Farmers Markets, strawberries and a recipe: This week's Second Helping column

Considering the high price of groceries these days, you might want to check out one of the many farmers markets opening across the region in coming weeks.

Paducah’s Downtown Farmers Market opened last week. Vendor Danny Garrett said produce growers like himself appreciate the ability to rent a booth cheaply while the city provides advertising. “It’s a fun place,” he said. “People like to come down there.”

He plans to set up a booth later this month to sell strawberries.

Farmers Market locations include Murray on Saturday mornings on the court square and Golconda, Ill., on Saturdays from 7 a.m. to noon. Other communities also have farmers markets or roadside stands. Some farmers also set up shop in their front yard to hawk fresh produce.

Good ol'Red Berries

Strawberries might be the only thing that enjoyed the nasty wet weather this spring.

The red berries should present a good crop if early picking is any indication, said McCracken County farmer Danny Garrett.

The first picking on Saturday yielded 75 gallons, and he anticipated finishing Monday with 200 to 250 gallons at his Hardmoney Road farm.

“The weather was bad, but it wasn’t bad for strawberries,” he said. “Last year, we had the freeze. This year, it stayed cold all winter long. The flavor is excellent.

They’re not as sweet as they will be.”

And since strawberries are in season, send me your best recipes to use this beautiful (and nutritious) homegrown favorite. Send to llandini@paducahsun.com or leave comments on the Second Helping blog at www.paducahsun.com.

Breakin' Out Bikinis

Summer looms around the corner, and that means time to dare to bare in a swimsuit. Campbell’s Kitchen wants to help people find healthy recipes that fit in with popular diet programs.

By signing up online at www.campbellswellness.com, people can access an inbox filled with healthy recipes and diet tips each week. The first issue features recipes for garden vegetable soup and savory vegetables.

Don't Miss the Midday

When you’re busy, it’s tempting to skip lunch and keep working. The habit tends to lead to overeating later in the day. I found a healthy lunch recipe that could be prepared in advance. It’s a tad garlic heavy, so you might want to pop in a piece of sugar-free gum or risk your co-workers’ wrath in the afternoon.

Turkey Veggie Wrap
1 cucumber
1/4 cup fat free sour cream
1 teaspoon finely chopped roasted garlic
2 (11x7-inch) multi-grain flatbreads
1 cup fresh spinach leaves, washed, stems removed
8 ounces sliced deli turkey breast
4 (1-ounce) slices reduced fat Swiss cheese
1/4 cup shredded carrot
1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper

Instructions:
Use a vegetable peeler; peel 6 thin lengthwise ribbon-like slices from cucumber. Set aside.
Combine sour cream and garlic in small bowl. Spread 1 side of each flatbread with sour cream mixture.
Top each flatbread with 1/2 cup spinach leaves, 3 ounces turkey, 2 slices cheese, half of carrot, half of bell pepper and 3 cucumber slices.
Roll up starting at 11-inch side; cut each wrap in half. Secure with toothpicks.
Nutritional facts: 240 calories; 7 g fat; 45 mg cholesterol; 750 mg sodium; 21 g carbohydrates; 8 g dietary fiber; 26 g protein.

Leigh Landini Wright, The Paducah Sun’s features editor, can be contacted at 575-8658 or llandini@paducahsun.com