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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Cornbread is one of America’s most enduring comfort foods, tracing its humble roots back to the earliest colonial kitchens. When the first settlers arrived in North America, wheat flour was scarce, so they turned to the local grain that Indigenous peoples had cultivated for centuries — corn. Native Americans had long used ground corn for...
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A new market find from Borba Family Farms! Move over, black pepper—there’s a new spice in town! The Basque Chili Powder from Borba Family Farms adds a burst of color and gentle heat that transforms everyday cooking into something special. Hand-grown and carefully dried right here on the Central Coast, this small-batch seasoning is inspired...
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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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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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Pacific Rare Nursery has Little Gem lettuce starts that are ready for planting! Did you know lettuce grows beautifully in pots? Even better—if you harvest just the outer leaves, the plant will keep producing all season long.

We love planting Little Gems alongside a mix of other lettuces for fresh spring and summer salads, right outside the kitchen door.

#montereyfarmersmarket #growyourownfood #lettucelovers #containergardening #supportlocalgrowers

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A visit to Cavanaugh Color Nursery is like stepping into a living palette of color! From vibrant flowering potted plants to seasonal favorites that brighten patios, gardens, and doorsteps, their healthy plants are grown to thrive in our area.

Stop by their booth today and take home a little color for your garden—or a perfect plant to share.

The Monterey Farmers Market is open until noon.

#montereyfarmersmarket #supportlocalgrowers #seasonalblooms #gardeninspiration #plantlovers

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Donna Dirt Farms’ booth features a wonderful array of dried herbs, her signature herb blend seasoning, and dried citrus and chiles. Stop by to say hello—Donna loves sharing tips and ideas for using her herbs and spices to add depth, warmth, and brightness to your cooking.

The Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center is open until noon today.

#montereyfarmersmarket #driedherbs #localmakers #cookwithherbs #donnadirtfarm

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✨ New from Bay Living Culinary at the Aptos Farmers Market! ✨

We’re excited to share something delicious from Bay Living Culinary. Chef Jody—whose cooking many of you already love—has launched Entrées of the Week: fresh, ready-to-heat-and-serve meals designed to generously serve two people.

Each week’s entrées are crafted with seasonal ingredients sourced right from the farmers market, showcasing the best local flavors in comforting, beautifully prepared dishes. It’s an easy way to bring farmers-market goodness straight to your table—no prep required.

🧑‍🍳 How to order:

✔️ Place your order at the Bay Living Culinary booth at the Aptos Farmers Market for the following week

✔️ Or call/text 831-726-6855 to order directly

Come say hello, meet Chef Jody, and treat yourself to a weeknight (or weekend!) meal that feels special, local, and made with care.

#baylivingculinary #aptosfarmersmarket #cabrillocollege

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Nothing says spring quite like a fresh bouquet of fragrant narcissus. You’ll find these beautiful blooms — and so much more — at Gatanaga Nursery’s booth this morning at the Aptos Farmers Market.

Hope to see you soon!

#gatanaganursery #daffodils #springiscoming #aptosfarmersmarket

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Even though the market opens at 8 am, our farmers and vendors arrive much earlier to set up for the day. This morning, we were greeted by the most beautiful sunrise — a perfect start to another day with our farmers market family. 🌞

The Aptos Farmers Market is open until noon. Come by and stock up for the week.

#aptosfarmersmarket #cabrillocollege #saturday #californiagrown

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✨Comfort food at its best!✨ Chef Jody of Bay Living Culinary will be serving up fresh hot biscuits and gravy alongside her award-winning chowder Saturday, January 17 at the Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College. Come hungry — you’ll be glad you did! It’s the perfect way to fuel up before strolling the market, chatting with farmers, and discovering what’s in season.

The Aptos Farmers Market will be open 8-12. 

#aptosfarmersmarket #baylivingculinary #hotbiscuits #awaredwinningchowder #breakfast

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Good morning from the Monterey Farmers Market at the Del Monte Shopping Center. We’re open today until noon. 

First stop—Amen Bee! Lynne brings an incredible variety of local, raw honey to the markets — each with its own flavor, color, and character. From pine and sage to red raspberry and wildflower, each jar tells a different seasonal story, shaped by local blooms and hardworking bees.

Here are just a few benefits of raw honey:

🐝  Naturally rich in antioxidants that support overall wellness

🐝  Unfiltered and raw, preserving enzymes and beneficial compounds

🐝  May help support seasonal allergy tolerance when sourced locally

🐝  Gentler on blood sugar than refined sugars (and far more flavorful)

🐝  Naturally antibacterial, long valued for soothing sore throats and coughs

🐝  Reflects local landscapes, with flavor shaped by regional blossoms

#amenbee #rawhoney #delmonteshoppingcenter #montereyfarmersmarket #honey

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Good morning from the Aptos Farmers Market at Cabrillo College! It’s a chilly one today, so bundle up and come say hello. 🥶

Prevedelli’s Farms local organic apples are a weekly staple—crisp, juicy, and full of flavor. Prefer them tart? Check. Sweet? Check. And while we’ll never say no to apple pie 🤭, apples shine just as beautifully in savory dishes, like braised red cabbage.

One of our favorites this time of year is an Apple, Onion, and Gorgonzola Quiche—perfect for a cozy brunch or easy dinner. You’ll find this recipe (and more) on our companion site, Edible Paradise.

The farmers market is open until noon. 

#prevedellifarms #edibleparadise #aptosfarmersmarket #apples

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✨ New at the Aptos Farmers Market! ✨

We’re excited to share something delicious from Bay Living Culinary. Chef Jody—whose cooking many of you already love—has launched Entrées of the Week: fresh, ready-to-heat-and-serve meals designed to generously serve two people.

Each week’s entrées are crafted with seasonal ingredients sourced right from the farmers market, showcasing the best local flavors in comforting, beautifully prepared dishes. It’s an easy way to bring farmers-market goodness straight to your table—no prep required.

🧑‍🍳 How to order:

✔️ Place your order at the Bay Living Culinary booth at the Aptos Farmers Market for the following week

✔️ Or call/text 831-726-6855 to order directly

Come say hello, meet Chef Jody, and treat yourself to a weeknight (or weekend!) meal that feels special, local, and made with care.

#baylivingculinary #aptosfarmersmarket #cabrillocollege

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