Saturday, March 14, 2015
Speaking of Lamb Dishes.....
If you need more inspiration, some beautiful pictures of various lamb recipes can be found at this link:
http://www.epicurious.com/ingredients/14-reasons-to-eat-more-lamb-gallery/1
Friday, March 13, 2015
Lamb for the Holidays
Although Americans enjoy making corned beef and cabbage around Saint Patrick's Day, a more fitting tradition might be cooking a big pot of lamb stew! You can use your favorite recipe for beef stew and just substitute lamb. Be sure to add more potatoes after the meat becomes tender, since the ones you added in the beginning will now be part of the nice, thick gravy! Carrots, parsnips, green beans, and potatoes make a wonderful combination for lamb stew. You can use any cut of lamb for the stew, but shoulder is probably preferred for a braised dish such as stew. Lamb shanks or even lamb chops could make a stew. Some even use ground lamb or lamb meatballs to make stew.
Easter is another holiday for enjoying lamb. Traditionally, a roast leg of lamb makes a fine dinner. An elegant crown roast of lamb or some french-cut lamb chops make a delicious and memorable occasion also.
Why wait for the holidays to cook lamb? We enjoy lamb all seasons of the year. During the winter, it is satisfying to heat up the kitchen with a pot roast of lamb shoulder or a casserole of lamb shanks in the oven. During the summer, grilling some lamb burgers, lamb chops, or lamb and veggie kabobs is convenient and fun.
Weeknight meals of baked ziti and lamb ragu can be prepared easily by browning some ground lamb and ground beef with chopped onions and garlic, adding some diced tomatoes and a little bit of tomato sauce, seasoning with salt, pepper, and oregano, and then putting the sauce and al-dente cooked pasta in a casserole to bake at 350 F with parmesan cheese (and optionally feta cheese) sprinkled over all. Lasagna recipes can be adapted easily to use ground lamb, which goes so well with tomatoes, eggplant, green peppers, mushrooms, and cheese!
Now I'm getting hungry, I hope you will enjoy some lamb this Spring and every season of the year!
Here's a recipe to get you started. (Keep in mind you can substitute creatively if you do not have some of the ingredients on hand. I use parsley instead of mint, for example.)
This appeared recently in the "Wall Street Journal" online food section. THE CHEF: JOSEF CENTENO related article by Wall Street Journal Slow-Food Fast blogger
Easter is another holiday for enjoying lamb. Traditionally, a roast leg of lamb makes a fine dinner. An elegant crown roast of lamb or some french-cut lamb chops make a delicious and memorable occasion also.
Why wait for the holidays to cook lamb? We enjoy lamb all seasons of the year. During the winter, it is satisfying to heat up the kitchen with a pot roast of lamb shoulder or a casserole of lamb shanks in the oven. During the summer, grilling some lamb burgers, lamb chops, or lamb and veggie kabobs is convenient and fun.
Weeknight meals of baked ziti and lamb ragu can be prepared easily by browning some ground lamb and ground beef with chopped onions and garlic, adding some diced tomatoes and a little bit of tomato sauce, seasoning with salt, pepper, and oregano, and then putting the sauce and al-dente cooked pasta in a casserole to bake at 350 F with parmesan cheese (and optionally feta cheese) sprinkled over all. Lasagna recipes can be adapted easily to use ground lamb, which goes so well with tomatoes, eggplant, green peppers, mushrooms, and cheese!
Now I'm getting hungry, I hope you will enjoy some lamb this Spring and every season of the year!
Here's a recipe to get you started. (Keep in mind you can substitute creatively if you do not have some of the ingredients on hand. I use parsley instead of mint, for example.)
