Strawberry Cider March 14, 2010

Sorry I have been behind in posting!  I am at my parents’ house for the weekend, along with my sister and her boyfriend.  We were all to get together to celebrate my grandmother’s 85th birthday.  However, unfortunately, she was sick (much better now!) and was unable to make it.  But we still got all dressed up and went out to dinner!  For a pre-dinner celebration, my sister helped me break open the strawberry cider I bought at the farmer’s market a couple of weeks ago.  It was surprisingly very good.  My sister thought it tasted just like jam, and while that might sound gross, it was still very refreshing.  Just had a very strawberry taste!  That’s not so bad 😉  So we toasted to the night and are saving the rest for blended daquiris!

We even let my Dad get in on the action!

I’m head back to the mountains tomorrow (maybe with a new car!).  I’ll be back to the blog soon…Enjoy your Sunday!

Welcome! February 2, 2010

I feel a bit intimidated starting my new blog.  But I figure the best way to begin is to JUMP right in!  So here goes….

As I mention in “About Ann” the winter makes it very difficult to find fresh, local produce.  Even though I have only been in North Carolina for two weeks, I have been busy searching on the internet and driving around town looking for local food.  I had a bit of success today!  I went to the Western North Carolina Farmers Market. 

I was unsure of what to expect and was secretly hoping for more than jams and preserves.  And while there were many jarred goods, I also found some great finds.  Here’s what I grabbed:

So what you see is butter made from cream and salt and produced in Jonesville, NC, as well as “Old Fashioned Hoop Cheese” made in Landis, NC.  I also bought 3 sweet potatoes and some Strawberry Cider!  The cider was made in Saluda, NC with the strawberries of last summer.  I can’t wait to try a glass and think of warm summer days!

Overall, I really enjoyed the famers market.  I think it’s great that even on snowy days, it’s possible to find fresh food.  I can’t wait to go in a few months and enjoy the bounty that summer brings to the farms of North Carolina!

If you looked at the picture closely, you’ll notice that there’s one additional item I haven’t identified!  Look for a post tomorrow about my FAVORITE find!  And most importantly, I can’t wait to cook with my new ingredients.  Hopefully this weekend, I’ll find time and will share photos and recipes!