I’ve been working remotely this week from my happy place. And being back in close proximity to Morning Glory Farm, has meant a lot of procrastination of the highest (kale) order.
I’ll admit amidst a busy Spring I had a hard time getting into the Farmer’s Market groove. There’s a new weekly stand that opened up in DUMBO around the corner from my apartment, so I’m hoping to make it a habit to get there every Wednesday once I’m back in town. The offerings pale in comparison to the island bounty I’m currently being spoiled rotten by. But hopefully that will just mean the ability to show a type of restraint that won’t doom both food and girl for spoilage.
In the meantime, I’m bringing back Farmer’s Market Challenge Menus!
You may remember the FMC from my year of wellness, and then again as I enlisted some veg-centric batch cooking inspiration from my talented food babe friends. I’m a little sad that I didn’t seize the day back in Spring when her blog name was more seasonally appropriate, but regardless, I couldn’t be more excited to be sharing some summery recipes from Miranda Hammer of The Crunchy Radish!
Miranda catapulted to Instagram super-stardom thanks to her simple, plant-forward cooking, and welcoming wellness ethos. She’s also a real deal dietician, with lots of letters after her name, and as of a few months ago, an official graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute’s Chef Training Program.
In the meantime, if easy, healthy recipes are what you’re after, read on for Miranda’s make ahead dishes that would be perfect for a summer picnic, quick weeknight dinner, or some solo #brownbagswag for your lunchtime delights. And for the NYC set, if you want to taste Miranda’s food for yourself, she’s got an upcoming dinner open to the public!
Xoxo
Phoebe
To make this in advance and take to work, I recommend combining all the ingredients except the romaine the night before. In the morning, top your grain mixture with chopped romaine and tote your dressing on the side – ready to be mixed before you eat. You could also toss the farro and chickpea mixture with dressing the night before, allowing the flavors to marinate, and add in the romaine when you are about to eat. For those of you who are gluten-free, whole grain sorghum is a good alternative to farro.
Slow Roasted Tomato and Eggplant Pasta
The flavors of the sauce are better the next day, giving you the incentive of wanting to eat your leftovers! If you don’t want to go low and slow for the tomatoes, up the cooking temp to 375 and keep a close eye on the oven. Depending on the size, they should roast in about 30 minutes or less.
All of these ingredients are great to eat cold and can even benefit from marinating in the dressing overnight. Just hold off on adding in the leafy greens until you are ready to eat.
Zucchini and Cherry Tomato Frittata
Frittata’s are the ideal make-ahead meal, and are truly enjoyable any time of day, hot or cold. This recipe calls for summery zucchini and cherry tomatoes, but it is completely adaptable depending on the season or whatever you may have in your CSA box.
Healthy enough to eat for breakfast, hot or cold. This crumble tastes great straight out of the oven or a day or two after when the juices from the fruit have really melded together with the cinnamon and maple.
–Miranda Hammer of The Crunchy Radish
Want more Farmer’s Market inspiration? Check out past menus from other fab food babes here.
Thanks Phoebe! Can’t wait for your class in September!!!