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| Article featured in the Davis Enterprise, March 1, 2012 |
Ann M. Evans, co-author of the cookbook, co-founder of the Davis Farmers Market and friend shared with us some of her favorite summer recipes from the Davis Farmers Market Cookbook and why the book means so much to her. We hope you enjoy her stories and recipes as much as we do! Thank you Ann.
Ann M. Evans - Why this book means so much to me:
For me, writing this book is a dream come true. I’ve wanted to write a cookbook for a decade. So completing this takes a big one off my “to do” list. This book is more than a cookbook though. Through the Introduction, I was able to share my story about the market, which is such an integral part of my history. I co-founded it with Thaddeus, Noah and Freman's parents Martin Barnes and Kathy Barsotti, and others while in college, along with the Davis Food Cooperative. While mayor of Davis, I helped the Central Park expand and build a permanent structure for the market – still the only new public structure for a market in California, which is a shame. And more recently, I chaired the board of directors for six years during which time I introduced a non-profit, tax-exempt foundation (Davis Farmers Market Foundation), and worked with long time market manager Randii MacNear and the board to encourage food vendors to use product from the market in their prepared foods, and integrate recycling concept into operation of the market.
I was able to share many of my favorite recipes from a collection I’ve created over the years, with some personal reflections on people or events that I associate with those recipes. Food always has a memory, which is part of what I love about it. And it goes without saying perhaps, but I’ll give a shout out to them both. To coauthor a book with Georgeanne Brennan, one of my top favorite cookbook authors, was a personal privilege and I learned so very much from her, from writing head notes in the special voice we use in the book, to preparing for photo shoots. And then of course, to have Alice Waters, one of my heroines in life, write the foreword to our book is a great honor, and I feel blessed to know and work with her on school lunch.
Ann's Favorite Recipes for this Season:
Choosing a favorite from the book is hard because I love them all, so here are a few...
For summer, it’s a toss up between Old-Fashioned Apricot Pie (p83) and Zucchini and Gruyere Gratin (p110). Pie, because I’m a pie girl – and apricot pie is one of my two favorite pies (my other is California Lime Pie – but that’s in the winter p220). If piecrust is an issue, which it is for many, go ahead and buy a piecrust – with the apricot filling you can’t go wrong. And if you’re feeling sassy, top it with some ice cream, homemade or otherwise. My favorite is French Vanilla.
For savory, I like the Zucchini and Gruyere Gratin. With this gratin I can use all the zucchini I grow in my garden, plus a few of my chicken’s eggs. It’s delicious, light, and easy to make. It won’t heat up your summer kitchen either as it only takes 30 minutes.
Cookbook Winners!
Congratulations to our 36 Cookbook Giveaway winners! All winners have been notified via email. Thank you again to everyone who participated.
Click on the names to see the winners' comments and recipes - Strawberry-Basil Pops, Fava Bean Risotto, Green Goddess Dressing, Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic and more!
Thanks again to Ann M. Evans for sharing her wonderful stories and recipes with us! Be sure to check out The Davis Farmers Market Cookbook - available now!
