Tomato Festival

Saturday was the Tomato Festival at the Farmer's Market.     A bounty of beautiful tomatoes was available at most of the vendors.

My purpose?

Just in case someone wonders who I am!

I was the Guest Chef.    With a plethora of tomatoes and onions and basil and garlic, I transformed ordinary Farmer's Market produce into delectable taste treats that Farmer's Market goers got to sample . . .  and get the recipe.

But I was not alone!  

Chef and Sous Chef -- ready to dish up the Greek Salsa

My willing and able sous chef, Sarah.     We both had a grand time!

Tomatoes awaiting transformation with herbs, onions and garlic.

With herbs and tomatoes and onions and garlic and the French canned tomatoes from last week, we made Greek Salsa, Italian Bread and Tomato Salad, Fresh Tomato sauce served over pasta with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, and the canned tomatoes made into a cold creamy tomato soup.

Samples were generous and although both Sarah and I showed off our "knife skills", most were there to buy tomatoes and to sample the dishes.

We made one at a time and when it was about gone we made another dish.     Some were at the market long enough to sample two or three!

I was amused at how many people took the sample -- took two or three steps away from our table and then took a bite . . . "God, this is really good!" we heard over and over again!    

Of course, it was good -- fresh ingredients prepared simply.

Sarah at work on a dish to be sampled.

Sarah was a great sous chef and when she left, she signed up for next year!       We were a great team, Sarah and I.

As I do every year at the Farmer's Market

And not just a luncheon but a Farmer's Market Luncheon -- one of my PEO Sisters won!

I give away a luncheon at Linderhof.    It's always fun to have company and it adds a little extra to the Tomato Festival.

We were there from 7:30 set up until the market closed at noon.     We made our samples in small quantities and made them over and over again for there were lots of people out and about that morning.

We were so busy that I forgot to take pictures of the food!!!!    

The coolness that the storm brought in yesterday afternoon slowly dissolved into the summer heat that we've been getting since mid June.      That was not a good thing!

If you have a Farmer's Market in your area, make an effort to go.    You get to talk to the people who actually grow the food you're buying and although we don't have any "certified organic" farmer's at the market, there is not a lot of pesticides used on many of the crops.    

Plus you often can buy two potatoes if you want -- nothing is prepackaged!    With just husband Jim and I, I like the fact that I can buy small quantities of most vegetables.

It's Sunday and there is nothing more seasonal than a Farmer's Market in the summer.    I'm joining The Tablescaper  for Seasonal Sunday.