Ellington

I frequently hit the Mississippi Farmer's Market on Saturdays with the Child. We go to see friends, as well as stock up on fruits, veggies and other necessary items like yard art. We tend to stick to a routine, buying from the same vendors on each trip, varying only when the Child spots cookies.

On a recent visit said Child forcefully dragged me not to sweets, but surprisingly to the Ryals Goat Dairy booth. I helped myself to a few of their samples and quickly discovered what has become my new favorite treat: Ryals' Greek feta cheese. Each container holds delectably salty hunks of their feta immersed in herb-spiked olive oil.

While Ryals Goat Dairy has been selling goat's milk and artisanal cheeses at the Mississippi Farmer's Market for about a year, the Tylertown goat dairy has been operating since 2007. In addition to feta cheese, it offers a variety of flavored creamy chevre, including Cajun, lemon-dill and my personal favorite: garlic.

I've learned not only that I prefer my feta fresh, but that I should let the Child take the lead at the market more often—especially if she's going to take me straight to the cheeses of Ryals Goat Dairy.