TODAY IS MARKET DAY!

Each week our village is visited by surrounding farmers who bring in their produce for us to purchase.  The produce is organic and fresh.  As the summer draws to an end, it won't be long before squash, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes begin to appear.  I am anxiously awaiting these vegetables as the ones in the stores are not worth buying at the moment.

In addition to the lovely produce, they bring kegs of delicious olives, sun dried tomatoes, gherkins, fresh cheeses and breads to the market .  Right now it is mushroom season and I have been buying them to prepare sauteed over a salad of baby lettuce and arugula.  Delicious with fresh tomato, cucumber and balsamic vinegar and oil dressing.

I can't think of a vegetable or fruit that I would need that doesn't exist in this market.  They even bring exotic fruits that I have only seen in Asia, such as durian, the fruit Singapore banned because of it's obnoxious smell.  But, it is so delicious and sweet.  Almost like custard.

The durian fruit is in the basket at the bottom of the photo with the spiny skin.  The moment it falls from the tree it begins to give off it's uniquely abhorrent odor.  Only the brave dare to slice it open to find it's sweet pulp.  Rambutans, the red spiky fruit on the top shelf can be found in Malaysia, Indonesia, Viet Nam, Hawaii, and even Puerto Rico.  They have a white, soft, oval seed that tastes similar to a lychee, to me.  What a treat to find in Munich!

It wouldn't be a farmer's market without fresh farm eggs.  This particular farmer has lines before his stall that are a good 20 feet long.  I head out early since the market is across the street, just to be sure to get his eggs before he sells out.  He even sells hard-boiled eggs that are amazing.  On Friday, he comes again to sell his freshly butchered meats.  Lamb, chicken, duck, beef, pork and home made sausages.  Again, if you don't get to him early, he may sell out before the day is over.

Here is the mushroom stall with about every kind of mushroom you might imagine.  They even sell white truffles if that is what you like to prepare.  I love to eat pasta with shaved white truffles, from Italy.  Perhaps I will try to prepare my own one day.  The possibilities are endless when so much fresh produce is just at your fingertips.  Tonight I am preparing a carrot, orange, and ginger cream soup with the lovely carrots I bought.  I will let you know how it turns out.  It is the first time I have made it.