Simi Valley Town Center is the happening place on Friday afternoons since the opening of the Simi Valley Farmers Market.

Vendors of fruits, vegetables, candles, spices, jewelry, tamales and more occupy 45 to 50 booths at the far end of the parking lot on Fridays from 3 to 8 p.m.

The market also includes special events such as live music, pony rides and face painting.

Look for the first of the Goleta and Oxnard strawberries along with an abundance of winter produce perfect for the vegetable soup recipe below. It’s especially satisfying this time of year when the weather is unpredictable.

One day it’s cold and my appetite turns to cozy, comfort food, and then in the very same week, the temperatures rise and so does my desire to “shed my winter coat” both literally and figuratively. Not only do I want to take off my bulky sweaters and jackets, I also want to take off those extra winter pounds.

I love this vegetable soup recipe because it gives me the best of both worlds. It’s warm, filling and nutritious. It’s comfort food without any of the guilt.

Enjoy the produce at the farmers market and feel free to play with the recipe, adding or subtracting vegetables based on their availability and your preferences.

Bon Appetite vegetable soup

Ingredients: 3 tablespoons good olive oil

4 large carrots, peeled and chopped

1/2 large head green cabbage, thinly sliced

1 medium brown onion, quartered

4 stalks of celery, chopped

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary

6 cups canned chicken or vegetable broth

1 28-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes

Salt and pepper to taste (I prefer sea salt and freshly ground pepper)

1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Additional grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation:

Heat olive oil in heavy pot over medium heat. Add carrots, cabbage, onion, celery and rosemary. Sauté until tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Add broth and tomatoes.

Simmer for 45 minutes to keep the vegetables crisp/tender. Season soup with salt and pepper and stir in 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese. Ladle into soup bowls and serve with additional cheese, if desired.

Note 1: For my birthday this year my son gave me a pair of “onion goggles.” They are terrific. I highly recommend them even though my husband said when I’m chopping onions I look like I should be riding in the sidecar of a motorcycle.

Note 2: Though nothing can compare to shopping at your local farmers market, I heard about a website called foodzie.com where you can order produce, specialty food items and artisan goodies from nearly 300 growers and food producers across the country.