More local food

A new addition to yesterday's list of local farmer's markets: on Tuesdays from 11:30-2:30 pm at Burke Lakefront Airport. Jared & I walked downtown in a light rain, ducked inside Tower City when it started raining harder, then hopped a free RTA downtown "B" line shuttle to East 9th and Lakeside.

Things were just getting underway and the rain was still falling when we got to the airport. A few vendors were set up under tents in the parking lot and a few more under the outside walkway roof. We talked with Cowboy George, CEO and Director of Deliciousness for pZazz! Hot Sauces and sampled several of his tasty concoctions.

Next to pZazz! a guy was selling squash, a few other vegetables, and chocolate chip cookies. As we munched on cookies he asked if we'd ever cooked squash blossoms. Well, no. When I told him I only read about it, he handed me a big plastic bag full of blossoms, saying he'd never sell them anyway. This led to the squash blossom pizza below.

From the next vendor I bought a dozen ears of corn and a nice big tomato before running out of cash. I hadn't come prepared to shop, unfortunately.

Squash Blossom Pizza

You can stuff them with cream cheese, bread or batter-dip, deep-fry or saute squash blossoms, but I had a pizza in mind. A quick Google got me a Pizza with Squash Blossoms, Fresh Mozzarella, Pesto and Prosciutto recipe.

I made pesto with basil from the garden, garlic, olive oil, walnuts and a little tomato juice to mellow out the flavor after I overdid the garlic. I grated regular mozzarella, finely sliced some ham I had in the fridge instead of prosciutto, sliced some of the tomato I bought and put it all on a Mama Mary's crust (not local, unfortunately, but good and super-convenient).

In the picture the blossoms are arranged in the center and I've sprinkled a few purple basil leaves on after baking. The verdict from all three of us at supper tonight: good stuff

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