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Make the Market part of your Memorial Day Weekend!

Don't forget to stop by the market on Sunday, May 24. If you're looking to do some yard work over the weekend, we've got lots of beautiful plants right here and our vendor experts can help you decide what's right for your garden.

How about adding a fresh spinach salad to your holiday menu? We're expecting the first green onions on the season, too. And of course, there's lots of gorgeous rhubarb for all your favorite rhubarb recipes. There's grass-finished beef for grilling... top it with a slice of Farmer John's cheddar! Delicious!
  

Margaret's Fund Awards First Annual Scholarship at Northside Farmer's Market by Anne Pryor

Dana Slowiak, recipient Tara Hoffman, Anne Pryor, and Alyssa Kenney

On May 17, the Northside Farmer's Market once again provided the perfect venue for a community event - the announcement of the 2009 scholarship recipient of Margaret's Fund. Margaret's Fund: A Northside Scholarship is a $500 scholarship awarded to a Northsider going on to post-secondary education. In alternate years, the award goes to a high school senior or a returning adult. This year's awardee - and first ever recipient - is Tara Hoffman.

On a beautiful spring morning, family, fund donors and NFM shoppers gathered for donuts, coffee and juice at the Margaret's Fund table. Then a short presentation began, led by the Margaret's Fund organizers. After Alyssa Kenney called people together and gave a history of the Fund, Anne Pryor introduced Tara and explained why she had been selected. Then Dana Slowiak presented Tara with a framed certificate.

Tara is a resident of the Sheridan Triangle neighborhood who attended Lakeview Elementary and Sherman Middle Schools. Now a senior at East High, she will attend UW-Whitewater for degrees in social work and early childhood education. A review committee of five representatives from different neighborhoods and organizations on the Northside anonymously reviewed the applications and found that Tara's showed evidence of being a positive role model who obviously enjoys volunteering and working with children. They thought Tara demonstrated great promise of success in her chosen field.

Margaret's Fund extends appreciation and best wishes to all of this year's applicants, all of whom conveyed impressive qualities. A goal is to grow the fund so that more than one scholarship can be awarded each year. To help achieve that, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Margaret's Fund through the Madison Community Foundation (click to donate). And look for next year's application in early spring!
  

Muriel Simms, owner/artist of Bunnyworks, says she creates unique greeting cards. That is borderline misrepresentation because they are much more. They are really little works of art. Muriel's cards combine a fascinating assortment of fabrics, materials, buttons, and what have you with whimsy, flair, and a wonderful sense of delight.

Muriel is a retired teacher and principal of several of Madison's schools. She needed to let her creative side take flight so she started Bunnyworks (named after her childhood nickname) in 2001.

Her creations were on display with the Northside Artists Group last year at the Overture Center and she plans more displays in the future. Right now though, the only place you'll find her whimsical cards is at our Market. Send someone one of Muriel's cards. They'll know you cared enough...

Market Report for May 17
Article by Lynette Jandl

Last week's market was another sunny Sunday with a steady stream of shoppers and very happy vendors. The healthiest meats in the world are available right here at the NFM. Asparagus, spinach, rhubarb and morel mushrooms abound and are expected again next Sunday along with the first green onions.

With this nice long stretch of warm weather, we'll see more and more vegetables added to the list. Flowering plants in hanging baskets and pots are inspiring creativity along with trees, shrubs, border plants and more.

The lilies are starting to come in so there'll be more of those this Sunday. Did you know that you can put herbs right in your pots along with flowers? Basil, dill, parsley, etc. add lovely greenery and are so pleasant to harvest as you admire their neighboring flowers.

Plants at the Northside Farmers Market are varieties that do especially well in the climate here in Wisconsin. The growers are glad to explain everything you'd want to know about helping them flourish during transplanting and getting themselves established. Then you can enjoy them all summer long!

Hope to see you next week at the Market!

Click to download this year's Produce Calendar. A PDF chart of all the produce that our vendors provide and the approximate range of dates that you'll see them at the market.

Ingredients
Fresh Morel mushrooms
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 c. milk
1 c. cracker crumbs
1/2 c. fine corn flake crumbs
Vegetable oil for frying
Salt and pepper or your favorite seasoning

Try this recipe as a side dish. Season to taste - but don't over season, you'll want the delicate flavor of the morels to come through.

Don't like the idea of deep frying? Slice washed morels into 1/8" thick slices and fry in butter for 4-5 minutes or until golden brown on both sides. You'll taste what the fuss is all about!

Directions
1. Split morel mushrooms lengthwise.

2. Rinse well in several changes of cold water, drain well.

3. Heating oil to 370-375 degrees in deep fryer or deep pan.

4. Beat eggs and milk together.

5. Mix crumbs together.

6. Dip morels into egg mixture, roll in crumbs.

7. Fry 4-5 minutes, turning while cooking. When golden brown and floating, remove and put on paper towels to drain. Season and serve immediately!