a farmer’s market meal

My friend Kimmi and I made a visit to the local farmer’s market on Wednesday.

It was evident that summer was on the horizon!  Booths were filled with ripe red strawberries, fresh corn on the cob, sweet pitted cherries, peaches and nectarines.  I sampled velvety avocados, crisp apples, hearty breads, sugared raw almonds and fresh herbs.

There was so much to choose from and much I wanted to get.  I ended up with a pint of strawberries, a bunch of kale and some fresh basil and italian parsley.

That night, I used some of the items I’d purchased to make dinner for a few of my beloved friends.

For the main dish, I made a ham, asparagus and Gruyère Quiche.  I’d been craving Quiche, thinking about its buttery crust, fluffy egg filling and savory ingredients.  I recommend trying this one!

Ham, Asparagus and Gruyère Quiche (partial recipe from Simply Recipes)

Crust:
1 c flour
1/2  tsp salt
1/4 c olive oil
1/4 c ice water

Mix flour and salt with a fork. Beat oil and water with a whisk to thicken. Pour into flour and mix with a fork.  Let dough chill for at least 30 minutes.

Roll out the dough. Press into 9″pie dish.  Line with a piece of parchment paper. Place 2 c of rice or beans or pie weights on top of parchment.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Remove from oven, let cool for a few minutes, and then discard rice, beans or pie weights and parchment.  Poke small holes in the bottom of the crust.  Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Filling:
2 T olive oil
2 medium shalots, sliced
10 oz asparagus spears, cut into 1 in diagonal pieces
1/2 lb  ham, cubed
6 oz Gruyère cheese, shredded
Pepper
1/2 c milk
1/2 c heavy cream
3 large eggs

Heat oil on medium high heat, add shalots and cook for 1 minute.  Add asparagus and cook for 8 minutes.

Sprinkle half of the cheese into the pie crust, add ham and asparagus mixture.

Whisk eggs, milk, heavy cream and pepper.  Pour into dish. Sprinkle remaining half of the cheese over the top.  Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.  Let cool for 10 minutes.

As a side dish, I made a fresh chopped vegetable salad.  Cathy, a friend of mine, found the recipe in a Costco cookbook.  It is to die for!  It consists of cherry tomatoes, corn, avocado, red, orange or yellow bell peppers, shallots, fresh basil, olive oil, red wine vinegar, salt and pepper.

I also thought kale would be a great addition to the meal.  Kale is a leafy green vegetable that belongs to a group of vegetables that includes cabbage, collard greens and Brussels sprouts.  Kimmi introduced me to it.  She likes to bake it in the oven with a little olive oil and sea salt for a delicious, healthy treat.

Fresh strawberries also adorned the table.  They added a beautiful burst of color and a sweet tantalizing taste to the meal.  They are God’s sweet gift to the world.

It was an incredible meal, very delicious!  I hope this sharing inspires you to visit your local farmer’s market and to create something with your own fresh ingredients.