Market education

Michelle showed up at 8am sharp with her canvas tote and a mission. “We’re getting you real ingredients,” she announced, like my regular grocery store tomatoes had personally offended her.

Market education

Two hours later, my kitchen counter looks like a produce rainbow exploded. She spent twenty minutes teaching me how to identify perfectly ripe heirloom tomatoes - apparently there’s a whole science involving firmness, smell, and some mystical “give” that only comes with experience. Who knew?

Expert consultation in progress.

Jake walked in from his run to find us conducting what he called “tomato graduate school.” Michelle’s already planning next week’s market trip. I’m starting to think this was less about my cooking and more about having a farmers market buddy who doesn’t judge her for buying six different varieties of the same vegetable.

The real test comes tonight when I actually have to turn these prize specimens into something edible. Michelle left me detailed notes. No pressure.