Noshtopia

Food Trends 2017: Purple Food Is In

You all know how much I LOVE purple foods, so I was excited to see that in Whole Foods Market trends forecast for 2017 they named "Purple Power" as a trend to look out for. 

Besides being a gorgeous color, purple foods are packed with antioxidants to help you stay healthy and youthful.

These are my FAVORITE purple veggies:

Carrots

Asparagus

And Cauliflower

What is your favorite purple food?

Farmers Market Gawking: Fresh Figs

I LOVE Figs! In fact, on my PB & J sandwiches, I use fig jam instead of jelly. Last weekend, at the SF Ferry Building farmers market, there was a farmer who was selling the most fascinating figs I'd ever seen. Please forgive me. I forgot to get their name. Comment below if you know who they are.

In the following two photos are "Mystery Figs." I asked why they were called Mystery Figs and the gentleman at the stand told me it was because they were a hybrid of several figs they grow. It's their version of Ancient Chinese Secret.

 

Bright and Fruity: Yellow and Red Heirloom Tomato White Plum Salsa

It's no secret I'm obsessed with heirloom tomatoes, and before summer comes to a close, I like, check that, LOVE to make salsas combining summer fruit and heirlooms.

I went to the Davis farmers market and found the most delectable white plums. These babies were like sinking your teeth into nature's candy.

 

Purple Power Food: Thai Basil Flower and Pepper Roasted Eggplant

This eggplant dish has got to be one of the most beautiful dishes I have ever made. I actually stared at my plate for a while just to admire the beauty of Mother Nature’s creations. At the farmers market, I found the most beautiful Thai basil I have ever seen with purple flowers.

 

I’ve really gotten into flowering plants because they look so pretty. What a fun way to add some beautiful garnish to your dishes. Next to the basil were some cool looking purple Thai peppers. I love me some purple colored foods, and jumped at the chance to make a purple power dish.

$6 For All This Stuff From The Farmers Market

I went to one of my local farmers markets today and got all this stuff for $6! I was blown away. It's amazing what kind of deals you can find at the farmers market. Besides, some big savings on produce, you are eating locally grown food and are helping your local economy not to mention supporting a farmer.

I made a spaghetti sauce with the red onion and heirloom tomatoes. The cherry tomatoes I will use in a cous cous salad, and then I will make a Thai basil, pepper, eggplant dish with the remaining produce. I LOVE the purple peppers and purple flowers on the Thai basil. My whole car immediately smelled of basil as I drove away. 

Heavenly!

Organic Heirloom Tomato Salad With Fresh Basil And Artisanal Nut-Milk Based Cheese

To say I am obsessed with heirloom tomatoes is an understatement. My favorite part of summer is that heirlooms are in season. I make heirloom tomato salads at least 3 times a week. I especially love to roast these tomatoes to add in pasta sauce.

 

My salad I made pictured above is so easy to make. Slice heirlooms of different sizes and colors, drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, chopped organic fresh basil, sea salt, and top with this new artisanal nut-milk based soft cheese the folks at Whole Foods Market turned me onto which I'll talk about more in a bit. 

Salad Adventure Trying New Veggies: Red Bore Kale And Red Jalapenos

I'm always on the lookout for new greens to try in my daily leafy salad. And yes, I eat at least one bowl of leafy greens everyday usually for breakfast because it's nutrient dense, full of life force, helps set the eating tone for the rest of the day, and helps me stay regular.

This weekend I discoverd organic Red Bore Kale from Tomatero Organic Farm at the Alemany farmers market which is the very first farmers market in the state of California.

Cool Salad: Armenian Cucumber With Heirloom Tomatoes, Spring Onions and Dill

One of my favorite summer salads is cucumber with tomatoes because it's light, easy to make, and cooling when the weather gets hot.

Farmers Market Tip: Give Cosmetically Challenged Vegetables and Fruits A Chance. Saves Some Money

They are not ugly. They are cosmetically challenged. Yes, we are so PC here in California even with our produce. I've been noticing this more at farmer's markets here in the Bay Area, boxes of cosmetically challenged vegetables and fruits. This produce is perfectly edible, it's just not necessarily showroom pretty.

Dinner Idea: Stir-fry Chicken and Chard With Beet Red Quinoa

After eating the beet red quinoa at Source, I was inspired to make some at home coupled with a chicken and chard stir-fry. I like the yin yang symbolism in the plate. Instead of white and black, I have red and green going on representing a plant flow of energy. See how metaphysical I go there for a sec?