Wednesday, September 29, 2010

What to do with your Farmer's Market Goods!

COOK! I have spent the past few days at home with yet another sinus infection. But this time I had a fridge full of goodies from the farmer's market to keep me busy. Too bad you have to avoid company when you are sick... but no big deal, I still ate well. Here are a few photos of my creations...

 Veggie Soup

 
Look at all those fresh farmer's market veggies...
This was a super tasty soup. I made it on Saturday night when I was beginning to feel sick. The warmth of the broth and the Vitamin C in the veggies were a bonus on a cold rainy night!
I enjoyed this soup with an open faced ham and smoked cheese melt, oh and a chunk of Fall Czech bread.


Spaghetti Bolognese w/Whole Wheat Noodles
On Monday, I was craving pasta with a preference to a favorite meaty sauce!

 I used my basil and tomatoes from the Farmer's Market, 2 cloves of garlic and a pat or two of butter to make this fragrant and fresh base for my Bolognese sauce...
 The smell was intoxicating with basil, butter and garlic...
 Add a carton of tomato sauce and the mixture was ready for the simmering...
 Yum! Thick, meaty, perfectly spiced Bolognese Sauce!
Add a side salad with cucumber and fresh mozzarella and dinner is served!


 BAKING with CZECH ingredients! (Attempt #1)
 So far while living in Prague, I have not experimented with my love of baking... too many Czech words to translate and then hunt for in the market. BUT feeling the need to try an conquer something new, I decided to make muffins. 
 Zucchini-Cranberry Spice Muffins to be exact... but it wasn't until I arrived home from TESCO that I remembered I don't actually have a muffin pan. This is one of those moments you wish you knew your neighbors, right! Instead I searched the internet for a recipe to make a cake with the same ingredients...
And it turned out excellent! My German made oven is a rockstar when it comes to baking... 
and doesn't it look even better baked all pretty inside my Polish Pottery!


Butternut Squash- SOUP!
 Butternut Squash is a coveted find in Praha. It is very seasonal, and one is very lucky to stumble upon it. But I happened to do just this, stumble upon, my squash last Friday at a local BIO potraviny. So I bought one- my friend Lynne did also, and then I told Anne about my find and she went for one the next morning... like I said, coveted!
and then I turned mine it into a savory soup... with a hint of Nutmeg!

Complimented by a fresh ear of corn from the Farmer's Market and paired with a green salad and a roll for dipping, it was the perfect "stay-warm and get healthy" meal on a cold Tuesday evening.




Stuffed Eggplant with Basil and Cheese
 This was the first time I made this delicious meal. I halved an eggplant (or aubergine as the Brits say), scooped out the middles then chopped the middles up and sauteed in olive oil with onion and mushrooms. I then mixed this yumminess with the left over Bolognese sauce from Monday night and stuffed each half of the eggplant. Topped with slices of Mild English Chedder (a special find at TESCO) as well as strips of fresh Parmesan (Parmesano Reggiano to be exact), sprinkled with basil and then baked for 20 minutes.
Perfection- really! I never used to eat eggplant- except in Thai food because I didn't care for the texture... but then I gave it a whirl a few times and it changed my palate!

So, that is how you can spend time when you are sick... cooking comfort food. Like I said in last week's blog... whether you enjoy jumping in the leaves, picking the first pumpkins, or cooking with seasonal foods, I hope you too are enjoying the beginning of Autumn... and stay healthy!

Cau Cau- Nikki

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Shopping Trolleys... and Farmářské tržiště Holešovice!

 What is a shopping trolley you might ask? Well, it is the pull-along shopping cart that you see people of all ages using to cart their purchases throughout the city. My British friends refer to is simply as a trolley and they laugh at me for owning and using this portable transfer device! A few of my fellow American trolley owners call it our SUV... and since none of us currently own cars, and since we all mainly use public transportation- this reference is pretty hilarious. So in essence we do own wheels... two wheels, to be exact, which help us get around this lovely walk-able city we like to call Praha!
 This morning, before the rain started, I took my SUV out for a spin and joined a few friends for a journey to the Holesovice Farmer's Market. Really this market it is more like a large vegetable and fruit warehouse located within the same grounds as an outdoor clothing and other goods market. But inside the "market" are many different vendors selling their edible goods...

 The fruit and vegetables are abundant and plenty colorful...

and the vendors are stocked with parsnips, peppers, carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, grapes, apples, plums, and many other yummy seasonal items...
 
 Here I am with my SUV (already more than half full) with plenty of healthy goodies including farm fresh eggs and of course one of my favorite seasonal flowers...

 DAHLIAS!

 So, you might ask what did you actually buy Nikki? Well, I filled my SUV with fresh figs, peaches, pears and a baby cantaloupe. All sorts of veggies including, corn on the cob, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, tomatoes, three types of lettuce and fresh basil. YUM! 
and of course, my Dahlias and fresh eggs...

 Healthy looking fare... and at a more than fair price, too!

 The greens are gorgeous!!!

 I bought my beets from stall #11 where my good friend Liezel told me the vendor has the best fresh herbs. And she was right- my basil is amazing and of course, I couldn't resist these great looking beets! Thanks for the tip Liezel...

Once I arrived home and unpacked my SUV, I arranged my Dahlia's into multiple vases and placed them around my flat... I love the color they add to my home.

 
Oh, yah, and I found gords too which makes this centerpiece very Autumn-ish!!

 Another bunch of spiky Dahlias... in my Artel bee-hive vase!

Over a lingering lunch at Maitrea (a favorite vegetarian restaurant in Old Town) Allison, Anne and myself talked about what we might do with our purchases. We all like to cook and have fun swapping ideas and recipes. I enjoy trying new tastes and attempting new recipes. Now that I know where this farmer's market is, well, you can bet that I will be adding even more innovative creations to my dinner table- and to my friend's palate! The availability and choice inside this market offers cooks alike many possibilities- especially with the addition of favorite seasonal items!

Dobre Chut! Hope you too are enjoying your own favorite seasonal delights... - Nikki

 Recent photo taken a few weeks ago at Pivovarsky Klub... a newer Praha find and an excellent pub with many house beers on tap as well as plenty of imports from around the world! 
Click the link below if you want a interactive taste of this "beer club"!

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Signs of Autumn...

 
Rainbows between showers and sunshine...

 
festivals in Old Town square...
  

 
The end of summer crops... 
and the fruits of a generous laborer! (Thank You Alena!)

 
Back to school...

Yes, it is beginning to look and feel a lot like Autumn in Praha. The air is crisp on the walk to the bus stop in the mornings, the summer veggies are disappearing at the market, the school is freshly painted, furnished, and now full of children and teachers... it is back to school time! There was a buzz in the air this week as children began filling the hallways and classrooms and teachers connected throughout the day to recount funny first day stories. I love this time of year... it is offers a fresh start to educators and students... and personally, I begin to think about how to end the current year (2010), and I reflect as I look to the coming of a new year (2011)- just around the corner! Already looking toward the activities of Autumn, my friends and I have begun to discuss plans for October holiday (my mama is traveling to Prague to visit me!!!!!!), Thanksgiving dinner- who will host and who to invite, Christmas markets in Vienna and Germany... yes, Autumn is the season for making plans. After meeting my new group of 3 year olds, I am excited for a new school year, and already tuning in to their interests and personalities- planning activities and inquiry opportunities. I am looking forward to another week of getting to know one another, learning routines, laughing, singing, dancing and enjoying the last days of sunshine as we build our new new classroom community!
Happy Autumn... hope you are enjoying the season too! 

Love, Nikki