Winter Warmers

With onset of chilly mornings and days of cold dismal grey skies my desire for warm hearty food has reached an all time high! I am seeking out dishes like stews, casseroles, hearty soups or maybe a lentil hotpot – all great for warming the heart and nourishing the soul. Nothing beats the aroma of a beautiful casserole as I walk through the door after a hard days work. So on with the kettle for a cup of warming chai tea to keep me company while
explore my winter recipe file for inspiration.

At this time of year we need slightly heavier foods to sustain and nourish us so this is the season to include fresh ginger to improve circulation. Winter in our area sees an abundance of fresh produce with lots of sweet potatoes,
leeks, onions, cabbages, cauliflowers, garlic, kale and pumpkin available. And what about sweet potato chips – easy to make, delicious to eat and they are lower in starch and higher in vitamin A than your white potato. Simply
slice thinly and parboil in salted water before tossing in oil and baking for about ten minutes. A delicious addition to any winter warmer.

And just the other day I as I walked around the market I was drawn to the aniseed like aroma of cut fennel being lovingly prepared and set out by Donna at the Cecil Farm stall. So pack your meals full of delicious nourishing
vegetables fresh from your local farmer and locally grown beef from the market’s Loades butchery. The market welcomes the return of Quarterdeck Orchards with a wonderful and expanding variety of fresh citrus and freshly
made juices.

Health tip of the week
Did you know that phytonutrients are substances that are now thought to provide most of the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables, even more than some familiar ones like vitamin C and beta-carotene. However freshness is paramount as it is believed that many of our most nutritious foods, such as asparagus, broccoli, spinach, kale and most lettuces, lose their nutrients within days. So prolonged transportation and storage of for example broccoli may reduce by as much as 80% of the cancer-fighting compounds. While it still has much higher nutritional value than processed food, eating some freshly picked broccoli that night or the next day helps you get more of the nutrients it has to offer. This highlights the value in supporting your local farmers market with its extensive range of seasonal and freshly picked fruit and vegetables. Fresh oranges will soon be in supply.

For your convenience the Mobile ATM provided by Joel Cunningham will be at the market each week.

Want to keep up to date with what’s happening at the market. LIKE us on Facebook www.facebook.com/calderafarmersmarket

I look forward to seeing you at your farmers market – every Wednesday – 7am until 11am (rain or shine), Murwillumbah Showgrounds via the Harry Williams Gate.

Sue Beckinsale – Market Manager