A FOOD BLOG BY KIMMY RIPLEY – Eat The Rainbow & Save Room For Dessert
Tag: eastern market
This was my first time ever visiting Eastern Market during Flower Day weekend. My mom and my daughter, Chloe who is 9, headed down to the city around 11 am. When we arrived it was total chaos to find a parking spot but we eventually found one over by the Dequindre Cut (after driving around for 25 minutes lol). I am so glad we didn’t just give up and go home since it took so long to find a spot. I was determined to visit Eastern Market Flower Day this year since Eastern Market is now one of my favorite places to visit in the warmer months in Michigan. I get super duper excited whenever I know that I will be heading over there. I also absolutely LOVE the DeVries & Company 1887 shop that is in the heart of it all. It is chock full of unique food & drink items, as well as gifts. I have a ton of fun looking around there and always make sure I take home something special. For this trip, it was black SQUID INK PASTA!
What is Eastern Market
If you are not sure what Eastern Market is, it is a very large farmer’s market venue that also has some other vendors there selling miscellaneous things. Eastern Market is nestled in the heart of the city of Detroit and it is a must-see place to visit if you are near the city. Each weekend in the warmer spring and summer months, Eastern Market is open for shopping. It is quite the busy, bustling place and it is advised to arrive early to have the best pick of everything. Though, I do tend to go in the later part of the day, before they close, when the vendors start deeply discounting all of their goods.
This post about my visit to Eastern Market Flower Day is full of colorful photos for your viewing pleasure.
You can read more about my visit to Eastern Market from last summer in this post on the blog.
That post has more photos of the produce (there are a ton of fruits and vegetables here) available.
Eastern Market Flower Day Weekend 2019
Eastern Market has many murals to seeOne of many murals in the Eastern Market district of DetroitCherries found at Eastern Market
My daughter Chloe checking out a dinosaur shrub – Eastern Market Flower Day 2019
Eastern Market has several sheds filled with flowers, plants, and fresh fruits and vegetables!
Grab some fresh pierogi at Eastern Market! They must be great because the line was very long here!Eastern Market also has several meat shops where you can find some unique meats! Rabbit!!!Eastern Market has several people playing music and it creates an awesome atmosphere!Free hugs and mouthgasms at this nut butter vendor’s stand – Eastern MarketBeer Bacon Salsa!! I gave it a whirl and it was pretty freaking fabulous! Eastern MarketCannolis in many different flavors at Eastern MarketYou can find many different types of homemade baked goods in the Eastern Market sheds. I bought two gigantic M&M and chocolate chip cookies!
And no Eastern Market visit is complete unless you visit DeVries & Company 1887!
DeVries & Company 1887 is a store that is a pure joy to visit when you are in the area of Eastern Market. This place is a go-to place for many cheese connoisseurs. This store is filled with some really interesting foods that you will not find on the shelf of your local grocery store. I ended up taking home some squid ink pasta, licorice candy, and some sour Michi-Gummies!
DeVries & Company 1887 on Flower Day Weekend 2019I found a variety of Michi-Gummies at DeVries & Company 1887
I did it! I tried beer cheese at DeVries & Company 1887Check out this green olive and cilantro salsa at DeVries & Company 1887SWEET JESUS! Look what I found! Some interesting finds at DeVries & Company 1887
The 2nd and 3rd level of DeVries & Company 1887 has some very unique gifts!I really love this “All Things Michigan” find at DeVries & Company 1887It’s Wine O’Clock Somewhere
Final thoughts
I really hope that you enjoyed looking at all of my Eastern Market Flower Day photos. If you enjoyed this post there is still time to head on over to Eastern Market because TODAY (5/19/2019) is the actual Flower Day at Eastern Market. It will be busy. It will be totally packed. It is all worth it though. Each time I visit Eastern Market it is always a unique and memorable experience. My whole family enjoys coming down to the city to take how some interesting foods, to get some good deals on fruits and veggies, and last but not least… to see all of the sights! There is a lot to take in at Eastern Market.
