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SPECIALTY FOOD NEWS
From Fancy Food & Culinary Products Magazine and
Specialty Food Magazine |
| NOVEMBER, 2006 |
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Culinary Curtain Call:Jams and Honeys
Jams and honeys are versatile performers for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They can be enjoyed on morning toast, mixed with mayo or mustard and used on a sandwich, as a sweet and savory appetizer topping for entertaining or gourmet glaze ingredient for dinner. Don't forget dessert. Ice cream, pound cake, yogurt and pre-baked pastry shells can be easily topped with jams, jellies and honeys in every flavor and color of the rainbow. If you serve a cheese course before, during or after a meal, gourmet preserves and honeys can be important characters on the cheese board.
The Virginia Marketplace is proud to feature Graves Mountain jams, jellies and apple butter. Graves Mountain, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, uses family recipes to make their old-fashioned Jams and Preserves, and Jellies and Apple Butter unmatched for their quality and goodness. They cook their preserves in open kettles. The batches are kept small and each product is made as needed. They use the finest quality fruit, pure cane sugar and all natural seasonings in creating a product they feel is as good as "Grandma used to make."
We offer Monastery Creamed Honey from the monks of Holy Cross Abbey, Berryville, Virginia. It is a natural product made of the finest clover honey, slowly mixed until it has light creamy texture, the consistency of butter.
Graves Mountain Preserves and Monasatery Creamed honey are available in many gift sets and are featured in many of our Virginia Marketplace gift baskets. |
| JANUARY, 2006 |
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No Take-Out Required
There is a growing popularity of Asian cuisine in this country, from Chinese and Japanese to Thai and Vietnamese. With this popularity has come the introduction of many Asian-inspired cooking sauces and dressings. Cooks can magically transform into gourmet Asian chefs - without leaving home. Using these sauces produces a fantastic meal quickly and easily.
We carry Rowena's sauces which are sure to satisfy the most discriminating palate! Rowena's Spicy Peanut Sauce adds a wonderful Thai flavor to a stir fry, hot or cold pasta, or chicken dishes. It also makes an outstanding dip for egg rolls or a mouthwatering marinade for pork or poultry. Rowena's Heavenly Curry Sauce is an excellent sauce to saute with. Superb on chicken or shrimp on the grill. Devilishly good out of the jar on broiled seafood, smoked meats, chicken or steamed vegetables. Spoon over cream cheese topped with chopped dried fruit and peanuts. |
| APRIL, 2007 |
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Spreading The Love
People who love to entertain, but are short on time, still want to serve something memorable and unique. Consumers are looking for something that is 'gourmet' but very easy to prepare. Mixes for dips aren't necessarily new; however, the growth within this category is noticeable.
Using our Blue Crab Bay Seafood Dip Kits, you will be guaranteed a successful outcome every time. They are perfect for entertaining or gift giving. The Crab Dip Kit was a SILVER TROPHY WINNER at an International Fancy Food Show. The Clam Dip and the Shrimp Dip are equally delicious. All capture the flavor of the Chesapeake Bay! They are featured in many of our Virginia Marketplace gift baskets. |
| MAY, 2007 |
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Perfectly Peppered Jellies
Pepper jellies are becoming popular pantry staples year round. They have always been popular for holiday entertaining, but they are also increasingly popular for year round appetizers, as condiments for meat, and as a grilling glaze.
Pepper jellies originated in the South. They are a little bit hot and sweet. One of the classic applications for pepper jellies is simply topping a block of cream cheese with the colorful preserve. A bright splash of color on any table, the combination is easy to fix and a satisfying spread on crackers.
Our Graves Mountain Green Pepper Jelly is the perfect compliment for Baked Brie or cream cheese or for topping a spread made from Amber Brand Genuine Deviled Smithfield Ham and cream cheese for a festive treat. Use it to top one of our Smithfield smoked hams or as a dip for shrimp or with crab cakes. Perfect for summer, try a No-Bake Pepper Jelly Cheesecake. Combine 9 oz. of pepper jelly with 5 oz. of grated Cheddar cheese, 8 oz. of cream cheese at room temperature and 2 cloves of finely minced garlic in a food processor. Stir in chopped cilantro and onion. Place it in the bottom of a parchment lined, 7-inch springform pan that is also sprayed with cooking spray. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and top with toasted pine nuts.
