Fast Pizza.....preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place a couple of individual-size, Kontos-brand, hand-stretched pizza crusts on a cookie sheet. Spread a few spoonfuls of pizza sauce on top of each crust and then top with your favorites including some sliced, shredded or grated Italian-style cheeses. Bake for 5 minutes. One of our pizza sauces on hand at the store contains ground pepperoni, so you really do not even need to add meat. (If you prefer a crisper crust, slide the pizzas right onto the oven rack instead of placing the cookie sheet in the oven.)
Salad - while the pizza is baking, toss some pre-washed 80-20 blend of romaine and spring-mix salad greens in a bowl with some chopped tomatoes and other veggies of your choice. I like a handful of sliced onion and some black olives. Dress with your favorite dressing or vinegar and oil. I like Garlic Expressions salad dressing.
Have a little more time and feeling adventurous? How about stuffing some poblano peppers and baking those? I like to blanch the peppers in boiling water for a couple of minutes to soften them so they do not need to bake so long to become tender. You can make a stuffing out of finely-ground beef mixed with finely chopped veggies such as onions, garlic, and celery, and some bread crumbs or cooked rice to help hold it all together. Adding a beaten egg to the mixture also helps the stuffing combine like a meatball inside the pepper. Prepare a light tomato sauce and spoon it over the tops of the peppers in a casserole dish. You could add about a half cup of water to the casserole before placing it in a 350 degree oven uncovered for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how cold your ingredients were and how large the stuffed peppers are. For safety, test with a cooking thermometer for beef doneness (recommended 160 degrees for ground beef). These are good with any style potatoes--mashed, baked, fried, or hash browns.
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Thursday, November 14, 2013
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Beer
I still remember hearing "COLD BEER HERE....GET YOUR COLD BEER HERE!" as the red-aproned, beer-concession vendor walked up and down the big cement stairs at the baseball and football stadiums in Cincinnati where I went to school. I also recall how good a cold beer tasted when consumed on a hot day at the zoo. Another place where a cold beer seemed to make a lot of sense was at Chuck-E-Cheese's with pizza while the kids worked up a frenzy playing all those noisy and colorful games. Watching the passersby on busy Division Street in Chicago from a window seat at a tavern, and sipping an ice-cold microbrewery beer, really can't be beat. Well maybe it can.....drinking an ice cold Tsingtao beer in a frosty glass to wash down a spicy meal of dry-braised jumbo shrimp stir fried with green onions, hot peppers, garlic, and ginger over steamed rice.....or enjoying an ice-cold Guinness Stout while waiting for the waiter to bring out my sampler plate of lamb curry, tandoori chicken, and spicy samosas. A hot summer day, sitting around the pool and grilling bratwurst.....and having some cold brews with friends....that is a lot of fun too!
Did you know that America's beer distributors directly employ more than 130,000 people in the United States and add 54 billion dollars to America's gross domestic product annually? Beer distributor activities contribute more than 10.3 billion dollars to federal, state, and local tax bases. Yes, it is true, according to a study just published by the Center for Applied Business and Economic Research at the University of Delaware.
According to the federal government's Alcohol, Tax, and Trade Bureau (TTB), there were over 2,031 breweries in the United States in 2012. Of those breweries, 66% produce only between 1 and 1000 barrels of beer (31 gallons in a barrel) per year and only 16 breweries (less than 1%) produce over 6 million barrels a year. According to the National Beer Wholesalers Association's beer factsheet citing the Brewer's Almanac, this 2,031 number of breweries in 2012 compares to only 48 breweries in 1961, 350 breweries in 1971, and in 1981 there were 1,499 breweries.
In 2010, Anheuser-Busch had the largest market share at 49.3% followed by Miller-Coors with 30.2%.The next largest market share is Crown Imports (e.g. Corona) at 5.3%. In 1971, Anheuser-Busch had 29% market share followed by Schlitz at 19% and Fallstaff at 13% market share.
There are over 13,000 different beer labels available to American consumers in a highly regulated distribution system. This system includes:
According to a Gallop Poll in July 2010, the U.S. drinking rate hit a 25-year high with over 67% of U.S. adults drinking alcohol. Over the past ten years, the "beverage of choice" among U.S. adults consuming alcohol has remained relatively steady with
So what is your beverage of choice? I prefer wine. More about that later....
Did you know that America's beer distributors directly employ more than 130,000 people in the United States and add 54 billion dollars to America's gross domestic product annually? Beer distributor activities contribute more than 10.3 billion dollars to federal, state, and local tax bases. Yes, it is true, according to a study just published by the Center for Applied Business and Economic Research at the University of Delaware.
