Seasonal Shopping: Fast and Easy Cooking

Featured Pro: Sam Talbot
Category: Cooking
Time: 2:10


SAM TALBOT: I’m Sam Talbot, about to give you a Trade Secret brought to you by the GMC Terrain.

So many people think that cooking takes so much time and preparation. Not the case at all when you’re buying from a farmers’ market. These ingredients are so delicious on their own, it literally cuts the time in half.

One of my tricks that I always do is always come with a list. There are so many beautiful things in there, it’s really easy to get sidetracked. Just write it down. Keep it simple.

The best thing about seasonal cooking is that these fruits and vegetables are so naturally delicious, they really don’t need a lot of sauces or marinades. It’s really just the addition of olive oil, sea salt or lemon, and you're good to go.

Take, for example, strawberries, one of my favorite summer fruits. They’re really versatile, obviously very sweet, full of flavor. The possibilities are endless. You can put them into a pie. You can put them into a cobbler. Sometimes, for a quick little tip, I like to cut the top off, soak it in one part water, two parts vinegar, a touch of sugar, some cinnamon sticks, some other different flavorings, and do a quick pickle for about two hours, then serve them alongside grilled beef, grilled fish – really, really awesome.

Chefs always love summer zucchini and squash. We love to saute it. We love to steam it. We love to put it with soft-shell crab. You can put it with filet of fish. One of my favorite things to do with it is literally just keep it raw. You could take a knife or a mandolin, cut it paper-thin, add a really good olive oil, some fresh lemon juice, a little lemon zest with some sea salt. You could also add some fresh herbs. And I’m telling you, people will go crazy for it.

Tomatoes in season are a must, must have. They’re a staple in my kitchen, they’re a staple in my restaurant, and they should be a staple in your home. They’re so versatile. You can do so many different things. You can stuff them. You can roast them, even char tomatoes in something like a fish taco – amazing.

Having beautiful fresh herbs like this that were literally plucked from the ground yesterday and brought here are essential to quick and healthy cooking. Just a little bit goes a long way. You could use it in a chimichurri. You could use it in a sauce. You could use it in a vinaigrette. Take, for instance, fresh lavender – beautiful purple color and a really intense floral flavor. It’s really easy to use. Literally all you do is take the stem like this, just shut the leaves off, fold it with fresh honey, a little bit of lemon juice, and it’s an amazing treat.

You’ve got to make the time over the weekend to come to the farmers’ market. Just a touch of preplanning, grabbing your fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, it can really lead to some healthy meals during the next week.