One more idea inspired by Asian flavors - How about a sandwich of Graves Mountain Green Pepper Jelly and The Peanut Shop of Willamsburg's All Natural Peanut Butter for a pairing similar to a Thai spicy peanut sauce. |
| JUNE, 2007 |
Relishes to Cherish
Chutney is a spicy condiment that typically contains fruit, vinegar, sugar and spices. It ranges in texture from thick and chunky to smooth, and the degree of spiciness among chutneys varies greatly. Chutneys have been popular in Great Britain and India for a long time, but more recently it is emerging as a popular condiment in the United States specialty food market. They boast many uses, from sandwich spread to appetizer - and much more.
At the Virginia Chutney Company in Washington, Virginia, the Turner family makes Southern-style chutneys based on recipes from the American South. This chutney differs from the traditional Indian chutney in that it is not as spicy, but instead a sweet fruit reduction that is great when paired with ham or cheese. Typically, these chutneys are sticky and jam-like, unlike the runnier consistency of Indian chutneys. Historically, rural Southern families preserved fruit by slowly cooking them down with vinegar, sugar and spices.
The distinctly Southern ingredients, such as peaches and fried green tomatoes, give this chutney an American identity. It fits into tradtional Southern cooking with ham and roast pork and chicken.
The Virginia Chutney Co.'s Fried Green Tomato Chutney and Sweet Peach Chutney are available in the Deviled Ham and Chutney Gift Basket already paired with the Smithfield's award winning Genuine Smithfield Deviled Ham Spread. |
| JULY, 2007 |
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Easy Gourmet Globe-Trotting
People have done a lot of restaurant dining and gotten used to having food with a lot of flavor. They also love traveling around the world in their kitchens. To make a flavorful sauce you need lots of ingredients and many steps. Many companies are aiming to help the home cook prepare full-flavored meals, often with an ethnic touch, in the easiest way possible. Given a jar of sauce that's really high in flavor, you just need two ingredients - the sauce and some meat - for a great dinner. Versatility is another plus for sauces. An innovative way to use cooking sauces is to create a "sauce bar" to accompany chicken, beef, or vegetables.
Rowena's Spicy Peanut Sauce adds a wonderful Thai flavor to a stir fry, hot or cold pasta, or chicken dishes. It also makes an outstanding dip for egg rolls or a mouthwatering marinade for pork or poultry. Rowena's Heavenly Curry Sauce is an excellent sauce to saute with. Superb on chicken or shrimp on the grill. Devilishly good out of the jar on broiled seafood, smoked meats, chicken or steamed vegetables. Spoon over cream cheese topped with chopped dried fruit and peanuts. |
| July, 2007 |
Specialty Nuts
Nuts spark devotion from consumers and inspire creative enhancement and marketing among specialty food producers and retailers. There are many ways that a simple nut is transformed into a specialty food, from hand roasting to a change in perception of what is a gourmet item. Savory or sweet flavored products often get the most attention from specialty nut consumers-especially when they reflect an international or regional taste.
Palates can vary by region. Retailers and producers in the South have a strong sweet tooth. Virginia's The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg sells Chocolate Covered Almonds (available Sept. - May), Honey Toasted Cashews and Sweet Georgia Pecans that have been hand-cooked in copper kettles with fresh creamy butter and brown sugar according to an old-fashioned Southern recipe.
Support for the wellness benefits of nuts continues to grow. Although nuts are far from low fat, they are high in the good kind of fat. Almonds are high in the antioxidant vitamin E and peanuts are a good source of protein. There is recent evidence that nuts also help fight chronic inflammation, which some researchers believe is an underlyting cause in health conditions ranging from cancer to dementia.
The Virginia Marketplace has a bountiful selection of Virginia peanuts and specialty nuts. Virginia-type peanuts are known for their large size and crunchy texture and have been referred to as "the peanut of the gourmet." We have nuts in tins and gift packs, as well as in gift baskets and gift boxes. We have Virginia peanuts from Virginia Diner, The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg, and Feridies (formerly The Peanut Patch). Specialty nuts are available from The Peanut Shop of Williamsburg. Flavors range from salted to sweet to hot and spicy. Chocolate covered peanuts and almonds are available Sept. to May. |
| September, 2007 |
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Instantly Impressive Appetizers
Some appetizers that can be served without ever turning on the oven remain classics year-round but are especially popular during the winter party season. Among those revered items are smoked salmon, pates, and antipasti. The rich flavor of smoked salmon and beautiful pink presentation on a platter, make it among the most popular of the open-and-serve specialties for holiday entertaining. Pate has always been an entertaining staple because it pairs well with wine and cheese and are unique and special. Also, it is ready to serve just as it is and you can let people help themselves. It can take care of itself or you can garnish it with colorful olives, cheery tomatoes, pearl onions or anything that you like. Placing it on a piece of lettuce for color also works well.
