Confession time. I’ve been crabby pants since being back in NYC. Our time in Hawaii was magical and dream-like and the return to the reality of day-to-day was a bit of a shock to the system. Like so many of my friends I’ve been running like crazy trying to catch up from being gone – because the world doesn’t stop just because we are on vacation, right? But here’s the deal. I didn’t want that crabby pants attitude to settle in, because while living in NYC can’t be compared to vacation in Hawaii, it’s wonderful and fabulous in its own way. I LOVE living here. I love my community – my friends, my boys’ schools, my church, my fitness family, my neighborhood. So I took an hour today and did something I haven’t done in a while, but that made me fall in love with the city when I first moved here. Instead of hitting the grocery store, I took a trip down to the Union Square Greenmarket to get supplies for our weekend meals. It took a little longer, but I was content – I was happy, browsing those stands of produce and fresh baked goods and artisanal meats and cheeses and jams. It was worth it. And I felt a lot better about coming home and spending the rest of the afternoon pounding out some way overdue work on my computer. So if you’re feeling cooped up or overwhelmed, can you give yourself 30 minutes today that will make you feel content or bring you joy? If not 30 minutes, what about 10 or 15, or even just 5? I promise it will make a difference and I promise you deserve every minute you give yourself!
Wondering what I picked up while I was at the Greenmarket? These are a few of my favorite things…
- Lettuce – There was a little organic farm offering beautiful red lettuce and butter lettuce. I can’t wait to use both for salads and sandwich toppings this weekend. I love putting butter lettuce on my favorite Trader Joe’s Mahi burgers. It also makes a great wrap. I’m thinking of trying this recipe for vegetarian lettuce wraps {P.F. Chang’s Copycat} from WellPlated. Or maybe this simple salad from Williams Sonoma. Or maybe this Avocado-Butter Lettuce Salad from Cooking Light. Or maybe…
- Green Cabbage – Another stand had the cutest little heads of green cabbage. I couldn’t pass it up. I’ve been craving fish tacos since our trip (because I ate them almost every day while in Hawaii) and you can’t have fish tacos without cabbage. Problem is, heads of cabbage are usually giant and I require less than a quarter of it for my taco slaw topping. This sweet little baby cabbage is the perfect size for a weekend batch of fish tacos.
- Flowers – I can’t ever resist flowers, especially fresh cut, and today was no different. These beautiful orange Ranunculus (I think!) caught my eye and they are a great contrast to the gray and green tones in my apartment.
- Macoun Apples – Since moving to NY, this has become my favorite apple variety. It has a crisp white flesh and its flavor is, dare I say, spicy! I love eating thinly sliced Macoun apple on a gluten free cracker topped with some Kite Hill Chive Cream Cheese Style Spread or Treeline Treenut Herb-Garlic Spread. But that’s fancy ;). When I’m not being fancy I just keep some in the fridge drawer for eating as is, or slicing and dipping in peanut butter.
- Fingerling Potatoes – I love fingerling potatoes and so does my family. Roasting them with a little bit of olive oil and salt and pepper is all that’s needed. We eat them as apps or as a side dish. On the off chance there are leftovers I throw them on top of my lunch salad the next day. My recipe for roasted potatoes and dipping sauce has become locally famous on the Super Bowl and Halloween Party Scene ;).
- Scallions – I picked up scallions, because, duh, scallions. They are so versatile. Guacamole. Tuna Salad. Miso Soup. Grain Salad Mix-In. Omelettes. Garnish Galore.
- Oyster Mushrooms – Mushrooms are my jam, so I couldn’t pass up a box of beautiful oyster mushrooms. I’m going to saute those babies in a little bit of olive or avocado oil and then finish with just a touch of apple cider vinegar to brighten them up a bit. Then I’m going to try to get my kids to try them. Wish me luck!
- French Baguette – My oldest son is in that phase where he only wants to eat food that was not made by his mother. I think it has something to do with pre-teen independence. Yesterday, while out and about I bought him a baguette sandwich from the carryout cooler at Le Pain. He said, “Mom, if you could make these at home I would eat them.” So I’m calling his bluff with a beautiful loaf from Hot Bread Kitchen.
- M’Smen – My mom’s sister is married to a man from Yeman. I have the fondest memories from childhood of hanging out in her kitchen with her sister-in-law, helping them make a bread very similar to this M’Smen (which is from the Moroccan tradition). There was always a pot of lamb stew boiling on the stove alongside the bread. They called this bread Khobz, which the internet tells me is the word for Arabic Flat Bread. I remember finding this bread a couple years ago at Hot Bread Kitchen and excitedly texting my aunt. While I couldn’t enjoy it due to my gluten free status, I derived great pleasure from introducing it to my husband and sons. It’s great for dipping in stews and curries, it’s stellar drizzled with some honey, and I’m told it makes a fantastic wrap for scrambled eggs.
- Heirloom Brandywine Tomato – This bad boy is an integral component of the afore-mentioned bluff-calling baguette sandwich.
- Savory Baked Goods – I stopped at an amazing bakery stand, Body and Soul Bake Shop that offers a variety of gluten free and vegan options. I always grab something here for a snack plus a few more items to bring home for lunches. Today I picked up a few pieces of Beet, Kale and Sweet Potato Farinata, as well as a single serving Shepherd’s Pie, all gluten free and vegan.
- Watermelon Radishes – These beautiful green rimmed, pink inside (ergo the watermelon moniker) radishes first came into my life about a year ago in a veggie co-op box. I let them sit in my fridge for weeks, because I told myself I don’t like radishes. Then one day, I wanted to make a salad for lunch and I had nothing but some romaine lettuce and a few grape tomatoes. I needed more crunch, more substance to make it really feel like a salad. So I caved and cut up a watermelon radish. The rest is history. Today I eat them in salad, I dip them, and I slice them thin and eat them on top of avocado toast – they add a crunchy zing.
- Corn Tortillas– Because fish tacos and gluten free. ‘Nuff said.
Transforming Mommy 
Interesting shopping list and even more interesting narration 🙂