From Farm to Table: Making A Farmer’s Market Meal

Anna Jaques Hospital Nutrition

From Farm to Table: Making A Farmer’s Market Meal

There’s something almost magical about a Farmers Market…the atmosphere, the anticipation of seeing which delicious and nutritious foods are available, and the promise of whipping up an amazing farm-fresh meal when you get home. Seasonal fruits and veggies as well as specialty foods such as breads, cheese and pasta are often available at area markets. You can create simple meals rich in flavor like the one-pot veggie pasta recipe below.

Anna Jaques proudly supports The Newburyport Farmers’ Market year-round. Visit www.thenewburyportfarmersmarket.org for upcoming dates and locations.  

One Pot Veggie Pasta

Makes 6 servings.
Per serving: 230 calories, 7.5 g total fat, 31g carbohydrate, 9 g protein

Ingredients
4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
8 oz. fettuccini or spaghetti, uncooked
1 small onion, halved and sliced thin
1 lb. broccoli crowns, cut into large florets (about 2 cups)
1.5 lbs. asparagus, ends broken off and cut into 2” pieces
4-8 oz. sliced cremini mushrooms (about 1-2 cups)
4 cups fresh baby spinach
5 large cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (less for milder heat; more to increase heat)
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 small handful fresh parsley, chopped (about 1/2 cup chopped)
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. freshly grated lemon zest

Instructions

  • Add the broth, pasta, onion, broccoli, asparagus, mushrooms, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to a large pot set over high heat.
  • Drizzle the olive oil over the top.
  • As soon as it comes to a boil, set the timer for 7 minutes and start tossing constantly with long-handled tongs.  
  • Continue boiling and tossing.
  • As soon as the 7 minutes is up, add the parsley, heavy whipping cream, Parmesan, and lemon zest and continue cooking, tossing constantly, for 1-2 more minutes, until the pasta and veggies appear tender.
  • Remove from heat.  
  • Allow pasta to sit for a couple of minutes to cool; the sauce will continue to thicken during that time.
  • Garnish with additional Parmesan cheese and a fresh parsley sprig.

**Recipe adapted by the Anna Jaques Hospital Nutrition Department from www.ohmyveggies.com 2011-2014.

SIDEBAR

TRUE or FALSE?  
Pasta can never be part of a balanced, healthy meal plan?  

FALSE.  While it is true that large portions of pasta should be avoided, small portions (no more than 1 cup of cooked pasta per meal) can occasionally be included as part of a balanced meal. A great example is the one-pot veggie recipe on this page. With the ideal combination of low-calorie veggies and pasta, you can minimize the total carb and calorie content of the meal while still feeling satisfied. Enjoy!

Art Academy Summer Program at Montserrat College of Art in Beverly MA

Fee-Free Day: Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Parker River

Fee-Free Day: Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Parker River NWR in Newburyport Massachusetts
In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, all national wildlife refuges and other U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lands that normally charge an entrance fee offer free admission January 15, 2024.
7:00 am to 7:00 pm

YWCA Celebration of Martin Luther King

Martin Luther King Jr. quote about nonviolence as a weapon that heals. YWCA Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration in Newburyport Massachusetts
he YWCA Greater Newburyport is excited to host its Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Breakfast on Monday, January 20, 2025, 9:30 am at the Newburyport Community Senior Center, 333 High Street, Newburyport, MA.  with Keynote Speaker: Katrina “Kat” Hobbs  Everett.    “Kat” is an anti-racist...
9:30 am

MLK Day at PEM

Peabody Essex Museum offers free admission on Martin Luther King Day in Salem Massachusetts. Image: Luis Martin, Harvest of Perpetuity, 2016. © Luis Martin/The Art Engineer, 2016.
Join us as we celebrate the legacy and leadership of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with free admission to the museum! Come explore America, A Hymnal, David Boxer’s The Black Books, Alison Saar’s Weight and other works that examine social justice, identity and freedom across the generations.
10:00 am to 5:00 pm

MFA Celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day with Free Open House

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston celebrates Martin Luther King Day with free admission and an open house with great activities for families in Boston Massachusetts
Join us for our annual MLK Day Open House, presented in partnership with Citizens. This year, the MFA offers free admission—including access to “Georgia O’Keeffe and Henry Moore”—for Massachusetts residents. Celebrate the legacy of Dr. King by surrounding yourself with art making, performances, and...
10:00 am to 5:00 pm

