Gift Boxes

I'm one of those people who shops throughout the year for gifts.  When I see just the right thing for a particular person I buy it right then and there. (Of course I've needed to devise a place where I'll always find the gifts during the holidays.)  The Art Fair on the Square was a perfect opportunity to pick up a giraffe pin for my mother-in-law (shh, not a word please), after holiday events provide an opportunity for wrapping paper and ribbon, while Black Friday is about a list of basic clothing needs, from socks and underwear to sheets and bath towels. 

And now, there's the East Towne Holiday Farmers Market.  The gift boxes that I'm seeing are amazing.  Le Clare is offering an incredible gift box of speciality cheeses.  Add some of the beef sticks available from Trautman Farms, a nice honey mustard or jar of honey from Ed Jaekel - what a perfect gift. 

This week I tried a little video project, letting the talented folks at Forest Academy Alpacas talk about spinning that deliciously soft fiber. The felted hats make unique gifts, especially for yourself.  Each week new hats are available, so keep looking and trying on until you find something that's just right.

And of course there's plenty of food for your family and daily meals.  The bakery items with breads and sweets, tomatoes and cucumbers from Flyte Farm and a whole array of produce from JenEhr.  The Keenes have plenty of eggs and mushrooms.  A number of vendors are offering protein in all forms - emu, beef, pork, chickens, rabbits, turkeys and eggs.

It's time to stop by the Sunday market, grab a cup of coffee and say hello and you restock your larder and pick up some great holiday gifts.

Jingle Bells - Farmers at the Mall

If you missed the first of the week of the East Towne Holiday Farmers Market inside the mall, you missed a great day and a wonderful array of items available.

The prize for most economical travel to the market goes to Forest Academy Alpacas, who brought their items in a bright yellow Smart Car pulling a small motorcycle style trailer - kudos!  Eggs and mushrooms flew out the door as Keene Organics did anything but lay an egg at this first market.  And the hand crafted wreaths from Nehmer's Produce  own trees certainly added to the holiday spirit.

For a moment lets talk about Malls and Farmers Markets.  They don't always seem like a good matching.  Many of the farmers market customers remarked that this was the first time they'd been inside the mall.  Some went as far to express concern about the non-localness of the mall and their shopping values that exclude malls and strip malls.  Even some of the vendors felt a little awkward setting up inside the wide decorated aisles of the Mall.

And while we all have our own lines in the sand about where we shop and from whom we buy, the folks at the mall have been generous and gracious in helping set up this indoor market.  Finding indoor space that can accomodate 10-15 twenty-foot stalls for four hours once a week is a challenge.  A place with adequate parking adds another layer of difficulty.  East Towne Mall is the perfect spot.


So, as you discuss your Sunday shopping plans, add the East Towne Mall Holiday Farmers Market to your list of must do's.  There's easy parking and entry on the eastside of the mall, near the Sears Store side entrance.  If all you want to do is patronize the farmers market, easy.  If you'd like to do more of your holiday shopping, the rest of the mall beckons.  No problems walking around Santa with an El Bollio Mexican pastry or the Elvis Wheat Free Bread from Waterhouse Bakery.  And the gift boxes from Le Claire dairy are the envy of any discriminating shopper.  They've supplied a great recipe below, just to whet your appetite.

Goat Cheese and Basil Stuffed Chicken

• 1 tsp finely shredded lemon peel
• 4 tbls lemon juice
• 2 tbls melted butter
• 1/2-1 c. shredded evelon goat cheese (amount varies to your desires taste)
• 2-3 tbls fresh basil crushed or 2 tsp dried basil
• 2 tbls melted butter
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 4 medium boneless skinless chicken breast halves (about 1lb)

 To prepare the sauce combine lemon peel, lemon juice, and 2 tbls melted butter (set aside)

To prepare the stuffing combine the cheese, basil, 2 tbls melted butter and garlic in a small bowl and mix well

Use a meat mallet to pound chicken out flat. It makes less mess if you place the chicken breast inside of a storage bag that is not sealed and use the flat side of the mallet.

Lay chicken out and spread on forth of the stuffing across the chicken. Fold the chicken in half and secure with tooth picks.   Continue the same with the remainder of the chicken.

Brush with lemon butter sauce.  Prepare charcoal grill for indirect cooking.   Cook chicken for approx 20-25 min or until juices are no longer pink.  Brush with remaining sauce several times or until sauce is gone.

Closer to Santa

If you attended the final outdoor market last week, you know why we're so excited to head indoors.  No more cold windy wet Sundays.  Now it's all warmth and cheer AND some great vendors at the market.

Sunday, November 21st, 10AM to 2PM

First - The folks at East Towne Mall have been wonderful to work with in setting up this farmers market.  We're different than a typical mall store or kiosk.  They've been great in helping us create a farmers market that serves the needs of the community even if the process didn't fit into their standard procedures - thank you.

