It’s the middle of November and the Port Moody Winter Market is well underway. Every year, the market gets bigger and better, and this year is no exception.
The list of special market events is fabulous. You can actually come to market and make an adventure out of it: Come for breakfast, stay for a workshop, do some of your grocery shopping, start your Christmas shopping, enjoy a walk through the trails behind the rec centre, then come back for lunch.
This is the time of year that we slow down and start to cozy up for winter. And even though winter on the wet coast is hardly winter, it is still cold and damp and dark — perfect weather for roasting, simmering and crockpotting (I just made up that last term).
A trip to the market will yield everything you need to take advantage of the cooler weather and make some wonderful meals.
So what’s available right now?
Aside from the usual root crops such as potatoes, beets and carrots, you can still get greens, zucchini, onions, kale, lettuces, and winter squash.
I chatted with Chris from Ripple Creek Organics the other day and he tells me that he will have broccoli, cauliflower, swiss chard, garlic and leeks. Check out one of our newest vendors, From Beds to Bowls. It has salad turnips! Not like regular turnips, salad turnips are sweet, but have a bit of a bite. They can be eaten raw or cooked.
Fresh fruit is still available as well. Apples, pears and quince are perfect for making a fruit crisp. And if apple pie is your thing, try grating a quince into the filling — it will take your pie to a new level of perfection.
Once you have filled your basket with the fresh stuff, make sure you sample some of the new prepared food vendors. One new one in particular is Salt Spring Fleur de Sel. The salts they carry are created from the salt water off Salt Spring Island, then infused with flavours — perfect for seasoning all your lovely market meals.
I am excited to welcome Hello Friends Baking to the market. The dark chocolate super cookies are my go-to treat whenever I see them at the White Rock or Delta markets. And I think their quinoa oat cakes would pair perfectly with a cup of chai tea from Aslan Chai. I tried the tea last week and is it delicious. Richly spiced, with a peppery kick, it will be a wonderful addition to my tea cupboard.
And if tea and cookies aren’t your thing, perhaps some smoked salmon pâte and a bit of gin. Georels Smokehouse and Anderson Distillery are both new to the market this year. Not sure about the gin but I can tell you the smoked salmon pâte is fabulous.
As for Christmas shopping, we’ve got wonderful new vendors with gift ideas for everyone. The Canvas Candle Company, Ooh La La Cosmetics and Bricolage Hats are just some of the newbies. Come by and show them some love.
Karen Curtis is the Lemonade Lady (www.kicslemonade.ca and kicslemonade.blogspot.ca) at the Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam farmers markets. Her column runs monthly.
Think crockpots & seasonal produce
SQUASH + PASTA = YUM
Here’s a recipe that makes the most of market ingredients.
BUTTERNUT PASTA SAUCE
1 medium butternut or other winter squash, cut in half and seeded
2 leeks, sliced into rings, or 1 onion, diced
1 tbsp olive oil
½ to 1 cup cream or half-and-half
1-2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp fresh thyme
Salt and freshly ground pepper
Grated parmesan cheese
Roast the squash in a 350 F oven until soft. Let cool. While the squash is cooling, sauté the leeks and thyme in the olive oil until they are soft and starting to brown. Scoop the squash from the skin and add to the leeks. Stir in cream or half-and-half until the sauce is the consistency you want. Stir in maple syrup — the amount depends on the level of sweetness you wish. Season with salt and plenty of pepper and serve over cooked pasta with plenty of parmesan cheese.
ONE MEAN XMAS CLASS
You can sign up for the next market workshop: Grinch Tree, Dec. 11.
Join Patricia Navarro from Port Moody’s Vivio Flower Gallery as she guides you step-by-step in creating a fun Grinch Tree. Participants will create a Grinch Tree of their own to take home. This is a family friendly workshop, held outside but under cover, so dress for the weather.
There will be two workshops, one at 10:30 a.m., the other at noon. Registration is $20 per person and you can sign up online or at the market info tent.
And don’t forget about the Coquitlam Farmers Market Christmas show, happening on Dec. 10 at the Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex.
