Up your grill game this weekend and...TOMATOES!

Fourth of July falling on a Thursday means four days of grilling–right?

Once you’ve exhausted the classic burgers and hot dogs on the actual holiday, try these green goddess chicken thighs which take advantage of the bountiful basil and radish we have at the market right now. Or try this grilled za'atar chicken with garlic yogurt and cilantro. You know exactly where to go for yogurt. Morgiewicz has generous bunches of traditional cilantro and Halal Pastures offers some more unusual varieties. Pick up some mint chutney from Bombay Chutney for some extra sass.

Last week I mentioned keeping my herbs in a mason jar “vase” on the window sill. It bears mentioning that this may work for hardier herbs like rosemary, but to make delicate herbs like thyme or cilantro last longer, the best way to store them is to loosely wrap them in a damp paper towel and keep them in a tightly sealed container or reusable bag in the fridge to prevent oxygen from entering and the leaves from wilting. A couple people asked so thought I should clarify.)

Perhaps you planned ahead last week and got some merguez from Wil-Hi Farm (lGood on you! They were sold out by the time I got to them). Grill them up alongside chicken sausage from R & M Farm and kielbasa from Harlem Valley Homestead for a fun market mixed grill. Or, make kabobs with some of Harlem Valley’s sirloin tips. Pop some cherry tomatoes on those skewers with sweet spring onion wedges.

Or how about fish on the grill this weekend as in this Mark Bittman recipe for grilled fish with pimenton aioli. Serve with some grilled or boiled corn from Orchards of Concklin. Or with a cucumber, mint salad with Painted Goat feta.

The recent waves seem to have accelerated the arrival of summer produce at the market and you can expect to find lots of tomatoes this week. 

Maybe on Sunday you turn off your grill and make a giant tomato tart instead. 

Two of our favorite crafters are back on the plaza...Chloe Sikirica Pottery and KHEM Studios, makers of super sleek and stretch charcuterie boards fashioned from local fallen trees. Got houseguests this weekend?

Top one board with some smoked mussels and spicy smoked salmon from Pura Vida and and smoked trout from Hudson Valley Fishery.  Fill another board with saucisson sec, beef bresaola, and smoked duck breast from Larchmont Charcuterie. Don't forget the cornichons. For non-meat eaters add thin rounds of Wave Hill baguette slathered with rich tapenade from Agape Premium EVOO. 

Serve with a towering salad of mixed market greens and your easy breezy summer dinner is done! Especially if you order a “flag” pie from Noble Pies. The flag pies do need to be pre-ordered, fyi. You can do so here. (Did you know their mixed berry pie was just featured in Country Living Magazine?).

And, if you do have houseguests, do pick up some rosemary plum jam from Harlem Valley Homestead to serve with some pain de mie from Bien Cuit Bakery or to stir into some plain White Moustache yogurt with your Hampton Grocer Granola. 

Or, surprise them with some granola from Wildcraft Baking Co., here for their once-monthly visit. Brittany Velucci specializes in granola that is gluten-free and vegetable based. Think parsnip and oat or beet and buckwheat.

See you at the market!