Farmers market events

By Rick Nelson

Saturday is the season’s last edition of the Mill City Farmers Market (weather forecast: party cloudy, with a high of 48 degrees).

Shopping with kids? Be sure to check out the free pumpkin painting, and have them stop by and say “so long” to goats Vera and Pearl – and the flock of heritage birds. Grazers should stop by the University of Minnesota’s tasting booth for winter squash samples as well as cooking and storage tips. Plan ahead for Thanksgiving by signing up for a fresh, free-range turkey ($3.19 per pound), courtesy of Wild Acres Game Farm in Pequot Lakes, Minn. (delivered to Spoonriver restaurant on Monday, Nov. 23).

The season’s last cooking demonstration (10 a.m.) is a two-fer: Zoe Francois and Jeff Hertzberg will be cooking from their soon-to-be-released “Healthy Breads in Five Minutes a Day,” and Duluth cookbook author Beatrice Ojankangas (“Great Holiday Baking Book,” “The Great Scandinavian Baking Book” and the brand new "Petite Sweets") will focus on holiday baking.

As for shopping, I know I’ll be stocking up on freshly flaked organic oats at Sunrise Flour Mill, where owners Marty and Darrold Glanville are offering a buy-two-get-a-third-item-free special, and the Chef Shack, where I’ll be checking out co-owner Carrie Summer’s version of the Pronto Pup: A Thousand Hills hot dog dipped in a chickpea flour batter and deep-fried. “Chick on a Stick” is how co-owner Lisa Carlson described it. Works for me.

Pumpkin decorating for kids is also on tap on Saturday (10:30 a.m.) at the Minneapolis Farmers Market, when Gwen and Bruce Smith of Smith’s Farm will be sharing painting and glitter tips with children. On Sunday (10:30 a.m.), Tammy Wong, chef/owner of Rainbow Chinese Restaurant & Bar, will be demonstrating fall harvest recipes, including lamb stew and winter squash preparations.