I usually bounce on here Monday mornings with stories to tell about our weekend, but I didn’t snap many pictures the last few days. It was more of a restorative weekend around these parts.
Friday David was traveling so the girls and I had an early dinner and were in jammies before the sun went down. I had planned on knocking out a good-sized chunk of my to do list after they went to bed, but when the night came I felt more inclined to zone out in front of the Michael Buble Christmas special.
I even stared blankly at my meal plan for this next week feeling largely uninspired. I knew then a trip to the farmers market was in order.
I always think of farmers market in the spring and summer, but the Davidson Farmers Market stays open year round, switching to every other week after Christmas. It had been a while since I’ve checked it out, so the girls and I faced the fog Saturday morning and made the short trek to Davidson.
The market is a little smaller during the cooler months, but it still packed with goodness. I was really excited by Rowland’s Row set up. Joe and Dani Rowland started growing food in 2010 with just one row of vegetables (thus the name), and they have now expanded to 18 acres worth of organic produce and poultry.
You can tell when people enjoy what they do. They were so kind to the girls, who were stoked to pick out their own Brussels.
We wandered down a few booths to Abby’s Better stand where we sampled several kinds of nut butter.
I had just read about this 15-year-old nut butter business in a local magazine and it was really neat to meet her. She is home-schooled, enthusiastic about natural health and took the initiative to create her own business selling delicious nut butters with nothing artificial.
I was impressed with her and excited to take the pecan/date version home with me.
I sat for a bit and let the girls run and play.
And finally we returned home, feeling inspired by my haul.
I made broth and vegetable soup for the week using the carrots (and my freezer broth bag).
We roasted the Brussels sprouts last night to go with our steak.
The kale is going to be perfect in this kale and quinoa pilaf (which if you haven’t made yet, you must!)
The microgreens are ready to be sprinkled on salads and sandwiches.
And the rutabaga? Well I’m not sure. Roasted? Roasted and then pureed? I can’t wait to play!
Cooking and food is something that I enjoy and that excites me, so when I fall into a rut it can be frustrating. I seek inspiration from cookbooks, blogs, and pinterest, but I think my favorite is to wander a local farmers market and see what jumps out at me.
How was your weekend? Exciting? Low key?
What is your favorite thing to do with a rutabaga? Fries?
Where do you find meal plan inspiration?
John J. says
You continue to inspire with your healthy meal choices and introducing your kids to a healthy life in general!
carla says
YES YES YES TO THE FRIES!!!
well
according to the ten year old anyway π
John J. says
When I go to submit a comment the web site box is framed in red and when I submit a comment it is not included. Anyone know why?
John J. says
However, the second effort goes through. ????
Kate says
Finding great produce is indeed really inspiring for meal planning. I even make last minute changes to my meal plan, if I find produce that looks particularly appealing while grocery shopping.
Rutabaga – wow, I first had to google that. π I would definitely roast it in the oven – fries, small dice, something along those lines…
Tami @ Have My Cake says
I wish our farmers market was year round!!!! That’s so wonderful! Your meal planning is inspiring! I plan each week but lately it’s just so boring and I kind of dread it. I need to step it up!
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood says
So jealous of your farmer’s market!! Looks like you and the girls had a great time! I also love hearing about young people with such drive and initiative.
Hilary says
I am planning on doing just that this coming weekend! I am pretty excited about it too!
Cassie says
We also had a quiet weekend, kicking around outside with the baby since it was 65F here. Highly unusual weather behavior, and I took advantage of it. I haven’t been doing much cooking lately since we’re staying with my parents and since the baby came, my mom has been on cooking duty. However, I love the magazine Cooking Light, and the cookbook and blog Oh She Glows for guarenteed goodness.
Alyssa @ renaissancerunnergirl says
That farmer’s market looks awesome! I wish my weekend had involved more sleep but it was busy – a 15K race, a work holiday party, and a friend holiday party. For me my rest period is between Christmas and New Years since all the parties are in the runup to Christmas and I’m taking a few vacation days to enable a 9-day stretch at home in Connecticut to relax π
Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life says
I love being inspired by fresh ingredients too! Strolling around the farmers market is so lovely, but I really don’t get out to it as much as I would like. I need to get a meal plan in mind for the week today too, and this post helped to remind me that I’m out of broth and need to get some bones simmering!
Brittany says
Pinterest is always a friend of mine for meal inspiration. I keep a board of ideas and go through them every Sunday for inspiration.
Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona says
Farmer’s markets are the best. I worked at one for a couple summers. It was great to get to know the customers that would come every week as well as the other vendors.
My weekend was pretty low key. I wrote my last final on Friday so it was nice to have some time to actually relax!
Tanya says
Our favorite way to use rutabaga is to peel and shred it using the food processor and fry it up like hash browns and top with two runny eggs for quick breakfasts!
Josephine says
We went to a farmers market too and then took my almost four year old to her first ballet a low key local production of “The Nutcracker”, I wasn’t sure if it would hold her interest and she was riveted! Followed by roast chciken, roasted sweet potato and roasted brussel sprouts for an early Sunday dinner.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Oh, I have made that kale and quinoa pilaf before…from your suggestion in a previous blog post. And it was SO good. YUM.
And here I sit on Monday, and I do not have a meal plan for the week. Gah! Very unlike me, and I hate when I do that. I feel like I am scrambling all week.
Eriica says
My husband and I were just lamenting the fact that we no longer have unlimited time to peruse magazines and cooking websites now that we have a kid. We used to spend hours on Sundays looking over recipes and going shopping at various stores. Now, we have about 10 meals that we rotate through, and we’re getting bored! Whenever we do try something new, we geek out on it and make it 3 weeks in a row, then forget about it! I need to be better about keeping a list of recipes that we can just refer back to π
Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me says
I love farmers markets for precisely the reason you stated. You know when people love what they do. No one really goes into that business without having a passion for it, and it just makes the entire experience that much better. I love how you raise your girls, Brittany! I cannot wait to see where their passions lie as well.
Hope youβre having an amazing Monday!
Giselle says
I love roasted rutabega with brussel sprouts, mushrooms, fennel and balsamic! Well, usually. Since I’ve been pregnant I haven’t been able to eat many vegetables especially brussel sprouts. Gotta love pregnancy aversions!