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Spring Firsts: Farmer’s Markets and Fiddleheads

Published on May 25, 2015 By Emily. Updated on August 8, 2020

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This weekend I had the opportunity to do a couple of fun spring activities for the first time this year.  It’s hard to believe that it’s still spring, with all the warm weather we’ve been having, but my visit to the market made that very clear.

Pittsfield Common sign

Pittsfield Farmers Market on the Common 2015

I started my weekend with a trip to the Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market.  I wrote about the market last year, but I was especially excited to check it out in it’s new location – the market has moved from its previous home in a parking lot across the street to the beautiful Pittsfield Common.  The atmosphere is so much more spacious, upbeat and welcoming.  I could definitely see myself enjoying a picnic after shopping later this summer.

There were about 20 vendors at the market on Saturday, but the available produce made it very clear that we’re still early in the growing season.  As far as I could tell, there was arugula and micro-greens, but no real lettuce or other greens.  Everything looked great, but I wasn’t able to purchase the whole week’s worth of produce I’d been craving (I am dying for our CSA shares to resume).

Cricket Creek booth at the Pittsfield Farmers Market

Square Roots Farm sign at the Pittsfield Farmers MarketPlants for sale at the Pittsfield Farmers Market

Pittsfield Rye at the Pittsfield Farmers Market

Nevertheless, I didn’t leave empty handed.  I was thrilled to discover a vendor with asparagus, fiddlehead ferns and rhubarb. Can you get a selection more “springy” than that?  Brian talked me down to just two of the three and I left the market happy with asparagus and fiddleheads.

spring produce at the Pittsfield Farmers Market

I’d never made fiddleheads before, but Brian and I ordered them at Hops and Vines a couple weeks ago and they were amazing.  I started off by reading and following the guidelines on this page from UMaine, which my mother shared with me last year because she knows I’m the type of person who would cook fiddleheads. My fiddleheads weren’t nearly as impressive at the ones at Hops and Vines – mine ended up pretty soft – but they were good.  I’d make them again, if I’m lucky enough to stumble upon them at the market.

Simple Spring Fiddleheads

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Servings 2 side dish servings

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pint fresh fiddleheads scales removed and rinsed clean*
  • 3 cloves garlic crushed
  • 2 tablespoons total olive oil and/or butter
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • salt to taste
  • *More info on prepping fiddleheads here

Instructions
 

  • Fiddleheads have been connected to foodborne illnesses and must be pre-cooked before preparing them for eating. To do so, bring a small pot of water to a boil. Once boiling, add the fiddleheads and cook for 15 minutes at a rolling boil.
  • After the fiddleheads are done boiling, drain them using a colander.
  • Meanwhile, heat the olive oil/butter in a medium sized skillet at medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
  • Add the fiddleheads and toss them in the hot oil/butter and garlic mixture. Add the lemon juice and salt. Toss to distribute the flavors evenly and serve.
  • Enjoy!

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Filed Under: places, recipe, side dish, vegetarian Tagged With: Berkshires, farmer's market, foraging, local, Pittsfield, sides, vegetarian

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Emily
This week I - drove across the state for 4 days of This week I
- drove across the state for 4 days of 8 am to 4 pm professional development
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- wandered my undergrad campus at dusk
- started to wrap my head around @openscied
- spent quality time with @ryntintin12
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- Enjoyed an evening with one of my closest friends from college
- took deep breaths and watched birds at the ocean 
- visited the mall and Whole Foods primarily to see what life is like for the other half of the state
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It was a cold and cloudy morning, but we made it t It was a cold and cloudy morning, but we made it to our second annual strawberry picking at @mountainviewfarm413, which included E's first tractor ride (she was very excited). We picked about 9 pounds of strawberries and I'm looking forward to eating them! 🍓
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#NorthAdams #NAmazing
Scenes from this morning in Adams, featuring @shir Scenes from this morning in Adams, featuring @shiredonuts, Poseidon Coffee, the Ashwillticook Rail Trail, St. Stanislaus Kostka Church, Adams Free Library and beautiful flowers.
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I don't have clear words to express my feelings ab I don't have clear words to express my feelings about the state of the world lately. As a teacher and a mother, it has been extra difficult this week to be fully present in my roles without thinking about innocent lives that should have had longer on Earth. How what has happened in each of the many mass shootings this year can happen anywhere. If you are feeling sad and frustrated too, you are not alone.

I don't have answers, but I'm trying to take care of myself and my biological and school families. I'm saying "I love you" a lot to my children and my students. I'm closely following and sharing the work of @everytown while contacting my state and federal representatives and the president. I'm going for walks and getting fresh air and trying not to overload on news. I'm sharing good resources in my stories as I see them.
UPDATE: the giveaway is now CLOSED. Congrats @aloh UPDATE: the giveaway is now CLOSED. Congrats @alohr3!

 @thelazygenius' second book, The Lazy Genius Kitchen, is finally here and I'm so excited! I don't purchase many books, but I pre-ordered this last July because I knew it would be right up my alley and then I pre-ordered a second copy because I knew that I'd want to give one away.

Author Kendra Adachi has been one of my favorite voices in recent years. Her principles (shared through her first book, The Lazy Genius Podcast and her Instagram) have helped me focus my priorities and give myself more grace. 

This book is NOT a cookbook (it has just 2 recipes), it is a kitchen guide - to help you "have what you need, use what you have, and enjoy it like never before". It is beautiful (full color!) and thoughtful.

I'm very excited to send this book to one of you.

TO ENTER: Leave a comment below with one of your greatest kitchen struggles. 
I'll draw a winner at 8 pm on Friday, May 6.
This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram or The Lazy Genius, Kendra Adachi.
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#LazyGenius #KendraAdachi #NameWhatMatters #TheLazyGeniusKitchen #TheLazyGeniusWay #BookGiveaway
This morning we took advantage of @massmoca's Berk This morning we took advantage of @massmoca's Berkshire Teacher and Social Worker Appreciation Day free admission. After enjoying the student Art Invitational exhibit, the 4 of us took in several of the other galleries. Mass MoCA always impresses and it was delightful to be able to be out in the world with my kids.
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My January and early February menu plans for my @m My January and early February menu plans for my @mightyfoodfarm vegetables are finally up on the blog. See how we're making use of these beautiful items, as well as the items from the other pick up we made in the past month. 
Link in profile.
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