The Virginia Marketplace has availabe through The Smithfield Catalog Group A Smoked Salmon Sampler- four packs of all natural, pure smoked salmon from Echo Falls. Traditional and Cracked Pepper flavors - boneless fillets, hot smoked over native alder wood. Wild Alaskan Sockeye and Scottish Salmon-cold smoked and thinly sliced. Also available is Smoked Salmon Pinwheels - Smoked wild salmon, swirled with cream cheese, chives, dill, and choice spices. Light and delicious, this simple hors d'oeuvre makes a stunning presentation. Also available through the Smithfield Catalog Group is a French Pate Sampler- handmade, all natural mousse and pate from Les Trois Petits Cochons - Country Pate, Black Peppercorn Pate, Truffle Mousse, and Duck Liver Mousse with Port Wine. |
| October, 2007 |
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A Boom in American Artisan Cheese
American Artisan Cheese is a hot category in Specialty Food. No one predicted the current dynamic and diverse scene. American artisan cheeses are on a roll. Most cheese professionals seem to agree that "artian" implies some amount of handcrafting and human decision making. Artisan cheeses, in the purest sense, are made on a small scale by traditional methods, such as using animal rennet or ladling curd by hand. Machines may handle some of the backbreaking tasks, such as milking but humans make the judgement calls.
Available through Smithfield Catalog Group, Crater Lake Blue Cheese from Rogue Creamer was voted Best Overall Blue Cheese at the 2003 World Cheese Awards in London. Rogue Creamery has been consistently producing their handmade award-winners for over 70 years. The robust Crater Lake Blue with vibrant blue-green veins, silky texture and complex contemporary flavor is a favorite. Also available is a Sampler of three award winning blues - Crater Lake, Oregon Blue Vein, and Oregonzola. Another option is the Crowley Cheese Wheel. Although similar to the English-style cheddars also made in Vermont, Crowley Cheese is not nearly as dry. Made the same way, by hand, in the same building for more than a century - even following the time honored methods that make colby cheese distinctive - by hand kneading the curds and washing in fresh spring water. |
| NOVEMBER/DECEMBER, 2007 |
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Winter Warmers
Hot Chocolate
Some hot drinks are perfect to kick start the day. Some are ideal for all day sipping. Premium hot chocolates, special occasion teas and other creative sippers help you find comfort from the cold. The hot beverage category is so strong this year, the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade added an Outstanding Hot Beverage category to its sofi Awards (Formally Product Awards Competition). Call it drinking chocolate, sipping chocolate or premium cocoa, this winter beverage is booming. It continues to grow in popularity and in market size as customers learn the difference between new cocoa indulgences and the Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa packets. Steamers Hot Cocoa's award winning recipe is an indulgent and rich combination of qualtiy ingredients. Traditional Hot Cocoa comes with an awesome old fashioned picture of a horse and carriage. The White Chocolate Flavor comes with a gorgeous picture of ice skaters on a frozen pond. Steamer Hot Cocoa is also available in our Tasty Winter Breakfast Gift Basket , Holiday Cheer, A Taste of the Virginia Marketplace, Holiday Breakfast Delights and Winter Brunch Gift Basket and our Good Morning Gift Box with Traditional Flavor and Good Morning Gift Box with White Chocolate Flavor and both are in our Winter Morning Gift Box.
Special Occasion Teas
Uncomomon teas are ideal for gifts, serving guests or for the special occasion. Numi Organic Tea's Exotic Flowering Tea is distinct in its presentation. Numi's Dancing Leaves Teapot, a glass pot with 5 flowering teas is new for the 2007 holiday season.
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| JANUARY, 2008 |
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Sauces with Spirit(s)
Cooking with spirits is not a new concept - great chefs have used bourbon, whiskey, vodka and wine to enhance their sauces for as long as anyone can remember.
