4/24/10 - Greenmarket Fresh Spring Salad

Even though its still just April, the Green Market in Union Square in NYC is open! I have been craving the sunshine and fresh foods, so we decided to take a trip in this afternoon to see the offerings. While its still early for most vegetables the first greens have begun to arrive and even some early greenhouse grown produce. Also there is many fresh farm products including cheeses, meats and baked goods.

Once we got home, it wasn't long before I was preparing our food score into a nice fresh lunch. I tried to keep things simple as to showcase all the beautiful flavors from the food. A blend of micro-greens and baby spinach formed the base of the salad and was topped with some apple, crumbled cheddar and seared lamb sausage. I dressed the salad with a mild vinaigrette that I mixed from red wine vinegar, oil and mustard. I also had fun teaching Jeremy to shuck a cherry stone....which was quite interesting since he is a lefty so it was all backwards!

This was what we brought home: 
1/2 cheddar & jalapeno loaf (he loves it but its a little spicy for me!) $7
1/4 lb sharp cheddar (we also tried some medium aged alpine) $4.50
bunch of ramps (I had to see what the fuss was about!) $3
bottle of bittersweet hard cider (also tried an ice wine and a pear & peach wine) $14
flat of basil plants, hot peppers and lettuce (since we didn't kill the parsley, cilanto, chives and oregano we have going yet we are going to give it a go!)
4 pack of lamb & rosemary sausages $12
mixed swiss chard $3
baby spinach $5
micro green mix
2 small juices (fuji apple and apple currant) $3
and best for last.....1 doz cherry stones $5 and 1 doz little necks $6