Howard County Farmers Markets are just around the corner!
A sure sign of warmer days is all the great produce and plants found at our area farmers’ markets. Howard County farmers’ market brings local growers and buyer together. No middle men here. Seasonal Fruits and vegetables come from the farm to your table. Right now, grab some fresh, tender asparagus to toss in olive and grill or kale for making kale chips or sautéing. Lovely, ripe strawberries are coming in from Virginia and soon from Maryland. In the mood to grow your own? Plants ready to be transplanted to your own pot or garden. You find healthy, young tomato plants, green pepper seedlings in varieties from sweet green to cayenne and herbs to spice up your summer dishes.
Regular venders include the The Breadery bringing fresh whole grain breads, cookies and muffins. The Cosmic Coffee Bean is a regular vendor featuring organic teas, coffee and handmade soaps. Great Harvest Bread Co with sweets, pancake mixes and eat on the spot sandwiches. Fresh, seasonal produce is brought in from Lewis Orchards, TVL Tree Farm and Love Dove Farms . Purchase fresh cheeses, yogurt and cheese spreads from Bowling Green Farms or spice things up with curry and Thai spices from Thai Spices in Ellicott City.
In Howard County you can shop five days each week from May to November directly from growers. So bring a bag and get shopping.
Howard County Farmers Market
- Wednesday at Miller Library in Ellicott City from 2pm to 6pm. ·
- Thursday at East Columbia Library from 2pm to 6pm. ·
- Friday at Howard County General Hospital from 2pm to 6pm. ·
- Saturday at the Glenwood Library in Cooksville from 9 am to 12:30pm. ·
- Sunday at Oakland Mills Village Center in Columbia from 9am to 1pm
For additional information go to https://howardcountyfarmersmarkets.com/index.html or find them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HowardCountyFarmersMarkets
A great way to use all those fresh veggies is to put them on the grill. Here my favorite recipe adapted from Taste of Home.
Grilled Vegetable Platter
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Teaspoon Honey
- 4 Teaspoons Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 Teaspoon Oregano ( I use fresh from my garden but you can use dried.)
- ½ Teaspoon Garlic ( I used fresh minced garlic but powdered works)
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. I leave out the salt but you c
- 1 Pound Fresh Asparagus 3 Carrots cut lengthwise,
- I Zucchini cut into one inch strips
- 1 Green pepper sliced
- 1 Onion cut into wedges
Whisk together the first six ingredients. Put the prepared vegetables and the marinade into a gallon bag and toss. Marinade 1 ½ hours. I poke holes in a disposable aluminum pan and lay the vegetables out in a single layer and grill covered for about 10 minutes. Garnish with the remaining marinade.
If you don’t have a grill this marinade works well for roasted veggies too. Just lay out in a single layer and put oven for about 20 minutes or until done at 350 degrees. Turn once during cooking.
