Meal Planning & Shopping Michigan’s Specialty Crops this Fall

I’m not the best or most prolific cook, but I do love the challenge of incorporating Michigan’s in-season specialty crops into my food prep and planning, which lights a fire under my butt to cook better–and more often.

Before I head to my favorite farmers market, I look at their Facebook page to scan the produce the vendors will be bringing in and build my menu around that, a fun little challenge to keep me eating more greens, cooking more and getting more familiar with what’s in season and who’s growing my food.

This week at South Lansing Farmers Market, I did my typical research and decided to pick up produce for my meal that evening: garlic parmesan kale pasta and then weekend kabobs for my camping trip up north. I bought bell peppers and kale from Khoua’s Veggies and fingerling potatoes and garlic from Nodding Thistle Farm. You can see below I’m consulting the farmers on which potato variety would work best for roasting or for kabobs! Love when I’m clueless, I can just ask the experts, they’re right there.

I decided on garlic parmesan kale pasta since I already had half the ingredients at home: angel hair pasta and parmesan cheese. To re-create this meal, read on!

Garlic Parmesan Kale Pasta

Boil half-pound of angel hair pasta 5-7 minutes and separately while water is boiling for noodles, saute two tablespoons of olive oil and two tablespoons of butter with two cloves of garlic.

Cook for two minutes and add in your kale bunch! I first rinsed off the kale and pulled them into 1-inch pieces and let them saute for 5-7 minutes.

Once I drain the water from the pasta, I add in more butter and olive oil to the noodles along with a little salt, pepper and a healthy sprinkle of red pepper flakes to add some heat.

I stir the pasta and then let it cool a little. Next, I mix in the garlic and kale–and add parmesan cheese. And I tossed a little extra parmesan cheese on top of the plate since I love cheese.

This made enough for two (and plenty leftover for my lunch the following day!)

This post is sponsored by Michigan Farmers Market Association

Looking for a farmers market in Michigan near you? I regularly consult this map!

Photography by Emily Mata