Instant Food

It's good to be a foodie in today's modern world. Everything can either be popped into a microwave or a toaster oven. We can add boiling water to a bowl and get everything from oatmeal to soup. It's downright amazing what can be rustled up in a minute or two.

There's a lot of meal ideas to be had from these "instant " foods. For a quick lunch or even Sunday night dinner, bake Pillsbury breadsticks and then serve hot with a just cooked jar of marinara sauce Add salad and you have a satisfying dinner. Another idea is taking leftover white rice and adding it to tomato soup. You could also had some precooked shrimp and crab meat for a seafood stew. Ramen noodles are a fast way of satisfying those hunger cravings. Toss in some ginger or soy sauce for flair.

Anyone's sweet tooth can be instantly satisfied. There are the logs of cookie dough that can be sliced bake d and eaten within a span of twenty minutes. Microwavable cakes (which taste like soft baked pudding) are now the quickie dessert of choice. You can even make yourself an individual baked apple or poached pear thanks to the microwave. Fruit can be easily cooked this way and you can make all sorts of healthy snacks and desserts with some creativity and a few minutes to spare. A caramel baked apple just requires it to be cored, stuffed with caramel and butter and microwaved on high for a minute or two. Instant bliss and happiness.

It used to be just the "Jetsons"had instant food. Not so in today's 21st century kitchen. Anything is possible. Anything can be whipped up in a minute or two to be gobbled down in a few seconds.

Farmer's Markets

There's nothing like fresh everything during htis time of year. There are some of us who live near farm areas where it's only a short drive to buy fresh produce and baked goods. For those less fortunate there are farmers markets. These are wonderful blessings that bring the bounty of the country to both urbanites and suburbanites.

Typically farmer's markets will sell all sorts of things. One of the biggest that I have seen is the one in Union Square in lower Manhattan. This is literally a cordoned off area around Union Square Park. You can get everything from upstate New York apples to Jersey fresh tomatoes. There are also stands that sell fresh nuts and freshly made peanut butter. There are also smaller stands that will sell organic potatoes , kale and spinach. Union Square offers a variety of homemade baked goods from cookies to pies to breads. These are much better than from what even the best city bakeries have to offer. Union Square also offers honey sold from Duchess and Orange County apiaries as well as freshly made granola and cereals.

Even suburban New Jersey (and I'm sure towns across the US ) will have farmer's markets. Here in the Garden State Mennonite farmers from Pennsylvania set up stands in our towns , selling everything from long golden ears of corn to freshly churned butter. These are amazing places and perfect for bringing farm fresh goodness to the table. If you want your family to eat healthy go to one. Some of the pricing can be a bit higher than the local supermarket though. I have discovered that the best buys are on the cakes , breads, jams and cookies.Take advantage of these prices.

Farmer's markets are wonderous places. Luckily for us the stay open until late fall and reopen iht early spring. They are worth visiting because you can have just off the stand produce right on your town's main street.