Indoor Market

Saturdays indoor market at the community center was a bust. They just don't get enough traffic coming in there. I took 20 loaves of bread and sold 5.  There were about 16 vendors with awesome products and lovely displays. Some of these folks depend on there sales as their only source of income and go to a lot of work to offer their products to the community.

Rubino's was there with homemade spaghetti sauce gift packs and home made chocolate chip cannolis  which looked fabulous! Guess I should have snapped a picture of those.

Lindsey Weisser of :::Bake:::. was there. I think she is new to the market - not sure but she sells muffins, breads and candy pecans. She gives away samples of her pumpkin bread and it is Sooo good!

This vendor makes homemade peanut butter- he gives out samples and it  was delicious too.

I should have bought some.

Is there any flavor the other, Other, Mrs. Smith doesn't make into a pie?

Her pies get raves reviews and she always has them coming back for more.

And here is my display

I tried a couple of different recipes this week. This one is a Cinnamon Swirl Orange bread and it is every bit as good as it sounds! I found the recipe in an old Betty Crocker cook book. Much to my family's dismay- I did sell out of this bread.

Another new product I offered is the Pumpkin Maple Pecan Butter.

On the Plus side - I am So excited. I had my first customer from the Summer Market stop out to the house. I have people stop for fresh eggs all the time but she was after my Hallelujah Bread! I had put what was left over from yesterdays market in the freezer and she was happy to have it frozen. I also sold her a loaf of the Rosy Swirl bread- featuring fresh cranberries in the middle.  I am **EXCITED!**

The indoor market will continue the first 3 weeks in December. 8-1pm at the Geneseo Community Center. Take a break from your Saturday and come and see the  handmade products these people have to offer.

Besides the above photos there was a young man from Hillsdale selling solid wooden doll beds and wardrobes - much nicer then American Girl doll furniture and priced nicer too.

There was cookies, quilt runners, bags, handmade mittens, jewelry and Amanda of My Mommy's Creations is  also usually there with her line of hair bows and accessories for little girls. Fabulous ideas for Christmas. 

I'll be back to purchase if not to sell.

Hope to see you there!

~ Kathy

A Trip to Country Corner

The Country Corner in Alpha, Il is a great place to take your family. Its more then a pumpkin patch.

We went with a friend and her kids last week and  had a great time.

We signed up for a guided tour which was about an hour and half long and included

a hay rack ride, petting zoo, cow train ride, free pumpkin for everyone to pick from the patch themselves,

Going through the corn maze and visiting the bee observation barn.

The farm also offers a play ground and picnic area that is free of charge.

I'm not sure what happened to all the pictures we took that day. Guess they mysteriously disappeared.

But here are a few.

They also have a Farm Market at Country Corner - you can purchase produce and homemade preserves from different farms in the area..and of course lots of pumpkins for sale.

The staff at Country Corner was very friendly. I could tell that our tour guide "Crazy Bob" really enjoyed his job. Their corn maze is open on the weekends and is said to be haunted! woohoo...

Defiantly worth the trip.

~ Kathy

New Bread - Golden Squash Braid

I was trying to decide what breads to make for the market last week besides Hallelujah and Glory Bread.

My sister's motivation for making breads has always been to make bread with whatever

 her garden is producing an abundance of at that time.
I agree with that thought and decided after picking 25 Butternut squash

(and still have plenty left in the garden) That it only seemed fitting to make bread with it.

I found several recipes but one was a little more time intensive then I would like and the other was just to plain.

The result was a combination of the two recipes . A very tender and light bread- rich in a golden color

and quite delicious. Not overly sweet or strong in flavor.

I made 4 braids - 2 with golden raisins and 2 without.

We ate one and the others were snatched up quite quickly at the Market.

Golden Squash Braid

1 package active dry yeast (or 1 scant TBSP)       3 TBSP brown sugar

2TBSP warm water                                              1/4 teas. salt

1 Cup mashed cooked butternut squash                3 cups all purpose flour

1/3 cup warm milk                                                1/2 cup golden raisins (optional)

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 egg

Directions: in a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. In a mixing bowl, combine squash, milk, butter, egg, brown sugar and salt; mix well. Add yeast mixture and 1-1/2 cups flour;mix well. Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8m. Place in a  greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. Punch dough down. (gently knead in golder raisin at this time if desired) Divide into thirds; roll each third into a 18in rope. place on a greased baking sheet. Braid ropes together; pinch ends. cover and let rise until doubled.  beat -1egg and 1TBSP water and brush on top of loafs. Back at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

ENJOY!

Making Homemade Bread and it nutritional value

Fridays have become bread baking day at our house. I bake for the farmers market in Geneseo Saturday mornings. 2 recipes that have become very popular are both my sister Pat's recipes. She does the market in Minnesota. I believe that she makes wayyyyyy more bread then I do. I usually bake between 20-25loaves. I believe she does 3x that many. I honestly have no idea how she does it. I'm exhausting by the time I'm done..but then again, I do still have children constantly running under foot. I can't count how many times I have to stop what I'm doing to get someone something. And you say "well, you have a 3 year old" - but I'm talking about the teenagers!

These breads are both amazing and so good for you. I hear all the time at the market how guilty people feel about eating bread. There is nothing to feel guilty about. They are both delicious and healthy.

This is Pat's Glory Bread -

1st rise.

Finished Loaves :)

This Bread has toasted wheat germ in it, oats,  fresh apples, carrots, raisins and coconut!

Yes, it is that good.

while I love the Glory bread my favorite by far is her Hallelujah Bread-mostly for its nutritional value

 

7 Grain Hallelujah Bread

has, well, 7 whole grains

Wheat,

Wheat contains mineral salts, catalytic elements, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, chlorine, sulfur, silicon, zinc, manganese, cobalt, copper, iodide, arsenic, vitamins A, B, E, K, D, PP, and ferments. Thus, wheat is the base for nourishment

Oats,

contain phytochemicals (plant chemicals), which are believed to protect the body from chronic diseases, such as cancer-contain very high levels of calcium, potassium and magnesium, coupled with Vitamin B-complex. All these vitamins and minerals are very essential for the nervous system.

Flax

(think omega 3s),

Quinoa,

 (high in protein, iron, potassium and other vitamins and minerals,  It is also a good source of dietary fiber and is easily digested.)

Amaranth

( high in protein (15-18%) and contains respectable amounts of lysine and methionine, two essential amino acids that are not frequently found in grains. It is high in fiber (3x's that found in wheat) and contains calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and vitamins A and C.

has a mild, sweet, nutty like flavor)

Millet

( recognized nutritionally for being a good source of the minerals magnesium, manganese and phosphorus.)

Bran

particularly rich in dietary fiber and omegas and contains significant quantities of starch, protein, vitamins and dietary minerals.

Women Who Eat Whole Grains Weigh Less

Whole Grains Substantially Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk

Whole Grains Reduce Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

So, Now you know - Guilt free AND actually good for you AND is actually is delicious!

Hallelujah Bread - 2nd Rise

Finished Loaves 

 Mmmmmmm....