A visit to a local farmer's market proved to be a wonderful experience. There was a huge array of tropical fruits, local grown seasonal produce, fresh herbs, sunflowers and more!What a way to support local growers and revamp the creative juices in my kitchen. There were so many good choices but I narrowed down my list and chose mint, opal basil, baby potatoes, a red bell pepper, mango, corn, fresh local-grown, ripe tomatoes, an orange, bananas and an avocado. I plan to use them during the week and have posted a few recipes and ideas below.The mango and orange were sliced for a rather delectable breakfast treat. The mango literally tasted like candy, it was so ripe! I plan to try more tropical fruits the next time I go - there were many from the area that I have not heard of before.The tomatoes were astounding - they were so ripe, juicy and delicious. We ate some of them sliced fresh with just a little oil, vinegar and black pepper. Later on in the day I roasted some of the tomatoes for a simple angel hair pasta dish with roasted marinara, complete with the opal basil that was also at the market.Why should you attend a farmers' market?

• A fun family outing
• Exercise and Vitamin D from walking around outside
• Learn more about local in-season produce
• Try new foods
• Eat more fruits and vegetables
• Get produce that is fresher, better tasting, and naturally ripe
• Support local growers
• Motivation to cook at home more

Here is what you should bring:

• Cash
• Comfortable shoes and sun glasses
• A shopping bag(s) to carry your items home
• Cooler with ice in case you have other errands to run afterwards - some items like leafy lettuce and fresh herbs may not hold up that well in a hot car.
• If you arrive early there is more parking and selections. But if you arrive later you can often get more bargains. Either way be sure to go!

Here are favorite recipes using Farmer's Market Ingredients:Open-Faced Fish Sandwich Dinner:1 fillet of fish, baked1 slice whole grain toast2 slices fresh tomatoes1/2 tsp low-fat mayonnaise

1. Assemble sandwich with toast on the bottom then fish and tomatoes on top.
2. Serve with these items on the side to make a complete meal:

• 2 cups leafy green salad tossed with fresh lemon juice• 1 potato made into oven fries with salt-free ketchup (bake sliced potato wedges for 20 minutes at 425 degrees)• 1 cup fresh mint tea (boil fresh mint for one minute and then chill over ice)

Serves 1: 432 calories, 5.5 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 43 mg cholesterol, 384 mg sodium, 10.5 g fiber, 72 g carbohydrate, 27 g protein

 Angel Hair Market Pasta8 ounces angel hair pasta, dry3 large, ripe tomatoes, cored, halved and seeded1/2 onion, peeled and quartered1/4 cup fresh chopped basil dash granulated garlicdash dried oregano4 tablespoons grated parmesan1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper

1. Cook pasta according to package directions then drain and hold.
2. Meanwhile, preheat your oven broiler. Place tomatoes and onion side up in a large baking dish.
3. Roast the vegetables under the broiler until skins turn very brown and blisters - about 10 minutes. Place herbs and onions into a food processor or blender. Puree briefly until basil is chopped fine then add the tomatoes and puree until almost smooth. Reheat sauce and toss with cooked angel hair pasta. Sprinkle 1 grated parmesan and fresh cracked black pepper over the top of each.

Serves 4. Each 1-1/2 cup serving: 256 calories, 2.5 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 4 mg cholesterol, 81 mg sodium, 47 g carbohydrate, 2.5 g fiber, 10 g protein.Simple Boiled Corn:Husk the corn and boil in a large pot of water for 3 minutes. Drain and serve hot. We like to top with fresh lemon and spray margarine. If you prepare a large amount in advance you can use the leftovers in salads and salsas during the week.Per cob: 156 calories, 1.5 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 0 mg cho- lesterol, 399 mg sodium, 36 g carbo- hydrate, 4.5 g fiber, 5 g protein.Farmer's Market Salad:1 cucumber, partially peeled and seeds removed1/4 red bell pepper, sliced thin1/2 tsp olive oil1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar1 tablespoon fresh sliced basilblack pepper - freshly cracked - to tastegarlic parsley blendToss together and serve.Serves 4. Each 1/2 cup serving: 13 calories, .5 g fat, 0 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 1 mg sodium, 2 g carbohydrate, .5 g fiber, 0 g protein.Each meal: 424 calories, 5 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 4 mg cho- lesterol, 481 mg sodium, 86 g carbo- hydrate, 7.5 g fiber, 16 g protein.

 Download a free Farmer's Market Handout and Tip SheetTo find a farmer’s market near you, visit http://www.localharvest.org/