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Weekly Market Notes Library

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Weekly Market Notes for January 26, 2012

Hello Market Friends:

There's a variety of news this week, but not our usual menu-planner produce lists, so I've squeezed in a recipe using a few of our best winter ingredients. You'll find it farther down as a reward for reading!

1) First, important information sent by Jutta Mason:

Around the park you'll see posters about this Sunday afternoon's (2-4:30) campfire/skating/ideas swap about the possible city-worker lockout coming in ten days. The clock is ticking on the labour negotiations between the City and CUPE Local 416 (e.g. zamboni drivers). Most of the rink staff are CUPE Local 79, so they're not up for lockout yet. But we heard that the city might just turn off the compressors and lock the rink anyway. That would mean no skating, and no market either.

CUPE Local 416 say that if the city locks out the zamboni drivers but the rink is still running, they'll come and help shovel, as volunteers, because they don't want the rinks to close either. City Councillor Ana Bailao says she want to hear from people: should she try to get management to keep the compressors running so the rink can stay open for skating and the market, even if there's a lockout? Her e-mail is <councillor_bailao@toronto.ca>.

We'll try to keep you informed of any news that affects the market, and may need your help to spread the word to those not on the mailing list.

2) When I'm not wearing my Dufferin hat, one of the other ways I spend time is working with market folks throughout the region. A special request in support of this network:

Dear Friends of Farmers’ Markets:

The Greenbelt Farmers’ Market Network needs your feedback to help strengthen our farmers’ markets. It’s easy - visit our website to fill out the online survey: http://www.canview.com/4065EN/?pw=FMLive

Everyone who completes our short online questionnaire has a chance to win $100 worth of farmer market bucks to be spent at your favourite farmers’ market. If you have any questions you can call us at 416-536-9103 or email greenbeltfarmersmarketnetwork@gmail.com Thanks!

3) The promised recipe, to wash down with fresh cider brought in by Plan B, accompanied by a lovely salad made from Kind Organics' winter treasures or Ben's cabbage and apples from Ted's table, perhaps with a little chutney from Blythe and some market baking?

Winter Gratin (adapted from a recipe in The Globe and Mail by Montreal Chef Normand Laprise)

• 1 medium leek, (white & pale green part only), washed and cut into half inch slices (save the greens for making stock)
• 1½ cups potatoes, cut into ½-inch cubes
• ½ cup celeriac, cut into ½-inch cubes
• 2 T butter
• several sprigs of thyme
• 2 cups vegetable/chicken stock
• a bunch of cool weather greens, such as spinach, baby kale, or arugula, washed and chopped
• 1½ cups fresh soft cheese (chevre or sheep ricotta)
• s&p to taste

Melt butter in medium pan over low heat. Add leeks, cover and 'sweat' for 5 minutes. Add other vegetables, thyme and stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook until potatoes are tender (10-15 minutes). Drain, keeping liquid.
While the vegetables are cooking, heat the oven to 350 F and soften cheese in a double boiler on the stove.
Arrange vegetables and thyme in a glass baking dish.
Cook greens in reserved liquid, drain (keeping this delicious liquid for soup, gravy or to drink), season and arrange greens on top of leeks, celeriac and potatoes.
Whip cheese until creamy, spread evenly over greens.
Bake for 15 minutes, then broil for a few minutes. Serve immediately.

Lots more tasty food to choose from, too.

See you at the market!

Anne Freeman

P.S. Wish I could go to this:
The World We Want, An Evening With Francis Moore Lappé, Tuesday January 31st (Toronto)
Place: Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St., Time: 7:30 pm (doors open @ 6:30)
Cost: $10.00 (+taxes), $15.00 (door)
USC Canada presents an inspiring evening with the visionary author of the ground-breaking Diet for a Small Planet (1971), Frances Moore Lappé.
http://usc-canada.org/lappe/

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