Shop at the Farmers Market for Your Holiday Meals
November 26, 2019 12:15 PM
by Jodi Low
Fall is in full swing and the Santa Monica Farmers Markets are brimming with gorgeous fruits, vegetables and more! With the holidays upon us, what better way to prepare meals than with fresh, seasonal products!
Swing by our Wednesday Downtown Farmers Market tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to grab fresh produce and meats to make delicious holiday meals.
For Thanksgiving, make sure to arrive on time for this week’s market as this is the busiest market of the year and your favorite things can run out early. And of course remember your reusable bags, baskets and trollies to transport all your goodies as you shop!
Maybe even mix it up this holiday season and experiment with this recipe from our Market Chef Kim Vu, owner of Vucacious Catering in Santa Monica.
Skillet Asian Pear Crisp Ingredients
• 6 tbsp. (3/4 stick) butter, divided
• 1/2 cup of your favorite chopped nuts: walnuts, pecans,
• hazelnuts, almonds, etc.
• 1 tsp. grated lemon zest
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• Salt
• 2 lb. Asian pears, unpeeled but trimmed, cored and chopped
Instructions
Put 5 tbsp. butter in large skillet over low heat. When butter is melted, add nuts, lemon zest, oats, coconut, packed brown sugar, cinnamon and a pinch of salt; toss to coat. Cook, stirring frequently, until topping is golden and crisp, 6 to 8 min. Remove from the pan; no need to clean the pan out. The topping can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container up to a day or so in advance. Put 1 tbsp. butter in the skillet over medium heat. When it’s melted, add fruit and cook, stirring occasionally until pears are soft but not mushy, 10 min. Scatter the topping over the warm fruit and serve. This recipe can be made with any fruit you like, including berries, apples and mangoes. Adjust cooking time based on firmness of the fruit.
PS - Chef Vu hosts seasonal cooking demonstrations the 2nd Sunday of each month at the Main Street Farmers Market at 10 am, 11 am, and noon.
We hope to see you all soon! For additional information, please reach out to Jodi Low with the City of Santa Monica at jodi.low@smgov.net.
Authored By
Jodi Low
Farmers' Market Coordinator II