Sausages made with duck, bison or lamb -- sauteed with onions and peppers

Sausages may not be the healthiest foods in the world, but when they are handmade by local experts who have been doing it for well over 30 years, they may have a place on the healthy foodie's table -- at least, once in awhile. Kroeger & Sons Meats in the Market House at Findlay Market showcase an amazing array of interesting meats along with the homemade sausages, including cuts of veal, pork and lamb that aren't that easy to find.
What's caught my eye there in recent weeks are their sausages made not with pork or even chicken, but tasty ones based on lamb, bison, and even duck. (That last one is only occasionally available, I'm told.)
The pictured dish is sauteed bison and duck sausages with strips of red bell pepper and thinly sliced onion. The preparation couldn't be simpler. Note that with these lower fat meats you need to add some canola oil to the pan, or the dish will turn out too dry.

FAB Ferments: "Foods with Culture"

Here's something exotic (at least to me) that's healthy as all-get-out, tasty and supports a local food business (& therefore helps you be a locavore). Look for FAB Ferments products at many of our area's farmers markets. Cincinnati natives Jennifer De Marco and Jordan Aversman (pictured here at the Northside Market) make and sell lacto-fermented veggie products such as German-style sauerkraut with caraway, kimchi, spicy dill and curry krauts.

Check out their website for info about why lacto-fermented foods are so good for us. Then look for Jennifer and Jordan not only at the Northside Market but all around town--for instance, at Whole Foods in Hyde Park, Findlay Market downtown and the farmers markets in West Chester and College Hill.

Running Creek Farm -- at Northside Farmers Market

This week I am featuring Running Creek Farm at the Northside Farmers Market. Running Creek has one of the most attractive booths and extensive selections of fresh, locally grown foods you can find at any metro-area market.

Co-owner Jim Lowenburg told me he grows about 14 varieties of potato and 20 types of tomatoes. Yesterday, the booth had a good selection of each along with five types of garlic. If you haven't had fresh-picked, local garlic but only know the supermarket stuff, do yourself a favor and find a market that sells the former. It will be a revelation!

As you can see from the photo, there's also a pretty display of cut flowers for sale here.

Running Creek Farm is in Mt. Healthy, OH, and all their produce is pesticide-free.

Northside Market at Hoffner Park (off Hamilton) is open Wednesdays from 4 - 7:30 PM.

Northside Farmers Market -- Expanded and Improved

The Northside Farmers Market used to be crammed into a small parking lot on Hamilton Avenue across from Melt and the Northside Tavern. Parking was impossible and it was hot and full of car fumes there.

This year, however, the market has moved to Hoffner Park, which is just off Hamilton Ave. (take a left on Hoffner St.) as you enter Northside from Clifton. The location is a huge improvement. Vendors now are comfortably spread out, there are benches and even shady spots where you can relax while you shop, and many more vendors usually come to this great location.

My favorite find so far is some wonderful watermelon gazpacho--look for a tent near the entrance where they are giving out samples of their many vegan and vegetarian goodies. (I did not get the name of the vendors, sorry!)

The offerings are likely to expand even more as the growing season hits its full stride in the next few weeks. The market is every Wednesday from 4 - 7:30 PM.