Baked goods from Words and Food at Bayou City Farmers Market
When investigating the goods sold by the local vendors at the Houston area farmers markets, the pimento cheese from Words & Food kept finding its way into my conversations. Other vendors recommended it. The customers gushed over it to no end. So this past weekend I made it my mission to seek out Janice Schindeler's legendary pimento cheese. I would love to print an in-depth interview of the inside-scoop about Ms. Schindeler and Words and Food. But I'm a little embarrassed to say that I walked up to the Words and Food booth, and became completely overwhelmed by the glorious loaves of fresh baked breads and the thought of the much anticipated pimento cheese. I made my purchase and scurried away, barely able to resist my compulsion to taste it on my way home. I gave some serious thought to pulling over and spreading some on the toasted French bread rounds that come with it.
Fresh local strawberries at Houston farmers markets
Needless to say, I'm a pimento cheese lover. I love my own mother's recipe, so I couldn't wait to see if Ms. Schindeler's could compare. Once home, I quickly put my other purchases away and prepared for "the tasting." No one else in my family cares much for this wondrous spread, but that quickly changed after "the tasting." As I took my first bite, I felt a crowd circling around me. My two young children were tugging on my pants, and my husband was peering over my shoulder. It only took me one toast-round to become a member of the fan club. Ms. Schindeler's pimento cheese is a tangy combination of just the right amount of chopped onions and black pepper. It makes a much prettier presentation using white cheddar cheese instead of the traditional orange day-glow that yellow cheddar cheese tends to make. Much to my chagrin, the rest of my family also loved the new found treat I was planning to hoard during the week. Our little 8 ounce tub did not last long as we sat on the floor taking turns with the spreader. I thought to myself, my 2 year old surely won't like it with the onions. Boy was I wrong, even the pickiest eater among us couldn't get enough. That itself is a heck of a review considering how much food this child spits out at each meal. It didn't last long enough to get a picture of it spread on the beautiful toast rounds, but a picture wouldn't do it justice. You can do your own taste test of Ms. Schindeler's pimento cheese at her Words and Food booth on Saturday mornings at Bayou City Farmers Market and on Tuesdays from 3:30 until 7 p.m. at the Houston Farmers Market at Rice University. You can't miss the booth, just look for the sign saying "Best Pimento Cheese" from HoustonPress. Also check out this month's edition of "My Table" magazine featuring "One Insider's Story" written by Janice Schindeler to hear more about how she became a vendor at Houston's farmers markets.
Fresh strawberries, orange and mango with chopped mint
One of the highlights right now at Houston farmers markets is strawberries. They are perfectly ripened and bursting with flavor. They are delicious served with pound cake, or as part of a fruit salad. They pair nicely with fresh chopped mint also available among the herbs cut for the farmers market each week. For a quick dessert or complement to breakfast or brunch, slice a pint of strawberries, and toss with one tablespoon of chopped fresh mint. Let it sit for 15 minutes, and serve. Add in orange segments, kiwi or fresh mango for color and added flavor.
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