Marshfield Farmers' Market

Last year I resolved to make healthy, tasty dinners for our extended family rotating through all, including cousins, children too. I made it through about 70% of family members and then summer garden chores stole me away, well that’s my story anyhow. Rather than make a new resolution I will finish what I started. Am I letting myself off the hook? No, it’s just better to finish than quit even if late. Most resolve each to a healthier lifestyle, usually exercise, diet or both. Diet is well timed this year with release of the new dietary guidelines, Michael Pollen’s movie on food, and the big news that Campbell’s will disclose GMOs on their labels. These things should make it easier, right? Grab at whatever helps your resolutions stick. Watch the movie (free this month) and read the guidelines, both are on line. The gist of these is to buy “real” food, i.e. whole foods, to eat mostly plants and less “protein” but make it count. i.e. buy meat/poultry/fish/eggs that has been treated well and/or sustainably. Marshfield’s Farmers’ Market can help as all offerings of produce, meats, poultry, and many of the prepared foods offered, follow sustainable practices or are certified organic. All farmers and chefs will gladly talk to you about ways to prepare things more healthfully; many have recipes at the table. Just buying and eating locally grown will make you feel better. I tried three new recipes, modified for healthfulness over the holidays. I didn’t tell my husband and he raved about each of the dishes stating they were the best he’d ever eaten. (He is so wonderful for my ego during these ravings!) The stew used 100% grass fed dry aged beef and lots of fresh chopped herbs from my garden. Both the corn and banana breads used whole wheat flour, either no fat or lower, healthier fats, and reduced sugars were replaced with honey. The stew was so amazing that I was forced to give out the recipe, admittedly, it was perfection. The breads I fully expected bland, tough, dry, blah, tasteless results but they came out wonderful. I had to make each three times by popular demand by both my sister-in-law and husband. The recipes and some of the ingredients will be available at the Farmers’ Market this Saturday 10-2pm as it opens for the first time in 2016. As an added bonus this month registered FarmFans who check-in will be entered to win a gift certificate. FarmFan is a free program that sends a text message reminder 2 hours before each market to your phone. FarmFans simply check-in or visit the manager’s booth to enter, just sign up before 8 am Saturday following this link http://ffa.mx/j/MarshfieldFarmersMarket if you aren’t already a FarmFan. A 4H group, called the Hare Raisers, will have snuggly bunnies to pet and will host the kids’ activity, origami rabbits. Local favorite, Peter Mundt, will entertain with popular, fun songs adding to the air of optimism, energy, and community felt at the markets.