This appeared recently in the "Wall Street Journal" online food section. THE CHEF: JOSEF CENTENO related article by Wall Street Journal Slow-Food Fast blogger
KITTY GREENWALD
March 6, 2015 1:50 p.m. ET
Baked Ziti With Lamb Ragù
Total Time: 40
minutes Serves: 6-8
·
Salt
·
1 pound dried ziti
·
2 tablespoons olive
oil
·
1 pound ground lamb
·
½ pound ground beef
·
1 medium yellow onion,
diced
·
2 cloves garlic,
minced
·
1 medium carrot, diced
·
1 stalk celery, diced
·
1 small bulb fennel,
diced
·
1 (14-ounce) can crushed
San Marzano tomatoes with juice and roughly chopped
·
1 teaspoon red chili
flakes
·
½ teaspoon dried
oregano
·
½ teaspoon ground
cumin
·
¼ teaspoon ground
cinnamon
·
2 tablespoons Sherry
vinegar
·
¾ cup French feta,
crumbled
·
¾ cup coarsely grated
mozzarella
·
½ cup grated Parmesan,
plus extra for topping
·
15 basil leaves,
thinly sliced
·
15 mint leaves, thinly
sliced
1. Bring a large
pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add ziti and cook until just al
dente. Strain pasta, reserving 1 cup cooking water.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in
a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Once hot, stir in lamb, beef, onions,
garlic, carrots, celery and fennel, and sauté until meat is cooked through,
about 7 minutes. Pour off all accumulated fat and set pot back over medium
heat.
3. Stir in tomatoes,
chili flakes, oregano, cumin and cinnamon. Season with salt to taste. Simmer
until vegetables soften, about 20 minutes, adding splashes of hot water if dry.
Stir in vinegar and simmer 5 minutes more.
4. Preheat broiler. Add
cooked pasta and reserved cooking water to pot with ragù, stirring until evenly
distributed. Turn off heat. In a small bowl, toss together feta, mozzarella and
Parmesan. Stir ¾ mixed cheeses and ½ mint and basil into pasta.
5. Transfer everything to a large casserole
dish. Top with remaining mixed cheeses and grate extra Parmesan over top to
lightly cover. Slide casserole under broiler and cook until browned in spots,
about 5 minutes. Garnish with remaining basil and mint
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Use-By Dates, Sell-By Dates, Food Safety and Quality
There is a lot of confusion among consumers regarding the various dates found on food packages in Ohio. Although many states do not require it, Ohio's food safety law requires that eggs, shellfish, babyfood, and packaged, perishable food be labeled with a date if it has a shelf life less than 30 days. Also, many food manufacturers put dates on their packaging because they think consumers will find it helpful. There is no question that a lot of food is wasted because of the confusion over what these dates mean relative to the food safety and quality. One estimate by a food safety expert with NSF, Interational (a public health and safety organization based in Michigan) is that about $161 billion of food is wasted annually due to people throwing out food when it reaches the "sell-by" date.
This interesting graphic and a related article appeared in the Columbus, Ohio, newspaper "The Dispatch" on March 10, 2015. These guidelines are for refrigerated, perishable foods (fresh, uncooked) with a "Sell By" date or no date. (Products with a "use-by" date should be consumed by that date for safety.)
The article states that canned food will last indefinitely due to the heating and canning process creating a sterile environment within the can. This absence of any air or bacteria would provide a safe product for many years although there may be some slight changes in the quality or appearance. Another fact stated in the article is that, for sell-by-dated foods, usually about a third of the product's shelf life still remains after that date. One caveat to keep in mind; however, is that if there were any period of time during which the product had been improperly handled, such as wrong temperature, then the food quality or safety could be much less than expected based on the date.
Here is the link to the article http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/food/2015/03/11/serve-or-pitch.html
This interesting graphic and a related article appeared in the Columbus, Ohio, newspaper "The Dispatch" on March 10, 2015. These guidelines are for refrigerated, perishable foods (fresh, uncooked) with a "Sell By" date or no date. (Products with a "use-by" date should be consumed by that date for safety.)
The article states that canned food will last indefinitely due to the heating and canning process creating a sterile environment within the can. This absence of any air or bacteria would provide a safe product for many years although there may be some slight changes in the quality or appearance. Another fact stated in the article is that, for sell-by-dated foods, usually about a third of the product's shelf life still remains after that date. One caveat to keep in mind; however, is that if there were any period of time during which the product had been improperly handled, such as wrong temperature, then the food quality or safety could be much less than expected based on the date.
