Category Archives: What’s Cooking?

Did You Have a Fresh Farm Breakfast Today?

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Farm BreakfastOne of the joys of being a regular customer of the Franklin Farmers Market is enjoying a fresh farm breakfast. Fresh eggs, local farm bacon, home baked breads, just picked spinach with organic strawberry preserves delivers the best possible farm breakfast to start my day. That’s right! Try it, and you will be amazed at the mouth watering flavor that local Tennessee farm food will deliver.  Using all local farm food guarantees more flavor with a high level of nutrition your body deserves!  Our market is a producers-only market meaning our farmers and artisans grow it, bake it or make it.

local farm eggsThe egg yolks from our local Tennessee farms have a darker yellow to bright orange color from chickens just laid days before, not trucked in from across the country.  You never know what shade of eggshell you will find because most local eggs are free range. This means the chickens are eating bugs, grasses, seeds and other natural food they find while they roam free. The just picked spinach will last in your refrigerator for up to three weeks because it’s right off the farm.  Our local breads are freshly baked before market. The organic strawberries and other berries you find at market are all from local farms.

Triple L Ranch BaconFor this farm breakfast, I used local farm eggs from Moonshadow Farm with great tasting bacon from Triple L Ranch. I enjoy my eggs scrambled, so I sautéed some spinach from Norton Family Farm briefly in the bacon grease just before adding my lightly beaten eggs. I don’t over beat my eggs because I enjoy the slight separation of the yellow yolk and egg white after cooking. I then cut off a few slices of French country bread to toast, added some organic strawberry preserves, both from Jones Mill Farm. I’m down to my last jar of strawberry preserves, so this was a special treat. The organic strawberries used in the preserves are from Delvin Farms.

Local Farm BreakfastFolks, if you want the best tasting breakfast you’ve had in a long time, and I believe you deserve it, visit the Franklin Farmers Market this Saturday and give it a whirl!  Just walk thru the market and get you some eggs, spinach or kale, potatoes, bacon, preserves, jams or jellies along with some market fresh baked bread. We guarantee nothing will taste better than a Fresh Farm Breakfast from the Franklin Farmers Market!

Come visit our local farmers this Saturday and experience the best tasting local farm food around!

Butternut Squash Waffles with Maple Syrup Recipe

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This recipe is prepared for serving as a savory butternut squash waffle.  However, it is still delicious with maple syrup.  Our favorite way to eat them is topped with a soft boiled egg, apple smoked cowboy bacon, and sliced tomato. If you like a sweeter batter, simply add some warm spices and a little sugar to the recipe.  This waffle recipe is for thinner Scandinavian style waffles.

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Ingredients:

1 Small butternut squash, peeled, seeds removed, and grated (about 2 cups)
1 Cup whole wheat flour
1 Cup all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 Cup canola oil
2 Small eggs
2 Cups buttermilk

Method:

Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.  In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, oil, and buttermilk.  Pour the wet ingredients onto the flour mixture, along with the grated butternut squash.  Stir until combined.  The batter should be pourable and not too thick.  Add more buttermilk to thin the batter if necessary.  Ladle appropriate quantities of batter into a hot waffle iron.  Serve immediately or you can refrigerate and warm in a toaster oven as needed.

Makes about 12 waffles.  Enjoy!

Kale Fudge Pops Recipe

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These rich, indulgent kale fudge pops have a nice fiber content thanks to a hearty dose of kale. Why is fiber so important? Getting adequate fiber can lead to flatter abs and clearer skin. Fiber also helps to maintain the balance of healthy bacteria in your intestinal tract, which promotes immunity.

fudge kale popServes 8

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground coriander
2 cups warm water
1 cup torn kale leaves

In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients except kale and add the warm water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes stirring occasionally until the mixture is smooth and thick. Remove from the heat and cool to room temperature. Place kale in a blender and blend until very smooth. Stir the kale into the chocolate mixture and divide evenly among 8 ice pop molds and insert ice pop sticks.

Freeze for at least 4 hours before serving. Your kale fudge pops will keep for up to 3 weeks in an airtight container in the freezer.

The Franklin Farmers Market is community driven Saturday morning farmers market bringing together the best local farmers in the state of Tennessee.  Visit our photo gallery and farmer profiles to learn more about Tennessee farm fresh produce and meats.

 

 

Taste Local Farm Meats this Saturday at our Day of the Grill Tasting Event

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The tantalizing smell of local farm beef, chicken or pork chops sizzling on the grill of a Big Green Egg just can’t be beat. It’s all grilled to perfection, tender and juicy on the inside with a delicious farm meat flavor.

