Serving up heirloom tomatoes at the Greater Springfield Farmers Market

The Market Lady, Lane McConnell, will visit the Christian County Farmers Market in Ozark, Mo., Tuesday, July 19.  The Market Lady and video crew will begin at 5:00 p.m., with one cooking demonstration incorporating products from the market and will be interviewing producers and consumers for various other segments.

“I strive to inform folks on the ease of preparing homemade meals for their families through shopping at the market,” said McConnell.  “Consumers can log on to our website or Facebook page to view short videos of interviews with the farmers that grow our food, topics such as food safety, organic, naturally grown and learn how to cook simple meals.”

The purpose of The Market Lady Project is to educate consumers about eating healthy, locally produced food found at their farmers market.

“We are excited to host The Market Lady and crew at the market and hope that consumers will come out to the market to watch the cooking demos,” said Market Master Bard Wilson.  “Lane will also have informational materials about local foods and recipe cards to share.”

Below is one recipe that The Market Lady will be preparing at the market. Be sure and come out to the Christian County Farmers Market on July 19 to meet the Market Lady and video producer Kelsie Young in the parking lot of the Community Center.

Watermelon-Cucumber Salad
Thinly sliced red onion
4 cups watermelon
1 cucumber
Mint leaves
Cashews
¼ cup olive oil
1 lemon
Salt and pepper to taste
Goat cheese or Feta

Soak 1/2 thinly sliced red onion in cold water. Pat dry 4 cups diced watermelon and 1 seeded and sliced cucumber; toss with a handful of thinly sliced mint. Drain the onion, squeeze dry and add to the salad along with some chopped cashews. Add 1/4 cup olive oil and the juice of 1/2 lemon; season with salt and toss. Top with crumbled goat cheese or feta.