11.15.2010

Giving Thanks

It might be a little bit early for a post about Thanksgiving, but I had a Thanksgiving-themed pot luck last night, so I'm in the mood. One of the things that I love about Thanksgiving is that it brings people together around food. Sharing a meal helps us bond with the others at the table. Eating relaxes us, it breaks down barriers, and it establishes important social norms. My favorite part, though, is the food.

Since I started patronizing farmers markets a few years ago I have begun to appreciate the food at Thanksgiving even more. Because I know many of my farmers, I feel even more thankful for the food on the table. These farmers spend every day putting their heart and soul into growing food for our tables. They are proud of what they do, and they love sharing it with us. This Thanksgiving, I encourage you to get as much of your meal from local sources as possible. Below are 2 lists, 1 of produce that is available around this time of year (with some recipe suggestions!) and another of resources to find local food in your area. Give thanks, eat food, and enjoy the fall colors!

Fall Produce*
  • Beets (Beet Hummus)
  • Carrots (Roasted Root Vegetables, my recipe)
  • Turnips (See link above)
  • Rutabagas (See link above)
  • Potatoes (See link above)
  • Sweet potatoes (Sweet Potato Biscuits, my recipe, coming soon!)
  • Squash: acorn, butternut, spaghetti, pumpkin, etc (West Indian Pumpkin Soup)
  • Mushrooms (Mushroom Gravy, my recipe)
  • Kale
  • Swiss Chard
  • Spinach
  • Greens: mustard, beet, collards, turnip, etc (Balsamic Greens, my recipe)
  • Apples
  • Persimmons
  • Figs
  • Pomegranates
*These depend on your area, check your local farmers market for exact availabilities.

Find a Farmers Market
*Full disclosure: I used to be on the Board of Directors of the Davidson Farmers Market. I included the specific link because I have readers in the Davidson area.

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