According to the federal government's Alcohol, Tax, and Trade Bureau (TTB), there were over 2,031 breweries in the United States in 2012. Of those breweries, 66% produce only between 1 and 1000 barrels of beer (31 gallons in a barrel) per year and only 16 breweries (less than 1%) produce over 6 million barrels a year. According to the National Beer Wholesalers Association's beer factsheet citing the Brewer's Almanac, this 2,031 number of breweries in 2012 compares to only 48 breweries in 1961, 350 breweries in 1971, and in 1981 there were 1,499 breweries.
In 2010, Anheuser-Busch had the largest market share at 49.3% followed by Miller-Coors with 30.2%.The next largest market share is Crown Imports (e.g. Corona) at 5.3%. In 1971, Anheuser-Busch had 29% market share followed by Schlitz at 19% and Fallstaff at 13% market share.
There are over 13,000 different beer labels available to American consumers in a highly regulated distribution system. This system includes:
- over 2,000 U.S. breweries (with operations in every state),
- about 3,300 licensed, independent beer distributors in the U.S.,
- and over 548,000 licensed alcohol retailers.
According to a Gallop Poll in July 2010, the U.S. drinking rate hit a 25-year high with over 67% of U.S. adults drinking alcohol. Over the past ten years, the "beverage of choice" among U.S. adults consuming alcohol has remained relatively steady with
- over 40% preferring beer,
- about 33% preferring wine,
- and about 25% preferring distilled spirits.
So what is your beverage of choice? I prefer wine. More about that later....
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Historic Moment in Burlington Township November 5, 2013
On Election Day this year, Burlington Township voters passed local liquor options to allow Homer Village Market to sell beer and wine for carryout in an otherwise "dry" township. As the owner of Homer Village Market, I am grateful to the community for giving me this privilege.
Following the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, the voters in Burlington Township (and many other localities throughout the United States) elected to continue the prohibition of the manufacture, distribution, or sale of beer, wine, mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor. In the 1980's the requisite number of voters successfully petitioned to put the issue of beer and wine sales on the ballot for a convenience store in Burlington Township, but the issue did not obtain a majority "YES" vote at the election.
In 2006, Homer Village Market became a qualified applicant for C-1 and C-2 liquor permits at the Ohio Board of Liquor Control. The application for these permits has been pending since that time because of the "dry" status of the township. It was necessary to obtain the majority "Yes" vote by the voters in Burlington Township before the permits could be issued to Homer Village Market.
The 2013 election was the first attempt by Homer Village Market to obtain the voter's consent for the issuance of these permits. Two local options were presented for voter approval and both passed with a majority "Yes" vote.
We have waited 93 years for these sales to be allowed, so I hope customers will not mind waiting a few months for Homer Village Market to get our shelving rearranged, inventory stocked, and premises inspected for licensing to begin retail sales of beer and wine in early 2014. Meanwhile, please let us know your brand preferences so we can have your favorite beer and wine in stock when retail sales begin. You can visit the store's website for contact information or stop by the store.
Following the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, the voters in Burlington Township (and many other localities throughout the United States) elected to continue the prohibition of the manufacture, distribution, or sale of beer, wine, mixed beverages, and spirituous liquor. In the 1980's the requisite number of voters successfully petitioned to put the issue of beer and wine sales on the ballot for a convenience store in Burlington Township, but the issue did not obtain a majority "YES" vote at the election.
In 2006, Homer Village Market became a qualified applicant for C-1 and C-2 liquor permits at the Ohio Board of Liquor Control. The application for these permits has been pending since that time because of the "dry" status of the township. It was necessary to obtain the majority "Yes" vote by the voters in Burlington Township before the permits could be issued to Homer Village Market.
The 2013 election was the first attempt by Homer Village Market to obtain the voter's consent for the issuance of these permits. Two local options were presented for voter approval and both passed with a majority "Yes" vote.
- The retail sale of beer, wine, and mixed beverages, Monday through Saturday (in original, sealed containers) for off-premises consumption
- The retail sale of beer only on Sundays between the hours of 11 a.m. and midnight (in original, sealed containers) for off-premises consumption
We have waited 93 years for these sales to be allowed, so I hope customers will not mind waiting a few months for Homer Village Market to get our shelving rearranged, inventory stocked, and premises inspected for licensing to begin retail sales of beer and wine in early 2014. Meanwhile, please let us know your brand preferences so we can have your favorite beer and wine in stock when retail sales begin. You can visit the store's website for contact information or stop by the store.
Soup Weather
When the weather turns chilly and windy, warm soup really hits the spot! This morning before I headed to work at the store, I gathered a handful of jumbo carrots and some peppers from the fridge. At the store I gathered some potatoes, garlic, and a big, white onion. In less than 10 minutes, I had everything prepped, seasoned, and layered in the pot set to simmer. I added more water and some soy sauce to the broth about 30 minutes later. Vegetable soup was ready in time for my lunch.
