For the last couple of weeks I have been able to buy strawberries grown at Cheddar at the farmer's market. They are supposed to be the best in the country and I think they are. The colour, smell and taste let me know that summer is really on it's way.
Today at the farmer's market the stalls had some of the new season's salads and vegetables for sale so I came back with my shopping trolley filled to the top! As all these crops were growing within a thirty mile radius of the city only yesterday (they still had yesterday's rain on them), they are the freshest that can be bought.
A couple of weeks ago I bought some asparagus for Eden and myself because we both love it. The season is so short and I knew there would be about three weeks when she wouldn't be over so I didn't want her to miss out. Today I got a lot of salad vegetables including lettuce, spring onions, beetroot and local greenhouse tomatoes. I also bought new potatoes, small sweet carrots and spring cabbage.
This is just the start because in a week or so the broad beans and peas will be ready followed later on by courgettes, runner beans and everything else you can think of. I just love the summer when I can buy such a fantastic selection of salads and vegetables all grown on the doorstep and much fresher than the supermarket.
Everything has now been washed and prepared and is stored in the fridge ready to be used. If you need a tip to ensure your lettuce stays crisp and fresh just wash it as soon as you get it home then dry in a salad spinner. Take it out and lay on a couple of layers of kitchen towel then blot off as much water as you can without bruising the leaves. Store in a large plastic container that has a fitted lid and place inside the salad drawer in the bottom of the fridge.
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