Eating Local

Shop local. Eat local. Buy local. LOCAL is everywhere you go these days. What is all of the fuss about? Doesn't the grocery store have the same quality foods? The simple answer is "No." I could get in to all of the boring details about why shopping local and sustaining local farmers is good for the goose and the gander but if you are so inclined you can Google it later...after you finish reading my blog of course! The bottom line is that it is good and here is a great example of WHY....

If you follow my blog then you know we went to farmer's market last weekend and although I forgot to take pictures of what we purchased we did indeed purchase some items. I also frequent Loratelli's fruit stand out on Claratina. Excellent produce and fabulous customer service!

So, after shopping local and buying local this is what I made...

Delicious Local Pizza!

1st - I used the HUGE piece of focaccia bread from the Afghan guy at farmer's market. I topped it with some fabulous goat cheese also from farmer's market.


2nd - I smothered the fresh goat cheese with this amazing sun dried tomato pesto also from the super cool Afghan guy. It smells amazing and it tastes even better!


3rd - I thinly sliced up some gorgeous heirloom tomatoes from Loratelli. They are almost too pretty to eat...almost


4th - I also thinly sliced up some red onion from Loratelli. I once read that if you stick your tongue out while you slice an onion your eyes will not tear up. I will not say how I know this, but it is true..try it!


5th - I bought some wonderful zuccs from Loratelli and planned on using them in some pasta but they were begging me to put them on the pizza. Who am I to argue about where a zucc truly belongs? So, I washed them and grated them up and put them on the pizza too


6th - This is what you should have so far....


7th - I cheated a bit and topped it with some grated cheese. It just seemed to complete the pizza some. It was not local but we all have to start somewhere right?

Then you put it on the pizza stone or the cookie sheet, however you prefer to cook your pizza.


I have to make a small confession....I took some close up pictures. It is a bit of trick photography. I feel like a big fat liar, making it look like everything is sliced all Martha Stewart style. I took a picture a wee bit further back so you could see the chaos of my island. That is how I cook - big, messy, haphazard, and always joyously!


After putting it in the oven at 350* for 15 minutes it will be ready to devour...which we did ! I hope you have enjoyed my pizza recipe and that I encouraged you to go out and buy one local food item! Support your local farmers! Enjoy the bounty that grows in your own backyard!