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Monday, July 11, 2016

Farmer's Market Kabobs

We finally got rain this weekend....blessed, glorious rain!

And boy, did we need it!

It was another busy weekend in my world...aren't they all, it seems? But I snuck in some 'me' time to head out to the farmer's market in a neighboring town. The market is held every other Saturday morning, and I've been going religiously for years. 


They have a wonderful selection of locally grown produce plus maple products, honey, jams, and jellies. Some of our local farms are represented, selling organic free range chicken, pork products, and grass fed beef. Regional organic cheese, home made soaps, fresh herbs and herb vinegars, perennials, cut flowers, beeswax candles, wool socks and mittens - you name it! Cooking demonstrations, physic readings, pet portraits, a live bluegrass band, and a local food truck add to the eclectic nature of the market. Throw in some baked goods made by the local church ladies and I'm in heaven. 


My daughters and I usually make it a special girls' morning, heading to the market and enjoying a little quality time together. This weekend they weren't around, so I took my other babies...the furry ones....with me. 

The pups love going for a ride in the car, and since the rain had cooled everything off nicely, I was glad to take them. 

The Monkey rode in my lap all the way to the farmer's market....and Tubby was quite contented in the back seat. 

Farmer's market day always means dinner is planned around the market's offerings of the week. 


This week, I decided on Kabobs. I have been craving them lately....and the market had just what I needed. 

One of the great things about grilling veggies is that they don't need much to make them amazing. They are the ultimate Easy Peasy recipe. 


For the yellow squash and zucchini, I drizzle some extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle some McCormick's Garlic & Herb seasoning on both sides. 


The rest of the veggies just get olive oil. They need nothing else but heat to bring out their amazing flavors. 


The beef was marinated in a Brazilian Steakhouse marinade, also by McCormick's. 

No, this is not a sponsored post - it's just me telling you about my dinner!


On went the kabobs, to a med-hot grill, and down went the lid. 

Walk away for a few minutes, shake up a cocktail. Easy peasy. 

The hardest thing about making this dinner was the weather. I had to put on my rain jacket, and sometimes I even had the hood up while I was out there turning the kabobs. 


You couldn't even see the peak of the mountains with the weather - normally the peak would be seen through the trees, near where those birds are sitting on the wire. 

The birds are probably all wondering what happened to the bird buffet that used to be served here regularly. 

I miss feeding my little critters. 

After bear season I'll get back in the swing of it. 


It was raining pretty good, and the herbs and the gardens were as happy as can be! We seriously needed this rain, it's been a very dry season. 


I can't even describe how heavenly the aroma on the deck was while dinner was cooking. I'm surprised Mr. Bear didn't come for a sniff....and I'm ever so glad he didn't!


I served the Farmer's Market Kabobs with a spicy Quinoa Black Bean mix. 

It was the perfect accompaniment to the sweet veggies and the tender and amazingly delicious grass fed beef. 

What a meal!


The skies were glorious after dinner, despite the less than ideal weather. This photo was shot in the opposite direction, and the clouds were just sitting on the peaks, while the sun tried to break through. 


Back in the direction where we saw the birds before, you can now see the clouds sitting on the distant peaks. The storm must have passed over there already, the skies are much clearer. 


And looking over the edge of the deck, I see Sweetie is getting ready to take on another project at my house. He's such a good sweetie! 


What went on in your world this weekend?

45 comments:

  1. Oh the kabobs look so yummy. Could you send that rain to my part of Northern Indiana. We are so dry and the corn and bean crops are not looking good at all from the heat and humidity and very very little rain. Your dinner makes me want to do the same this up coming weekend.

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    1. It's been a terrible season here, also - I use a soaker hose in my veggie garden, but I hate to have to water constantly - it's not good for my well! Thanks for visiting - and the kabobs were amazing, seriously!!

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  2. I sure wish I had a chef like you! I didn't do a lot. Saw Andrew, had lunch. Watched Law & Order SVU reruns.
    Brenda

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    1. As you can tell, I'm late getting back to people - busy week! Sorry! I'd love to cook for you, Brenda - and I'm sure glad you got to see you grandson!

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  3. Please send some of that rain my way! We are so dry here in northern IL. Our grass is crunchy and brown. Haven't had rain in weeks. Your kabobs look absolutely amazing. It's almost dinnertime here and now I'm hungry just looking at your pictures!

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    1. We needed it here, too, Melanie - my grass is also crunchy!!

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  4. Yum, grilled veggies!! We got just a shower, need more as we are 5 inches under our average for the year now.

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    1. Interesting, I wonder how far under the average we are? My sweetie would probably know that, I must ask him.

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  5. The Kabobs look beautiful, before and after. Really made me want some but I don't have a grill :( I did start feeding the birds this weekend for the first time since I was inundated by the morning doves. Funny thing, as soon as I headed for the feeder, I heard the call go out - dinner's ready!

