Farmer's Market goodness

With Summer ending and Autumn approaching, FAST I'm soaking in as much of the seasonal goodness as possible and there is no better place than the local farmers markets! Once again I hit one of my local markets and boy did everything look so good, I bought it all!

Last week I tasted some of Clement Poultry's Organic Chicken and Turkey bacon, they are out in Newcastle and I am planning to visit their farm soon. Free range organic chickens, a nice turkey for the upcoming holidays and fresh eggs, it all sounds amazing! You can tell they love their birds, those chickens look so happy (Look 'em up on facebook if you're interested!)

Visiting the market is just the beginning of the "Adventure", I love making a day out of it, from browsing, chatting with the farmers, purchasing everything that looks amazing and then sorting it all at home.  It's a very rewarding ritual, and it ends with some yummy dishes on the dinning table followed by big happy smiles.

Just a couple of tips I discovered along the way.... with veggies so fresh and beaming with summer you dont' need to do much with them. Keep it simple, let the vegetable shine.
Lately I can't get enough of beans. Cranberry Romano beans are so beautiful to look at, fun to shell and boil up in a breeze, seriously they're done in about 25 minutes and then I just shower them with a ton of delicious GOOD quality olive oil and enjoy! A bit of garlic in there too takes it to another level.

Flat green beans are probably my new favourite thing! Simmered in a thick tomato sauce or just in good olive oil with salt and black pepper, these Lebanese classics are sure to please!

Garlicky lamb meatball soup with Cranberry Beans

First time I try these fresh Romano beans, or cranberry beans, and boy are they gorgeous!
I think these fresh beans are becoming one of my favourite things, this year I've taken every opportunity to scoop up fresh fava beans anywhere I find them. There is nothing easier and more delicious when you can just shell them, lightly boil them and then add them to recipes or just mash them up with a bit of fresh garlic, drizzle of GOOD olive oil and squeeze of fresh lemon juice... on toast or just eat it with a spoon!

With these beans I wanted to do something more hearty and warm so it's lamb meatball soup today. Mini summer lamb meatballs in a garlicky chicken broth with romano beans and tiny pastas.


Start by shelling your romano/cranberry beans and boil them for 15-20 minutes or until tender in a smalls saucepan of water. Add salt half way through cooking. (if you prefer you could boil them in stock)

Start with the meatballs:

1 lb ground lamb

1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1/2 tsp fresh thyme, minced

zest of half a lemon

salt and black pepper

1 tsp lemon juice
1 clove smashed garlic

Blend it all together and form small balls. Fry the meatballs in olive oil in a large pot. They will stick so just let them be until they release themselves from the bottom of the pan, it's ok if you only brown one side.

Set the meatballs aside and in the oil used from frying the meatballs (you can remove some if there is too much) sautee the pasta noodles (toast them!) on medium high heat stirring constantly until they look toasty and golden.

Add your fresh garlic, soup cube and water. Cook until noodles are al dante.

Add meatballs to bowl, top with drained pasta and beans. Add fresh broth over (to avoid the soup looking murky unless you prefer to have some thickness them use the noodle broth)
 Top and garnish with fresh thyme. Enjoy!