Question Time!
Have you ever visited Eastern Market Flower Day? Tell me what you like to take home from Detroit’s Eastern Market!
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Bob’s Red Mill Wonderful Gluten-Free bread mix once again over here in the Give It A Whirl Girl Kitchen. This time I was craving a peanut butter & jelly sandwich so I ventured into the kitchen to make my own loaf of bread. I also had some jars of Sunbutter Sunflower Seed Spread that I needed to try out and a jar of Herkner Farms Champagne Raspberry Preserves that I picked up at Devries & Company 1887. I had all of my ingredients and all I kept thinking about was how this would be the greatest wannabe peanut butter & jelly sandwich of all time. This was my first time giving Sunbutter a whirl and I was so excited to try it.
Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Wonderful Bread, with Sunbutter, and champagne raspberry jelly sandwich
It all starts with Bob’s Red MillÂ
Oh boy… I am blogging about this Wonderful Bread Mix once again! Let me tell you this… this gluten-free mix truly is wonderful and that is why it is in the name of the product. I have a problem getting my gluten-free breads to fluff up when I use my own recipe and ingredients. Maybe it is just me but my gluten-free bread do not rise up much. Bob’s Red Mill does include a yeast packet with the mix and that is probably why this mix results in a soft and fluffy loaf with the perfect bread crust. I had a wonderful feeling that this fluffy bread would pair well with my Organic Sunbutter Spread.
I really enjoy making a nice Sunday dinner for my family. Last night’s Sunday dinner turned out to be an exquisite one. Everything from start to finish was spectacular. For starting out I actually made a bowl of paleo butternut squash soup to go with our meal. I never make a soup to go with dinner. I just always make soups that you eat as an entire meal. For the main course, I had some grass-fed beef strip steaks marinated in Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette and Marinade. For a side dish, I wrapped Applegate Sunday Bacon around some rainbow carrots (purple, orange, and white) that I picked up during our visit to Eastern Market. This was our first time trying out bacon-wrapped carrots and it certainly will not be the last. Lately, I just want to wrap everything up in bacon! Next up for me will be bacon-wrapped brussels sprouts.
Marinating the steaks with Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette and Marinade
Using a marinate overnight with your steak usually seems like a great idea that results in a flavorful, juicy steak. This was the case with the Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette and Marinade from Primal Kitchen. I have never had a steak with a Greek marinade so I was not sure if we would enjoy this or not, but so far I have not been let down by a single Primal Kitchen item. They all excel in quality, taste, and fall within the realm of clean-eating.
These marinades are low-carb, paleo-friendly, Whole 30 compliant, and do not contain any added sugars. If you are looking into eating clean I highly recommend the products available from Primal Kitchen. No nonsense ingredients, just pure and simple healthy ingredients.
This particular Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette and Marinade uses avocado oil as a base. It also contains oregano, black pepper, coriander, marjoram, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and sea salt. These are all organic ingredients.
Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette & Marinade (Avocado Oil) and two strip steaks marinating
Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette & Marinade
Roasted butternut squash soup – the paleo way
Butternut squash and rainbow carrots
I had a great time going to Eastern Market for some fresh produce and great deals on them. You can read more about that experience HERE. We went towards the end of the day when the vendors are letting things go at low prices. I picked up this butternut squash for a buck. I really should have bought more because I really enjoy it this time of year.
To make the soup I removed the skin from the squash then cut and cubed it. Cutting squash, to me, is scary and difficult. I am always afraid I am going to chop off my hand. My knife skills are rusty and have a lot of room for improvement. After the squash was cut I placed it in a large mixing bowl. I drizzled olive oil on it and the used some garlic salt and pepper on it. I also added in a big squirt of some organic minced garlic. I had the oven preheated to 400-degrees and roasted them for about 30 minutes.
