Edible Paradise :: Seasonal Cooking

Edible Paradise celebrates the year-round abundance of the highest quality, freshest food grown on the Central Coast by our family farmers at the Monterey Bay Certified Farmers Markets. If you enjoy preparing and eating locally grown food, this blog is for you!

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Learn how to make rich, flavorful stock from scratch—the secret to soups, sauces, and gravies with real depth. Whether you’re simmering chicken, beef, or vegetable stock, this guide shows how to use bones, trimmings, and roasted vegetables to create a nutrient-packed base full of natural flavor. Discover simple techniques for roasting, simmering, and storing homemade...
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Dried beans are a cornerstone of every well-stocked pantry. Nutritious, inexpensive, and incredibly versatile, they can be transformed into soups, stews, salads, dips, and side dishes. While cooking with dry beans requires a little planning, the results are far superior to canned beans in both taste and texture. Here are some essential tips and techniques...
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Jujubes (pronounced joo-joob) may not be the most familiar fruit at the farmers market, but these small stone fruits have been treasured in Asia for thousands of years. Sometimes called “red dates” or “Chinese dates,” jujubes are prized for their versatility and rich nutritional value. Fresh jujubes are an excellent source of vitamin C and...
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Fall pumpkins and squash
It wouldn’t be fall without the arrival of winter squash! With their vibrant colors, varied shapes, and naturally sweet, earthy flavors, winter squash varieties are a hallmark of the autumn harvest on the Central Coast. From creamy butternut to nutty kabocha, hearty acorn to richly flavored delicata, local farmers bring a wide array of squash...
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I was a latecomer to the galette. Not quite a pie, and not quite a tart, this open-face pastry is made from a simple crust, a layer of fruit, and edges folded roughly around the filling. As a classically trained pastry chef, it didn’t initially appeal to me. I’m convinced most pastry chefs (and chocolatiers,...
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Okra, scientifically known as Abelmoschus esculentus, is a remarkable vegetable celebrated for its unique flavor, nutritional value, and endless culinary possibilities. Often called “lady’s finger” for its slender shape and tender texture, okra has been a staple in cuisines around the world for centuries. These vibrant green pods, usually between three and seven inches long,...
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Persimmons have arrived at Spade & Plow Organics!

If you’ve ever wondered which persimmon to grab (or what to actually do with them), here’s the quick farmers-market cheat sheet:

✨Fuyu Persimmons (the squat, tomato-shaped ones)
These are the crunchy, eat-them-like-an-apple persimmons. Slice them into salads, cheese boards, lunchboxes — they’re sweet, mild, and lovely while still firm.

✨Hachiya Persimmons (the tall, acorn-shaped ones)
These need to be very soft — like a water balloon — before you eat them. Once they’re fully ripe, the inside becomes silky and sweet, perfect for baking, puddings, breads, cookies, or spooning straight from the skin.

Swing by Spade & Plow this week and stock up while the season lasts. By the way, be sure to check out our persimmon recipes @edible_paradise_mbcfm. 

#spadeandplow #spadeandploworganics #persimmons #aptosfarmersmarket #montereyfarmersmarket

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Good morning from the Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center! It’s a bit damp and overcast today, but it’s not raining. Come out and get some fresh air and see what the farmers have brought to the market. 

First market find of the day: heirloom conehead cabbage at the Borba Family Farms booth. This old-time variety is naturally tender, with a sweeter flavor than the familiar round cabbage. Perfect for fall salads, quick sautés, or gently braised until silky.

The market is open until noon—see you there!

#montereyfarmersmarket #delmonteshoppingcenter #borbafarms #borbafamilyfarms #coneheadcabbage #seasonal

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🍁 Thanksgiving Market Hours 🍁

For your holiday shopping convenience, the Monterey Farmers Market at Del Monte Shopping Center will be open Wednesday, November 26, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. — the perfect time to pick up the freshest local produce, flowers, baked goods, and specialty foods for your Thanksgiving table.

Please note: the market will be closed on Friday, November 28 to allow our hardworking farmers and food artisans to enjoy the holiday with their families.

The Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College will be open as usual on Saturday, November 29, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Stock up early and make your holiday meal shine with the bounty of our markets! 

#shopdelmonte #delmonteshoppingcenter #montereyfarmersmarket #aptosfarmersmarket #shoplocal #thanksgivingschedule2025 #monterey

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Meet Sylvia and Joey from Manzanita Manor Organics! 

Their renowned dry-farmed walnuts are a true taste of the Central Coast—rich, flavorful, and sustainably grown.

Stop by their booth for a delicious selection of raw walnuts, sprouted walnuts, chocolate-covered walnuts, walnut meal, walnut butter, and cold-pressed walnut oil — all made with care right here in California.

It’s a beautiful morning at the Aptos Farmers Market. Come meet your friends and enjoy this glorious fall morning! The market is open until noon. 🍁

#aptosfarmersmarket #montereybayfarmersmarkets #manzanitamanororganics #californiawalnuts #dryfarmed #shoplocal #eatlocal #farmersmarketfinds #supportlocalfarmers
#baking #holidaybaking

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✨ NEW CROP ALERT! ✨
Guess you can tell the fresh nut harvests have arrived at the farmers markets! Pick up new crop walnuts by the bag or in bulk from Minazzoli Farms today at the Monterey Farmers Market at Del Monte Shopping Center.

Walnuts are so versatile—enjoy them as a healthy snack, toast and toss into salads, stir into granola, or bake them into your favorite holiday treats. 

Find delicious walnut recipes at www.edibleparadise.com (link in bio). Be sure to check out our new Gifts From the Kitchen category featuring creative treats. 

#montereyfarmersmarket #delmonteshoppingcenter #minazzolifarms #newcropwalnuts #californianuts #eatlocal #supportlocalfarmers #edibleparadise #farmersmarketfinds #shoplocal #californiagrown #calfreshmontereycounty

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✨ NEW MARKET FIND! ✨
Basque Chili Powder from Borba Family Farms 🌶️

Stop by the Monterey Farmers Market at Del Monte Shopping Center today and pick up a jar of this beautifully aromatic spice made from peppers grown especially for drying. 

Basque Chili Powder lands somewhere between paprika and cayenne in heat—mild but lively, with a touch of sweetness and a whisper of smoke. It adds depth and warmth without overpowering a dish, making it a perfect everyday seasoning.

Try This!
• Swirl a pinch into scrambled eggs or drizzle over avocado toast.
• Whisk into vinaigrettes for gentle warmth and color.
• Blend into softened butter for grilled fish or corn on the cob.
• Sprinkle over roasted vegetables just before serving.

Tip: A little goes a long way—its mild heat and smoky sweetness add instant depth to any dish.

And…be sure to check out the new Basque recipes using this delightful spice at www.edibleparadise.com (link in bio). 

#delmonteshoppingcenter #montereyfarmersmarket #borbafamilyfarms #borbafarms #Basquechilipowder #chefs #marketfind #edibleparadiserecipes #californiagrown

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Meet Marguerite from Belle Farms! 

Belle Farms’ award-winning extra virgin olive oil has become a local legend — loved for its rich, vibrant flavor and handcrafted quality. Keep an eye out for their highly anticipated Olio Nuovo, the first press of the season, arriving in December fresh from the press! 

#aptosfarmersmarket #mbcfm #bellefarms #oliveoil #olionuovo #shoplocal #supportlocalfarmers #centralcoastgrown #farmersmarketfinds #holidaygifting californiagrown #calfreshmonterey

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