Let’s not even go there. I am so sick of talking, thinking, feeling and expressing myself about this “lovely” weather. Onward!
The vegetables seem to be enjoying the weather, although we do very much need rain. Tomatoes are showing up, all blushing and red. Corn abounds. Peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots. And you’ll also find at area farmers’ markets the following: beans, beets, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage (green and purple), carrots, celery, chard, collards, cucumbers (salad and pickle), dandelion greens, eggplant, fennel, fresh cut herbs, garlic, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, okra, onions (candy and fresh), peppers (hot and sweet), potatoes, radishes, raspberries, scallions, snow peas, sorrel, sugar snaps, summer squash, turnips, and zucchini. Wow. My refrigerator is bursting. And do not forget to go to Manoff’s and get some of their WHITE peaches. Really delicious.
Speaking of tomatoes, I’m reminded of one of my favorite summer dishes, Pasta Caprese, marrying fresh,ripe tomatoes and soft, fresh mozzarella with pasta. Thanks to Cooks Illustrated for the recipe. Also, lovely cherry tomatoes are showing up. Be sure to stop by the Milk House Farm Market in the coming weeks. Farmer Brenda Slack has planted 43 varieties of heirloom tomatoes this year.
We are all feeling a bit wilted, including those wonderful herbs you bought at the farmers’ market last week, intent on making some gourmet dinner over the weekend. What to do with them? Ignore them, lurking at the back of the vegetable drawer? Or bravely pull them out and make something with them this weekend? If you want to do the latter, Cooks Illustrated offers great advice about rejuvenating wilted herbs.
If your bunch of parsley, cilantro, or mint is looking a little weary, there’s an easy way to refresh it (and, in the process, wash it). Lop off the stems, submerge the leaves in a bowl of ice water, then swish them around to loosen any dirt and grit. Let them stand for 5 to 10 minutes, until they perk up and regain their lost vitality.
To drain, instead of pouring the whole lot into a colander or salad spinner basket, which will upset the grit settled in the bottom of the bowl, lift the greens out of the water using your hands, leaving the dirt behind. If your parsley or cilantro is utterly limp and lifeless, it is probably beyond resurrection.
Sounds like good advice for refreshing humans as well!
Another traditional way of reviving humans in intense weather might be going to a barbeque and drinking some adult beverages. Earl’s Bucks County has just the thing. This coming Thursday, as part of their Tasty Thursdays series, they’ll be hosting a Bourbon BBQ on the deck of Sweet Lorraine’s across the street from Earl’s. The five course tasting menu will include different bourbons, paired to each course, and there will be a blind tasting contest, music and other fun stuff. You’ll be able to taste Basil Hayden, Jim Beam’s Devil’s Cut, Knob Creek Single Barrel, Maker’s Mark 46 and Booker’s. You know how we feel about bourbon. We’re going. To find out more details about the menu, costs, etc. see their website.
For more details on any of these events, please go to our full calendar, Food Events in Bucks County. Have a cool weekend. Follow Bucks County Taste also on Facebook and Twitter.
Friday, July 22:
- Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [1-7 pm]
- Summer BBQ @ Lumberville General Store, Lumberville [3 – 7 pm]
- 100% off @ Vintage Grille, Doylestown [4 – 6:30 pm]
- Ottsville Farmers’ Market, Linden Hill Gardens, Ottsville [4-8 pm]
- Beer Tasting, Phillips’ Fine Wines, Stockton, NJ [4-6 pm]
- Friday Wine & Music @ Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Pennington, NJ [5-8 pm]
- Wine and Music Series Under the Stars @ Old York Cellars, Ringoes, NJ [6 – 9 pm]
- Wine Concert Series @ The Market at DelVal, Doylestown [6 – 9 pm]
- Wine Concert Series @ Shady Brook Farm, Yardley [6 – 9 pm]
- Friday Night Fireworks Express – New Hope/Ivyland Train, New Hope [6:15 – 10:30 pm]
- Summer Wine & Music Series @ Crossing Vineyards & Winery, Washington Crossing [7 – 10 pm]
- Summer Fireworks in New Hope/Lambertville – New Hope, PA & Lambertville, NJ [9:30 – 10:30 pm]
Saturday, July 23:
- Doylestown Farmers’ Market, Doylestown [7 am-12 pm]
- Perkasie Farmers’ Market, Perkasie [8 am – 12 pm]
- Plumsteadville Grange Farm Market, Plumsteadville [9 am – 12 pm]
- Wrightstown Farmers’ Market, Wrightstown [9 am-1 pm]
- Holland Township Farmers’ Market @ Riegel Ridge Community Center, Milford, NJ [9 am – 1 pm]
- Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [9 am-4 pm]
- Wine Tasting @ Phillips’ Fine Wines, Stockton, NJ [12-6 pm]
- Dog Days of Summer Pub Crawl, Doylestown Borough, Doylestown [12 – 6 pm]
- Beer Tasting @ New Hope Beverage, New Hope [3-7 pm]
- 14th Annual Alba Vineyards’ Summerfest Fireworks Celebration, Milford, NJ [4 – 11 pm]
- Fiesta! @ Crossing Vineyards & Winery, Washington Crossing [5 – 7 pm]
- Grapevine Express Wine & Cheese Pairing @ New Hope/Ivyland Train, New Hope [5 – 7 pm]
- Saturday Wine & Music @ Hopewell Valley Vineyards, Pennington [5-8 pm]
Sunday, July 24:
- Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market, Flemington, NJ [9 am-1 pm]
- Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, Hellertown [9 am – 1 pm]
- Stockton Farmers’ Market, Stockton, NJ [10 am-4 pm]
- Sangria Sundays @ Chaddsford Winery, Lahaska [11 am – 6 pm]
- Pairing Wine & Cheese @ Crossing Vineyards, Washington Crossing [2 – 4 pm]
- Grapevine Express Wine & Cheese Pairing @ New Hope/Ivyland Train, New Hope [5 – 7 pm]
Monday, July 25:
- Soupcon Salon by Kindle Cafe @ Manon, Lambertville, NJ [7 – 9:15 pm]
Tuesday, July 26:
- The Social Sprocket Breakfast Club @ The Logan Inn, New Hope [8 – 10 am]
- Langhorne Farmers’ Market, Langhorne [3:30 – 6:30 pm]
- Food Preservation Series (class) @ Pennypack Farm & Education Center, Horsham [7 – 8:30 pm]
Wednesday, July 27:
- Pierogy Wednesdays @ St. Anne Ukrainian, Warrington [9 am – 12 pm]
- The Farmers’ Market @ Playwicki Farm, Feasterville [4 – 7 pm]
- Global Dinner @ The Cafe at Rosemont, Rosemont, NJ [5 – 8 pm]
- Complimentary Beer Tasting @ the Copper Leaf Grill, Buckingham [5 – 9 pm]
Thursday, July 28:
- New Hope Farmers’ Market, New Hope [2:30-6:30 pm]
- Uncle Dave’s 94 cents Ice Cream Cones @ Shady Brook Farm, Yardley [3 – 9 pm]
- Lower Makefield Farmers’ Market, Lower Makefield [3:30 – 6:30 pm]
- Clam Bake @ Logan Inn, New Hope [5 – 9 pm]
- Bourbon BBQ @ Earl’s Bucks County, Peddler’s Village, Lahaska [6 – 9 pm]
- Sushi Night in the Wine Cellar – The Inn at Lambertville Station, Lambertville, NJ [6 – 10 pm]
For more details on any of these events, please go to our full calendar, Food Events in Bucks County.
Follow Bucks County Taste on Facebook and Twitter.