Try Hooper's Happy Hour Vodka Sauce, a handmade pasta sauce cooked for hours in a pot on a stove - and guaranteed to taste like fresh pasta sauce. Virginia Gentleman sauces are award-winning sauces with the traditional hunt scene labels but are anything-but-traditional when it comes to the taste sensation you'll experience. flavored with Virginia Gentleman VG 90® Small Batch Bourbon. The Virginia Gentlemen Sauce sampler includes Bourbon Maple, Bourbon Teriyaki and Bourbon Chipotle. We also have Virginia Gentlemen Bourbon Steak Sauce in some of our Virginia Marketplace Gift Baskets.
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| MARCH, 2008 |
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Good Morning Gourmet
Nothing makes a lazy Saturday morning like the smell of scones or muffins, fresh from the oven..unless its pancakes sizzling on the griddle. Gourmet baking mixes are great for starting out birthdays and holidays, and can quickly turn an ordinary morning into a special one. The mixes are quick and easy, requiring no more than a couple of additional ingredients. With Mother's Day coming up, baking mixes would make an easy baking activity with kids.
The tradition of Byrd Mill began in 1740. Byrd Mill now located in Ashland, Virginia manufactures some of the finest gourmet mixes available. We offer Byrd Mill Raspberry Pancake Mix, Lemon-Blueberry Scones and Cinnamon Muffin Mix and they are also available as a Byrd Mill Breakfast Sampler . The Byrd Mill Mixes are paired perfectly with our Graves Moutain Preserves and Apple Butter or Monastery Creamed Honey in our Virginia Marketplace Gift Baskets and Gift Boxes.
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| FEB., 2009 |
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Dry Rubs
As the summer approaches, get ready for the culinary highlight of the season, grilling. With more consumers eating and entertaining at home, this is an easy way to add a little something extra. Try dry rubs. for grilling.
Blue Crab Bay's Salmon Seasoning is a salt-free lemon-and-dill blend perfect for grilled, poached or baked fish. the bottle's label alsoincudes recipes for Lemon dill Butter, which is a tasty flavoring for boiled potatoes. Founder Pamela Barefoot suggests using all-natural mix to make a smoked salmon spread.Salmoin Seasoning is also available in our Virginia Marketplace Gift Basket, The Nutty Seafood Lover.
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| MARCH, 2009 |
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Barbecue and Steak Sauces
They are perhaps the most popular medium for enhamcing flavors on the grill - sauces. Use of ingredients such as fruit, honey, spirits, herbs, spices and more creates a group of products that is as diverse as the population.
We have several Sauces to enhance grilling: Apple Grilling Glaze, Virginia Gentlemen Sauce Sampler, Virginia-Carolina Style Sauce and Marinade and James River Barbeuce Sauce and Marinade. Virginia Gentlemen Steak Sauce is available in our Spring Favorites! Gift Basket.
Dipping Into Mixes
Dip mixes are perfect for summertime entertaining. They are an easy way to invite friends over and have a fun social gathering and have something nice. They are easy to make and keep in the cupboard or to give as gifts.
Using our Blue Crab Bay Seafood Dip Kits, you will be guaranteed a successful outcome every time. They are perfect for entertaining or gift giving. The Crab Dip Kit was a SILVER TROPHY WINNER at an International Fancy Food Show. The Clam Dip and the Shrimp Dip are equally delicious. All capture the flavor of the Chesapeake Bay! They are featured in many of our Virginia Marketplace gift baskets.
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| APRIL, 2009 |
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Drink Mixes
For the summer calendar filled with graduation parties, Mother's
Day brunches, barbecues and pool parties, nothing beats a refreshing coctail or two. And though the idea of mixing drinks might be daunting to some, today's drink mixes make the process easy and delicious. baking activity with kids. Many have nonalcoholic uses.
Blue Crab Bay's all natural Sting Ray Bloody Mary Mixer can be enjoyed with or without alcohol. Sting Ray Bloody Mary Mixer is also available in our Virginia Marketplace Gift Baskets. See our many Recipes using Blue Crab Bay's Sting Ray Bloody Mary Mixer. Bloody's by Buz is also available with pickled green beans and okra. Mix with mayonnaise for a Bloody Mary salad dressing.
