Home from the hills. Getting away is nice, but it’s also nice to get back…to know where we keep the coffee and how to use the coffee maker, falling into a familiar bed… home sweet home.
And I’m looking forward to seeing you right where I left you…so I’ll be counting noses this Saturday at the Lansdowne Farmers Market. You’ll be there, right?
Speaking of sweet things…let’s talk desserts: cakes, cookies and cobblers, pies, possets and puddings, They’re more than just what comes at the end of a meal. They’re made of sugar and memories…of your triumphs and sometimes of your legendary flops. Here I’ll just note that cream of tartar is NOT interchangeable with tartar sauce. And that’s all I’ll say about that.
Historians give credit to the early Egyptians for inventing cake, although we probably wouldn’t recognize it as anything remotely toothsome. But it didn’t take long for the idea to catch fire and find its way to other continents and cuisines, adding flavors and local ingredients along the way…and so it began. But it took who else but the French? to introduce “dessert” as the sweet ending to the evening meal. The English were so smitten that they didn’t even bother to create their own word for it. Dessert it stayed.
Jot down this date: 10/28/23. When last I saw you, we had just officially announced the resurrection of the LFM Bake-Off Competition. See aforementioned date. I did see a flurry of interest in the handouts at our Manager’s tent. So I’m hoping enthusiasm has continued apace in my absence.
Today, according to our carefully curated and maintained archives (Jennifer Hoff’s desk), this event was last held in 2014…a nine-year drought of unbaked cookies and cakes and pies. But never mind, we’re here now…time to hit the re-start button and see if our skills are right where we left them. So dive into that drawer, recipe box or wherever you store your secret ingredients, and make a plan. See us at the Manager’s tent for all the rules and regs. Sign up!
Now that you’re committed, remember that at least ONE ingredient must come from the Farmers Market…so you might want to take a look to see what’s in season now to freeze for later. Still time to snag some peaches, maybe even some blue- or blackberries to be had before the calendar turns another page. But don’t paint yourself into a fruity corner…remember that eggs count, and even some veggies can take a turn…who doesn’t love carrot cake? Or zucchini bread? And I have it on the best of authority that beets have been known to make a cake blush.
Moving along…
The music tent will be empty this week due to illness. Get well soon, Jessica Graae.
That said, I continue to be gratified by all the musicians who have joined in to bring such good energy back to our Saturdays.
Please read all of the Lansdowne Link to keep up with all the events planned for the rest of the Market season and beyond.
If you volunteered for anything this past week, whether a local event or community effort, Thank You!
See you at the Market!
Terry B.