Manhattan Beach Farmers Market, Homemade Carrot Soup, Kumquats & Bagel Shop

Tuesday was busy but really nice, pleasant day. Spring break is on, so kids and I decided to visit local Farmers market and take a walk at the ocean boardwalk. We were lucky to meet few wonderful and generous people that day. Afternoon was sweet filled with cooking, tasting and happy eating:)
Manhattan Beach Farmers Market was a real surprise.

This market has vendors who have great selection of produce and products to offer to customers.

Fresh, locally-grown fruits and veggies, flowers, plants, organic produce, dry fruits, nuts, hot and prepared artisan foods.

Every Tuesday rain or shine from 11-4pm.
http://www.mbfarmersmarket.com
At the market I met Secil, helpful lady from Arnett Farms.

For an astonishing 103 years the Arnett Family has been operating one of the best farms in California that specializes in oranges.
Arnett Farms, located in Fresno, grows over 200 different varieties of stone fruits, citrus, and berries, as well as apples and persimmons.
We decided to buy Kumquats, tiny looking like oranges and make something special- Canded Kumquats.
Market offers organic section too where I found lovely red carrots and later made beautiful creamy carrot soup.

On the way back from the market kids needed a little snack so we stop at the local Noah’s Bagel shop.

I am personally big fan of power bagels and new bagelthins.

” Noah’s® is a neighborhood based, deli inspired restaurant that serves a variety of signature sandwiches, fresh baked breads, home-style soups, tempting sweets and our award winning bagels.” As usual kids had toasted Asiago with cream cheese when friendly team member Felton approach us with a hot from the oven Apple cinnamon coffee cake and politely said that it was for us to share.

How sweet and kind! I was really surprised and I asked him if it’s all right if I put few pictures on my blog. He said that he would love that. So there it is, sweet delight, fresh and tasty. Brilliant with cup of coffee. Thank you.
http://www.noahs.com

Candied Kumquats Recipe

– 4 cups roughly chopped kumquats
– 1 cup water
– 1 cup brown sugar
– fresh mint

With a pairing knife roughly chop the kumquats.

Discard any seeds you can that are easy to get too, but they’re edible so don’t worry if some get chopped up or stay in the fruit. Feel free to leave any small kumquats whole. Heat the water and sugar over high heat until it comes to a boil. Simmer for 4 minutes. Add the kumquats and simmer for 20 minutes. Add fresh chopped mint.

Cool at the room temperature before transferring into the glass vacuum seal jar.

Can be stored for up to two weeks in the refrigirator. This recipe is gluten free.
Great addition to the fresh made waffles or any recipe that calls for dry fruits.
Like citrus fruits, kumquats also low in calories. 100 g of fresh fruit provide only 71 calories. Nevertheless, they are incredibly rich sources of health benefiting dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins and pigment anti-oxidants that contribute immensely to our health and wellness.

Cream of Carrots Soup

Makes 4 cups

Ingredients

1 bunch of fresh red and orange carrots
1 pear
1 red onion, broiled
Italian parsley
sea salt, for taste
freshly ground pepper corns for the taste
1/2 cup non fat sour cream, gluten free
1 cup broth (from cooked carrots)

Wash and cut carrots, coarse ends.
Peal the onion and put it in the broiler till grilled texture is visible and aroma fill in the kitchen:)
Using medium sauce pan add: carrots, pear, onion, pepper and little salt.

Boil for 30 minutes.
Using blender pour the ingredients slowly, add sour cream, season with salt and pepper.

Blend on medium, gradually adding broth till desired consistency.
Serve warm with homemade crackers.

Carrot soup recipe is also gluten free.
I was on the roll that day and really in the mood to prepare and cook lovely things so I also made beautiful homemade crackers. Recipe and more at the next post:)

Carrots do stand out for their higher fiber content, so if you’re looking to increase your daily intake up higher, that’s the first big benefit that they will offer. Carrots are also very well known for their Vitamin C content, but that’s not all they’ll provide. They are also a rich source of Vitamin B6, Folate, Pantothenic acid, iron, potassium, as well as copper.
Much higher than their vitamin C content, carrots are finally an extremely good source of Vitamin A with a hundred grams supplying you with 276% of your total daily value.