Here is the link to the article http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/food/2015/03/11/serve-or-pitch.html
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Beautiful Snowfall
February has been a very cold and windy month this year. Plenty of days in a row of single digit lows and highs barely above 20 degrees F. We got a little bit spoiled during December and January when we had a few warmer than usual days, plenty of sunshine, and hardly any snow.
Yesterday made up for that lack of snow, as we had at least 8 inches of snow in Homer! I hope you and the kids got outside to enjoy something fun! It wasn't even very cold, just about freezing all day. That is so much warmer than it has been, but it will still be very cold this week and next according to the forecast.
So enjoy the snow that is still on the ground! How it makes the neighborhood a lot quieter. The snow blanket deadens the sounds of traffic and the usual din of the community.
Here are a few pictures from around the store yesterday.
Yesterday made up for that lack of snow, as we had at least 8 inches of snow in Homer! I hope you and the kids got outside to enjoy something fun! It wasn't even very cold, just about freezing all day. That is so much warmer than it has been, but it will still be very cold this week and next according to the forecast.
So enjoy the snow that is still on the ground! How it makes the neighborhood a lot quieter. The snow blanket deadens the sounds of traffic and the usual din of the community.
Here are a few pictures from around the store yesterday.
 |
| The Homer Post Office at SR 661 & Homer Road |
 |
| This much snow fell by late morning. |
 |
| Standing under the Store Canopy |
 |
| The snow continued all day and early evening. |
 |
| Snowmobiles are the way to go in this weather! |
 |
| These kitties frolicked in the snow between naps. |
 |
| 4-Wheelers are great on the farm and in the snow! |
 |
| Kitties first big snow! |
Saturday, February 21, 2015
It's for Everyone's Safety
I need to let off a little steam. Please bear with me.
Why do some people "cop an attitude" (take offense) when I ask them to please move along when they have no business parking in the store parking lot? Of all people, locals (and previous locals) should know better. The intersection has poor visibility to drivers under the best of conditions, not to mention the lot is small but sufficient for the tiny store's customer traffic. There is a parking spot for two vehicles, maybe three.
Often people pull off the busy road into the tiny store parking lot or onto the berm of the road to text, eat a snack, make phone calls, mess with their GPS, take a rest, or wait to "meet someone," When this occurs during the morning, noon, or evening "rush hours," it is the most problematic because that is when most traffic is passing through the intersection and when most customers might need to park in the lot. I do not want customers to try to park on the outskirts of the parking lot, because it is not safe.
Multiple "Customers Only Parking" signs are posted around the parking lot, and that means only for customers while they are shopping. Despite this, loitering vehicles usually take the prime parking spaces, right in front of the signs! This is a tiny carryout, and shopping only takes a minute or two. I want my customers to have a place to park and not have to jockey for position with loitering vehicles.
These improper parking incidents occur frequently enough that it is necessary to monitor the lot and ask people to leave when they do not belong there. Most people understand the issue and move on without any commotion,
I usually approach the driver with a smile and politely ask if they need help, because sometimes they do. Sometimes they are just lost and in need of directions since there are no road signs indicating the direction of travel or location of nearby towns. However, when the answer is "No, thanks, I'm just waiting for someone" or "I didn't want to text and drive", I think to myself, "why do you have to do this here on this private property." Why not pull into that guy's driveway over there--same thing! Why not drive around the corner and park on the street!
Another concern is risk and liability for insurance purposes. That is why often I will take a picture of loitering vehicles, especially if they refuse to leave or are presenting a hazard to the line of sight at the intersection. If they are the cause of an accident, it would be good to have their identity for followup and responsibility since they had no reason to visit the business establishment.
Vehicles using the store's parking lot to "meet someone" or "wait for someone" is the excuse that bothers me the most for several reasons. First, they will be there longer than it takes to shop, and second, because not only will ONE vehicle be parked, idling, usually backed in as if they intend to stay awhile, and with their headlights shining into my neighbor's living room, but ANOTHER vehicle will be joining them, taking up another parking space (or worse, parked on the road berm). Usually the plan is to exchange children, and usually these are over-sized Sport Utility Vehicles. So then two large vehicles, both sets of adults, and numerous children also are hovering around the vehicles when it is time to make the exchange. Usually there is much standing around chatting, many hugs and kisses, and general congestion in the tiny parking lot.
