The Unofficial Start of Summer

I know that many mark the start of their summer as Memorial Day Weekend but I think summer truly starts a few days later.  To me summer starts when the farmer's market opens for the season.

I only discovered the awesomeness that is the farmer's market a couple of years ago and I was instantly hooked.  I can't believe that I never went sooner.  I love everything about it.  The sights. The smells.  And of course the tastes.  I enjoy the Saturday markets but Wednesday nights on Broadway are by far my favorites.  I love that it is more of an event than just buying vegetables.  I am taking summer classes this year and will be stuck indoors every Wednesday night starting next week so I decided that I had to check it out tonight since I won't be back until late August. 

I was running errands today so I ended up downtown before the market started so I decided to check out some of the shops on Broadway to kill some time.  I haven't been in these stores in a long time so it was like discovering downtown all over again.  I had to try a truffle at Berensten's Candy (delish) I bought a mini cake at Monzu Bistro because I knew I wouldn't have time to bake tonight, and I spent almost an hour digging through the antique store where I made a great find.  I have been wanting a kitchen scale for a while now and just have a hard time justifying the cost of the ones that we have at Cook's Corner.  I found this great one at the antique store and I had to have it.  It was half the cost of a new one and has so much more character so I can proudly display it instead of hiding it away in a cabinet.

By this time the market had started so I made my rounds to see what else I couldn't resist.  I found some baby red onions, beautiful roma tomatoes and oyster mushrooms to go with the salmon I had taken out for dinner tonight.  Then I found some yummy potato dill bread that was well worth every carb it contained and goat cheese curds that were too interesting to pass up.  And lastly I just can't leave a farmer's market without buying some flowers.  I love fresh cut flowers and since someone never buys them for me I allow myself this little treat every time I am at the market.  Today I found some beautiful yellow and red tulips.

Once I had all my goodies home it was time to start cooking.  I soaked a couple of cedar planks in cold water for about an hour and once the hour was up I started on the rest of the meal.  I chopped up some of my mushrooms, one tomato and the bottom inch or two of the baby red onions.  I put this all in foil with some olive oil, grated garlic and some seasonings and wrapped it up.

I placed four salmon pieces, about 4-6oz each) on the cedar planks and drizzled with oil and balsamic vinegar, a little old bay and some herbs and then added a little of the chopped onion tops.  I also folded the thin part under so the fish would cook more evenly.

I put the planks on the grill and let them go for about ten minutes then I added the veggies to the grill and let this all cook for another 5 to 10 minuted, until the fish was done.  While that was going I whisked up some dressing.  I started with a little grated garlic and some pomegranate balsamic vinegar in a small bowl and added a little horseradish mustard and a few of the onion tops.  Then I whisked in some olive oil and added a little salt and pepper.  When everything was done we headed outside and assembled dinner.  I started with some romaine lettuce and added a little hard boiled egg and some feta and drizzled my dressing over the top.  Then I dished up the salmon and added some of the cooked veggies on top and I finished off the plate with a lightly grilled slice of the potato dill bread I bought at the market.

Here's a close up of the yummy fish.