What to do with (some of) those strawberries...

It's easy, it's refreshing, it's a good after school snack and it's so simple that kids can make this... It's strawberry lemonade!

Maggie's Strawberry Lemonade
(serves 6, or 4 if you're a seven-year old who s sad about the end of Spring Break)

juice of 5 meyer lemons
1/4 c. sugar
pulp of 12 strawberries
4 c. cold water
ice

Dissolve the sugar in the lemon juice and strawberry pulp. Add water and ice. "You are ready to drink it now."

Easy Spring Recipe: Asparagus Frittata

With our season opening just a little over a month from now, we're looking at all sorts of recipes for the first fruits -- and vegetables -- of spring. This morning, an easy asparagus frittata that feeds a crowd. Perfect for your backyard brunch party this Sunday morning!

Recipe from Saveur Magazine

SERVES 10 – 12

Frittatas are typically made on the stove in a skillet, but preparing them in a bundt pan offers a convenient and beautiful alternative. Serve as part of a hearty lunch or Sunday brunch.

1 tsp. butter
2 cups grated white cheddar
1 small bunch chives, coarsely chopped
Salt
20 spears asparagus, trimmed
12 eggs, lightly beaten
2 small yellow onions, peeled and chopped
2 small carrots, peeled, trimmed, and finely grated
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup milk
1⁄4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Grease a 12-cup bundt pan with butter; set aside. Mix 1/2 cup of the cheese and 1 tsp. of the chives together in a small bowl and set aside.

2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat and cook asparagus until tender, 3–4 minutes. Drain; cool under cold running water, then pat dry. Cut asparagus into 1/4"-thick pieces and transfer to a large bowl. Add eggs, onions, carrots, flour, milk, remaining 1 1/2 cups cheese, 1 tsp. salt, and pepper, and mix well. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until firm, about 45 minutes. Allow frittata to cool in pan on a wire rack.

3. Preheat broiler. Invert frittata onto a sheet pan. Sprinkle top with cheese and chives, and broil until cheese just melts, 1–2 minutes. Transfer to serving plate.

Good news on a late Friday afternoon!

Remember how just a few hours ago we were pining away for early spring produce? The Shlagels must have been reading our minds. This just went out on our listserv about 30 minutes ago...

"FYI- Eileen Shlagel just emailed some regular customers to say she is coming to the community center tomorrow Saturday, 4/14, between 10 and 11 a.m. with eggs for $4, spinach for $2, leeks at $3,, tomatoes at $2 and asparagus at $5. Anyone who's interested in ordering can contact her directly at: eshlagel@verizon.net.

We can hardly wait for more goodies from the fields as the growing season progresses. In order to preview some of the excitement ahead, make sure to tune in on Tuesday, April 17th at 9 p.m., to a brand new documentary showcasing Maryland chefs and farmers, airing on Maryland Public Television (channel 22 for most of you). To see a teaser and to learn more about the program, please go to: http://themarylandharvest.com/MH/Home.html. It's really a good program for the whole family.

Thanks from a locavore like you!"

We're almost there!

This gorgeous, sunny Friday has us pining for fresh, ripe, delicious strawberries! Whether your eating them plain, with yogurt and granola, with sour cream and brown sugar (a family favorite), dropped in a glass of champagne, in lemonade, in a salad or in a tart, you know summer is just around the corner when you're enjoying strawberries. And that also means that the Cheverly Community Market season is right around the corner, too. Join us for opening day, Saturday, May 19, 8:00am until noon, at the Cheverly Community Center. We can't wait to share the bounty of spring and summer with you!

Some of Our Favorite Market Artists

We know that Cheverly is home to some of the most creative people in the Washington, DC are. From amazing cooks to writers to musicians to photographers to painters to ceramic artists, clothing designers, and more, Cheverly really does have it all. Cheverly Community Market is proud to celebrate our community, and we're especially proud that some of our favorite Cheverly Community Market artists -- Rose Fennell, Madeleine Golde, and Helen Crosskey among them -- will be sharing their work with everyone this Cheverly Day. Visit the Cheverly Day website to learn about the ever-growing roster of artists who will be represented on May 12, and make sure to visit them again and again during the Market season...we're getting close!

Website Issue

We are aware that our website is currently experiencing server issues. Those issues will be resolved by April 1. If you need to download a vendor application, vendor handbook, or press kit, please email Kathryn or Liz directly.

Many thanks for your patience! Growth is good, right?

REMINDER: Shlagel Farms & Waltz Family Farm are coming to town THIS SATURDAY!

Is ordering from Shlagel Family Farm and Waltz Family Farm for delivery this weekend on your to-do list? Do it right away! So far, they've only received a few orders, and they many have to postpone their Cheverly treks for a few weeks if they don't get more!

Shlagel Farm brings beautiful brown eggs to Cheverly. Brown eggs, with all of their naturally variance in color, are a lot of fun to dye. The colors come out rich and sometimes dark and they look cool mixed with traditionally dyed eggs. Eileen will also have bags of fresh cut spinach for $4.00.  The asparagus is VERY, VERY close.  I wont know until Saturday if I will have some to bring so that will be a suprise! Email Eileen with your order for Saturday pickup.

Waltz Family Farm will stop by Cheverly to deliver delicious meats, including beef, lamb, and pork. Need lamb for Greek Easter? Laurie has half a lamb available. Live weight is about 55lbs., born this winter and fed only mothers milk and pasture. They'll also have hot dogs stuffed with cheddar cheese, kielbasa grillers and canadian bacon. Please take a look at the menu from their last Cheverly delivery to get an idea of what's available. Once you make some choices (and there's a lot of good stuff available!) email Laurie directly or calling 301-714-0584.  If you do order via email, Laurie asks that you include a phone number in case she needs to reach you. 

Again, please make sure to preorder with Eileen and Laurie -- they will be dropping orders at the Community Center and Cheverly Community Market personnel are not involved in this effort (beyond helping to get the word out!)