Greenmarket: Raffle, Brussel Sprouts, Cider, and more

Cortelyou Greenmarket honcho Stacey McCarthy emails:

Saturday's forecast calls for rain but Sunday should be all clear! Come celebrate the clear skies at the second to last 2008 Cortelyou Greenmarket this Sunday. Say hello to your farmers and enter our final FREE Greenmarket Raffle for 2008! Enter to win a Greenmarket tote bag of market goodies - a thank you for your support - at the information table in front of the library. The winner can pick up the tote bag on Nov 23rd ... It may be your lucky day!!

Here's a sample of what you'll find at the market:

Brussels sprouts - Yes, with a capital B! Named after the Belgian capitol, they blossomed as early as the 1200s throughout the country. Buy them on the stalk from Jorge Carmona (blue tent in the middle of the street or loose from John Schmid, Muddy Rivers (closest to the library).

Parsnips - Resembling a carrot, the off-white parsnip was the favored root/tuber eaten in Europe before the potato arrived in the 1500s. Roast it, boil it, steam it or use it in soups as a thickener. Pair them with carrots for a colorful dish!

Sweet potatoes - Don't call them yams! Technically, yams only grow in warmer climates and the orange skinned and fleshed Thanksgiving staples grown in North America are sweet potatoes. Sadly, John Schmid of Muddy Rivers tells me the deer ate most of his sweet potato vines ... but Jorge has some to bring to market

Plus, eggs, WINTER SQUASH galore, fresh pasta, APPLES, quince, CIDER, fresh HERBS, purple topped TURNIPS, BREADS, PUMPKIN PIE, and Bread Alone's latest and greatest pie - the CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE! And MUCH MORE!!!

Thanks so much! and see you at the Greenmarket!!