The Adventure of a Detour

There’s something about the start of a new year that causes us to pause, to reevaluate our daily lives and to ponder a change. I’m not big on formal resolutions but I do find myself wanting to stretch myself a bit, learn something new, dust off the proverbial cobwebs and I must say, I’m usually rewarded for stepping outside the box.

Two years ago in January, feeling that same pull toward adventure, I was on my way home from errands in West Houston, when I suddenly decided to detour from my usual route and happened upon the cutest little farmer's market.

This market, the Memorial Villages Farmers Market, is located in Hunters Creek Village at 10840 Beinhorn Road. The market runs every Saturday, rain or shine, 9 am - 1 pm.

I found a parking spot and headed straight for a stand that was selling coffee. I took a stroll around the market and took in all the beautiful colors of the seasonal fruits, vegetables and flowers. I talked to several of the vendors who were not only knowledgeable about their products, but were so kind and personable. That day, I took home a dozen fresh eggs, beautiful mushrooms and a bag full of leeks.

A recent farmers market haul

Feeling inspired and wanting to make sure my fresh produce went to good use, I decided to make a Mushroom Leek Frittata. The eggs had the deepest golden yolks, the kind you only find in free range hens and the leeks and mushrooms were at the peak of perfection. Here is my recipe:

Photo from Bon Appétit

Mushroom Leek Frittata

 INGREDIENTS

4 large eggs, beaten                                                                  

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced and sautéed                                

1 tbsp butter

1/2 cup leeks, sliced and sautéed                                                

1/4 tsp salt & pinch of pepper

1/2 cup Comté or Fontina, shredded + more to top

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Mix all the ingredients, except butter, in a bowl.

2. Heat a non-stick skillet or well-seasoned, cast iron skillet, over medium-high heat and add the butter until melted and covering entire bottom of pan.

3. Add the egg mixture to the hot pan. Allow it to cook for about 2 min. or until the butter starts to bubble around the edges and you can see that the eggs are just starting to set. 

4. Transfer to oven and bake 15 min. or until set. Top with extra cheese and broil 1-2 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and serve hot. 

 
My creation turned out to be absolutely delicious, healthy yet seemingly indulgent and I have made it time and time again. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family has. This dish can be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner, or as the star of a fabulous brunch. My unplanned detour revealed a hidden gem and certainly helped upgrade my table with local produce. I now visit this market often and always enjoy picking out produce just picked from the field and chatting with the growers and makers.

Sharing this memory has reminded me of what we can discover when we step off the beaten path. As we welcome the new year I want to make an effort to welcome new experiences in the world around me. This is such a vibrant city, with an endless number of places to explore. Let's discover the city together!