Coventry Farmers' Market Opening Day 2016

The folks who ran our favorite farmers' market (Coventry Regional Farmers' Market) for 12 years have moved on to other endeavors. We thank them for bringing this great market to the region. We have spent countless Sundays roaming the stalls, sampling food truck fare, buying local ingredients, and meeting many "Friends of the Market." 

Thankfully, the town of Coventry realized such a great opportunity should not be allowed to slip away. They had all the appropriate meetings and did all the necessary organizing, hired a new Market Master and reaffirmed the commitment to keep the market going at the Nathan Hale Homestead (#haleyeah!). 

Opening day was today and while it looked dreary outside, spirits were high and spring produce (leafy greens, spring onions, radishes, asparagus and cut flowers) was plentiful. Food truck alley was hoppin', and we saw most of our favorite vendors (butchers, bakers, cheesemongers and more) return. 

After the market, we headed over to the Bidwell for some wings and brews. Later that night, we enjoyed a salad made with Meadowstone Farm burrata, sungold cherry tomatoes, shredded basil and balsamic glaze with a touch of salt. Delicious! Oh, we do enjoy our summer Sundays in Coventry!

Onyx Moonshine Apple Cake

The other day, Amy's co-worker, also named Amy, brought it the most deliciously moist and tasty apple cake. Joanne (another self-professed foodie) pronounced it better than her mom's. (We're kind of hoping Mrs. K doesn't read our blog. If she does...sorry!) But anyway, yes, it was that good. Good enough for us to beg for the recipe, which Amy D. gave us tout de suite (she's a French teacher, so we owed her that)!

As luck would have it, our friends at Onyx had a tasting at the Coventry Farmers Market the other day, where they were sampling a delightful concoction of apples, cinnamon and brown sugar mixed with Onyx moonshine and apple cider. Then they offered us the leftover apples. Yeah...the boozy leftover apples. "Certainly the two of you could do make something with these!?!" they said. Hollah.

Yes, amidst this amazing planetary alignment (okay, maybe not that important) - we had the apples and the recipe, and as far as we were concerned, "Thunderbirds are go!" It was moonshine-apple-cake-baking-time!

We made Amy D's apple cake with those boozy apples and included the recipe below. Feel free to make it with plain old apples, if you must. But it won't be quite as good, just so you know. (wink wink)

Onyx Moonshine Apple Cake

Cake Ingredients:

5 medium apples, peeled and diced (feel free to soak them in Onyx Moonshine for a day or so, if you dare)

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

Topping: 

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

3 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 F. Combine all cake ingredients in a large bowl, and toss to coat apples. Place in a 9X13 pan that has been greased with butter or sprayed with cooking spray. In a separate bowl, combine topping ingredients and pat over top before placing in oven. Bake for 40-45 minutes, until bubbly. If desired, dust with confectioner's sugar before serving.

Wordless Weekender: Coventry Farmers Market Opening Day 2012