For dinner, I plan to sauté some beef tips or chicken--depending on what sounds good later--and add that to my soup bowl with some peas. For leftovers tomorrow, I might try a bowl of soup (in half of a baked acorn squash) with sliced sausage added. This process of adding ingredients to create a new meal out of the one just prepared is known as "morphing" (as in metamorphosis)!
This week, customers shopped for ingredients for potato soup with ham and also for making chili. What kind of soup do you and your family like to make?
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
What's for Dinner?
It's the end of the month, and money might be tight. No need to forego a really tasty meal. Cooking at home is far less expensive than dining out, and you don't have to be a talented chef to stir fry some beef tips with chopped veggies. They cook very quickly and are very tender and flavorful. Here are some menu ideas for the USDA Choice-grade beef sirloin tips that you can pick up here at Homer Village Market in the refrigerated case.
- If you like an Oriental-style stir fry, use a heavy frying pan to brown the meat with some tender veggies of your choice (thinly sliced broccoli, zucchini, onions, carrots). Soy sauce and sesame oil make a nice flavor. If you have black bean sauce, even better (you can buy all three at our store). Add some mushrooms or chopped veggies of your choice, and serve this over rice. Deglaze the pan with a little water and thicken with a spoonful of cornstarch mixed with cold water.
- If you prefer American style, use some savory spices/herbs (paprika, thyme, parsley or just salt and pepper), and serve over any style of potato--baked, mashed, or hash browns. You don't have to have any special gravy or sauce on hand so long as you have a little bit of flour or corn starch as a thickener. You could simply "deglaze" your frying pan with a little bit of water or broth to make a sauce. Beer works nicely too with beef! A nice flavoring to have on hand for beef would be a few drops of worcestershire sauce.
- You could also season the beef tips with salt and pepper (paprika is nice), then brown them quickly in some olive oil and serve over buttered noodles. If you like cream sauce, you could make your own (and avoid a lot of extra sodium) or simply open a can of cream-style soup. Sour cream is a nice addition to a sauce for beef and noodles. If you like onions, sauté them along with the beef. If you like peas, add cooked peas to the noodle mixture when ready to serve. Very pretty with peas....
- Here's a fun and quick way to use these tender beef tips in a burrito-style sandwich. Brown the beef in a pan. If you like onions or green peppers or hot peppers, chop some and add those to the pan first since the meat cooks quickly. Garlic is a nice seasoning. Simply warm some burrito-size flour tortillas and use the beef-veggie stir fry as your filling. Top with your favorite cheese and some chopped tomatoes or lettuce, if you like. Roll up the filled tortillas and enjoy! If you want it to taste like a Mexican-style burrito, be sure to have some taco or burrito seasoning on hand when you brown the beef (cumin, chili powder, paprika work well together with a little salt and oregano).
- One last idea. Get a 2 or 3 quart pot and place some sautéed onions, carrots, and celery in the pot and some diced potatoes. Cover with water seasoned with salt and pepper (or broth), and simmer until the potatoes and carrots are almost tender (about 15 minutes). Meanwhile, season and then brown the beef tips on med-high heat in a frying pan with a little olive oil. Add the browned beef to the soup pot when the veggies are almost tender. Get the flavorful bits from the frying pan by "deglazing" the pan with a cup of water, and add those pan juices to the soup pot. Simmer to blend the flavors for about 3-5 minutes, do not boil. If you like more of a tomato base to your soup, add a spoonful of tomato paste or ketchup when the soup is nearly ready. If you want a more hearty soup, add some kidney beans (or green beans if you are watching your carbs).
Friday, October 25, 2013
Harvest Time
The frost is on the pumpkin patch, and the area farmers began last week to harvest their corn and soybean crops. Farming machinery roars by the store on its way to the fields, and trucks overflowing with grain pass by as they head to the local feed mill.
As the sun goes down, look in the direction of a distant hum, and you can see the thrashing dust on the horizon as the harvesters make their way through the rows of corn. The farmers spend long hours in the fields at harvest time, often well into the night's darkness.
Herds of deer are running for cover during the harvest. During the pre-dawn hours, they go back to the fields to forage for spilled grain and remnants of crops left behind by the equipment. Hunters, chilled to the bone, sitting in trees along the field boundaries, are waiting for sunrise to get a good shot with their bows and arrows. Those poor, unsuspecting deer!
Meanwhile, back at the store, we have hot coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, and of course many cold, refreshing beverages for the weary farmers and their helpers. Sandwiches, snacks, and a friendly smile await them at the Homer Village Market.
If you are back at the house, waiting for your hungry men to come home for dinner, feel free to stop by the store to see what we have to make a hearty and satisfying meal in a hurry. And remember to pick up some snacks for his tractor ride tomorrow!