Once the squash was roasted I placed the cubed squash in my blender with a cup of chicken broth and most of a can of full-fat coconut milk. I seasoned it with some pumpkin pie spices that I got from the Spice Miser at Eastern Market. I was really wanting to get some delicious fall flavor with that seasoning and it sure did not disappoint. It came through and flavored this squash with the taste of autumn.
I kept the soup warm in my Staub dutch oven while I prepared the rest of my meal. I just let it simmer on low. I sure do love my Staub and that piece of cooking equipment will be in regular rotation here at the Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen. That pot is perfect for soups, stews, sauces, and one-pot meals. It is actually the greatest cooking tool that I currently own. It is super heavy-duty and I also love that it is dishwasher safe. I highly recommend getting one for your kitchen, they are especially great this time of year.
Roasted butternut squash ready to be turned into soup
Info on Spice Miser
If you are ever browsing the sheds at Eastern Market you can’t pass up the Spice Miser setup. This is spice heaven! I never go to Eastern Market without coming home with some new spices and seasonings. I bought the Pumpkin Pie Spices. I really had no clue what I would do with it at the time I bought it but I figured I could put it to good use somehow.
So what’s inside?
The Pumpkin Pie Spices packet has the ingredients listed on the back and they are: ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves
Those spices combined with the butternut squash gave it a wonderful flavor profile. I did not use up all of the packet so I will be trying it out again with something else. Perhaps acorn squash next time?
Spice Miser – Pumpkin Pie Spices – seasoning packet from Eastern Market – ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves
Roasted rainbow carrots wrapped in Applegate Sunday Bacon
When I went to Eastern Market I was really on a mission to hunt down some of these rainbow carrots. In the bundle, you receive purple, white (or is it yellow), and orange. I love any food that is the color purple and the purple carrots are the best of any carrot I have ever had. I tracked down my carrots and I wrapped those beauties up in Applegate Sunday Bacon.
I roasted these gorgeous carrots in the oven at 450-degrees and they were ready at the 30-minute mark. The bacon came out with the perfect crispness and the carrots were fork tender.
Bundles of rainbow carrots at Eastern Market – I can not leave this place without taking home some purple and white carrotsApplegate Uncured Sunday Bacon and rainbow carrots ready for roastingRainbow carrots wrapped in Applegate Sunday Bacon – roasting in the oven at 450-degrees
Cooking the steaks
Yeah, it is that time again… time to bust out that trusty ol’ Lodge Cast Iron Pan! A good cast iron pan is all you need to cook a steak that maintains its juice and comes out nice and tender. I simply just cooked the marinated steaks for a few minutes on each side and cooked it to a medium-rare temperature. These were grass-fed beef strip steaks and the one that I had was at least a good inch thick. Gosh I just love a big fat piece of meat. I’m so primal!
Time to dig in!
This was the type of dinner that just totally blows my mind. Everything about this meal was just excellence from start to finish. I was proud of myself for creating this meal for my family. I serve a lot of great meals but this one really stood out for me. I think that when you pour your heart and soul into a dinner it really shows and shines through.
Sunday Dinner – With Primal Kitchen Strip Steak, Applegate Bacon-Wrapped Rainbow Carrots, And Paleo Butternut Squash Soup – Awesome Sunday dinner feast!Paleo butternut squash soup with coconut milkPaleo, Primal Kitchen Greek strip steak with roasted rainbow carrots wrapped in Applegate Sunday Bacon – Check out how thick and juicy that strip steak is!
If you would like to create a steak dinner like this I am providing a couple shopping links below to help get you started and on your way!
You can find Primal Kitchen’s dressing and marinades on Amazon
If you are local to the Detroit area, chances are you have been to Eastern Market at least once in your life. If you are a foodie like me then chances are you have visited several times. Eastern Market is a bustling area of visitors looking for the best deals on fresh produce, other food items, and flowers. Through Groupon, we have also discovered a miraculous place nestled down there in all of the action, DeVries & Company 1887. We regularly purchase Groupons to get some good bargains there and we went equipped with one yesterday to stock up on some unique foods.
