Drizzly Farmers Market in Boise

11 Saturday Apr 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Acme Bake Shop Breads, Acme Bake Shop Sourdough, Boise Adventures, Boise Artisan Bakery's, Boise Farmers Market, Breakfast At The Saturday Market, Breakfast With Robin, Buy Idaho, Coffee, Herbs, Idaho Greens, Idaho Pork, Idaho Potatoes, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Locavore, Meadowlark Farms, Mushrooms, Party Time, Peaceful Belly Farms, Photos By: Bob Young, Pork, Pork Belly, Sorrel, Sourdough Bread, Spring Greens, Spring Vegies, Vegetables, Waffles, Watercress, What's For Dinner?

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Boise Farmers Market, fresh herbs, fresh vegetables, waffles

Maybe drizzly and somewhat blustery, but at least no snow or tornadoes or other such weather offerings! The crowd seemed to be down a little. Probably because of the stormy weather. Just the “die hards” ventured out to the market. We did get our fresh eggs from Meadowlark Farms, stock bones and fresh sliced pork belly from Homestead Farms, our weekly fix of sourdough bread from Acme Bake Shop – there are hot links to all of these venders in the sidebar. We also bought mushrooms, sorrel, watercress and fiddlehead ferns from The Mushroom Ranch. Enjoy these photos of the market this morning. Left-Click any of them to see enlarged. Cheers!

The Mushroom Man. Fresh mushrooms, fiddlehead ferns, sorrel and watercress is available from them.

The Mushroom Ranch. Fresh mushrooms, fiddlehead ferns, sorrel and watercress is available from them.

Those who braved the cold drizzle loved the market experience.

Even the “Little Ones” in their own Surry!

And the waffles were great also!

Banjo pickin’ and singin’!

Need for coffee. Neckar Coffee makes a good cup of coffee!

Anyone for a waffle?

Mine.

Awesome bread from the Acme Bake Shop!

How about some fresh beets?

Such a great source to find some deliciously fresh local produce and foods. Hope to see you at the Boise Farmers Market at 10th and Grove next week. If you see me, say “Hi”. Cheers!

Stained Glass Potatoes

06 Monday Apr 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Boise Farmers Market, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Edible Flowers, Herbs, Herbs and Spices, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Potatoes, Recipe By: Robin Young, Recipes, Special Information, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?

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edible flowers, potatoes, stained glass potatoes

There must be 100 recipes for Stained Glass Potatoes or Stained Glass Potato Chips. But basically, most of them just use parsley. We like the addition of other herbs and edible flowers – pansy, viola, violets, etc. These flowers and herbs add some color to the “window”. Much less, flavor to the chips. Fun to do, but somewhat time consuming – it takes a while to place the herbs and flowers just in the right place. We baked ours at 400 ºF for 6 minutes and then turned the baking sheet 180º for another 6 minutes. All of the recipes that we looked at said to line a baking sheet with parchment, place the potato slices on the parchment, add a second sheet of parchment and then a second baking pan. Weigh this all down with bricks. We used a cast iron skillet for weight. One source for the recipe is from Martha Stewart at Parsley Potato Chips. She uses parsley, but we like the flowers and herbs better. The preparation and cooking process is the same. Here is a pictorial journey through the process. Enjoy and remember, if you want to, Left-Click any of these photos to enlarge. Cheers!

Some of the herbs we used. Thyme, violas, chives, taragon and baby sage.

Some of the herbs we used. Thyme, violas, chives, tarragon and baby sage. Use your imagination and use any colorful EDIBLE flower or herb you can fine. Remember – If you put it on a plate, one MUST be able to eat it. In other words, Poison Ivy is not a good selection to put in these chips!

Brush unsalted butter on the parchment paper.

Dust the buttered parchment paper with sea salt, fresh ground black pepper and cayenne pepper.

Slice a potato thin enough to be transparent. Lay on the buttered parchment and place the herbs and flowers. Butter the herbs/flowers.

Herbs and flowers placed to “paint” a picture.

Creating the “picture”.

Thin sliced potatoes and “stained glass” being made.

The finished product.

Breakfast At “The Shack”

30 Monday Mar 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Beans, Black Beans, Boise Farmers Market, Breakfast, Breakfast At The Captains Shack, Breakfast With Robin, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Comfort Food, Cooking Styles, Corn, Eggs Jasmine Tea Mock Fried, Ethnic Foods, Guacamole, Idaho Polenta Floriani, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Mexican Food, Photos By: Bob Young, Whats For Breakfast?

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bean sprouts, black beans, guacamole, Pico de Gallo, polenta, polenta cake

Ah yes. And a different one it was. When the Chef arrived, Robin ordered his black bean and fried polenta cake special. This plate comes with fried polenta cake, black beans with turmeric and cumin, pico de gallo and bean sprouts. Bob ordered the Chefs’ special fried polenta cake and jasmine tea mock fried eggs. Oh yum!! Here. Take a look and enjoy!

