We've been back for two weeks.
We were away for a {glorious} lifetime.
At least, that's how it has felt to me. I had already been in Maine for almost three weeks when I flew to Denver to meet R. There we picked up an RV and traveled where the wind blew for four weeks. The Rockies, Santa Fe, Mesa Verde, Telluride, Bryce Canyon, Monterey, Muir Woods...
There are folders and folders of photos to wade through and I want to share our favorite moments but first I have to wrap my head around those files. So that will come.
{ the beginning of salmon and asparagus in parchment }
But what I can tell you is that the marché was full of little surprises for me when we got back. I had left in March and the fruits of the season have soildered on since I've been away. The tired apples of winter are being replaced by berries and cherries and the old faithfuls of carrots, potatoes, and leeks are making space for asparagus, basil, and spring peas on the tables.
My first trip back to the marché was a quick but thrilling affair where I found produce on offer that I had never seen there before. But it was all devoured too quickly to photograph. You see, our Albert was back after his month-long stay with his grandmother, bless her. Lunch was the least we could do after devotion like that. So red, purple, and white radishes were sliced and woodland asparagus* was divided up to make this salmon, a standard of ours that you should try! (That's not the woodland asparagus above, it's white asparagus from an earlier meal.)
But last weekend's marché, that I have on film! So here's what will be in my kitchen this week:
sweet red peppers
zucchini
eggs
sweet peas
red onion
dill
raviolis à l'arrabbiata
rhubarb
basil
green beans
beets (wrapped into a bouquet by the seller)
.
So I'll be back with a virtual Midwestern tour for you soon. In the mean time, what are you excited to see reappearing in the market?
xo,
A.
* Called Prussian, Wild, or Bath Asparagus in English. See here.