Ribeyes on Big Green Egg

Two Ribeye’s Grilling on the Big Green Egg

Big Green Egg Chicken

Free Range Chickens are great for Smoking on a Big Green Egg

And when you use top-rated meats from local farms, it becomes the ultimate mouthwatering experience.

local farm beef ribeye

Local farm Beef Ribeye from the Franklin Farmers Market

Local Farm Grilled Steaks

Local Farm Grilled Steak from the Franklin Farmers Market

Find out for yourself this Saturday at the Franklin Farmers Market. It’s the Day of the Grill and it’s your chance to sample local farm meats from West Wind Farms, Peaceful Pastures, Bear Creek Farm, Triple L Ranch, River Cottage Farm and Beaverdam Creek Farm.

Bear Creek Pigs

Bear Creek Pigs

Local Farm Beef

Local Farm Beef

Local Free Range Chicken

Local Free Range Chicken

Triple L Beef

Triple L Ranch Cattle

Chef Jeff Lunsford

Chef Jeff Lunsford of the Hearth and Grill Shop

Master griller Chef Jeff Lunsford from The Hearth and Grill Shop will use his talents to give you free samples of appetizing local farm meats.  “The Franklin Farmers Market supplies top quality meats that are produced from livestock -raised locally under the watchful eye of farmers that care about their animals, their product and the people they sell it to,” said Chef Jeff. This Saturday, enjoy cuts of steak, chicken, pork and lamb. Or take a bite of a “slider” – local ground beef, mixed with chopped jalapeños and grated cheese from Kenny’s Farmhouse Aged Cheddar provided by Moonshadow Farm. It’s served on one of Jones Mill Farm’s famous sourdough rolls.

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Jones Mill Farm Sourdough Rolls

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Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheddar from Moonshadow Farm

Everything will be grilled to perfection on a Big Green Egg Smoker & Grill from The Hearth and Grill Shop. “As a chef, I insist on the highest quality equipment and the very best local products,” said Chef Jeff. “The Big Green Egg provides me with the best Ceramic – Charcoal grill and smoker rolled into one fabulous grill.”

Vacuum sealed beef

Vacuum sealed Ribeye’s

Local Farm Beef Ribeyes

Local Farm Beef Ribeye’s

Look for The Hearth and Grill tent at the front of the market this Saturday and treat yourself to free samples of delicious grilled meats from our local meat farmers.  Meat lovers, rejoice! It’s the Day of the Grill at the Franklin Farmers Market!

Free Range Chicken

Local Free Range Chicken ready for the Big Green Egg Smoker

My Farm Fresh Breakfast this Labor Day Weekend

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Free Range Chicken Eggs, Sourdough Rolls with Apple Jam and a slice of Heirloom Tomato and make for a mighty good farm fresh breakfast

Free Range Chicken Eggs, Sourdough Rolls with Apple Jam and a slice of Heirloom Tomato make for a mighty good farm fresh breakfast

We so enjoy our visits to the Franklin Farmers Market each Saturday morning eager to discover what our Tennessee Farmers have brought to market.  My favorite time of each weekend is to cook and enjoy the farm fresh produce, free range eggs, jams and preserves, heirloom tomatoes, fresh dairy butter and the all natural meats that don’t contain hormones or antibiotics.  I love the bolder flavors my taste buds get to experience when all my food is freshly picked and harvested.

This morning I was a little more excited about preparing breakfast because of what I found yesterday.  Judy of Jones Mill Farm had her first Fig preserves, I love Fresh Fig Preserves!  Now I have discovered one of those special finds-Judy had some Apple Jam.  OMG!!!

Apple Jam and Fig Preserves made fresh by Judy in her kitchen

Apple Jam and Fig Preserves made fresh by Judy in her commercial kitchen at Jones Mill Farm

Judy’s Apple Jam is the best Jam I’ve ever had.  The symphony of flavor created from her Apples, Brown Sugar, Lemons, Ginger, Cloves and Nutmeg sent my taste buds into a tasting celebration!  Such a wonderful balance of flavor and not overly sweet.  And of course the Fig preserves were outstanding as ever.

So here’s a few pictures of my simple quick breakfast using farm fresh free range eggs from West Wind Farm, I love the color and flavor from fresh free range chicken eggs.  And of course Judy’s sourdough rolls with the Apple Jam and Fig Preserves was just perfect to start my day!

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West Wind Farms Free Range Eggs bring unexpected fresh flavor to scrambled eggs

Sourdough Rolls made from 100 year old sourdough darter with butter, free range eggs, water, honey, sea salt and yeast

Sourdough Rolls made from 100 year old sourdough starter with butter, free range eggs, water, honey, sea salt and yeast

Our Apple Jam is made with slices of farm fresh apples, brown sugar, lemons, ginger, cloves and nutmeg

Judy’s Apple Jam is made with slices of farm fresh apples, brown sugar, lemons, ginger, cloves and nutmeg

Fig Preserves on Sourdough Rolls are great for breakfast

Jones Mill Farm Fig Preserves on Sourdough Rolls are great for breakfast

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Mission Complete…I’m ready for my day!

Please share a comment if you enjoy cooking with farm fresh produce, baked goods and locally raised natural meats from the Franklin Farmers Market.  Check out the pictures from Market Saturday’s.