Each and every time you visit Eastern Market it is a different experience because there are different vendors.
Give It A Whirl Girl in Eastern Market with a rainbow rose
Rainbow roses at Eastern Market in Detroit, MI
Our trip to Eastern Market in Detroit and DeVries & Company 1887
My family of three really values these trips down to the city to explore all of the foods that Eastern Market has to offer. Yesterday it was just my husband and me on a little day-date while my daughter hung out with her friends. Our first stop was DeVries & Company 1887 and we got a wonderful haul there. Then we stopped into the sheds at Eastern Market with our canvas shopping bags and filled those bags up with a plethora of foods. When I come home from these trips I unload my bags and marvel in all of the glory of having these available in the Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen. My day is always made on these trips and I treasure them in my memory and mind.
There are beautiful murals all over the Eastern Market areaEastern Market in Detroit, MI – The home of many food vendors selling produce, meat, cheese, plants, and flowers.
First stop – A visit to DeVries & Company 1887
DeVries & Company 1887 – Detroit, MI
DeVries & Company 1887 – Detroit, MI
Cheese and Meats at DeVries & Company 1887- What they are best known for
DeVries & Company is a large historic building with three levels of fun finds. Yesterday we only explored the lower level where a majority of the foods are kept. The other two levels are gift shops where you can obtain some neat things.
This place is well-known for their cheeses. We have bought some in the past from DeVries & Company 1887 and had a cheeseboard full of them at a Wine & Onesies party and the cheeses were a big hit. There are numerous to choose from here and if you like cheese there is a cheese for everyone that can be located here. Check out their Facebook page to see their cheese offerings which are regularly posted. They also have a variety of interesting meats to pair with your cheeses. You will have the best cheeseboard in town if you stop in here to stock up!
DeVries & Company 1887 cheese station
DeVries & Company 1887 meat station
DeVries & Company 1887 – Detroit, MI
DeVries & Company 1887 – Detroit, MI
DeVries & Company 1887 – Detroit, MI
DeVries & Company 1887 – Detroit, MI
DeVries & Company 1887 – Detroit, MI
Not just meats and cheese
DeVries & Company 1887 is more than just a meat and cheese shop. This place is like a little grocery store with gourmet foods and uncommon, specialty food products. Pro tip: grab a Groupon and save some money here. You can get a $50 voucher to shop with for around $20-$25 and get more bang for your buck here.
Balsamic vinegars & oils
If you recently stumbled upon my 100th post on the blog I discussed two different, unique balsamic vinegars used to create a chocolate-raspberry nice-cream. This is the place where you can pick up some bottles of those (there are several to choose from and they are all imported from Italy). There is also a wide variety of various oils by the same brand (Fanchone Gourmet) that you can sample here. You won’t leave empty-handed after trying these out. They all have interesting flavor profiles and they will help take your cooking to the next level. The Meyer Lemon oil was fascinating and I really should have bought that one because that would likely result in the greatest chicken piccata known to man!
Various oils to sample at DeVries & Company 1887 – Detroit, MI
Various balsamic vinegars to sample at DeVries & Company 1887 – Detroit, MI
A few items that I took home with me
I am a curious eater and I live for the adventure of trying new foods. You all know that. That’s why my blog is titled, “Give It A Whirl Girl”. In the photos below I am letting you see a sneak peek of a few things I took home with me. I am super duper pumped and excited to experience these foods.
Raspberry salsa
I have a major mad addiction to anything raspberry flavored and I couldn’t pass up this Traverse Bay Farms Raspberry Salsa. This was my first time seeing a raspberry salsa so I had to swoop this up! My husband also talked me into bringing home some mango salasa bag of chips from Aunt Nee’s.
