It's a cloudy, pleasant fall Market Wednesday in Uptown Westerville and the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market opens for business today at 3 p.m.

Produce is plentiful including sweet potatoes, squash, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, melons, cauliflower, sweet corn, cabbage and more.

Mike Dippold of Malabar Peach and Apple Orchard is bringing fresh-picked Crispin, Cortland, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, and Jonagold apple varieties to market today. 

Our artisan food vendors feature baked goods, cheeses, drinkable yogurt, milk, jams, chutneys, flour, maple syrup, and raw honey.

Market meats and poultry are available at Northridge Organic Farm (lamb), Flying J Farm (grass-fed organic beef), Carousel Watergardens Farm (poultry and fresh eggs).

Amherst Greenhouse will be present this week with their beautiful mums ($5 pot, $18 large pot, $20 large pot with fountain grass) and Farmhouse Herbs and Flowers features beautiful cut flowers.

Today, Chef John Skaggs of the Heirloom Cafe at the Wexner Center will be serving up samples and a recipe for his Butternut Squash Guacamole. 

We will not see Sugar B Bakery and Bridgman Farm today (both Angela and Mary will be back next week).

While you're in Uptown Westerville, we encourage you to shop Uptown Westerville and visit Meza, 48 N. State, just a few steps south of the market, for Tatjana Brown's Market Wednesday wine tasting.

Have a great Market Wednesday and... see you at the market!

Fresh apples from Malabar Peach and Apple Orchard.

Gigantic sweet potatoes at Northridge Organic Farm.

Maple lollipops from Pleiades Maple Products. (Made with Ohio Maple Syrup.)

Pumpkins and Gourds from Bird's Haven Farms.

Delicious jams from Sweet Thing Gourmet.

Shopping at Bird's Haven Farms.

Pictured above: Cauliflower and Kale from Doran's Family Farm.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Happy Fall!

It's the first day of fall 2011!

Autumnal equinox is latin for 'equal night' - the day is 12 hours long, the night is 12 hours long.

Nights are becoming cooler. The air is crisper. And, leaves will start to change. Halloween is on the horizon.

To learn more about autumn, check out this link to The Old Farmer's Almanac fact page on Autumn.

One sure sign of Autumn: just five more Market Wednesdays.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: September 21st Market Report



It's a great day in Uptown Westerville!  With cloudy skies above, the temperatures are in the mid-70s, forecasts show no precipitation during market hours (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.) with rain moving in after 6 p.m.

The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is open for business rain or shine. So, pack some rain gear just in case! All vendors have tents, so if you do get caught between drops, stop by your favorite vendor or meet a new one and hang out where it's dry!

We will not see Arjay Gourmet today.  Rohini will be back next week. 

And, we just heard from the Horsts around noon and Amherst Greenhouse will not be at today's market with their mums.  Adin tells us it has just been pouring rain there all morning and they can't even get to the mums to get them loaded for market.  We'll see Amherst Greenhouse next week.

Today will be Montezuma Brand's last Market Wednesday this season.  So stop by and chat with Chuck Evans and stock up on salsas, chips, and hot sauce!

While peach season is over, apples are here, so visit Mike Dippold of Malabar Peach and Apple Orchard (on the southwest corner of the market, next to Northridge Organic).  Produce remains plentiful and we are starting to see pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and root veggies. 

Final touches for a wonderful meal. Fresh cut flowers from Farmhouse Herbs and Flowers will be at today's market with beautiful cut flowers.

If you feel like some fresh-baked today, stop by Sugar B Bakery (fresh bread), Batter and Bowl (cookies and confections - Sara's pumpkin cookies (pictured above) are a fall favorite!), Sue's Kitchen (if you want pie, come early rather than late!), and Dana Lee's (sweet and savory breads). 

The market also features Ohio cheeses from Blue Jacket Dairy and Ohio Farm Direct (who also has milk and drinkable yogurt). 

If your shopping list includes flour, stop by Flying J Farm for some fresh ground flours.

Sweet Thing Gourmet features delicious jams and biscottis.

