Spring Sprang, Summer's Knocking

On the eve of the summer solstice, I'm enjoying what I expect to be the last batch of this year's strawberries from Blueberry Hill Farm. They're still delicious but are pushing the levels of ripeness to a point where I don't think more will last on the vine until next week. Likewise, Spring asparagus was nowhere to be found today. No matter, the season marches into Summer. Blueberries, black raspberries, string beans and radish pods (???) all made their first appearances today. The blueberries were already sold-out at 3:15 and I somehow managed to leave my black raspberries at the market.... Oh well, there will be more to look forward to next week and there were plenty of other new things to explore this week.

New potatoes, spinach and string beans from Blueberry Hill Farm

Last week's batch of potatoes was fantastic. There's really no substitute for tubers plucked straight from the ground. After chopping them in half or in quarters, a quick toss in olive oil and a sprinkle of good salt and black pepper followed by a short roast in the oven is all it takes to maximize their flavor.

Sweet red cherries from Fruitwood Orchard Honey Farm

Vegetarian Cheddar from Hillacres Pride

I've sampled some of the Hillacres Pride cheeses and spreads during the past weeks but this was my first purchase. I'm looking forward to trying the cheese in an omelette made with the wonderful pasture-fresh eggs from Lindenhof Farms.

Carrots and radish pods from North Star Orchards

I must admit I'd never seen nor heard of a radish pod before today. Suffice it to say that they taste like, you guessed it, radishes, but with a lighter, more herbaceous flavor. They lend a snappy, peppery accent to a salad and can also be quickly sauteed as a side dish.

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David McDuff
McDuff's Food and Wine Trail