Three Great Hudson Valley Foods

Just back from the Hudson Farmers' Market.  Bought a small mountain of garlic to put in a dark, cool place and save for the fall.

Bought tomatoes - they've been fantastic this year - and corn (also a great season), and prune plums.  The late strawberries are in, and I bought those too, along with watermelon, blueberries and shishito peppers. I was on my way out when I saw the Rockerbox stand, and bought this bottle of dried, unadulterated garlic flakes.  It will be perfect in the winter, when my hoarded garlic's gone. Then I made the mistake of opening a jar of  black garlic powder.  The aroma came leaping out -  the scent is insanely intense - so I bought that too.

I managed not to stop in at Bonfiglio Bakery for one of their irresistible lemon puffs. The bakery makes them only on Saturday, and they always sell out. Rich and flaky, with a heart of lemon custard, eaten warm they're one of the best things on earth.

Now I'm sorry I skipped them.

But I did stop in at Little Ghent Farm for a loaf of their superb sourdough bread.  This is the most picture-perfect farm you'll ever see and I always end up buying more than I expect. Today: eggs, liver pate and sausage.

Now I'm about to slice the bread, salt the tomatoes, fry some bacon and make BLTs. They are never better than they are right now.