Hibiscus sugar
Then I spotted this Mr. Gigglepants Hibiscus Sugar. I was instantly intrigued by this sugar made by Beautiful Briny Sea. It is described as:
A fun, tutti fruitti treat for your cupcakes, French toast, fresh fruit fancy drinks, just about anything that needs a giggle.
I really don’t have a plan for this sugar just yet. It was my big splurge item at DeVrie’s. It was $11 for a 14 oz can. I will figure something out soon though. Maybe I can whip up a batch of cupcakes next week and incorporate Mr. Gigglepants into it.
Root-beer BBQ sauce
Let it be known, I think Guy Fieri is annoying as hell. (insert lols here). I spotted his Root Beer Barbeque Sauce and could not pass it up. I bought it with the intention of making some pulled pork sandwiches with it. Whenever I made pulled pork sandwiches I always cook my pork in root-beer. Sounds weird right? But it is so good!
Our Visit To Eastern Market
Eastern Market in Detroit, MI
When you go to Eastern Market there is a ton of stuff to take in and see all around you. There are tables set up with fresh fruits and vegetables, there are people selling their homemade salsas, honey, fresh pierogi, succulents, and flowers, etc.
There are two different ways to visit Eastern Market. You can arrive early when everything is all set up and available. Or you can arrive mid-afternoon when the vendors are about to close up for the day. They want to sell what they brought with them so you will be walking by and the vendors will be shouting out deals to you. It happened to me yesterday. We came late in the afternoon and I scored some great deals. I got a carton of strawberries for a dollar. I also got some blackberries for a dollar. Those prices sure do beat the local grocery store prices.
I do realize I made a bit of a boo-boo with my photos here. I must have been just vegetable obsessed because I just realized I did not shoot any photographs of fruit and Eastern Market has a huge load of fruit to choose from at really reasonable prices. So I am very sorry about that. Next time I visit I will be sure to snap some photos of fruits.
Ornamental Indian corn at Eastern MarketBundles of rainbow carrots at Eastern Market – I can not leave this place without taking home some purple and white carrotsBeautiful vegetables at Eastern MarketJumbo stalks of Brussels sprouts at Eastern MarketPurple kale at Eastern Market – what a gorgeous color and it appears to be so fresh!Quail eggs and duck eggs for sale at Eastern Market – now that is something you do not see every day!Spice Miser at Eastern Market – This vendor is a must-see! Spice Miser offers a huge variety of seasonings and spices. Be sure to take home a bag. I always make sure I bring something home from the Spice Miser.Mushrooms galore at Eastern Market! Many exotic mushrooms to choose from that are grown in Chesterfield, MI. Give and Grow Mushrooms LLCGive and Grow Mushrooms LLC offers a wide variety of exotic, gourmet mushrooms at Eastern MarketThis was a first for me! Black garlic but $5 a bulb. I was tempted. Eastern Market – Detroit, MIFlowers and eggplants at Eastern Market in Detroit, MIFresh and local honey at Eastern Market in Detroit, MIPepper obsessed! Eastern Market, Detroit, MISo much to choose from and great prices on vegetables at Eastern Market
Be sure to see the murals
There are gigantic murals painted on the buildings all over the Eastern Market area. Be sure to take a stroll around and snap some pics of the art.
Eastern Market in Detroit, MI – The home of many food vendors selling produce, meat, cheese, plants, and flowers.
Mural in the Eastern Market area of Detroit, MI
Eastern Market in Detroit, MI – The home of many food vendors selling produce, meat, cheese, plants, and flowers.
Ladies and gentlemen!
Here is my haul from both DeVries & Company 1887 and Eastern Market
As you can see here I have a pretty decent haul from both DeVries and Eastern Market. I love getting home and unloading all of my newly acquired foods. I am already looking forward to my next trip back.
Haul from Eastern Market and DeVries & Company 1887
Haul from Eastern Market and DeVries & Company 1887
Haul from Eastern Market and DeVries & Company 1887
Have you ever visited DeVries & Company 1887 in the Eastern Market district? Will you be purchasing a Groupon to shop there?