Confectionery Classics
Old-fashioned confectionery favorites offer the sweet promise of nostalgia. In a time when life seems more stressful and uncertain, we take comfort in familiar rituals, celebrations and foods. Bequet's goal is to make the best that anyone's ever had, period. Their classic caramels are all natural and made with a combination of qualtiy ingredients and careful cooking processes. Several have won NASFT Sofi awards for outstanding confection.
We have available an assortment of Bequet Caramels including Soft, Chocolate Espresso, Chipotle, and Celtic Sea Salt.
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| MAY, 2009 |
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Jam Session
Everything that goes into a jar of jam counts. A sense of place and high-quality ingredients make fruit jams and preserves harmonious toppings for more than just breads. Uses for jams and jellies are abundant.
At The Virginia Marketplace we have chosen to highlight Graves Mountain products. There is regional pride in every jar of Graves Mountain Apple Butter, Preserves and Jelly. Graves Mountain Lodge is nestled deep in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Syria, Virginia. Graves Mountain Lodge established its cannery in 1980. They use family recipes to make their old-fashioned preserves unmatched for their quality and goodness. They cook their preserves in open kettles. The batches are kept small and each product is made as needed. They use the finest quality fruit, pure cane sugar and all natural seasonings in creating a product they feel is as good as "Grandma used to make." Their apple butter is made from their own Virginia apples and is perfectly spiced and incredibly creamy.
Graves Mountain Apple Butter, Green Pepper Jelly, and many flavors of their wonderful preserves are available individually, in combinations and in gift sets Graves Mountain products are also available in our Virginia Marketplace Gift Baskets.
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| JUNE, 2009 |
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Dare To Dip
For summertime entertaining, nothing could be simpler or more versatile than dip mixes and seasonings.
Blue Crab Bay Company makes entertaining easy with its Crab Dip Kit, which includes Bay Beyond Premium Claw Crabmeat and Crab Dip seasoning blend. All the busy person has to do is add sour cream and cream cheese for a high quality Chesapeake Crab Dip. Also available are the Shrimp Dip Kit and Clam Dip Kit each with a seasoning blend dessigned specifically to complement the different types of seafood.
At The Virginia Marketplace we have all three Blue Crab Bay quality seafood dip kits. They are available individually and in gift boxes and Virginia Marketplace Gift Baskets.
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| JULY, 2009 |
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Back to Basics
Traditional baking mix flavors will comfort consumers this fall. What better way to welcome the change in season than by turning on the oven and baking up some autumn desserts? Luckily, many gourmet companies have recognized that not every consumer has the time to make homemade baked goods; to solve this problem, these companies have created gourmet baking mixes that required very little prep time.
At The Virginia Marketplace we have Byrd Mill quality baking mixes available in gift boxes and Virginia Marketplace Gift Baskets.
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| SEPT., 2009 |
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Easy Holiday Elegance
The joy of the season can easily become lost on holiday hosts. Wjo;e gathering friends and family sounds thrilling, the reality of preparing food, shopping, and decorating can quickly take the fun out of entertainig. Let us help you make elegant look effortless.
Using our Blue Crab Bay Seafood Dip Kits, you will be guaranteed a successful outcome every time. They are perfect for entertaining or gift giving. The Crab Dip Kit was a SILVER TROPHY WINNER at an International Fancy Food Show. The Clam Dip and the Shrimp Dip are equally delicious. All capture the flavor of the Chesapeake Bay! They are featured in many of our Virginia Marketplace gift baskets.
The Virginia Marketplace has availabe through The Smithfield Catalog Group A Smoked Salmon Sampler- four packs of all natural, pure smoked salmon from Echo Falls. Traditional and Cracked Pepper flavors - boneless fillets, hot smoked over native alder wood. Wild Alaskan Sockeye and Scottish Salmon-cold smoked and thinly sliced. Also available is Smoked Salmon Pinwheels - Smoked wild salmon, swirled with cream cheese, chives, dill, and choice spices. Light and delicious, this simple hors d'oeuvre makes a stunning presentation. Also available through the Smithfield Catalog Group is a French Pate Sampler- handmade, all natural mousse and pate from Les Trois Petits Cochons - Country Pate, Black Peppercorn Pate, Truffle Mousse, and Duck Liver Mousse with Port Wine.
