Fresh Tomato and Basil Quiche

Some people leap out of bed on summer weekends to beat the crowds to yard sales. Others are inspired to go running or take a bike ride before it gets too hot. The only thing that rouses me from my stupor on weekend mornings is the lure of the fresh fare at our local farmers market. On summer mornings by 7:50, I've got my flip flops on, teeth brushed, and my bed head concealed under a hat so I can be among the first to pick out the juiciest peaches, plumpest blueberries, and sweetest tomatoes from my favorite vendors at the Kensington or Bethesda, Maryland farmers markets. No store-bought produce can compete with fruit and vegetables that have been picked that morning or the night before. 

For me, there's also something wonderful about being surrounded by other early risers who plan their weekend mornings (and weekly menus) around fresh summer produce. We chat with the farmers, exchange recipes, and pat slobbering dogs while we drool over the week's selections. I find a way to entice one of my kids to join me on my farmers market outing just about every weekend. Celia is often lured by the pints of creamy chocolate milk from a local dairy (we're convinced that it just tastes better out of those old-fashioned glass bottles). Solomon's partial to the flaky chocolate croissants sold at the French bakery stand. What amazes me about today's farmer's markets is the wide variety of food we can buy there, including cheeses, bread, honey, olive oil, eggs, meats, locally roasted coffee beans, and even oddities like pickles, peanuts, and falafel.

I also love the communal atmosphere at these markets. We invariably see friends and neighbors gathering their weekly bounty while we all get serenaded by local musicians strumming their guitars or banjos, hoping we'll drop a dollar in the gaping cases at their feet. Not only do I love the fresh flavors that emerge from our weekly outing, but I feel good spending our food dollars to support local farmers and food producers. To find a farmers market, farm stand, and or CSA near you, visit LocalHarvest.com. Once the plump red tomatoes make their first appearance at our markets, I love to make this light tomato and basil quiche, which is ideal for brunch, an elegant lunch, or a light family dinner.