MLK Day Celebration at the Meetinghouse

The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation celebrates Martin Luther King Day Massachusetts
The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation proudly presents its ninth annual Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday event. It will be held on Monday, January 20th at 2:00pm in the Gloucester Unitarian Universalist Church, located at the corner of Church and Middle Streets (GPS 50 Middle Street). An elevator...
2:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Chess Instruction at Abbot Library

Kids can play clocked chess matches against each other each Wednesday at the Abbot Public Library in Marblehead Massachusetts
Students in grades 2-6 are invited to weekly evening chess instruction by high school student Flynn MacCallum at levels from beginner through advanced players on Mondays in the Children’s Room. The Children’s Room will provide chess boards and pieces. This program is supported by the Oliver P....
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Saturday, January 25

Music Together - Saturday

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45 minutes...
9:15 am to 11:15 am

Gloucester's So Salty 2024

Celebrate Gloucester Massachusetts recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions in the heart of downtown.
Celebrate the fish city’s recognizably salty character with local cultural institutions and businesses during the 4th Annual Gloucester’s So Salty festival on January 25 and 26, 2025 from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm! Over 1,800 people came out last year to share their salty pride while enjoying free ice...
10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Guided Tour | When Granite Was King!

Find out the story behind the history of granite quarrying at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, Massachusetts!
Halibut Point State Park is also a granite quarry with a history that goes back billions of years! Over one hundred years ago, the Rockport Granite Company quarried granite stone here.
11:00 am to 12:30 pm

Befriend the Barnyard

Befriend the Barnyard is a hands-on barnyard experience at the Trustees of Reservations' Appleton Farms in Ipswich Massachusetts
Discover our special barnyard animals! Our Angora rabbits Violet, Mabel, Oiver and Charles; Nubian goats Maeve, Morgana, and Mordred; dairy cows Gray, Jasmine, their calves Gigi and Joanie and our friendly flock of heritage chickens will take center stage as we learn about what makes them so unique...
11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Dungeons & Dragons Club at Essex Library

The Essex Massachusetts Library hosts a Dungeons and Dragons club for local kids.
Enjoy a the role playing game Dungeons and Dragons on Mondays, 5:30-7pm with Student Dungeon Master, Gus Hall. Spaces are limited, register early!
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Nice n' Easy Hike at Breakheart Reservation

Nice and Easy winter hike at Breakheart Reservation in Saugus Massachusetts
Join the Park Interpreter for this weekly guided hike! Each trip will highlight natural and historic features unique to Breakheart. Hikes are moderately paced and range from 2-3 miles over sometimes uneven and rocky terrain. Best for ages 8 years and up. Meet at the Visitor Center.
9:30 pm to 11:30 pm

Sunday, January 26

Winter Festival at Veasey Memorial Park

Enjoy family friendly winter fun at Veasey Memorial Park in Groveland Massachusetts
The Friends of Veasey Memorial Park host their annual winter festival! Our good friends from Georgetown's Goats-to-Go will be sharing presentations about goats, sheep, and llama. Learn about their life on the farm, what makes these animals so awesome, why Goats-to-Go raise them, and what they do...
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Watching the Coastal Edge at Halibut Point

Tour the WWII era observation tower at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts.
Meet at the Halibut Point State Park visitors center to learn about the role Halibut Point has played in America’s military history. One day after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, U.S.
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

Monday, January 27

Chess Instruction at Abbot Library

Kids can play clocked chess matches against each other each Wednesday at the Abbot Public Library in Marblehead Massachusetts
Students in grades 2-6 are invited to weekly evening chess instruction by high school student Flynn MacCallum at levels from beginner through advanced players on Mondays in the Children’s Room. The Children’s Room will provide chess boards and pieces. This program is supported by the Oliver P....
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Tuesday, January 28

Music Together - Tuesday in Marblehead

Marblehead, Beverly Farms, Hamilton, Salem, Peabody Music Together
Music Together® is a research-based music & movement program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and the grown-ups who love them. Music Together® of Salem classes make it easy for parents/primary caregivers to play a crucial role in activating their child's music development. Classes are 45...
10:00 am to 10:45 am