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    1. You can grill kabobs indoors on a grill pan - I use mine when I don't want to be cooking outdoors!

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  6. Yup, we got that rain too, and I was ever so grateful despite the fact it put the kabosh on our plans to attend the Hartford Food Truck Festival. Now we've got some serious weed pulling to do!

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  7. yum -- my kind of dinner - fresh and easy to prepare! I love Mccormick seasonings and will have to add that one to my list. Sounds divine! Your pictures are beautiful and I can almost feel the freshness of the air from that needed rain, just by looking at them! Nashville is in a weird pattern of super hot mornings with severe storms in the afternoon so we have gotten a fair amount of rain.

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    1. Thanks!! And despite the weird weather you are lucky to have the rain, for sure!

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  8. I love veggie kabobs! Yours are so perfectly placed. Now im hungry

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    1. I measured out the distance between them....KIDDING!

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  9. Oh those veggie kabobs looked delicious!

    We spent Saturday morning getting some things done around the house and garden and then headed over for a big double birthday potluck dinner at our son Jaysn's house. His wife Rachel and I both had birthdays within a few days of each other, me on Friday and her on Monday. :) It was so much fun and there was lots and lots of good food!

    Sunday found Jeff and I I opting to just stay home in our jammies instead of going to an auction as planned. It was a cold and rainy day so we either cuddled up and watched movies on the couch or later, cuddled up in bed and watched movies. We both agreed that our Sunday was just what we needed. :)

    Be blessed!

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  10. It's one of the most yummy ways to eat veggies. So glad you were blessed with rain. Your herbs are lookin' great!

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    1. They are super happy these days with all the hot sun they are getting, Daisy!

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  11. These kabobs look awesome! Seems like every time I want to cook or we want to grill it looks like rain. Perhaps we should, we could actually use a shower about right now...

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    1. I hear ya, Debbie! We could use some more rain, perhaps I should start some more kabobs?

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  12. All i have to say is that i wish i lived closer <3
    XO Ellen from Ask Away
    www.askawayblog.com

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  13. Your grilled dinner looks absolutely delicious !! Glad that you got the needed rain. We had some too but are in a hot and dry spell for the week now in Western PA.

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    1. Oh, that's rough....we got a little more rain during the week, but nothing significant.

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  14. Those veggies look so delicious...and I love the look of the flowers in the minnow bucket!

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    1. The farmers market flowers are so lovely! And yet I don't buy anything but sunflowers there....because I have a garden full of flowers right outside my door!

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  15. The food looks awesome! Love your blog. My first time posting a comment, ever!

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    1. Well thank you....and welcome! I apologize for the delay in responding to all these wonderful comments - sometimes life (and work!) just gets in the way!

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  16. Grilled vegetables are just the best! It's about time I grilled some around here. In my world this weekend....I canned tomatoes all day Saturday. Time consuming, but soooo worth it!

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    1. Oh, yes, so worth it, Laurie! Isn't it just lovely to pull out those canned tomatoes in the middle of a snowstorm and remember a summer's day?

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  17. Your meal looks and sounds so yummy! I imagine you were just happy to get the rain and didn't mind being out in it grilling! We sure need rain here. Beastly hot so hope we don't get bad storms. Nancy

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    1. I didn't really mind....it was a warm rain, and it smelled so fresh, Nancy!

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  18. Yummy! I love grilled veggies. These look beautiful and delish!

    xo
    Pat

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    1. Thanks, Pat - definitely one of my favorite ways to eat veggies! The grill just brings out the sweetness!

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  19. I love rainy days!! and mercy that grilled food sure looks good!

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  20. That's one of our favorite meals! Took us years to realize that it works better when you cook the meat and veggies separately. We have the sweetest little farmer's market in our downtown area. We love to go.

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    1. I like cooking the different veggies and meats separately so things don't get too charred - we definitely have more control that way!

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  21. I don't think I've ever seen vegetables look so delicious!! We have never grilled vegetables! Can you believe that?! Glad you got the rain. We have sure had plenty lately!

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    1. You could roast the veggies, too, in the cooler months - another great way to cook them, for sure! Either way, it brings out their sweetness - yummmmm!

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  22. That meal.OH that meal! I'm hungry; should eat before getting on computer, eh? We've had rain, rain, rain for weeks, weeks, weeks and my hay needs cutting, cutting, cutting. Last weekend is a foreign country and borders are now closed. this weekend isn't close enough to decide. Maybe farmers' market then porch sitting...

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    1. That sounds like a great weekend...farmers' market followed by porch sitting - love it!!

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  23. I want a farmers market like yours! You make this meal look and sound so simple, as well as delicious.

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