill’s Produce and Honey. They grow vegetables and are bee keepers; he and his wife Linda also bring baked goods to the market. You can find out more about what they do so well at www.facebook.com/FarmerBillsProduceHoney
Here is a great way to use these delicate greens by making a garden fresh salad with homemade vinaigrette dressing.
Spring Garden Salad with Golden Balsamic Vinaigrette
By The Gourmet Farm Girl
½ cup pecan or walnut halves (toasted)
¼ cup of The Gourmet Farm Girl Golden Balsamic (or you’re favorite balsamic)
¾ cup of The Gourmet Farm Girl Mission Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Pinch of sea salt (optional)
Pinch of cracked black pepper
1-2 tablespoons of Farmer Bill’s Honey or any Ohio Honey
1 bag of leaf lettuce or any mixture of greens
(Enough for 4-6 plates)
4-6 green onions (chopped)
¼ cup blue cheese crumbles (or your favorite cheese)
Toast the nuts at 300 degrees on a cookie sheet for 10-12 minutes till just heated; remove and cool.
Whisk together the balsamic, olive oil, salt, pepper and honey; transfer to a cruet or any glass container.
Wash and dry the greens and divide between the plates. Drizzle some of the dressing over the salad greens and top with the chopped green onions and blue cheese. Garnish with some of the toasted pecans.
ENJOY!
