Shrimp, Roasted Garlic and Caper Ravioli with Lemon Caper Beurre Blanc (or, DiFiore Ravioli meets Omaha Steaks Seafood Sauce)

You know that not everything we cook is from scratch. Amy has a not-so-secret love for Kraft Macaroni-n-Cheese. Now and then, Chris enjoys a mug of store-bought udon noodles, seasoning packet and all. But that's not how we like to eat. Sometimes, though, we simply don't feel like cooking from scratch. So on a typical evening, you can find us putting our own spin on a store-bought product. Our very own "semi-homemade." 

Recently we were craving ravioli. We have made our own ravioli in the past, but it is certainly not easy. So instead we took advantage of the fact that DiFiore Ravioli Shop practically hand-delivered their ravioli to us. This small, family-owned business has been in Hartford for over 30 years and recently opened a second location in Rocky Hill. But now they've made it even easier for us to buy their products by having a booth at our favorite farmers' market. Now we don't have to make a special stop!

This past weekend, we bought DiFiore's "Shrimp, Roasted Garlic and Caper Ravioli" at the debut of FARE, the new Willimantic Market. Amy asked the person working the booth if he thought that would be good with a plain butter sauce. He nodded, but then, as if he were delivering a state secret, added, "I'd try it with a lemon beurre blanc, maybe adding a few capers." Sounded right up our alley.

Since frozen ravioli are supposed to be an easy weeknight dinner, we didn't bother to come up with our own sauce recipe. We found Omaha Steaks' recipe (here) for "Lemon Caper Beurre Blanc Seafood Sauce" and made a few substitutions - a small spring onion from our garden instead of shallots, 1/2 and 1/2 instead of heavy cream, and 1 1/2 rather than 2 sticks of butter. It was delicious.

We drizzled the rich, lemony sauce over that gorgeous ravioli and our craving was satisfied. Sometimes semi-homemade is even better than from scratch.

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!

What's in Season, CT? (Scenes from Coventry Regional Farmers Market)

We live about 15 minutes from the Coventry Regional Farmers Market, which is held every Sunday from June through October on the Nathan Hale Homestead. Each week features around 75 vendors featuring the freshest local produce, meats, dairy products (hollah cheeses!), breads, artisan foods, crafts and more. Chefs do demonstrations, breweries and wineries offer tastings, and often, there's a local band supplying the background jams. It's awesome. In their own words, "It's like a country fair every Sunday." Here are some photos from our last few visits. We hope they will entice you into going, and perhaps we'll see you there! (Note: This year is the last of the CRFM as it has been, but not to worry, the town of Coventry is taking it over and promises to keep it going - hooray!)

Basket of Fresh Garlic

Gladiolas and Picklin' Cukes

Ingredients for Mystic Oyster Shooters

Heirloom Tomatoes

A Peck of Picked Peppers

Cherry Tomatoes

Burgundy, Golden and Green Beans

Various Shades of Eggplant

Want Some Honey, Honey?

Ripe Red Raspberries

Boxes of Onions

A Beet Shelf

Connecticut Corn

Funky Fungi

Giant Pretzels from Hartford Baking Co.

Purple Green Beans with Black Garlic

During a last hurrah outing the Thursday before school started, Amy stopped by the Billings Forge Farmers Market in Hartford. Why did it have to be a "last hurrah"? Alas, this market is only open on Thursdays from 11 to 2, and that's pretty much prime school time, so we can never make it. But we have a soft spot for this particular market, because it is located in Frog Hollow, the Hartford neighborhood where Chris lived for ten years before we bought our house. 

During that time, Frog Hollow was in need of some revitalization, and the Billings Forge Community Works brought just that, transforming an old forge in an urban neighborhood into a true community force. Partnering with one of the best farm-to-table restaurants in Connecticut (and neighborhood employer), and consisting of a studio/community space, a teaching kitchen with a bakery/cafe, a community garden, apartments, and a youth program in addition to the market, the Works is doing a world of good. 

So, for the last time for a long time, Amy headed to the market before meeting friend Joanne for a grown-up lunch (also, for the last time for a long time). And she found something she had never seen before! Purple green beans! They turn green when you heat them! So here they are: purple green beans that we sauteed in ghee and tossed with black garlic for a delightfully interesting (and colorful) side dish made with odd ingredients. 

For information about the Billings Forge Farmers Market and all the great things happening at Billings Forge, go here or here. And stay tuned, because there is one other thing she bought at the market that she had never seen before, and we will tell you about it soon.

Purple Green Beans with Black Garlic

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon ghee

1 pound purple green beans

4 cloves black garlic, roughly chopped

Snip the ends of the beans and cut them in half. Melt ghee over high heat in a large saute pan. Toss in beans and allow to cook, untouched, for 4-5 minutes, until nicely seared. Add the garlic and toss. Cook another 4-5 minutes and serve hot. 

Scenes from Coventry Regional Farmers "Pop-Up" Market at Holmberg Orchards, Gales Ferry, CT