As the sun goes down, look in the direction of a distant hum, and you can see the thrashing dust on the horizon as the harvesters make their way through the rows of corn. The farmers spend long hours in the fields at harvest time, often well into the night's darkness.
Herds of deer are running for cover during the harvest. During the pre-dawn hours, they go back to the fields to forage for spilled grain and remnants of crops left behind by the equipment. Hunters, chilled to the bone, sitting in trees along the field boundaries, are waiting for sunrise to get a good shot with their bows and arrows. Those poor, unsuspecting deer!
Meanwhile, back at the store, we have hot coffee, hot chocolate, hot tea, and of course many cold, refreshing beverages for the weary farmers and their helpers. Sandwiches, snacks, and a friendly smile await them at the Homer Village Market.
If you are back at the house, waiting for your hungry men to come home for dinner, feel free to stop by the store to see what we have to make a hearty and satisfying meal in a hurry. And remember to pick up some snacks for his tractor ride tomorrow!
Friday, October 18, 2013
Beer and Wine for Carryout
Did that title get your attention?
Homer Village Market is located in a "dry" township, Burlington Township, in Licking County, Ohio. People living in this community have to travel at least 2 miles but usually 4 or more miles to find a place to buy a bottle of wine or a pack of beer.
Burlington Township is a sprawling, rural area covering about 25 square miles. Homer Village Market is located in the far northwestern edge of the Township, about twenty miles from the county seat, Newark, but only three miles south of the Knox County boundary. State Route 661, the highway that intersects with the store's Homer Road address, is a busy road with many commuters between Granville and Mount Vernon and those traveling further north to Interstate 71, Mansfield, Loudenville, or Bellville.
Even with all that traffic, the sparsely populated, unincorporated community of Homer and the surrounding rural neighborhoods do not provide enough business for Homer Village Market to make a profit selling groceries and cold pop. Over the years, many people have asked for beer and wine and wonder when it will be offered. Many people state that is the reason they do not shop at the store as much as they would otherwise, because they have to go into town "anyhow" for beer or wine.
Beer and wine is relatively expensive, so this is not something people normally stock in their pantries to last them all month. Most people who consume beer or wine will shop for it daily or weekly rather than stocking a month's supply. Homer Village Market is missing all of those taxable sales, and instead customers are taking their business elsewhere and picking up their groceries at the same time.
Maybe I'm hardheaded, but I didn't believe my suppliers when they told me it would not be possible to make a profit in a convenience store without alcohol sales. After more than seven years in business here, I have to finally admit they were right. That is why I am finally going to the voters to ask for permission to add beer and wine to the shelves and coolers at the Homer Village Market! I will be very grateful to the voters if the issues pass, so the store can continue operating and serving the people who have come to rely on its convenience!
If you are registered to vote in Burlington Township (Licking County, Ohio), please VOTE YES on the two local ballot questions regarding (1) beer and wine carryout and (2) beer carryout on Sundays. Thank you!
Homer Village Market is located in a "dry" township, Burlington Township, in Licking County, Ohio. People living in this community have to travel at least 2 miles but usually 4 or more miles to find a place to buy a bottle of wine or a pack of beer.
Burlington Township is a sprawling, rural area covering about 25 square miles. Homer Village Market is located in the far northwestern edge of the Township, about twenty miles from the county seat, Newark, but only three miles south of the Knox County boundary. State Route 661, the highway that intersects with the store's Homer Road address, is a busy road with many commuters between Granville and Mount Vernon and those traveling further north to Interstate 71, Mansfield, Loudenville, or Bellville.
Even with all that traffic, the sparsely populated, unincorporated community of Homer and the surrounding rural neighborhoods do not provide enough business for Homer Village Market to make a profit selling groceries and cold pop. Over the years, many people have asked for beer and wine and wonder when it will be offered. Many people state that is the reason they do not shop at the store as much as they would otherwise, because they have to go into town "anyhow" for beer or wine.
Beer and wine is relatively expensive, so this is not something people normally stock in their pantries to last them all month. Most people who consume beer or wine will shop for it daily or weekly rather than stocking a month's supply. Homer Village Market is missing all of those taxable sales, and instead customers are taking their business elsewhere and picking up their groceries at the same time.
Maybe I'm hardheaded, but I didn't believe my suppliers when they told me it would not be possible to make a profit in a convenience store without alcohol sales. After more than seven years in business here, I have to finally admit they were right. That is why I am finally going to the voters to ask for permission to add beer and wine to the shelves and coolers at the Homer Village Market! I will be very grateful to the voters if the issues pass, so the store can continue operating and serving the people who have come to rely on its convenience!
If you are registered to vote in Burlington Township (Licking County, Ohio), please VOTE YES on the two local ballot questions regarding (1) beer and wine carryout and (2) beer carryout on Sundays. Thank you!
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