Robin ordered

Black Beans
Pico de Gallo
Guacamole
Fried Polenta Cakes

I ordered

Black Beans
Fried Polenta Cake
Jasmine Tea Mock Fried Eggs
Pico de Gallo

Seafood Potpie For Dinner

28 Saturday Mar 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Boise Farmers Market, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Comfort Food, Dinner For Robin, Dinner With Robin, Green Peas, Housemade Pie Crust, Idaho Wine, Lobster, Onion, Photos By: Bob Young, Potpie, Reel Foods, Sea Scallops, Seafood, Shell Fish, Shrimp, What's For Dinner?, Williamson Vineyards and Orchards, Wine and Food, Wines - Italian

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fish stock, lobster, lobster meat, lobster shells, Reel Foods Fish Market, Sea Scallops, shrimp

This was an awesome recipe from Ina Garten for Seafood Potpie. Although I did alter it slightly. I could not find lobster meat – my seafood shop, Reel Foods Fish Market here in Boise was out of it – I used three small lobster tails. (We are really lucky here in Boise to have such an outstanding seafood market that brings in some really fresh product.) I removed the lobster meat from the shell and then stewed down the lobster shells and shrimp shells to make my own seafood stock. It made a fine rich stock. I also used a small jar of clam juice with the stock. Add to this dinner a wonderful glass of 2012 Williamson Vineyards Blossom, 100% Sangiovese Rosè, and we had a great dinner. Try the recipe. Let us know how you liked it and/or if you altered it at any step. Enjoy these photos. Cheers!

Seafood Potpie

This was really very good and we did like the housemade seafood stock.

Break open that luscious crust and one exposes peas, pearl onions, shrimp, scallops and lobster.

Think Local – Buy Local – Eat Local!

23 Monday Mar 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Acme Bake Shop, Acme Bake Shop Sourdough, Bacon, Boise Artisan Bakery's, Boise Farmers Market, Breakfast At The Captains Shack, Captain's Shack, Idaho's Bounty, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Locavore, Photos By: Bob Young, Pork, Potatoes, Sourdough Bread, Traditional Food, What's For Dinner?, Whats For Breakfast?

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buy Idaho, Buy Local, eat local, sourdough bread, Think Local - Buy Local

Robin and I are BIG believers in buying local and supporting our local farmers. Even in the winter when the Saturday Farmers Market is closed. (Due to open the first part of April at 10th and Grove!) We shop wise! We check the labels! This breakfast was 100% local products. The sourdough bread from Boise; the bacon from Twin Falls; the potatoes from Burley and the eggs from Nampa. And it was scrumptious. Check this out!

Falls Brand Bacon
Acme Sourdough Toast
Burley Potatoes
Jasmine Tea Mock Fried Eggs from Meadowlark Farms

Super Bowl Vittles

01 Sunday Feb 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Appetizers, Boise Farmers Market, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Comfort Food, Corn, Dinner With Robin, Ethnic Foods, Gameday, Local Harvests, Meadowlark Farms, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipes, Shell Fish, Shrimp, Super Bowl, What's For Dinner?

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garbonzo beans, grits, hummus, idaho polenta, shrimp, Super Bowl Party

Well it was a good game, even though the Seattle Seahawks lost. But then, that was a weird call in the last 20 seconds and on the 2 yard line that probably cost them the game. 24-27 was a good score. The way a Super Bowl should end up.
I think our appetizers were much better. And 99% of it from Idaho products by local farmers. If you want to see these photos enlarged, Left Click the photo and it will go larger. Here. Take a look. Enjoy!

Fried Meadowlark Farms Eggs
Steamed Shrimp with Housemade Tartar Sauce
Idaho Grits

A very good breakfast!

Crab Dip East Coast Style

Steamed Shrimp with Tartar Sauce

Fresh Hummus

What you don’t see are the Steak Tacos that we made. Again, from scratch. They were yum! Actually the food all night was yum!

Making Your Own Vinegar

03 Saturday Jan 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Boise Farmers Market, Captain's Shack, Classics, Fruit, Pickles, Recipes, Special Information, Vinegars, What's For Dinner?

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apple cider vinegar, Braggs vinegar, herbal vinegar, homemade vinegar, vinegar, vinegar mother

Oh yes. It is very possible and easy to do. We make our own wine vinegars, both red and white, from left over lees. Add some herbs, and you have an expensive herbal vinegar. Here is a great link for making the mother for the vinegar. Making a Vinegar Mother. But first – What is a vinegar mother? Wikipedia explains it this way,

[A vinegar mother] is a substance composed of a form of cellulose and acetic acid bacteria that develops on fermenting alcoholic liquids, which turns alcohol into acetic acid with the help of oxygen from the air. It is added to wine, cider, or other alcoholic liquids to produce vinegar.

