Tuesday=Farmer's Market Day in Highland Park

From Seath Budick:

There's no doubt that apple season is now upon us as the first Fujis of the year appeared at the market by way of Walker Farms, while Johna's Organic Orchard featured Golden and Red delicious, and Galas were available from several vendors. Other new offerings this week included some gargantuan green onions from Santiago farms as well as fresh epazote. Epazote is a standard herb in Mexican cooking, but if it sounds unfamiliar, you'll know it when you taste it (add a few sprigs to a pot of black beans and you'll know what I'm talking about).

Tamai farms also brought in some wonderful aromatic cantaloupes. If you're a fan of the refreshing and beautifully colored aguas frescas so familiar in restaurants in the Highland Park area, you'll be amazed at how easy and delicious these are when made at home. A good agua fresca somehow distills and accentuates the essence of a fruit and these cantaloupes are worth the effort. Just puree 4 1/2 cups of melon (about 1 melon's worth) with 1 cup of water in your blender. Transfer to a pitcher and stir in another 3.5C water (i.e., equal parts fruit and water), 1C sugar and 1/4C lime juice (about 3 limes). Chill and served over ice or mix with your favorite liquor (anyone for fresh melon daiquiris?).

For a list of everything you can expect to see at the market this week, take a look at http://www.its.caltech.edu/~sbudick which now also includes nutritional information as well as recipes for market produce.