To Market, to Market, to Market, I will go...

The Farmer's Market season started last month. Though I've missed a few days, the season has been good to me so far. Despite every intention to be more efficient and less procrastinatory this year over last, it appears that when your genes are hard-coded to be a scatter-brained slacker, you really just have to roll with it.

However, I've finally learned that I can't try all new recipes each week; that I have to have a small collection of standards that I always make because people get used to them and want to buy them each week. This is a good thing, of course but it's hard because it's kind of boring. But I will endure.

I've also finally realized that not everyone loves strawberry and pink peppercorns Linzer cookies, oolong tea donuts or pandan macarons despite how much I insist "Oh my God, you will LOVE these!" Often, "you" don't and I will offer you a cinnamon roll, instead. Those are usually safe. Well, except for this Sunday. I think I'm going to stuff them with bacon and figs.

Last summer, I think I averaged about 17 different items each week topping out at 20 on one spectacularly productive weekend. This meant that I hit the kitchen Friday night, prepped for hours. Returned to the kitchen on Saturday morning and didn't leave until Sunday when I packed the car and headed to the Market. Like childbirth, it was painful, exhausting and I vowed to quit every Sunday morning.

And in keeping with the spirit of childbirth, I promptly forgot how awful it was once I hit the Market and started jawing with people. By the time I packed up the booth at 1pm, I found myself thinking about the following week's bake list and what secret, unusual ingredient I could foist on the unsuspecting Marketeer.

BUT, this year, I promised myself that I would bake less copiously, pace the prep to avoid the epic kitchen odysseys and I would focus on ways to make the entire process enjoyable. So far, no luck.

I just don't think I'm wired for self-preservation.

So come to The Frederick City Market on Sunday, 9am - 1pm. I'll be there with my bloodshot eyes, hastily made coffee and any combination of the following depending on how badly I budget my time this weekend:
Pretzel Croissants, ANZAC Biscuits, Soy Sauce Black Sesame Chocolate Chip Cookies, Grapefruit Sugar Cookies, Bacon Fig Cinnamon Rolls, Honey, Raspberry & Brie Sweet Pizza, Tabbouleh Bread, Nectarine Curd Tarts with a Brown Butter Oat Crust (GF), Vegan Carrot Cake, Vegan Coconut Blueberry Scones, Citrus Honey Yogurt Cakes(GF), Garlic Sun Dried Tomato Goat Cheese Spirals, something Maple-y and Lime Prickly Pear Cupcakes - Oh my God! You will LOVE them. I swear.

Wait, how many is that?