When vehicles park in the lot with the intent of "meeting someone" or to exchange children, depending on the time of day and road conditions, I will allow it but ask them to please not do it again (in other words, do not make a habit of using this parking lot for the children exchange). When it is not a practical time or place for this, I will usually ask them to leave and suggest other nearby places to park and meet such as across the street at the post office or down the street at the various parking lots associated with schools, libraries, township government, etc.
The root cause of the problem may just be that the store is in "the middle of nowhere" and so it is a convenient "oasis" for pulling off the road for any reason that presents itself. It is halfway between several more populated college towns, and it is true there are no other stores within 5 to 10 miles in each direction. Or perhaps old habits die hard. Maybe ten or fifteen years ago before the store was there, locals might have used the parking lot as if they owned it.
Please be considerate of this small business owner and the customers who want to park safely and the drivers who want to be able to see the oncoming traffic, and the neighbors who do not want headlights aimed at their windows for ten minutes at a time. If you need to exchange children in Homer, why not meet at the Homer Elementary School parking lot or the library or the post office.
Thank you for listening. I really do not enjoy asking people to leave the parking lot, and I especially do not enjoy when the driver wants to dispute with me or refuses to leave. Sometimes these incidents create ill will, and this is "bad for business." I am truly sorry that we cannot always have a positive outcome. I prefer a "win-win" situation, and usually that is how it evolves. The times that it turns out badly, unfortunately, are the ones people remember the most. For this I am truly sad.
Why do some people "cop an attitude" (take offense) when I ask them to please move along when they have no business parking in the store parking lot? Of all people, locals (and previous locals) should know better. The intersection has poor visibility to drivers under the best of conditions, not to mention the lot is small but sufficient for the tiny store's customer traffic. There is a parking spot for two vehicles, maybe three.
Often people pull off the busy road into the tiny store parking lot or onto the berm of the road to text, eat a snack, make phone calls, mess with their GPS, take a rest, or wait to "meet someone," When this occurs during the morning, noon, or evening "rush hours," it is the most problematic because that is when most traffic is passing through the intersection and when most customers might need to park in the lot. I do not want customers to try to park on the outskirts of the parking lot, because it is not safe.
Multiple "Customers Only Parking" signs are posted around the parking lot, and that means only for customers while they are shopping. Despite this, loitering vehicles usually take the prime parking spaces, right in front of the signs! This is a tiny carryout, and shopping only takes a minute or two. I want my customers to have a place to park and not have to jockey for position with loitering vehicles.
These improper parking incidents occur frequently enough that it is necessary to monitor the lot and ask people to leave when they do not belong there. Most people understand the issue and move on without any commotion,
I usually approach the driver with a smile and politely ask if they need help, because sometimes they do. Sometimes they are just lost and in need of directions since there are no road signs indicating the direction of travel or location of nearby towns. However, when the answer is "No, thanks, I'm just waiting for someone" or "I didn't want to text and drive", I think to myself, "why do you have to do this here on this private property." Why not pull into that guy's driveway over there--same thing! Why not drive around the corner and park on the street!
Another concern is risk and liability for insurance purposes. That is why often I will take a picture of loitering vehicles, especially if they refuse to leave or are presenting a hazard to the line of sight at the intersection. If they are the cause of an accident, it would be good to have their identity for followup and responsibility since they had no reason to visit the business establishment.
Vehicles using the store's parking lot to "meet someone" or "wait for someone" is the excuse that bothers me the most for several reasons. First, they will be there longer than it takes to shop, and second, because not only will ONE vehicle be parked, idling, usually backed in as if they intend to stay awhile, and with their headlights shining into my neighbor's living room, but ANOTHER vehicle will be joining them, taking up another parking space (or worse, parked on the road berm). Usually the plan is to exchange children, and usually these are over-sized Sport Utility Vehicles. So then two large vehicles, both sets of adults, and numerous children also are hovering around the vehicles when it is time to make the exchange. Usually there is much standing around chatting, many hugs and kisses, and general congestion in the tiny parking lot.
