Friday, December 20, 2013

Holiday Meals

The Christmas and New Year's holidays are a good time to gather around the table with family and friends for a special meal.  Grass-fed lamb from our farm has been a popular choice for the holidays this season.  We still have available two whole, boneless legs of lamb for roasting, plenty of lamb chops, a little bit of lamb stew meat, a couple of small boneless shoulder roasts, and plenty of lamb chops.  We also have plenty of lean, ground lamb which can be used in a variety of recipes such as casseroles, pot-pies, soups, curries, and stews.  (More lamb roasts will be available later in January 2014.)

Looking for something elegant but not quite so hearty?  Split Cornish hens are easy to prepare and bake and can make quite a festive presentation with simply vegetables.  It is delicious served with a baked sweet potato (or roasted carrots), steamed broccoli (or peas), and wild rice mixed with some orzo and sautéed mushrooms (or bread stuffing is nice).  If you prefer one large roast bird, how about a locally raised, plump chicken for slow-roasting or braising in the oven?  Don't forget the cranberry relish!

For seafood lovers, we have wild-caught yellow-fin tuna filets, wild-caught salmon filets, and also salmon burgers.  All of these can be prepared in less than 15 minutes!  These are delicious with steamed vegetables, pasta, or on top of a big salad.  You can even make your own smoked-salmon spread for appetizers.

Planning to go all-out Cajun for New Year's Day?  Please remember we have wild-caught alligator, Andouille sausage, farm-raised frogs legs, and chicken that combine to make a great Cajun meal with creole seasoning.  Also on hand are prepared beef broth, chicken broth, vegetable broth, and bouillon. Don't forget the cornbread!

Lasagna is another traditional choice around the holidays.  You can find all the ingredients here in the store!  This makes a great buffet item.

Finally, remember to double-check your pantry before you start baking up a storm and realize you are missing a key ingredient!  We are well-stocked with essential baking supplies and toppings.

Please check our Facebook page for updates on hours of operation during the holidays as well as in-store specials.  (Current plans are to be closing a little early on Christmas Eve, closed on Christmas Day, and open most of New Year's Day. Also we will be closed from Friday 12/27 through Monday 12/30/2013.)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!





Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Shopping for Gifts?

December already!  The Thanksgiving leftovers are gone.  The media buzz continues to get louder and louder about holiday shopping bonanzas.  Anxiety and weariness are beginning to overtake many people's holiday spirit as end-of-month, end-of-quarter, and end-of-year deadlines loom at work.

Please remember that you can find last-minute gifts at Homer Village Market.  And you don't have to wait until the last minute.  Stop by and have a look around.  You will not find a crowd, and you will not hear a lot of clanging carts.  You will not even hear Christmas music.  If you can tolerate the buzzing of the coolers and the confines of this small store, the rest of your shopping trip will be a breeze.

Here are some ideas for small gifts and stocking stuffers:
  • Beef Jerky
  • Local Maple Syrup
  • Dark Chocolate Covered Raisins
  • Premium 72% Dark Chocolate Bars
  • Anthony Thomas Candy:  Chocolate-covered Pretzel Roads, Pecan Dainties, Buckeyes
  • Hand-Made Crocheted Dish Rags
  • Hand-Made Crocheted Baby Shawls
  • Hot Wheels Cars
  • Small Stuffed Animals
  • Fragrant and Colorful Candles in Jar - 28 oz. burns 120-140 hours - 2 wicks - made in Ohio
  • Locally made Pickles and Mustards and Jams
  • Ohio gourmet pasta (including no-boil lasagna)
  • Wisconsin and Ohio Cheeses and Gourmet Crackers
  • Summer Sausage
  • Smoke Alarm
  • Burt's Bees Lip Balm
  • Board Games and Puzzles
  • Incense
  • Knit Caps
  • Hand Tools
  • Gift Certificates
As I was growing up, one of the strangest gifts I can remember that my Dad would get each year from his mother-in-law (my grandma) was a frozen rabbit ready to cook.  Maybe around this part of Ohio that would not be considered such a strange gift, but this was in a suburb of Cleveland!  We didn't know anyone who hunted, but apparently my grandma did.  She lived further from the city.

We don't have anything like rabbit in our freezer here at Homer Village Market, but if you are looking for local lamb, wild-caught Louisiana alligator white meat, yellow-fin tuna, salmon filets, or frogs legs, we can hook you up!

Enjoy the holiday season, and I hope to see you here at the store shopping for some specialty foods for entertaining or for gifts!