And, go naturally sweet with raw honey and bee pollen from Honey Health Farms and Ohio maple syrup from Pleiades Maple Products (Eddie Lou also has maple-coated puffed spelt cereal (really good), maple sugar candy, maple sugar, and sauces, dressings, and spreads. 

Market meat and poultry selections include lamb (Northridge Organic), Grass-fed beef (Flying J Farm), and poultry and fresh eggs (Carousel Watergardens Farm).  Eggs and cheese are refrigerated and meat and poultry are frozen, so we encourage you to pack a cooler or cool pak bag if you plan on lingering at the market (something we also encourage).

The City of Westerville Electric Division will be visiting today - ask them about the upcoming Plan It Green Exposition on Fourth Friday in Uptown Westerville.

It's becoming a patron tradition - take a few steps south to Meza, 48 N. State, for Tatjana Brown's Market Wednesday local fruit sangria tasting.

Have a great Market Wednesday!  See you at the market!

Shopping at the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market.

Fresh bread at Sugar B Bakery.  Angela's Spinach Loaf is a market favorite.

Chuck Evan's Montezuma Brand spicy rubs.

Produce selection at Northridge Organic Farm.

Ingredients at Market Wednesday! Garlic and shallots at Northridge Organic Farm.

Buy a single apple or a big bag at Malabar Peach and Apple Orchard.

Fresh cut flowers from Farmhouse Herbs and Flowers.

Fresh green beans from Doran's Family Farm.

Cheese from organic, grass-fed cows from Ohio Farm Direct.

Sweet corn at Bird's Haven Farms.

Golden cherry tomatoes from Bridgman Farm.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Chef John Update

A Chef John schedule change.

Business is good at the Heirloom Cafe on the first day of school at The Ohio State University.  So, we'll see Chef John Skaggs or Chef Colin Sweet at the September 28th Market Wednesday.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Our Resident Chef

Next Market Wednesday, September 28th, we welcome a special appearance by Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market resident chef, Chef John Skaggs. 

John and Kimberly Skaggs just last week opened their new restaurant: Heirloom Cafe in the Wexner Center near 15th and High.

(Which is why John is making special appearances this season and we aren't seeing him weekly.)

Read more in Columbus Alive!

Read more in the Columbus Dispatch.

And John and Kimberly also have a meal service called My Catered Table.

Chef John will prepare a recipe made with ingredients direct from the market. So stop by to taste and chat!

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Recipe - Egg Halvah

Egg Halvah (or Halwah)

1 stick (4 oz) Unsalted butter
1 dozen whole eggs (or 6 whole eggs and 1 cup egg whites equivalent to six eggs to make the dozen eggs)
1 lb. sugar
1/4 cup milk (lowfat, skim etc)
1 1/2 t nutmeg
1 t cardamom powder
1/4 t saffron (optional, it is expensive!)
1 oz almond slivers or slices, broken up

Melt unsalted butter at med-low heat in a deep dutch oven type pan.

Beat eggs/egg whites in a bowl and add to butter with stirring.

Add the other ingredients and cook, with frequent stirring, until a scrambled egg like consistency is achieved. Reduce heat, as necessary, during cooking to avoid burning/sticking/toughening the egg mixture. Cool.

Serve at room temperature or cold (refrigerated), as preferred.

Store in a refrigerator during use.

(It's delish and the almonds are a perfect accent. The milk is key to the success of the confection.)

Fresh eggs at Market Wednesday! Stop at Carousel Watergardens Farm.

From Rohini Mulchandani
The Chutney Lady
Arjay Gourmet Foods Ltd.

Halvah is a confection - it's sweet, simple, and has been around a long time, all over the world.  Much like chutney, halvah is responsive to its region when it comes to ingredients.

To learn more:

The Accidental Hedonist

Jewish Recipes - What is Halva?

Food Timeline

Relish - What is Cardamom?

