Farmer’s Market Finds with Chef Gary
![Gary-Banner](https://healthywestorange.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Gary-Banner.jpg)
Chef Gary Appelsies,
Director of Healthy Eating, YMCA of Central Florida
One of the best places to find fresh produce in West Orange is at local farmer’s markets! We took a stroll around the Winter Garden Farmers Market with our friend Chef Gary Appelsies from the YMCA of Central Florida, and found tons of healthy goodies! Chef Gary has created two yummy recipes with our farmers market finds, and he taught our team member Heather how to make them! Check out the cooking demonstration below, and be sure to add these recipes to your cook book.
Farmer’s Market Frattata
4 Servings
Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 12 minutes
Kid-Friendly
TOOLS YOU’LL NEED
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Cutting board
- Chef’s knife
- Whisk
- Spatula
- 10″ nonstick, ovenproof skillet
- Mixing bowls
INGREDIENTS
- 8 eggs
- 1 cup spinach, roughly chopped
- ½ red onion, diced
- 1 cup assorted mushrooms, roughly chopped
- 1 tomato, thinly sliced in rounds
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ tablespoon butter
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Kosher salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 handful microgreens, for garnish (optional)
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven and beat eggs
Preheat the oven to 350°. As the oven is preheated, beat all 8 eggs in a mixing bowl.
Heat oil
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in your skillet on the stovetop.
Sauté spinach
Once the oil is hot, add spinach and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Sauté it until the spinach wilts. Remove it from the skillet and place it into a small bowl, setting it aside to cool.
Sauté onions and mushrooms
Using the same skillet, add in onions and mushrooms. Sauté until mushrooms begin to turn brown and the onions begin to soften. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
Add in butter
Add butter to the pan, swirling to coat the bottom.
Add in eggs
Make sure the mushrooms and onion are in a single layer and evenly distributed. Once the butter has melted, pour in the beaten eggs.
Drain spinach and add back into skillet
Squeeze out as much excess water as you can from the spinach and distribute evenly over the top of the mixture.
Top with tomato slices
Gently place the tomato slices over the egg mixture and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese.
Place skillet in oven
Once the edges begin to set, move the skillet to the oven and bake until the eggs are set in the center, about 8–12 minutes.
Transfer to a serving plate
Carefully, remove the skillet from the oven, and using a rubber spatula, gently slide the frittata to a serving plate.
Garnish and serve
Cut into 8 slices, and garnish with some additional cheese and microgreens if desired. Enjoy!
![Farmers-Market-Frittata](https://healthywestorange.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Farmers-Market-Frittata.jpg)
![Berry-Salad](https://healthywestorange.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Berry-Salad-1.jpg)
Berry Salad
6 Servings
Prep Time: 5 min | Inactive Time: 1-2 hours
Kid-Friendly
TOOLS YOU’LL NEED
- Measuring spoons
- Measuring cups
- Mixing bowl
- Rubber spatula
- Chef’s knife
INGREDIENTS
- ½ teaspoon fresh mint, chopped
- ½ teaspoon fresh basil, chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- Juice of half a lemon
- 2 tablespoons honey
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 cup strawberries, stems removed and cut in quarters
DIRECTIONS
Combine herb mixture
In a large mixing bowl, combine fresh herbs, lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, and cinnamon using a rubber spatula.
Add berries
Add your berries to the herb mixture.
Fold berries in gently
Using the rubber spatula, gently fold the berries in, being careful not to break or smash up the berries
Let mixture sit
Let mixture sit for 1-2 hours so all the flavors combine and meld together.
Garnish and serve
Garnish with fresh basil and fresh mint leaves. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Don’t these dishes look delicious?! For more healthy recipes, check out the YMCA of Central Florida’s Healthy Recipes page here.
P.S. Stay tuned for more cooking videos with Chef Gary!
![View More: http://jessicafriend.pass.us/garyappelsiesymca Gary Appelsies|Gary Appelsies](https://healthywestorange.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Gary-Bio-Pic.jpg)
About the Author
Gary Appelsies, is a Nutritionist, Chef, and Food and Beverage professional with more than 30 years of experience. His passion for food and nutrition has led him on a life long journey of helping people feel better through the food they eat and teaching the importance of healthy lifestyles. Chef Gary holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Culinary Arts and a Master’s Degree in Integrative Nutrition. He is also the co-founder of Culinary Cares, an organization that supports the community in times of need.
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Small changes can make a big difference to your health. Try incorporating at least six of the eight goals below into your diet.