Have you ever went to Eastern Market in Detroit, MI? What is your best memory? Please share by leaving a comment.
I am so happy to be an Ambassador to this great company Thunderbird Bars. Now is the time for me to spread the word about these amazing bars to my readers with this Thunderbird Bar review. I want to let you in on a little secret… these bars are amazeballs! The best thing about them is that they are all natural and made with REAL FOOD ingredients: fruits, nuts, seeds, and spices. If you are vegan, following a paleo diet, and are looking for a no-added-sugar treat, Thunderbird Bars are for you! You have to trust me on this, these bars are an excellent snack and they are especially great while on-the-go and the hunger hits you. I have been eating these for the past month now and I feel the need to spread the word about them.
Thunderbird Bar Pecans + Goji + Pistachio in Eastern Market, Detroit, MI
There are ten flavors available for Thunderbird Bars and every single one of them is delish!
No boring flavors over here! These bars are unlike every other bar I have experienced. As you may already know, I live for the thrill of trying new foods. These flavors do not disappoint one bit and they satisfy my hunger. Their flavor combinations are unique and each and every single one of them delivers a satisfying taste.
Thunderbird Bars Variety Pack
Want to know my favorite flavor of the ten that are available? I’m going to say it is the Pineapple + Mango + Papaya. I’m always a sucker for anything tropical and I love how all of these flavors blend together.
I have included an image of the bar in a photo below. It might look a bit on the small side but these bars are quite filling. This bar has seven simple ingredients noted on the label: prunes, buckwheat groats, papaya, raisins, mango, pineapple, and Hawaiian black lava salt. No BS here… just pure + simple real food ingredients.
This bar comes in at 145 calories, 30g of carbohydrates, 3g of fiber, and 22g of natural (no-added) sugar.
Thunderbird Bar also stays away from sweeteners. You will not find any real, artificial, honey, syrup, agave or any other variety of sweetener in their bars. There are not many bars that you can come across that promise that.
These bars will give you energy and endurance during your day derived purely from the real food ingredients. I love to start my day with a Thunderbird Bar. It gives me the fuel that I need to conquer the day.
Thunderbird Bar in Detroit, MI – Cashew + Fig + CarrotThunderbird Bar Pineapple + Mango + PapayaThunderbird Bar Pineapple + Mango + Papaya Nutrition FactsThunderbird Bar in Detroit, MI – Cashew + Fig + CarrotThunderbird Bars – Pineapple + Mango + Papaya in Eastern Market, Detroit, MIThunderbird Bars – Cacao + Hemp + Walnut in Eastern Market, Detroit, MITwo of the Thunderbird Bars flavors available for children
Thunderbird Bars also encourages your little ones to eat healthy and they offer four flavors for kids, also known as Thunderkids.
Fruit Punch
Apple Pie
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Chocolate Chip Cookie
I love when a healthy brand of food makes kid-friendly products. I try my best to avoid giving my daughter junk. When I give her a Thunderbird Bar as a snack I feel good about it. Chloe also really does enjoy eating these. They are naturally sweet and satisfy a sweet tooth craving in a more healthy approach. These bars will be a great thing to pack for her daily snack during school when she goes back.
Thunderbird Bar Thunderkids – Chocolate Chip Cookie (image courtesy of thunderbirdbar.com)
Thunderbird Bar Thunderkids – Peanut Butter & Jelly (image courtesy of thunderbirdbar.com)
Want to try a variety pack of Thunderbird Bars? Find them on Amazon:
Learn more about how I got inspired by the cacao in Thunderbird Bars and created a healthy smoothie bow. READ HERE.
Hope you enjoyed this Thunderbird Bar review! What Thunderbird Bar flavor interests you the most? Leave me a comment and let me know which one you will try out first!
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Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette & Marinade