And from Mossgrownstone, we learn that

The resulting vinegar tastes great- use as you would use store brought apple cider vinegar. It takes less than 5 minutes to make. I make about 2-3 batches a year- making about a half gallon at a time. Other than the initial cost of the bottle of Braggs vinegar with the mother my only cost is the apple juice. I cook and clean with the vinegar but I do not do my canning with it. In order to can with homemade vinegar it is important to get a hydrometer (anywhere with homebrew supplies should carry one) in order to insure the vinegar is acidic enough.

You can learn more about making your own vinegar from Making a Vinegar Mother. Have fun and explore the variations.

Locally Produced Foods Still Available

02 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Boise Farmers Market, Bone-In Pork Chops, Buy Idaho, Hard To Find Foods, Healthy Eating, Idaho's Bounty, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Locavore, Special Information, Stew, What's For Dinner?

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Boise Farmer Market Newsletter, local foods, Winter Boise Farmers Market Newsletter

Yes! Even at 12 degrees here in Boise, we still have an outlet for those wonderful locally produced foods. Get to know your local farmers, and they will probably be able to get you some of their product that is not available in the stores. For instance, Ed Wilsey, Homestead Natural Foods, is looking into 1 1/2″ bone-in pork chops for me so I can stuff them. Yum! Here is a link to the Winter Boise Farmers Market Newsletter. Great information resource for places that sell local foods. Enjoy!

Boise Farmer Market Newsletter. Newsletter Link. Check out their Web Page, too. Lots of great information.

Here is a Beef Stew we made for a New Years Day Party. Mostly local products: beef, carrots, onions, potatoes and herbs. It was yummy!

Housemade Sauerkraut and ………

19 Friday Dec 2014

Posted by Bob and Robin in Acme Bake Shop, Acme Bake Shop Breads, Acme Bake Shop Rye, Blueberries, Boise Farmers Market, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Comfort Food, Fruits, Housemade Sauerkraut, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Mushrooms, Oils, Pennsylvania Dutch, Photos By: Bob Young, Pickles, Reel Foods, Sauerkraut, What's For Dinner?

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fresh sauerkraut, Housemade Sauerkraut, Mushroom Omelet, truffle oil, waffles

Yup! It’s that time of year. Sauerkraut comes out of the crock and goes into pint jars. 8 of them. 14 lbs of fresh Idaho cabbage was fermented (krautenized) for 12 weeks at 65 degrees F. Oh yum! And it passed the test – Robin said it is good! And the graphic here is our label. But before one works on the kraut, one must have a good breakfast or two. Breakfast first …. Kraut second. Enjoy these photos – Breakfast first, kraut second.

Blueberry and Bacon Waffle
with
Whipped Cream and Fresh Maple Syrup

Bacon and Mushroom Omelet Fresh Blueberries and Raspberries Acme3 Bake Shop Toasted Rye Bread

Bacon and Sauteed Mushroom in Truffle Oil Omelet
Fresh Blueberries and Raspberries
Acme Bake Shop Toasted Rye Bread

Sauerkraut in the crock about ready to be liberated!

Coney Island Hot Dogs Pickle Housemade Sauerkraut Plocman's Whole Grain Mustard

Coney Island Hot Dogs
Pickle
Housemade Sauerkraut
Plochman’s Whole Grain Mustard

Oh yummers! What a way to start a day and then relax at lunch. Fresh steamed Dungeness crabs for dinner. Famous Idaho Potato Bowl tomorrow – ESPN. See the Blue Field. See Boise and the mountains, which are getting snow as we speak. Baked potatoes with all the trimmings! And maybe a Stella. Cheers!

Skillet Chicken and Dumplings and Crab Fritters

02 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by Bob and Robin in Acme Bake Shop, Acme Bake Shop Holiday Breads, Acme Bake Shop Sourdough, Boise Farmers Market, Captain's Shack, Carrots, Cast Iron, Chicken, Chicken and Dumplings, Comfort Food, Crab, Crab Fritters, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Dinner With Robin, Heirloom Tomatoes, Housemade Tartar Sauce, Local Markets, Main Dish, Oak Knoll Winery, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Salad, Salmon, Seafood, Special Dinners, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wines - NW

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chicken and dumplings, crab, crab fritters, Oak Knoll Winery, Skillet Chicken and Dumplings

Ah! Two really delicious, although somewhat different, dinners. A differently delicious chicken and dumpling dinner all done in a skillet by Chef Ron Lock, Skillet and Chicken Dumplings and a delicious variation to crab cakes, crab fritters! Crab Fritters. Both recipes and dinners are well worth a try. If you don’t like crab, try using salmon. Here are the photos from the meals. Enjoy!