Available through Smithfield Catalog Group, Crater Lake Blue Cheese from Rogue Creamer was voted Best Overall Blue Cheese at the 2003 World Cheese Awards in London. Rogue Creamery has been consistently producing their handmade award-winners for over 70 years. The robust Crater Lake Blue with vibrant blue-green veins, silky texture and complex contemporary flavor is a favorite. Also available is a Sampler of three award winning blues - Crater Lake, Oregon Blue Vein, and Oregonzola. Another option is the Crowley Cheese Wheel. Although similar to the English-style cheddars also made in Vermont, Crowley Cheese is not nearly as dry. Made the same way, by hand, in the same building for more than a century - even following the time honored methods that make colby cheese distinctive - by hand kneading the curds and washing in fresh spring water.
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| JAN. 2010 |
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How Sweet It Is
There's something homey and traditional about a jar of jam or preserves. It conjures up an afternoon in Grandma's kitchen, a pot of tea and plate of scones or breakfast in bed. Today's jams and jellies still do maintain that old-time mystique, but they are also so much more than that.
From the most traditional to the most unusual, today's jams and jellies share one thing in common: They're not just for breakfast anymore. Creative consumers and imaginative retailers are using them as sandwich spreads, meat glazes, cheese condiments, appetzer ingredients, dessert toppings and more.
The Virginia Marketplace is proud to feature Graves Mountain jams, jellies and apple butter. Graves Mountain, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, uses family recipes to make their old-fashioned Jams and Preserves, and Jellies and Apple Butter unmatched for their quality and goodness. They cook their preserves in open kettles. The batches are kept small and each product is made as needed. They use the finest quality fruit, pure cane sugar and all natural seasonings in creating a product they feel is as good as "Grandma used to make."
Our Graves Mountain Green Pepper Jelly is the perfect compliment for Baked Brie or cream cheese or for topping a spread made from Amber Brand Genuine Deviled Smithfield Ham and cream cheese for a festive treat. Try Green Pepper Jelly to baste shrimp kebabs or on a cheese sandwich.
As the trend in artisanal cheese continues and more consumers serve cheese plates at parties and dinners, a dollop of preserves makes a natural addition to the platter, and it can add a whole new dimension to a cheese-tasting experience.
Heat jam and use it a a topping on ice cream. Use your favorite jam as a filling between layers of cake. Then frost the stacked layers as usual. Stir a dollop of jam into Greek-style yogurt and sprinkle with chopped nuts for a healthy breakfast.
Graves Mountain Jams and Apple Butter are featured in many of our Virginia Marketplace gift baskets.
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| MARCH, 2010 |
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Succulent Sauces
The term "barbecue" often conjures up thoughts of anything from quaint to lively backyard gatherings, usually enjoyed with family and friends. As the summer grillilng season draws near, producers of gourmet barbecue and grilling sauces are certainly mindful of creating the product of choice for these festivities. For those days that keep the cook inside, these sauces are versatile enough to help consumers stretch their imaginations when coming up with meal ideas (that still taste like they were done on a grill).
We have several Sauces to enhance indoor or outdoor grilling: La Provencale Apple Grilling Glaze, Virginia Gentlemen Sauce Sampler, Virginia-Carolina Style Sauce and Marinade and James River Barbeuce Sauce and Marinade. Virginia Gentlemen Steak Sauce is available in our Barbecue Time! Gift Basket and Spring Favorites! Gift Basket. We're seeing a lot more fish n the grill and people are looking for sauces to support that. Ashman's Mango Keylime Seafood Marinade and Sauce is excellent on fish fillets, shrimp, and scallops. It is available in many of our seafood gift baskets.
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| JUNE, 2010 |
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Delectable Dips
Fresh vegetables, bread cubes, or chips served alongside a tasty dip have been a mainstay in party fare for quite some time. Yet the contniued rise in popularity of gourmet dip mixes seems to be, perhaps more so than ever, a telltale sign of the times. As today's harried consumers search for convenience and ease of preparation when deciding what to serve or bring to a get-together, dip mixes fit the bill with simple instructions, minimal prep time and few added ingredients. These mixes can also add excitement and variety to any party menu or gift basket without a strain on the pocketbook.
Pamela Barefoot, president and founder of Bay Beyond Inc., parent company of the Blue Crab Bay Co. brand, says that after moving to a rural area on Virginia's eastern shore, she needed to find something to do. "So from my kitchen table, I started mixing spices to make dip blends." What Barefoot receated was a natural progression of sorts, considering where she was living and her childhood fondness for clam dip."That was probably one of the first things my mother let me make myself. I was always making clam dip, and I used to experiment with different spices in her cupboard."
