Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Cookie Crazed Mama - Tipp City, OH

Cookies, scones, muffins, cupcakes, mini pies, and bars. From their website: I started as a “Cookie Crazed Mama” but now I’m just a “Sugar Crazed Mama”, baking up treats to share with friends, family, and of course, YOU! But if you’re here visiting then you fall into either category. So I hope you stay and find some sugar inspiration to bake up for yourself!


  2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 3/4 c. granulated sugar
- 2 Tbsp. lemon zest (zest of 2 sm. lemons)
- 1 c. unsalted butter, softened
- 1 egg
- 1tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt-set aside.  In another bowl, add sugar and lemon zest.  Using your fingers, rub the zest into the sugar.  The idea is to infuse the sugar with the lemon flavor.  Lemon-sugar.  Good stuff.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy- a few minutes.  Scrape down sides of the bowl, add egg and vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed for several minutes.  Turn mixer on low, and slowly add flour mixture.  Stir until batter is just combined.  Batter will be thick.
Using a small cookie scoop, scoop dough (about golf ball size) onto prepared baking sheets.  Bake for 10-12 minutes.  Cool cookies on sheet for a couple minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
Lemon Frosting
* you could probably halve this recipe but I'd rather have enough goodness to spread around, and save the extra for something else like frosting cupcakes or filling whoopie pies-YUM!  :)

- 1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 c. vegetable shortening
- 5-6 c. powdered sugar (depending on thick/sweet you want)
- pinch of salt
- 4 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice (use your 2 lemons that you zested)
- 1-2 drops yellow food coloring (optional)
- yellow sanding sugar (optional)
In a bowl of stand mixer, beat together butter and shortening.  With mixer on low, add powdered sugar and pinch of salt.  Beat until powdered sugar is incorporated and mixture is thick.  On low, slowly add your lemon juice and food coloring.  Turn mixer on high and beat until whipped and fluffy!
Scoop a heaping mound of frosting onto each cooled cookie and and spread around.  Sprinkle with sanding sugar if desired.  Enjoy!





http://www.cookiecrazedmama.com/

Olive Oasis - Troy, Ohio


The Olive Oasis is located at 7 E. Main St. in Troy. 
The store is open Monday – Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
 Closed Sunday. 
Look for The Olive Oasis on Facebook
 (937) 552-7322
 Lucas Schlumpf, owner
Just a short drive from Dayton, Ohio, The Olive Oasis offers fresh and healthy food products in a unique setting.his family-owned and operated retail store, offers a wide variety of  fresh extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars for you to choose from when you visit. Select your favorites and they'll bottle it for you while you wait! Makes a great gift and fun stop while seeing the town. 

The 2012 Stinner Summit - Oct 5, 2012 Athens, OH

(Note -- I post this here because it will appeal to the the vendors at the farmer's markets who focus on sustainable agriculture and communities. As always, I encourage you to grow your own food and buy locally grown produce.)  

What is the Stinner Summit?

 The inspiration for the Annual Stinner Summit is Ben's vision of collaboration for building relationships based on common interests, his ability to see and understand the big picture, and his passion and enthusiasm for building healthy agroecosystems and sustainable communities.

The Summit, held at a different location each year, is a highly engaging and participatory event that draws stakeholders from around Ohio (and sometimes beyond!). Attendees, all with different expertise and paticular interests, work together to develop projects that will address healthy agroecosystems and/or sustainable communities. At the end of the day, the Ben Stinner Endowment pledges $15,000 in support of one or more projects. Breakfast and lunch are provided for attendees, and always features local restaurants and producers. The event is free of charge and open to any who are interested, though space is sometimes limited. To see photos and agendas of past Summits, check out the links below.

 Each year is unique, however; the best way to understand the Summit is to experience it for yourself!

 In summation (though incomplete), the Stinner Summit provides attendees with:

 1. Face-to-face networking opportunities
 2. A multi-disciplinary, engaging environment
 3. Open space to brainstorm projects related to sustainable agriculture and communities
 4. Coffee
 5. Food
 6. Financial support for projects concieved, developed, and selected by Summit attendees.
 7. A springboard for ideas, projects, and connections that can be carried into other aspects of your life.
More

Monday, May 14, 2012

Greenville Farmers Market

Downtown Greenville is the perfect backdrop for the Greenville Farmers Market located at 4th & Broadway at the Courthouse.

2012 Season Starts June 2 - thru Oct. 13

The Farmers Market is held:
Every Saturday from June-October.           9 am - 1pm




All items are homemade, handmade or homegrown in Ohio or neighboring Indiana counties.






All products are fresh and come directly to you from the producer, grower, baker, or maker. For the most part, the products offered are cheaper than the grocery store.


New vendors are accepted throughout the season. Please fill out the application at http://www.mainstreetgreenville.org/  and return to Megan Liette, Market Manager.
Questions? Please call 937.548.4998.

Market Shopping Incentive
When purchasing a local product from our vendors, please be sure to get your market pass stamped to receive a free gift after spending $25 at the market each month.

For more information - please call the Farm Bureau office at 937.548.6014 or Main Street Greenville at 937.548.4998.


1 (614) 443-1449
Websitehttp://www.thurnsmeats.com


530 Greenlawn Avenue

Columbus Ohio, 43223

614.443.1449

Blairquist Specialty Meats , - Hollansburg, OH



Tim & Vicki Blair have pledged to provide meat that has been fed differently than regular livestock to ensure healthy, high-quality meats.  Their products are guaranteed to never have been given growth hormones or any other supplement!  They've created their own feed supply to help you achieve the proper balance of Omega 3 with Omega-6.  Their meat products are extensively reduced in Omega-6.  


Tim & Vicki Blair
2997 Harrison Road
Hollansburg, OH 45332
(937) 997-4222
blairv@centurylink.net

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Natural Excellence Farm and Gardens, Orwell OH


Good Earth Guide

Rosemary and John Taipale

8173 Parker Rd.
Orwell, Ohio 44076

Listing updated 02.06.2012

arugula, basil, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, chard, cilantro, cucumbers, cut flowers including sunflowers, dill, garlic, green beans, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, muskmelons, onions, parsley, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, shallots, snap peas, sweet corn, summer squash, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini; brown and blue eggs

Vegetables are grown using basic organic practices although the farm is not certified. Soil improvement is accomplished using natural rock powders, cover crops and manure from our two Belgian draft horses. A variety of heritage breed hens range through the hayfield and pasture, providing delicious fresh eggs.

See them at the Lake County Farmpark Farmers' Market, Wednesdays 3-6 p.m., mid-May through mid-October and the Bridge Street Market in Ashtabula Harbor on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., mid-June through mid-October.

Visitors are welcome to the farm, but please call first.

Rosemary and John Taipale

440/862-1035