Second - OH the vendors.  You loved the vendors who brought their wares to the outdoor market, so get ready for that plus more.  For the next five weeks look for meat and vegetable delicacies to grace your pantry, bakery items and treats to tempt your stomach, milk and cheese to stock the refrigerator, yarns and fibers to warm your hands and head, wreaths to decorate the house and treats for your pets.  Following is a list of the vendors you'll find at the market on Sunday. 

Stop and see us as we are physically closer to Santa and all the magic of purchasing your holiday needs from local farmers and vendors.

Capital City Cookies – cookies www.capitalcitycookies.com

Keene Organics – mushrooms, organic eggs, organic varieties of garlic, nuts, preserves, spices www.keeneorganics.com

JenEhr Farm – pastured chickens , turkeys and rabbits; ORGANIC VEGGIES: root vegetables (red radish, carrots, potatoes, beets, turnips, beauty heart radish) extensive greens from mustard, sorrel, arugula, spinach, lettuces, kale, swiss chard, broccoli raab…etc. fennel, celery, leeks, kohlrabi, brussel sprouts, onions and more. Tomato puree and frozen strawberries. www.jenehrfamilyfarm.com

La Clare Farm – whole and skim goats milk, soft and aged goat cheeses, goat butter, goat chocolates, goat soaps, grass fed cow’s milk cheeses, and possibly goats milk ice cream www.laclarefarm.com

Flyte Family Farm – dried beans – horto, black beans and calypso and hydroponic vegetables. www.flytefamilyfarm.com

Mutt Better – handmade dog food and treats www.muttbetter.com

Valley View Emus – emu meat, oil and eggs www.valleyviewemus.com

El Bolillo –Mexican and continental style pastries www.elbolillomadison.net

Waterhouse Foods – artisanal breads www.waterhousefoods.com

Forest Academy Alpacas – Alpaca yarns, fibers and ready made winter wear www.alpacanation.com

Trautman Family Farm – pastured and organic beef and pastured pork www.trautmanfarm.com

Nehmer’s Produce – Christmas wreaths

Weatherby Cranberry – cranberries www.freshcranberries.com

Are You Ready to Order?

There are some cool things happening at the East Towne Farmers Market.  

• LaClare Dairy - goat milk and cheese, great artisian dairy cheeses
• Valley View Farm - Emu meat and emu cooking oil
• Morningwood Nursey is back with a nice selection of potted ready to plant fruit trees
• JenEhr with a great array of organic greens and pasture raised roasting chickens
• El Bolillo has sweet pastries and coffee and Mexican hot chocolate to take off the edge
• Look for the colorful mums from Nehmer's Produce (ask Ron about his halloween costume)
• And don't forget your pet dog - Mutt Better has incredible pet treats that are easily mistaken for people cookies

 In two weeks, the outdoor market moves inside East Towne Mall to the space in front of Sears.  Sundays, from 10AM to 2PM.  More vendors with items from alpaca yarns and eggs to four bakeries and lots of produce (dried beans, spinach, greens, mushrooms, and meat).

This is a reprint from a blog called What's on Karen's Plate, thought you might find it interesting

Did you know a new federal law went into effect on March 23, 2010, which requires chain restaurants to make nutritional information available for all the food they serve?

That’s right. When you dine out at a restaurant chain (with more than 20 locations), you should be able to find out how much fat, carbohydrates, calories, protein, etc., are contained in every dish on the menu.

Occasionally, we go to our local California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) or Romano’s Macaroni Grill, and I have noticed that both of these chains have had nutritional information available for quite a while. That sure makes it easier to decide what dish to order (or not order) or what dish should be split.

Actually, the laws are part of the health care bill that passed in March, and it’s definitely a good “first step” to help us help ourselves.

In case you hadn’t noticed, our country has been getting fatter at a faster rate. If you want to see something really eye-opening, click here to see the progression over the last 20 years on a state-by-state basis. This state-by-state progression has been presented at many industry conferences I have attended over the last five years, and continues to be a wake-up call.

What can you do about this? How can you help fight obesity?

This is what I do:

1. I buy as much good tasting fresh produce as I can. I shop several times a week, so the produce doesn’t go into my “rotting drawer” in the refrigerator. (We all have a rotting drawer. It’s where we put our produce with good intentions.)

2. I pack at least three servings of fruits and veggies in my lunch and my daughter’s lunch each and every day.

3. When I go out to eat, I make sure veggies are part of every meal. I prefer raw, but lightly cooked (with no fat) is my second choice.

4. When I order a salad, I always ask for the dressing on the side. Then I dip my fork in the dressing to minimize my fat consumption.