When vehicles park in the lot with the intent of "meeting someone" or to exchange children, depending on the time of day and road conditions, I will allow it but ask them to please not do it again (in other words, do not make a habit of using this parking lot for the children exchange). When it is not a practical time or place for this, I will usually ask them to leave and suggest other nearby places to park and meet such as across the street at the post office or down the street at the various parking lots associated with schools, libraries, township government, etc.
The root cause of the problem may just be that the store is in "the middle of nowhere" and so it is a convenient "oasis" for pulling off the road for any reason that presents itself. It is halfway between several more populated college towns, and it is true there are no other stores within 5 to 10 miles in each direction. Or perhaps old habits die hard. Maybe ten or fifteen years ago before the store was there, locals might have used the parking lot as if they owned it.
Please be considerate of this small business owner and the customers who want to park safely and the drivers who want to be able to see the oncoming traffic, and the neighbors who do not want headlights aimed at their windows for ten minutes at a time. If you need to exchange children in Homer, why not meet at the Homer Elementary School parking lot or the library or the post office.
Thank you for listening. I really do not enjoy asking people to leave the parking lot, and I especially do not enjoy when the driver wants to dispute with me or refuses to leave. Sometimes these incidents create ill will, and this is "bad for business." I am truly sorry that we cannot always have a positive outcome. I prefer a "win-win" situation, and usually that is how it evolves. The times that it turns out badly, unfortunately, are the ones people remember the most. For this I am truly sad.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Are You Ready for Valentine's Day?
How wonderful that Valentine's Day falls on a Saturday this year! Lovers, admirers, and friends everywhere will have the weekend to celebrate their romances, friendships, and fondness for each other! For most people, weekends bring more leisure time, relaxation, and family time. I hope you will enjoy some time with the ones who matter most in your lives.
There are so many simple pleasures that make celebrating Valentine's Day so much fun. Some people have traditions of baking heart-shaped sugar cookies that can be decorated as simply or intricately as you want. For those of us who partake in this tradition, I think we can agree that the real fun is the process of mixing all the ingredients, cutting out the cookies, and having fun decorating, baking, and enjoying the aroma as they bake! This is almost as much fun as eating the cookies or giving the cookies as gifts.
I remember the pleasures of shopping for that sparkling heart-shaped trinket that I would wear on Valentine's Day to brighten my spirit as I went about my daily life that day and weekend...working, going out to lunch with coworkers or family, and then celebrating Valentine's Day with my soul mate. It was always fun to receive a gift for Valentine's Day and to give a gift in return. My favorite gift (giving or receiving) was always that box of chocolates! Although I was certainly in awe of the beauty of a rose and the lasting beauty of carnations, flowers did not seem to me as practical as chocolates or something shiny that could be remembered a little bit longer and more fondly! There is a season in life for stuffed animals....another season for that romantic dinner (chateubriand, asparagus, cheesecake for dessert, and some wonderful red wine) preferably several stories up with a window seat, and a foggy view of the lake! If you are not already engaged or married, what a nice date to propose to your loved one!
Whatever you do to celebrate Valentine's Day, or even if you do not celebrate at all, I hope you will enjoy Saturday, February 14, 2015. Stop by Homer Village Market to say hello. We will be open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. in case you need anything. We have cold champagne, many varieties of beer, wine, and spirits; chocolate covered pretzels, dark chocolate, lots of ice cream, plenty of gourmet appetizers, and lots of ingredients to make a delicious meal!
There are so many simple pleasures that make celebrating Valentine's Day so much fun. Some people have traditions of baking heart-shaped sugar cookies that can be decorated as simply or intricately as you want. For those of us who partake in this tradition, I think we can agree that the real fun is the process of mixing all the ingredients, cutting out the cookies, and having fun decorating, baking, and enjoying the aroma as they bake! This is almost as much fun as eating the cookies or giving the cookies as gifts.
