FoodieTots.com

Spring doesn’t truly arrive until the seasonal farmers markets open, and today the first to open in the DC area was FreshFarm’s Penn Quarter Market. There was a steady stream of people arriving even as the market opened, and the customary eager lines at Quail Creek Breads. Of course, a gorgeous 70+ degree day in Washington doesn’t hurt.

And, while asparagus (and ramps?) are still a few weeks away, morels were here!

Springfield Farms was selling lamb for Easter, while Cibola Farms and Red Apron were back to round out the meat options. I picked up my Easter ricotta from Blue Ridge Dairy. Copper Pot was there with his handmade pastas, sauces and jams. And Black Rock and Toigo Orchards still have some apples and preserved products from last fall.

Also this year, a new collaboration between FreshFarm and Zola Chef Bryan Moscatello: Farmers in Residence Program. Once a month, Bryan will host a farmer from the Penn Quarter market at Zola Wine and Food Kitchen for a 3pm chat, then lead participants back to a personalized market tour. Up first is Mary Ellen Taylor of Endless Summer Harvest (producer of the famed Loudoun Lettuce mix and the DC area’s finest arugula), next Thursday, April 8. View the FreshFarm event calendar for future dates.

Penn Quarter Farmers Market
Thursdays, 3-7.00pm
Chef Demos weekly at 4.00pm
8th Street NW btwn D & E, near Archives Metro

Facing an empty fridge upon our return home from vacation, I was in need of groceries and inspiration this past weekend. I happened to catch a mention on Twitter of food52‘s risotto party and was inspired to make a spring risotto. I knew I wanted to include lemon and mint, and had been intrigued by a raw artichoke and parmesan salad I’d read about in the April issue of Body + Soul. And I decided to add citrusy broiled shrimp, as in the food52 finalist’s recipe. There are few things more soothing than the fresh scent of mint and lemon zest, and this creamy risotto is a perfect supper to usher in spring.

Recipe: Lemon Artichoke Risotto with Shrimp

Ingredients:

for the risotto

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped (1 teaspoon reserved for shrimp)
• zest and juice of 1 lemon (1 tablespoon zest reserved for shrimp)
• 2 cups organic Arborio rice
• 4 cups seafood stock
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 cup fruity white wine
• 1 6-ounce jar water-packed artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

for the shrimp

• 1 pound wild U.S. shrimp, peeled and deveined
• reserved garlic and lemon zest from above
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• sea salt and pepper

Instructions:

Gently toss the shrimp with chopped garlic, lemon zest, olive oil, and a generous amount of sea salt and pepper. Let marinate at room temperature while preparing the risotto.

Bring seafood stock and water to simmer in a stock pot.

In a dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium low heat and cook garlic several minutes, until translucent. Increase heat to medium and add rice, stirring to coat with oil, and cook 4-5 minutes. Rice will turn translucent and begin to appear lightly toasted. Add lemon zest and juice. Pour in wine and cook 1 minute.

Begin ladling the stock, two ladles full at a time, into the risotto. Stir frequently after each addition until most of the liquid is absorbed, then add the next batch. The process of adding, stirring and absorbing liquid will take about 20-25 minutes. The rice will release its starch, resulting in a creamy white sauce. Taste periodically until the rice is al dente — still firm but no longer crunchy in the middle. When the desired texture is reached, gently fold in artichoke hearts, mint and parmesan cheese and remove from heat.

Under a broiler, cook shrimp about 2 minutes on each side, until pink and opaque. Serve atop risotto, and garnish with additional fresh mint and/or shaved parmesan. Makes 4-6 servings. Enjoy!

Note: You can replace the seafood stock with vegetable and omit the shrimp to serve the risotto alone for a vegetarian or Meatless Monday-friendly supper.

Traveling to Florida is always a bit perplexing, foodwise. Has anyone else ever wondered how the sunny coast of California inspired smoothies and gourmet vegetarianism, while Florida is perfectly content with chain restaurants and a Dunkin’ Donuts on every corner? Add to that the fact that the state surrounded on three sides with water is a virtual wasteland when it comes to safe, sustainable seafood choices (as per Seafood Watch‘s handy iPhone app), and well, it can be easier to try not to think while eating out. (Gulf shrimp, when you can find them, appear to be the safest choice.) We didn’t even time our trip to catch a weekend farmers market, so a quick stop at a roadside stand promising Plant City strawberries was the extent of our local food foraging (well, aside from taking advantage of my sister’s citrus trees). 

Plant City, Florida, is the winter strawberry capital of the world. While you can find Florida strawberries in supermarkets down here, the ones at the farmstand seemed fresher and juicier — without that telltale white top of berries picked before ripeness.

I picked up a couple quarts and made a pitcher of agua fresca back at the house. This is a fun project with kids, particularly if they’re old enough to safely hull strawberries. (If not, they can take a pass at plucking the stems at least.) Instead of lime juice, I used an orange from one of the trees at my sister’s house — one whose fruit tastes almost like a cross between a lime and an orange.

Recipe: Strawberry Agua Fresca
adapted from Cooking Light

Ingredients:

• 6 cups hulled and quartered strawberries
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup sugar (depending on sweetness of the berries)
• 4 cups cold water
• 1/3 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice

Instructions: In a tall pitcher, stir 1/4 cup sugar into the water until dissolved. Place strawberries in blender and blend until smooth. Pour into the pitcher. Stir in the orange juice, taste, and add additional sugar if desired. Chill in refrigerator several hours. Garnish glasses with a small strawberry, and enjoy! Makes 8 cups.

The finished drink was lighter than a smoothie, cool and refreshing, and a big hit with the kids. A sweet end to a day at the beach and a nice taste of things to come as our own berry season is just around the corner.

Today, the Senate Agriculture Committee is debating Sen. Blanche Lincoln’s legislation to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act. Unfortunately, Sen. Lincoln’s $4.5 billion bill falls well short of the $10 billion requested by President Obama and amounts to only 6 cents more per meal per child. (Read more here.) Take two minutes TODAY to send an email via Slow Food USA’s Time for Lunch action site and urge your Senators to step up to the plate for school lunch!

I’m not sure I’ve ever been happier to reach Friday. And, tomorrow is the first day of Spring! In the spirit of the season, here are 5 upcoming family-friendly food events in the DC/No.VA area:

1. Sou’Wester in the Mandarin Oriental is hosting an Easter Brunch, featuring ingredients from local farms and pastry chef Amanda Cook’s homemade marshmallow “peeps” (pictured). There will also be an appearance by the Easter Bunny and Easter egg hunt on the hotel lawn. April 4, $55 for adults, including one cocktail, and $30 for children under 12 (DC).

2.  Jackson 20 in the renovated Hotel Monaco in Old Town Alexandria will be serving a Grand Buffet Brunch on Easter Sunday, April 4, $50 for adults, $25 for children under 12, and kids under 5 eat free (VA).

3. Dino serves a 4-course Passover menu, seder plate available by request, March 29-April 4, $55 for adults and $25 for kids (DC).

4. Pick up Josh Short’s cherry blossom cupcakes from Buzz in Alexandria — last year they had homemade “peeps” as well, it’s worth a call to see if they’re taking orders for Easter. (VA)

5. If you missed out on tickets to the White House Egg Roll, the Falls Church community Easter Egg Hunt takes place Saturday, April 3, 10:00am in Cherry Hill Park. (VA)

And a bonus #6, a recipe for homemade peeps, courtesy of Restaurant 3 in Clarendon (VA), via Metrocurean.