5. I NEVER eat everything I get at a restaurant. I usually eat half, and pack up the other half to have as another meal.

6. I always ask the restaurant for the menu’s nutritional information, and I use this to make my selection.

I encourage you to make your own checklist of things you can do to fight obesity. Want to know why it is so important? Because our children's generation is the first who will most likely have a shorter lifespan that ours. And that’s because of the poor food and exercise choices we have taught them to make.

School Lunches

OK, it's not just school lunches.  It could be the cafeteria at your workplace, or the fast food joint enroute to an event.  The thing is that most prepared meals, especially those done for the lowest price, offer good nourishing food.  After recently reading what's in processed chicken food, I'm not even sure we should call it food.

BUT, meals prepared from ingredients purchased from local producers, that's different. Beans from Flyte Farm Too provides the basis for an incredibly delicious and nutritious baked bean dish that is as savory warmed up for lunch the next day as it was at supper the night before.  Roasted winter squash from Kelly Lor will not only warm the kitchen, but makes a great foundation for a shepard's pie (Kelly has more vegetables for the pie as well).  The last of the tomatillos from Juan at Los Aboelos Farley Farm is prefect for to tang up any purchased salsa.  And the picture perfect white cauliflower from Nehmers on the end of the market is a perfect low-carb meal addition.  Of course the folks at JenEhr want to remind you of their pasture raised chicken when a the entree needs meat.

The ingredients purchased directly from the farmers at the East Towne Community Farmers Market is the best place to start when combating the battles of  choices of what to eat.  

Of course, school lunches create a whole new battle with our elementary and teenage students.  Lunch is as much about the social things of school as it is about eating.  One parent told me how she's handling lunch with her daughter:  

No fast food or processed foods this year. That means we’ll be packing healthy lunches at home (instead of allowing the purchase of ready-made foods at school). I’m not saying that the ready-made food available at school is “fast food” – but if we make it at home, then we KNOW what’s in it!

I plan to sit down with my daughter Sophia each Sunday, before we do our weekly grocery shopping, and plan what she’ll need to make her lunch each day (and breakfast, too). (Idea: my sister Jackie has created a “check list” so my niece can just “check off’ the menu she wants each day). We’ll create our weekly grocery list from this menu plan. We’re going to keep track of how many servings of fruits and vegetables we eat each day (goal is AT LEAST 5 a day…hopefully more).

If Sophia successfully packs (yes she’ll be packing her own lunch) and eats a healthy lunch each day – she’ll get a “bonus” at the end of the week (it may be financial or a credit towards something she wants). I got that idea from checking out the FOOD DUDES website. “Reward” is an important part of the program to change the way kids eat.

Sophia will go to the grocery store and farmers market with me each week and will pick her favorite fruits and vegetables (participating in the process really gets our kids to “buy in” to the changes, as they have control).

Welcome to East Towne Community Farmers Market

This is the third Sunday East Towne Farmers Market, 9AM to 1PM in the outer parking lot, directly in front of the main mall entrance.  And what a week to shop.  The dozen vendors in attendance will be able to offer the last of the summer tastes while bringing on the first tastes and colors of fall.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, green beans, radishes, summer squash and even basil and rhubarb are available at the market.  The last tastes of sweet corn are here, but hurry, this may be the final week of corn on the cob.  Decorating your table is so easy with a couple vendors offering pre-made and custom made flower bouquets from Kelly Lor.  And outside the kitchen, you’ll find deep colored mum plants for fall planting (Jim Nehmer).  They’ll be perfect right beside the gourds and pumpkins that are bound to compliment your home. And don’t forget the incredibly exotic plants from Morningwood Farms, a great chance to add some spice to your outdoor plantings as well as a few houseplants that will brighten any room. 

Now that you’re all decorated up, let’s turn on the oven and get baking.  Roasting chickens, winter squash and both sweet potatoes and potatoes for baking will heat up the house and fill it with a great aroma.  Two vendors (Lions Mane and Palms Mushrooms) offer incredible mushrooms, the ever popular button and crimini mushrooms along with some very fine specialty mushrooms, with tastes of delicate lobster. Plus a great mushroom seasoning for soups and dishes along with pickled mushrooms (hot and spicy or plain pickled) for snacking and a brunch time Bloody Mary.

And a treat for your favorite pet. New vendor, Mutt Better with artisan dog treats.  Your dog will have to wait outside the market while you gather the treat, but a perfect reward for sitting so well. 

The East Towne Community Market is a perfect place for all your weekly food shopping needs, with a wide variety of produce, meats, fruit, flowers and plants.  You’ll find both conventional and certified organic growers with ethnic specialties and treats for your dog.  Come join us on Sunday, 9AM to 1PM.