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Recipe - Hot Pepper Butter Mustard

Hot Pepper Butter Mustard

Hungarian Wax Peppers - Enough to make 4 quarts after you put them through a blender with the seeds (a plastic bag-full makes 1 quart)

1 quart yellow mustard

1 quart cider vinegar

6 cups sugar

2 tablespoons salt

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/4 cup cold water

Canning jars and lids

Run the pepper through a blender (remove stems, include seeds). 

Combine the blended peppers, mustard, vinegar, sugar, and salt in a pot and boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Blend in the flour and cold water to make a paste.

Pour the flour and water mixture into the hot mustard and stir until thick.

Pour into hot jars and seal (jelly size work great).

Note: This recipe is from an old friend of mine, Judy Lippian, who grew up on a Texas cattle ranch; the recipe has been in Judy's family and came from her Mom.  This mustard is just delicious and makes a great hand-made gift. Judy's Mom told her you can spread it pretty much on anything but a glazed donut! Enjoy! - Linda Foor, Manager, UWFM 

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: September 14th Market Report

It's a great day to visit Uptown Westerville!  It's Market Wednesday and the Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market opens for business today at 3 p.m. until 6 p.m.

There are just 7 markets in the season left, but there is still an abundant produce selection along with delicious artisan foods, cut flowers, and potted mums.

There is nothing like the rich flavors of locally-grown produce!

We have to announce that Branstool Orchards has ended their 2011 Market Wednesday season.  Peaches are done.  Thanks to Marshall Branstool, staff and family for a tremedously sweet market season!

We will not see Pleiades Maple this week, but Eddie Lou will be back next week.

Carrie Ryan, Crime Prevention Specialist with the Westerville Police Division will be at today's market.

Take a few steps south of the market to stop by Meza, 48 N. State, and taste Tatjana Brown's local fruit sangria - $2 tasting and the recipe!

Have a great day! See you at the market!!

Shopping at Farmhouse Herbs and Flowers.

Pumpkins and squash from Northridge Organic Farm.

Kyla's signature jams at Sweet Thing Gourmet.

Sizzle! Hot peppers at Northridge Organic Farm.

Cheddar curds from Blue Jacket Dairy.

Squash and green tomatoes from Carousel Watergardens Farm.

Sweet potatoes from Northridge Organic Farm.

Pictured above: Eggplant art! Stop by Carousel Watergardens Farm and ask Cathy Krist about her freak of nature basket! 

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Heirloom Cafe

A Market Wednesday congratulations and best wishes to John and Kimberly Skaggs on the opening of their new restaurant on September 12th:

The Heirloom Cafe

1871 N. High St. @ 15th Avenue.
 
Heirloom Cafe will feature our favorite ingredients: locally-sourced and seasonal. (We saw Chef John at our market last week checking out ingredients.)
 
Heirloom Cafe fare features breakfast all day, soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees, baked goods and Stauf's coffee.

Chef John's simple menu items range from $3 to $13 including the Ohio Cheese Plate (Cheese from Blue Jacket Dairy), Eye-Opener Burrito, The Gila Monster (turkey meatloaf) Sandwich, home-made cookies, and specialty coffee drinks. 

Yum. Heirloom Cafe is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.

Chef John Skaggs joined in on Market Wednesdays as our resident chef during the summer of 2010.  With the restaurant getting started, we will see Chef John this season on September 21st and October 26th.

The Heirloom Cafe is wifi friendly, features vegetarian fare, honors the OSU student Buck ID card and offers a 10% discount to Wexner Center members.

Click here to check out the menu.

Click here to read the press release from the Wexner Center.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: September 7th Market Report

Taters! Potatoes from Flying J Farm

 Tomatillos and cherry tomatoes at Bird's Haven Farms

Organic squash from Northridge Organic Farm.

Sunflowers from Farmhouse Herbs and Flowers

Sweet corn from Doran's Family Farm

Sweet potatoes at Carousel Watergardens Farm

Shopping for Chutney with at Arjay Gourmet

 Potted mums from Amherst Greenhouse

Sue's Kitchen Bill of Fare

Gretna Grillin' Cheese (tastes like a grilled cheese sandwich!)

at Blue Jacket Dairy

Biscotti from Sweet Thing Gourmet

While it's a bit cloudy and occasionally misty, it's a great day to pick up some farm fresh at the corner of N. State and E. Home in Uptown Westerville.