I remember the pleasures of shopping for that sparkling heart-shaped trinket that I would wear on Valentine's Day to brighten my spirit as I went about my daily life that day and weekend...working, going out to lunch with coworkers or family, and then celebrating Valentine's Day with my soul mate. It was always fun to receive a gift for Valentine's Day and to give a gift in return. My favorite gift (giving or receiving) was always that box of chocolates! Although I was certainly in awe of the beauty of a rose and the lasting beauty of carnations, flowers did not seem to me as practical as chocolates or something shiny that could be remembered a little bit longer and more fondly! There is a season in life for stuffed animals....another season for that romantic dinner (chateubriand, asparagus, cheesecake for dessert, and some wonderful red wine) preferably several stories up with a window seat, and a foggy view of the lake! If you are not already engaged or married, what a nice date to propose to your loved one!
Whatever you do to celebrate Valentine's Day, or even if you do not celebrate at all, I hope you will enjoy Saturday, February 14, 2015. Stop by Homer Village Market to say hello. We will be open from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. in case you need anything. We have cold champagne, many varieties of beer, wine, and spirits; chocolate covered pretzels, dark chocolate, lots of ice cream, plenty of gourmet appetizers, and lots of ingredients to make a delicious meal!
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Graeter's Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Today, waiting for the milk man is full of much more anticipation than usual. That's because there will be some Graeter's ice cream pints on the delivery truck today! We have reordered Black Raspberry Chip, their most popular flavor!
Graeter's is based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has been making gourmet ice cream using the "French Pot" process since the early 1920's. According to Graeter's website, it is the only ice cream manufacturer in the world using French Pot freezers to produce its ice cream. These batches are each only two gallons, which is also the smallest batch in the industry. If you have not yet tried their ice cream, it is most delicious! It is quite a bit more expensive than other brands of ice cream, but each pint is hand packed with high quality ice cream made in small batches. You will notice the difference in taste and also the heft of the pint container!
Having spent about ten years in Cincinnati beginning in the mid 1970's, I have enjoyed eating Graeter's ice cream made locally. When I relocated to Columbus, it was several years before a Graeter's franchise location appeared on the scene. I was thrilled! Still nothing beats the fond memories of sitting at the little round marble tables at the Graeter's ice cream and candy shop in the Clifton neighborhood of Cincinnati and enjoying a couple of scoops of double-chocolate chip ice cream in a hand-made waffle cone.
I hope you will stop by the Homer Village Market and pick up a pint of Graeter's ice cream! Other flavors we sometimes stock include the Mocha Chocolate Chip, Chocolate-Chocolate Chip (formerly known as double-chocolate chip), and Coconut Chocolate Chip. These "chips" are more like chunks of rich, dark chocolate. If you visit Graeter's website, you can view the video of their French Pot process of making ice cream and you will see how the chocolate chips are introduced to the recipe!
Graeter's is based in Cincinnati, Ohio, and has been making gourmet ice cream using the "French Pot" process since the early 1920's. According to Graeter's website, it is the only ice cream manufacturer in the world using French Pot freezers to produce its ice cream. These batches are each only two gallons, which is also the smallest batch in the industry. If you have not yet tried their ice cream, it is most delicious! It is quite a bit more expensive than other brands of ice cream, but each pint is hand packed with high quality ice cream made in small batches. You will notice the difference in taste and also the heft of the pint container!
Having spent about ten years in Cincinnati beginning in the mid 1970's, I have enjoyed eating Graeter's ice cream made locally. When I relocated to Columbus, it was several years before a Graeter's franchise location appeared on the scene. I was thrilled! Still nothing beats the fond memories of sitting at the little round marble tables at the Graeter's ice cream and candy shop in the Clifton neighborhood of Cincinnati and enjoying a couple of scoops of double-chocolate chip ice cream in a hand-made waffle cone.
I hope you will stop by the Homer Village Market and pick up a pint of Graeter's ice cream! Other flavors we sometimes stock include the Mocha Chocolate Chip, Chocolate-Chocolate Chip (formerly known as double-chocolate chip), and Coconut Chocolate Chip. These "chips" are more like chunks of rich, dark chocolate. If you visit Graeter's website, you can view the video of their French Pot process of making ice cream and you will see how the chocolate chips are introduced to the recipe!
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