Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig

Today was a another wonderful day of hunting down what is right in our own backyards. This morning we headed out to a visit to Adams Farm, known in our circles as the "Meat Farm". This trip up to Athol included a stop at Smith's Country Cheese, a little bit off the beaten path, but worth the field-trip. Adams Farm does carry a small selection of Smith's products, but this meant we had a little more to choose from.

Smith's Country Cheese has a small retail store and gift shop where you can purchase not only their wonderful cheeses, but they have a selection of their beef on hand as well. Along with their own cheeses they carry several other Dairy and Farm products. We picked up Smith's Havarti Dill, Smoked Gouda (so yummy) and two of their Gouda Spreads (Garlic and Sundried Tomato & Basil), along with two cheeses from other dairies.

They carry Great Hill Dairy's Great Hill Blue which I'm looking forward to cooking with next weekend. I love blue cheese and I was scouting out sources here in New England. Great Hill Blue is located in Marion, MA. Lex liked their Cheese because their logo has cows on it. Smith's also carries Boggy Meadow Farm cheeses. Boggy Meadow Farm is located in Walpole, NH which is within our 100 miles (Thank God!). They make their cheese twice a week by hand in a barn across from their Dairy Parlor. We picked up a Baby Swiss Cheese, which I'm dying to break into.

Along with the cheese Mad Dog found two books in the gift shop, one for me, one for him. Mine was The Locavore Way by Amy Cotler. Flipping through it I found some great stuff, and I'm looking forward to sharing it with you here. Amy Cotler is local to Massachusetts stemming from Western, MA. She sites sources and a recommended reading and film list in the book which sights Plenty, and Food Inc. (which I have form Netflix to watch). Mad Dog's book is a little more "Tin-Foil" Hattish for me. It's a surviving a disaster, but does have some great sources such as "How to Make Cheese". Should come in handy!

Three new sources and a lot of cheesy goodness and two great books. We're looking forward to exploring more of New England has to offer in the way of cheese, and we're both planning on taking a Cheese Making class in the near future.

Thank you Easter Bunny!

It's official we are hosting a 100 Mile Easter this April 4th. 

After reading the 10 Steps to becoming a Locavore by Jennifer Maiser, Mad Dog said "Why don't we do a 100 Mile Easter?" I wasn't as sure of the idea. I mean it's late in the winter season and very premature for the spring season. We are still early in our source stages and to have to produce a mean for our family for a large holiday with only 100 mile items scares me a bit right now. 

"Eggs!" What could be more important then eggs at Easter? - that was Mad Dog's thought. Yes, we can get local eggs, and that is important, but it's not the only things we need. Taking stock of our sources and preserves we find that: 

• Ham or Roast can be purchased from "The Meat" Farm (aka Adams Farm)
• Cheese from Smith's County Cheese
• Milk, Cream and Eggs (easy to source from several sources)
• Butternut squash, raspberries and blackberries frozen from Nourse Farm last summer/fall. 
• Strawberry (homemade) and raspberry preserves canned from last summer. 
• Honey and Maple Syrup both locally sourced. 

Hmm...doesn't sound bad, but doesn't sound good. Think about it. No flour = no bread, no cookies, no cakes. We have possible options here, but we are still researching them. Sugar. We have honey and maple syrup, but baking wise this still might be difficult. 

This weekend we are planning on attending the Natick Winter Farmer's Market (ending March 27th). We're hoping to find new options and more local sources. There is also the Pawtucket Winter Farm's Market which is held through May 29th. I think a field-trip to Pawtucket is going to be necessary. I don't think the meal will be easy, but I think it is possible. 

The attendees will hopefully include my Brother Kevin and his husband, Brent, my Mother, Stuart (her husband) and my Grandmother. Also attending Mad Dog's Mother and Dennis. Mad Dog's Mother has also embraced the idea and plans to make a 100 Mile Dish. Kudos to her! No matter what happens it will be a nice day full of yummy somethings even if it means a little extra work.