Double Market Week

At the height of summer, every day of the week offers a farmers market somewhere nearby. Still, I normally make it to one only, based on convenience of time and location for my schedule, as well as what's ripe and what's keeping well in the fridge.

This week we ran out of eggs right after the first market, and held off a couple days until the next, in order to try the fresh, cage-free ones available there.

While I was steeled to absorb the sticker shock, it was not so bad as I anticipated.  The $5 and $7 price cards referred not to white or brown dozens, but to flats of 20 and 30.  Turned out a dozen brown were $3 and whites only $2.50, which beats the sticker at many local grocery stores.

That happy surprise left more cash in my pocket, allowing me to over-stuff my produce bag with peppers, corn, onions, spinach, lettuce, nectarines, and even rhubarb.

Arnold Palmer

What ever happened to Jolt Cola?  "All the sugar - and twice the caffeine!"
Never was a soda tagline so forthright.

The Arnold Palmer, or Arnie, mixes iced tea with lemonade. Simple, refreshing, and like Jolt Cola, a supplier of both forms of liquid upper. When made with real lemonade and freshly brewed tea, it should come with a warning label: "Caution. Instantly addictive. Side effects include refreshment, a burst of energy, and a subsequent crash." 

Tonight I made a tall glass at home, but decided not to photograph it.  Apparently unfiltered Meyer lemon juice (leftover from pie-making) and homemade seltzer create a fairly murky mix.  Tastes great - but not so photogenic.  The perfect pairing for tonight's stir fry.

Lemon Meringue Pie

3 key ingredients for a fantastic lemon meringue pie:

1. Lots of fresh, local Meyer lemons (preferably from a friend's tree)
2. Happy chicken eggs
3. Gluten-free ginger snaps for the crust

Use any recipe you like for the custard; but the first two items will provide the lightness for the meringue and the richness and freshness for the custard.

For the crust, most cookie-crumb recipes will do - the ginger snaps just provide a nice counter-flavor to the lemon curd.

Rooftop Garden Tea Party

One of Oakland's best kept secrets (oops - there it goes) is the Kaiser corporate headquarters' roof garden. Not to be confused with a roof that's had a few planters dropped onto it, or a sedum bed laid over roofing to absorb rainfall, this garden works as a full-fledged park.

As if the setting weren't magical enough, the event showcased the whimsical sound creations of a local group, complete with parasols for visitors to carry (somehow enhancing the auditory experience).  The operators of two antique Victrolas even dressed in period costume (of somewhat indeterminate period, but with great atmospheric value nonetheless). 

The crowning touch to this already extraordinary event was the elegant provision of a light summer tea.  To drink, carafes of lemonade and iced tea were provided. And to eat, sundry nibbles of fruit, nuts, and crostini accompanied the highlight - tea sandwiches.  Nothing makes me feel like a kid so much as eating finger sandwiches with their crusts cut off.  Delightful.

The Cuke-est Armenians

Armenian striped cucumbers are SO last year!
Well, OK - they're cool as a cuke every season.  A long, curly, striped standout. Rare.
But this year, the same farmers brought a second Armenian variety to market. Like its striped cousin, it grows with a distinctive pattern in its skin - more like a bitter melon, in this case.

What really sets it apart, however, is the crisper, drier inside. A little tangier in flavor, and textured like a seedless despite the tender center.  Possibly the perfect dipper for a bowl of hummus.