Page 49 - Sonoma County Gazette 11-19

Pesto for Every Season
By Kelly Smith
My significant other, Jim, and I are both farmers’ market managers here in
Sonoma County. Sometimes we get competitive on our knowledge of food and sometimes we share tidbits of our food habits or recipes that originate from our childhoods. We both spent our teen years in Marin County but come from very different backgrounds. We both will be hitting our half century mark early next year; so we are from the same era of time. It’s fun for us to compare our family food histories.
A few Sundays ago the topic of PESTO came up. Neither one of us could recall hearing, seeing or tasting it until the late 80’s to early 90’s. I had my theories why I had never heard of it until that time. I grew up in a family that rarely used fresh vegetables in meals. Jim’s family often used fresh vegetables and even grew their own; why had he never heard of pesto until his late teens/early twenties? Of course, I had to research it and find the origin.
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* INFO: communityfarmersmarkets.com/markets ** YEAR-ROUND SATURDAY:
Gualala Farmers’ Market ~ 9:30- 12:30p, through Nov 3. Gualala Community Center, Hwy 1, Gualala. INFO: 707-884-3726
Healdsburg Certified Farmers’ Markets ~ 8:30a - Noon (through Nov 23) West Plaza Parking Lot, North & Vine St. 707-824-8717/ 707 529-4884, Healdsburgfarmersmarket.org, manager@healdsburgfarmersmarket.org
Oakmont Certified Farmers’ Market ~ 9a – 12p, at the Wells Fargo parking lot corner of White Oak and Oakmont Dr. 707-538-7023**
Petaluma Walnut Park Farmers’ Market ~ 2-5p (through Nov. 16) Petaluma Blvd South at D Street 415-999-5635 info@communityfarmersmarkets.com
Santa Rosa Community Farmers’ Market at the Vets Bldg ~ 8:30a-1p Veteran’s Bldg, 1351 Maple Ave, Santa Rosa 415-999-5635 * & **
Santa Rosa Original Certified Farmers’ Market ~ 8:30a - 1p. Luther Burbank Center, 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa. thesantarosafarmersmarket.com 707-522-8629**
Sonoma Garden Park Harvest Market - 9a - 12p, through Nov. Sonoma Garden Park, 19996 7th St. East, Sonoma. sonomagardenpark.org
SUNDAY:
Sebastopol Farmers’ Market ~ 10a -1:30p Sebastopol Plaza, Downtown Across from Whole Foods Market sebastopolfarmmarket.org **
The Springs - 10a-2p, through Dec. 15th on the Plaza at Boyes Blvd. and Hwy 12 next to the Post Office, CalFresh. *
Windsor Certified Farmers Market - 10a-1p, through Dec. 8th. Rain or Shine, Windsor Town Green, McClelland Dr. windsorfarmersmarket.com
TUESDAY:
Cloverdale Tuesday Farmers’ Market - 3-6p , through Nov 26, 225 N. Cloverdale Blvd. (Empty Lot Next to Plank Coffee); cloverdaletuesdayfarmersmarket.com
Healdsburg’s Market-on-the-Plaza - 9a - 1p. through Nov. 30. Healdsburg Ave & Matheson, Plaza @ Center St. INFO: healdsburgfarmersmarket.org
Petaluma East Side Farmers’ Market ~ 10a -1:30p, Year Round, Lucchesi Park, 320 N McDowell Blvd, Pet. communityfarmersmarkets.com; 415-999-5635 info@ communityfarmersmarkets.com**
WEDNESDAY:
Santa Rosa Community Farmers’ Market at the Vets Bldg ~ 9a - 1p, Veteran’s Bldg, 1351 Maple Ave, Santa Rosa 415-999-5635 * & **
Santa Rosa Original Farmers’ Market ~ 8:30a - 1p. Luther Burbank Ctr, 50 Mark West Springs Rd, Santa Rosa. thesantarosafarmersmarket.com 707-522-8629 **
THURSDAY:
Petaluma Farmers’ Market Pop Up Shop ~ 2p-8p, 151 Petaluma Blvd S Petaluma facebook.com/PetalumaFarmersMarket
FRIDAY:
Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers’ Market ~ 9a - 12:30p, Arnold Field, 241 First St West (across from the Depot Hotel.), Sonoma 707-538-7023, svcfm.org**
Pesto wasn’t always made with basil, which is the way most of us think of it. The word pesto comes from the Genoese verb pestâ (Italian pestare), which means to crush or to pound. According to tradition the ingredients were to be crushed by a mortar and pestle.
According to my research there may have been two potential predecessors
to pesto in ancient times. Going as far back as the Roman age, they used to eat a paste called moretum. This past was made by crushing garlic, salt, cheese, herbs, olive oil and vinegar together. The past was used in Roman cuisine and is mentioned in the Appendix Vergiliana which is an ancient collection fo poems.
During the middle ages a popular sauce in Genoan cuisines was agliata, a paste made of mashed garlic and walnuts. the introduction of basil occured in more
recent times around the mid 19th century.
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e i
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d du u r r i i n n g g t t h h i i s s t t i i m m e e. .
This delectable paste was illusive to the
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United States until the late 80’s. There isn’t much
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at
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o n n n a a a b b b o o o u u ut t t w w wh h hy y y i i it t t w w wa a a s s s r r r e e e m m m a a a i i i n n n e e e d d d o o u ut t o o u u r r d d i i e e t t s s p p r r i i o o r r t t o o t t h h i i s s t t i i m m e e. . I I d d i i d d f f i i n n d d a a
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1989 a r t ic le f r om t he C hic ago Tr i bun e f f r r o om m 1 19 98 89 9 t t a a l l k k i i n ng g about the discovery of pesto but was called green sauce.
I I n n m my y r r e e s s e e a a r r c c h h i it t d d a aw w n n e e d d o o n n m m e e t t h h a at t I I a a l lw wa ay y s s t t h ho o u ug g h ht t p p e e s s t t o o h h a ad d t t o o b b e e m m a ad de e w w i it t h h b ba a s s i i l l w wh h i ic c h h at this time of year is no longer available at
the farmers’ markets. A great substitution
is spinach. Spinach grows well in the
cooler months. It prefers temperatures
between 45 and 75 degrees to grow well.
We will start seeing more spinach around
the market place as we get closer to winter making a perfect time to try a new version.
Spinach Oregano Pesto
Ingredients
• 1/3 cup Olive Oil
• 1 1/2 cup firmly packed spinach leaves, coarsely chopped • 1/2 cup fresh oregano leaves
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup grated Asiago cheese
• Olive Oil
In a food processor combine the 1/3 cup olive oil, spinach, oregano, walnuts, garlic, and salt.
Directions
Cover and process until nearly smooth, stopping and scraping sides as necessary.
Stir in cheese. Add enough additional olive oil (about 2 tablespoons) to reach desired consistency.
Kelly Smith • Agricultural Community Events Farmers Markets, North Bay Farmers’ Markets • communityfarmersmarkets.com 501(c)5 Nonprofit PO Box 113 , Kenwood
11/19 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 49