Because 2 days is never enough.

Erik and I loved riding our bikes to the Ferry Building on Saturdays for the open air market when we lived in San Francisco, but I am getting spoiled by the close proximity of the farmer’s market to my apartment in Manhattan. It is a half block away and it occurs twice a week. I literally have to walk past it to catch the subway on Thursday mornings. These are the things that I love about New York City.

My favorite fall farmer’s market items currently include:

• brussel sprouts (some farmers bring buckets of sprouts while others bring them attached to the stalk)
• cauliflower
• fresh apple cider (heat it up on the stove with cinnamon sticks)
• honey crisp apples (these have to be one of the best apple varieties around – the perfect combination of sweet and crunchy just as the name suggests)
• sweet potatoes
• kale (great on its own or in soups)

Although I haven’t seen them at the farmer’s market, the fruit vendors on the street are fully stocked with my favorite fall fruit: pomegranates. My breakfast routine now incorporates pom seeds mixed into home made yogurt. (In fact I gave a batch of freshly made yogurt with pom seeds to Anna and Isabel this weekend. I’ll have to solicit their feedback and post it here.) The fruit is only available from September to January so I’m going eat as many as I can between now and then. The California pomegranate site is chock full of information and recipes, including this vinaigrette:

Pomegranate Vinaigrette
1 cup pomegranate seeds
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/2 cup honey
salt & pepper to taste
1 cup virgin olive oil

In a blender, add pomegranate seeds, rice vinegar, honey and seasonings. Blend well. Slowly add olive oil while continuing to blend. Adjust seasoning and strain.

The site also includes a 3-step technique for extracting the pom seeds using water, which I have never tried. I might have to experiment with the process this week. I just bought a gigantic pom from the fruit stand on the corner of West 50^th and 7^th Ave, which always has an amazing fruit selection. There is something calming and meditative about extracting the seeds by hand, though. Maybe the water technique will take the fun out of it.