While I often try to make a big production out of my local meals, there are often the little unsung hero meals throughout the week which are satisfying and local and tasty.

This week, my OLS entry will showcase a couple of those. Not least because I've had a harder time pulling together a complete dinner. Breakfast and afternoon snacks, though, abound!

First, I had a lovely breakfast tartine with a local baguette from Sullivan St. Bakery, spread with butter from Maine and raspberry preserves from Sarabeth's. I served this with a bountiful bowl of local New Jersey blueberries from the farmers' market. Not even any fall-backs on pantry items with this one!

The other mini-meal that I put together is, of course, present in one form or another every week for me. The fresh local cheese crostini with fresh herbs and cracked pepper. The combo here was ricotta from Valley Shepherd Creamery, sage from my garden and a bit of pepper sprinkled on top. I also noshed on marinated cucumbers and rainbow carrots, although this didn't make the photospread. The pepper was the only non-local item.

So here's to celebrating the local mini-meals along with the macro-meals!

Farmers' Market: blueberries, cucumbers, carrots, Valley Shepherd fresh ricotta
Whole Foods' local items: baguettes, butter
FreshDirect local items: preserves
Homegrown: sage
Pantry items: black peppercorns