I recently returned from Los Angeles, my hometown. One of the reasons why I love visiting LA in the winter is the bounty of crops one finds at the farmers' market. Down in Hollywood, where we hang on Sunday mornings, farmers sell a dozen varieties of citrus, several kinds of avocados, and more greenery than I see at a New York market in the height of summer. They might have gridlock, but they sure have nice winter crops.
We had daily salads with mandarin supremes, a blood orange cake and perfectly ripe Pinkerton avocados in every egg burrito. For an eastern girl, it's a gift to eat so well as the calendar slogs its way to the end of winter.
Meanwhile, back in New York, we're facing the deepest darkest time for folks who eat seasonally. Aside from a few delicate greenhouse-grown greens, we're looking at the last scrappy kale, hard root vegetables and the end of the 2010 apple crop. But these things offer their own delicious pleasures too, not to be overlooked.
With winter eating in mind, here's a roundup of favorite recipes from The Kitchn, using the crops that are in season right this moment from East to West. Consider it a back-pocket guide through the last weeks of winter that will keep your cooking in sync with the earth.
West
• Avocado Toast
• Citrus and Onion Salad
• Creamy, Tangy Avocado Dressing
• Vegan Recipe: Quick and Tangy Artichoke Barigoule
• Lemon and Sea Salt Focaccia
• Vietnamese Ginger Crab
• Fridge Clearing Avocado Soup
• Meyer Lemon Whiskey Sour: A Sunny Drink for Winter
• Blood Orange Ambrosia with Crème Fraiche
• Citrus Salad with Lemongrass Syrup
East
• Fried Egg Kale Toast
• Kale Slaw with Peanut Dressing
• Chicken Stew with Kale and Cannellini Beans
• Baked Potato Soup With Bacon, Onion & Cheddar
• Kale and Potato Puree
• Bacon-Wrapped Potato Bites with Spicy Sour Cream Dipping Sauce
• Kale and Apple Soup
• Maple Syrup Cocktails
• Snow Day Treat: How To Make Maple Syrup Taffy
• Rosemary Apple Turnovers with Honey
Meet in the Middle!
• Kale Salad with Blood Orange and Meyer Lemon
• Roasted Chicken Thighs with Fennel & Lemon
• Chickpea Casserole with Lemon, Herbs & Shallots
• Kale Salad with Pecorino and Lemon
• Teeny-Tiny New Potatoes with Lemon
What are the seasons like where you are, and what are you cooking right now?
(Images: Emily Ho; Rebekah Peppler; Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan; Emily Ho; Emily Ho; Faith Durand; Kathryn Hill; Faith Durand; Leela Cyd Ross; Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan)
Magic One-Ingredient Ice Cream 5 Ways: Peanut Butter, Nutella, and More
Make Chocolate Magic Shell Ice Cream Topping with Only 2 Ingredients
Our reading list
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
30 DIY Projects for the 3-Day Weekend
Tina Wilson's Striking Style 
Comments (18)
This is cruel.
Kale and apples.
Bah.
I have some swiss chard I need to cook with tonight... I'm also into arugula and citrus salads (despite being in Boston) and have been roasting roasting roasting all of the root veggies that come in my CSA box. I get soooo many onions and potatoes too. I made a Tortilla de Patate the other day--not so healthy, but whoa so yummy.
I have to admit, we are so lucky to have a plethora of amazing produce at our beck and call. Next time you come out this way check out the farmer's market in Santa Barbara.
We live in the Palm Springs area and are fortunate to have fantastic, fresh produce and variety most of year! Thank you for reminding us of how lucky we ate to have this at our fingertips and backyards!
I LOVE the Farmer's Market in Hollywood. Looking at this makes me realize how spoiled we are....
In Boston, still very much winter, I found kumquats in the market. Right now I'm forsaking even the pretense of seasonal and local and snacking on these little fruits that have enough punch to wake up my frrrreeeezing taste buds.
So when west-coasters think Winter they think bright citrus and avocados? It's hard to believe we're all in the same country sometimes. In the fall I melt at the thought of cozy, hearty winter comfort food here in PA. At this point, in March? I am DONE. So done. Winter has well overstayed his welcome.
This so isn't fair, our farmers markets here in CT, don't look this good even in the middle of summer!
Union Square Farmer's market is in Manhattan. The photos from California are beautiful, yes they are. I'll take Manhattan.
Shame you didn't stay another week. There were favas this week. =)
Most natives actually think that Fall/Winter/Spring in Los Angeles is the nicest time. Summer is a little too hot, but never humid.
Lovley citrus salad. Blood orange are very good for breakfast as well.
I'm with you, cmcinnyc. I'm an east coaster through and through but I cry a little every week when I listen to the Market Report on Good Food.
Word MoRich. I would not give up Manhattan for all the citrus fruits in the world. Avocados sure are tempting though...
Love this post....amazing recipes and I love them all. I'm surely going to try them this weekend as I wish we were having the warm weather here in Manhattan. Glad you had an enjoyable time in Cali with your family and hope to see you soon! Keep up the delicious work, Sara! xo
I live in South Florida and right now we have a lot of strawberries and blueberries in stores, grown in state. They aren't super-sweet yet but they are cheap!
I love the citrus and apple varietals, but I'm ready to move towards berries. I saw favas on a menu recently and I was thrilled!
All my favorite east coast winter farmers' market recipes are here:
www.atthefarmersmarket.com
I'm a West Coaster, but was inspired by the chicken, kale and white bean soup and made last night...yuuuummmyyy!!!! leftovers tonight!