Our market is rain or shine and you can shop and dash or linger - all our vendors are under cover and so we suggest you find a favorite (or a vendor you've never stopped to see) and visit with old friends or make new.

Produce is plentiful (what a variety) and our artisan food selection includes cheeses, chutneys, and brownies.

We will not see Sugar B Bakery (look for Angela and her delicious breads next week) or Bridgman Farm (we'll see Mary next week).

Marshall Branstool tells us they have about 2 more weeks of peaches ripening, Mike Dippold of Malabar Peach & Apple Orchard is bringing fresh apples to market (great for kids - you can buy just one apple!) and our produce vendors have a variety of fresh melon.

Sweet peppers are making the scene along with a lot of hot pepper sizzle (the colors are something).

Our artisan foods include baked goods, chutney, salsa, jam, honey, maple syrup, and cheeses.

Stop at Northridge Organic Farm for lamb, Flying J Farm for beef (grass fed), and Carousel Watergardens Farm for poultry and fresh eggs. (Eggs are refrigerated and meats and poultry frozen, so having a cooler or frozen food bag handy helps.)

Truly a feast for the senses.

If you have a chance, take a few steps past the market and Rotary Park and visit Meza, 48 N. State. Tatjana Brown has a Market Wednesday tasting and will be happy to answer any wine pairing questions.

Enjoy this cool weather!  See you at the market.

Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market: Cops and Kids Day & September 11th Observance

The Uptown Westerville Farmers' Market is a sponsor of the Central Ohio Peace Officers and the Westerville Police Division's 18th annual Cops and Kids Day on Sunday, September 11th from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Hoff Woods Park, 556 McCorkle.

There will be a 9.11 remembrance at 10 a.m.

Parking and admission are free.

This fun, family friendly event includes more than 40 law enforcement agencies with DARE cars, helicopters, SWAT, K-9 units, mounted police, cruisers, and more!

Activities (including dunk-a-cop!) and refreshments and a Cops and Kids tote bag to the first 1,100 kids.

For more info - check out the poster, click here.

Also on September 11th:

The Westerville Police/Fire Chaplains, police, fire, first responders, 911 dispatchers and Ohio Patriot Guard will be observing the 10th anniversary of 9.11.01: A Decade of Remembering, a Future of Hope on September 11, 2011 at 2 p.m. at First Responders' Park, 374 W. Main, just east of the Fire Station 111.

The WTC Steel has been installed at the park, and even if you can't make this remembrance, First Responders' Park is always open for reflection.

For more information about the Westerville First Responders' Memorial, click here.

Additionally, Otterbein University is featuring a special exhibit at the Communications Center, just steps from First Responders' Park at the Miller Gallery, 33 Campus View:

THE 9/11 PORTFOLIO: PRINTS FROM THE MANHATTAN GRAPHIC CENTER

The show runs through October 7. Gallery hours are: M-F 8-4; Sat. and Sun. 1-4; closed holidays.

The Manhattan Graphic Center is located near the SoHo district of New York City. In 2001, one could step out the front door of the MGC building, turn to the south, and enjoy an unobstructed view of the World Trade Center. The events of 9/11 profoundly affected all New Yorkers, including the artists represented in this exhibition. These prints were all created within a year of the tragedy.

The Manhattan Graphic Center has generously loaned these prints to Otterbein University on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. Artists have the extraordinary opportunity to express their emotions and thoughts in a tangible, visible form. The strength of the Manhattan Graphic Center 9/11 portfolio lies in the many beautiful and inventive ways in which a wide variety of feelings and ideas are conveyed.

Otterbein University and Art Department is privileged to share this exhibition with all those who join in our community’s desire to remember what happened ten years ago, to honor those who lost their lives trying to save others and all those who perished that day.

Information on the Otterbein University exhibit courtesy of the City of Westerville.