Barefoot's company, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month, is known for its Clam DIp (which has parsley, chives, onin, cayenne and herbs). Crab Dip (with parsley, celery seed, garlic, cayenne, herbs and spices) and Shrimp Dip (with garlic, onion, parsley, celery seed, paprika, herbs and spices) blends, all three of which are salt-free with no additives. Barefoot likes to serve the Crab Dip, in particular, in a bread bowl that is then heated.
Blue Crab Bay's consumers have come to recognize the company's packaging over the years. The company's packaging is helpful when it comes to thoughtfull hostess gifts: the Clam Dip Kit, Crab Dip Kit and Shrimp Dip Kit are small cardboard gift boxes that include the canned seafood for a complete gourmet gift.
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| AUGUST, 2010 |
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SOUPS'S ON
As appetizers, courses or main entrees, soups, in their many forms often placy an integral role in completing a meu, regardless of the season. Manufacturers of gourmet specialty soups are fulfilling consumers' tastes for everything from the traditional childhood favorites to the latest international fare.
When Pamela Barefoot, president and founder of the BlueCrab Bay brand first moced to the Eastern shores of Virginia, she would go to friends' homes and make what she calls Eastern Shore Clam Chowder, a clear-broth clam chowder that contains no milk or tomatoes like the recipes for New England and Manhattan clam chowder, respectively. She tried to come up with a version that was canned, and it became her first soup that they still sell.
Twenty five years later, the company has five seafood soups, including Crab Norfolk, a chowder flavored with bits of Virginia Ham and potatoes and named after the dish that is made with crabmeat and ham. A more popular soup in the Southeast, Barefoot says the company's Southern Style She-Crab Soup is made with crab roe for added flavor and local blue crabs from the tidewater area. The Chesapeake Bay Style Cream of Crab Soup includes the company's Chesapeake Bay seasoning for a slightly spicier flavor. Finally, the company also offers New England Clam Chowder with pieces of Virginia ham.
For preparation, Barefoot says consumers simply fill the empty can with half-and-half (or in the case of Eastern Shore Clam Chowder, water), heat and serve. When preparing the crab varieties at home, Barefoot likes to garnish them with crabmeat, a bit of sherry and a sprinkle of nutmeg.
Blue Crab Bay soups and chowders are available at The Virginia Marketplace individually, in samplers, in a nautical gift box, in gift boxes and in gift baskets.
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| SEPTEMBER, 2010 |
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WHAT'S NEW IN HOLIDAY COOKIES
Baking cookies for family and friends is a holiday tradition that never loses its appeal. For time-strapped folks there are fuss-free mixes, many made from scratch with natural ingredients and engaging stories behind them. They are great for hostess gifts, stocking stuffers, entertaining for everyday munching. The enticing scent of cookies baking in the oven can knit a family and friends together, evoking wistful memories of what Grandma used to make. And making memories is what the holidays are all about. Whether you want everyone to be together enjoying sweets in the kitchen or wish to spread joy by sending treats to family far away, delicious Woodpecker Farm Gingerbread Cookie Mix fits the bill.
Woodpecker Farm Foods presents food products that are all natural from Old Virginia family recipes. Woodpecker Farm Foods was originally founded in 1993 by Charles and Pat Linton. Charles is a great grandson of George Washington's sister, Betty Washington of Lewis Kenmore in Fredericksburg, VA. In 1993 they decided to share some of the family recipes that were passed down through the years. Many of the family recipes date back to George Washington's family and Colonial times. Woodpecker Farm Foods has strived to provide quality, Virginia-made products with a tie to our nation’s history. For example, they use unbleached wheat flour and stone-ground corn meal instead of processed flours. The only processed ingredients are those that are part of the baking powder or baking soda found in the products, which have been added to the original recipes to improve preparation. The company is now owned by Mike & Mandy Onda (Mandy is a relative of the Lintons) who seek to provide the same level of quality and service that Woodpecker Farm Foods is known for. Their gingerbread cookie mix is one food that truly evokes memories of happy times from everyone's memories. They hope their products become a tradition for your family, too.
