In St. Louis, you just have to accept that while the calendar says spring, it can feel like the dead of winter when you step outside. Of course, the next day it may feel like the dog days of summer. This bifurcated existence can be easily felt around area farmers’ market as some vendors show spring offerings right alongside those more commonly associated with winter.
There’s no better example than at the Maplewood Farmers’ Market where several vendors are offering “spring mix,” a blend of tender young greens perfect for a light salad. Last week we spied mixes including romaine, green-leaf lettuce and arugula. Some farmers offer pre-bagged mixes while others offer these greens by the pound. Buy enough for the coming week and store the lettuces loosely wrapped in your refrigerator (add a damp paper towel to increase the shelf life) for a quick side salad.
Although it’s only the second week of the market season, this may be the last week for some of the cold-weather greens like spinach. Grown in a greenhouse, these large leaves may be a little tough for the average spinach salad, and since we had already filled up on spring mix last week, into the cooking pot went these leafy greens. A quick sauté, finished by a drizzle of olive oil and a splash of lemon juice resulted in a tasty side dish for grilled salmon – the perfect late winter/early spring combination.
This article appears in April 2011.