December 2012 Newsletter

Celebrate the Holidays with the Farmers' Market

Christmas Tree For Rent!

Ever wondered what happens to your Christmas tree come New Year's when all the ornaments have been removed and it's been sent out to rest on the curb? Now you don't have to kick it to the curb and wonder because we've partnered with Scotty Claus of The Living Christmas Company to rent out fresh potted trees. Rather than head over to your nearest corner lot to get a cut tree, you can come to the market and get a locally grown, live potted tree in many varieties such as: spruce, pine, and cypress that will be yours for the holiday season. Living Christmas Company will even come and pick it up after you're done enjoying it and you may even get that same tree back again next year! Each tree is bar-coded, grown and trimmed with care, and will live on to be enjoyed many more years to come. Scotty Claus was featured on ABC's "Shark Tank" for this brilliant eco-friendly business idea. Living Christmas Company also offers eco-friendly gift wrap and fair trade recycled handmade ornaments. You can check out tree rental prices and varieties at Living Christmas Company, but we recommend you come and see for yourself at the farmers' market.

Want Fido on Your Holiday Card?

Come to the market and get a holiday pet portrait with Susan Werner Photography. Susan has a portrait booth complete with all the props, dress up, and a quiet space to stage your pet's portrait against a green screen, with your choice of themed background added later. Susan's many years of experience working with animals will coax a happy face out of any pet, so de-stress this year's card shopping and make your pet the star of the holidays.

Holiday Cooking with Chef Rona 

Join us Saturday Dec 22nd, for a holiday themed cooking demonstration with Chef Rona Lewis. Rona is a celebrity fitness and lifestyle coach, as well as a healthy foods gourmet chef. Rona is also author of Does This Cookbook Make Me Look Fat?, a fun and entertaining cookbook with healthy low-fat and low-card recipes that are actually easy to make! Rona will have her cookbooks available for sale at the market.

And don't forget, we'll also have a kid's craft station for holiday ornament making every Saturday before Christmas and carolers singing for us on 12/22. 

Farmer Spotlight: Ha's Apple Farm

This time of year, the new season's apples are at their crispest and crunchiest, and we're lucky enough to have one of the best apple growers in the state! Ha's Apple Farm, located in Tehachapi, is a well-established orchard of 30 years that features irresistible organic fruits, spreads, vinegars, and syrups. It seems the Fuji apple is the most popular variety in the U.S., and owner David Ha has devoted 35 acres just to supply its demand. They have over 300 acres of fruit trees including apples, pears, and pomegranates. Trees are consistently nurtured and the Ha's Family approach to apple farming guarantees fruit to be delicious! Come say hi and get your apples.

Did you know in some cultures its tradition to gently wrap a fresh piece of fruit to place on the Christmas tree on Christmas eve for a morning yummy surprise? And whoever said apples weren't a wonderfully sweet stocking stuffer too! 

Recipe of the Month: Rona's Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing

Ingredients: 

4 cups finely chopped kale

3 tbsp dried cranberries or cherries 

2 tbsp toasted pine nuts

freshly shaved parmesan to taste

Dressing:

1tsp dijon mustard

1 small lemon, juiced

1 garlic clove, grated (omit if you're not into raw garlic)

1/4 tsp sugar

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

pinch of salt and pepper

Directions: 

In a small bowl, add dijon mustard, lemon juice, garlic and sugar, whisk together. Slowly add in olive oil and whisk. Season with salt and pepper. Store leftovers in an airtight container in fridge. 

Combine kale with a few tablespoons of lemon dressing to taste. Combine well and if time allows, let kale "marinate" in dressing for 10 min to help soften leaves. Stir in dried fruit, pine nuts, and top with shaved parmesan before serving. 

Volunteer Alert!

We're always looking for volunteers to help us on our mission to empower folks to eat healthfully and choose local fresh foods. In return for your superb community service, we love to reward you with freshly-grown goodies. Hit us up on Facebook or send us an email. Better yet, stop by the market on Saturdays and chat with us in the Information Booth.

See you Saturday!

-Playa Vista Certified Farmers' Market