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| JANUARY, 2011 |
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THE BREAKFAST CLUB
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it's hard to fit in more than grabbing a cereal bar and a cup of coffee on the way out the dorr. Slow down the pace just a little and you'll be able to enjoy scones, pancakes muffins and other baked goodies, all with the help of today's wide range of versatile and easy-to-prepare baking mixes.
People are eating at home more, and preparing more breakfasts at home. They're looking for simpler, more natural ingredients. Quick, easy and natural is just what our baking mixes offer.
The baking mixes can be adapted or altered to create a number of different recipes and variations. Drop some scone mix better on a baking sheet, make a thumb print, fill with jam and bake. Muffin mix can be make into a breakfast cake. Put scone mix batter on a pizza sheet pan, bake it and top with fruit or other ingredients like a sweet pizza. People can add ingredients to pancake mixes and make it their own.
The tradition of Byrd Mill began in 1740. Byrd Mill, now located in Ashland, Virginia manufactures some of the finest gourmet mixes available. We offer Byrd Mill Raspberry Pancake Mix, Lemon-Blueberry Scones and Cinnamon Muffin Mix are paired perfectly with our Graves Moutain Preserves and Apple Butter or Monastery Creamed Honey in our Virginia Marketplace Gift Baskets and Gift Boxes.
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| APRIL, 2011 |
Let Them Eat Cake
Cake, in its varied forms and flavors, has always been special. After dinner, it's the last acat of a great play. It affords the host or hostess a final opportunity to elicit a "wow" response as it is presented and enjoyed. Cakes and other baked goods have traditionally been part of celebrations and good times. They're the star at birthdays, weddings, graduations and other festive events. They can, however, just be a pleasant surprise on an ordinary day. Fortunately, there ready-to-serve cakes and other baked goods that offer favorite tastes and new concepts and flavor choices.
Rowena's delectable pound cakes are made with the finest ingredients available. Rowena's first creation, Wonderful Almond Pound Cake, remains her number one seller. The distinctive almond flavor appeals to all ages. Luscious Lemon Pound Cake is a tasty "twist" on the pound cake scene. Luscious Lemon Pound Cake has a velvety texture and is topped with a tart lemon glaze. It is perfect by itself or perfectly elegant with a dollop of Raspberry Curd.Both these fabulous cakes, as well as her Double Delicious Chocolate Cake are now available in a sugar free version!
Rowena’s has been featured in national publications such as Lady’s Home Journal, Gourmet, Bon Appetit, Taste of Home and Southern Living, and has appeared on Food Finds on the Food Network’s Food Finds, QVC, The 700 Club and The Today Show. Virginia’s Governor who declared Feb 20th as “Rowena Fullinwider Day” also has honored her. Rowena’s is the first US small gourmet business to present at the Moscow World Food Fair. |
| JUNE, 2011 |
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There's an App for That
In the world of finger foods, there aren't a whole lot of options that are easier than whipping up a quick dip or throwing together a simple cheese ball. Before you scoff at the idea of such retro appetizers, these convenient, simple foods have kept a strong custmoer base well after the '70s. Like the fondue craze a few years ago, cheese balls and dip mixes are causing quite a stir.
Blue Crab Bay has taken the iconic cheese ball and put its own coastal spin on the favorite at-home appetizer. People say Blue Crab Bay products make thenm feel like they're on vacation.
The Crab Cheese Ball Kit comes with a tin of high-quality crabmeat, crab sesoning and a packet of crushed Crab House Nuts, which includes a mixture of parsley, celery seed, garlic and cayenne that gives the cheese ball a spicy kick. The Shrimp Cheese Ball Kit includes a tin of Tiny Wild Coctail Shrimp, shrimp seasoning and a packet of the companys's Sea Salt Nuts. Preparation is easy: Mix the kit ingredients with cream cheese, toll in the nuts and set out on a platter.
Before the launch of the cheese balls four years ago, Blue Crab Bay made waves with its innovative line of dip mixes. Blue Crab Bay's signature clam dip started it all 25 years ago when the ownder Pamela Barefoot developed the Clam Dip Blend in her own kitchen. It is easily prepared with a tin of chopped sea clams and a base of cream cheese or mayo. People are reluctant to try clam becuase they think it's going to be very fishy, but it's subtle and addictive.
For right now, we are featuring Blue Crab Bay's Seafood Dip Kits and Crab Cheese Ball in our Gourmet Gift Baskets.
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