Market On The Move

This weekend I got a box full of produce for $10!!!!!!!  YES, I'm serious!!!

Here's how it works:
Market On The Move is a program of The 3000 Club, a nonprofit, charitable organization of like-minded people who bond together in order to rescue millions of pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables that would otherwise go in the trash.  They set up shop every Saturday and some Sundays, across the valley, to get fresh produce out to the community.  Locations are listed on their website. For a $100 annual membership, you can go to any pick up site, once a week, or just pay $10 each visit.
I went to pick up my veggies at a synagogue down the street from my house this past Sunday.  I was greeted warmly by a volunteer who asked me to sign in with my name and e-mail address.  I paid my $10 and got an enormous box to fill up.  The veggies were displayed on several long table.  I started at one end and just slid my box along down the row as I made my selections.  I ended up not filling my giant box to the brim because I wasn't sure how much I would really use and/or be able to share.  I ended up with enough to share with 4  families and still had plenty for my household. 

Here is what I came home with:
17 hot house tomatoes
10 eggplant
4 green bell peppers
16 zucchinis
6 pints of grape tomatoes

The selection is different every week.  

Here are some of the things I made with my loot.

Roasted Eggplant Spread

Thanks to Torey and Ina Garten for this delicious recipe.  I gave some to my Mom who put it in carne asada burritos last night and said it was super yummy.  I also tastes great on pita chips.  Today I spread it on a French bread from Fresh and Easy (98 cents), added mozzarella and parmesan and voila, a pizza!

Zucchini Bread

Thank you to Paula Deen for this recipe.  I did, however, make a few adjustments.  Instead of 3 cups of sugar, I did one cup of white sugar and one cup of brown sugar.  It was plenty sweet.  I added 1 tsp. or vanilla and one mashed up banana.  This recipe makes two loaves.

Homemade Tomato Sauce

This is something that my hubby and do often but it has no exact recipe.
8 tomatoes, diced
1/2 green bell pepper, diced
2 cloves garlic
Italian seasoning
oregano
red pepper flakes
olive oil
salt
pepper

Heat 2 tbsp. of olive oil in a sauce pan.  Add 2 cloves of minced garlic and saute for about 1 minute.  Add the green peppers and tomatoes.  Add all the seasoning to taste and let simmer for 20-30 minutes.  Serve over pasta with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.  Super fresh tasting and easy.

I used the sauce again today to make a kid friendly version of the French bread, eggplant spread pizza that I described above.

I will definitely be visiting Market On The Move again next weekend. 
Hope to see you there!