Kawartha Dairy – has coffee now? November 22, 2011

yep – you heard me right – Kawartha Dairy in Peterborough – across from Lansdowne place has coffee now – Katey and I took a ton of time painting a rainforst display on a book shelf and it’s full of our most popular regions… we have always ben an advocate for local milk - and it’s nice that they are giving our coffee a shot …

in celebration of this – we will be doing flash samplings – starting tomorrow – from 12:30 – 2:30 – free cup of coffee – yes FREE - for Kawartha Dairy shoppers… we’ll be featuring our new Rainforest Alliance Kenya – and Fair Trade Sumatra… next sampling to be announced…

HALLOWEEN please and thank you! Farmers market October 29th 2011 October 25, 2011

I just love Halloween – no – not for it’s gruesome history – but for what it’s become … its a giant masquerade party (which almost NEVER happens in todays world) for kids to have random acts of fun and festivity.  We actually connect with our neighbours and say a friendly hello – which there is almost no time for anymore… sure, there are creeps that have tried to alter treats badly (although I haven’t heard of anything recently – or for a long time) one time someone put a propeganda flyer in my son’s trick or treat bag… but that’s it… have never found tampered candy – only very happy people answering doors and adoring coo’s at how cute the kiddies look…

Can we not just observe those houses that decorate for the event? knock on the doors of those who obviously participate? How many of us have next to no kids come by – and offer really really good stuff… (like me!!!)

So because of my love for Halloween and all of it’s nonsense, I will be offering FREE facepainting on Saturday at the coffee booth at the Peterborough Farmers Market – George and Lansdowne Street (all of the girls LOVE to paint faces) and of course treats to those in the spirit …. we’ll be open from 7 am until 1 …

I’m sure hoping some of the other farmers market booths will join in… many of them did last year… come on down and see… I triple dog DARE you…

 

KEENE PUMPKIN FESTIVAL – October 22nd, 2011 October 17, 2011

Looking for local fall fun in the Kawarthas? affordible and friendly? KID friendly??? oh we have your event!

THE 4th ANNUAL KEENE PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

October 22nd 2011 – in KEENE – a whole street full of fun and merriment – oh – and an ANTIQUE CAR SHOW TOO!!!

• Bouncy Castle
• Face Painting
• Games
• Make and take Pumpkin Crowns
• Corny Science
• Prizes
• Pumpkin Tales
• Dress the Scarecrow
• Pumpkin Pie Playdough
• HUGE pumpkins on display…
• tons of local foodstuffs

YES – come in costume – YES there’s a costume parade

YES there’s fun for everyone…

and of COURSE you can decorate a pumpkin and take it home!!!

The weather is forcase to be chilly and a little windy A PERFECT fall day…

Thanks Peterborough Wednesday Farmers market October 5, 2011

what an amazing day it was today! near 20 celcius – and sunny – actually warm in the sun – warm enough to start ice coffees … our final day included a guest chef who prepared amazing goat meat chili – yes – I know … I was skeptical too – but it was really really good…

Every farm table was splashed with a rainbow of local colour – from eggplant and beet purples – red, white and blue potatoes ( I know!!! so pretty in a stew, or cut up into fries) to peppers of every colour – bright red radish – and their horse radish white cousins – brussel sprouts on the vine – to mushrooms growing from a stump – (yes – you heard me – GROW YOUR OWN!!!) fresh local apple cider – sits beside the best apple God ever created – the HONEY CRISP – you won’t find THAT apple in a grocery store – sooooo huge – and amazing crunch and juice…. mmmm… want your family to love apples again? only available for about 2 months every fall – so get em soon… before I eat them all…

Concord grapes, sweet carrots, onion, garlic, local cheeses, the prettiest glads I’ve ever seen… deep rich flavour that comes from picking ripe produce hours before it hits your table… baking fresh from the day before -

I’ll miss you Wednesday market – until next May… when we reconvene – in the meantime – many of the local farmers can still be found at the Saturday market – which goes year round. 

deep thanks to the tireless board of directors who do so much to promote our market – and make sure everyone knows about our producer only efforts – (this means no resellers) check out their twitter @ptbowedmarket 

What a great family we have – I have the best job ever…

Peterborough Farmers Market – Saturdays 7 – 1 pm September 4, 2011

I get asked this question every time I’m at the market – so here it is in black and white …

YES – our market goes year round – from May 1st until October 31st we are outside – to accomodate all of the amazing farm produce grown right here in ontario – picked just hours before it’s for sale… we have everything from a variety of meats to every kind of fruit and veggie… spices, herbs, sweet and savoury – and it’s extended to the breads, sweets and pastries … cheese? got it… flowers? got it… amazing local musicians… check -

Sadly not everyone can cram into the building at the beginning of November – but we will be – as always… available year round at our booth between Floyyd the cheese man and Shish Kabob Hut and Taste of Russia. 

The building is heated – and much much warmer now that we have a new roof.  Many of our local foods are available until Christmas – meats of course are available year round – eggs – poultry -

Of course there are many artistic people at the market too – woodcrafts, candles, salves, jewellery,

yummy foods like popcorn, and candy floss -

literally something for everyone… free admission and free parking – bet you’ll be surprised if you’ve never been – or haven’t been in a while – and I’d bet you’ll run into old friends and neighbours too -

I just love the market… have you been lately?

Orono Fall Fair is on September 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th September 4, 2011

We will be setting up for the 159th Orono Fair on September 8th 2011.  Of course we will bring hot coffee, hot tea, hot chocolate and hot local apple cider… and cold frosty iced coffees – We hear this fair is awesome – friendly people – and a great time by everyone young and old… I picked up this article from their website and wanted to share!

” LOCAL AGRICULTURE: IT’S EVERYONE’S BUSINESS”

Orono Fair is one of the oldest running fairs in Ontario and is one of the largest tourist events in Durham Region. Since its inception in 1851, people have been drawn to the various exhibits, entertainment and competitive events.
After being held for many years in Newcastle, the fair moved to its present location in 1895. The Orono Fair is the result of an amalgamation of the West Durham Agricultural and the Clark Agricultural Societies in 1932. As a result of this union, the Durham Central Agricultural Society was established. On January 19th 2011 the society name changed once again and is now known as Orono Agricultural Society.

We are an Agricultural Fall Fair that runs the first weekend after Labour Day in September. Our fair has been hosted by the agricultural society since 1852.
The fair annually features exquisite displays and competitions involving paintings, photographs, agriculture (fruits, vegetables and crops), livestock (sheep, cattle, poultry and rabbits), flowers, knitting, woodworking, sewing, crafts, school displays, culinary creations and many other artistic works. As well as one of the largest midways throughout the area.

 

 

 

Our 2011 Features   

 

www.fredeaglesmith.com

“Often cited as a musical poet of small-town America… Eaglesmith has carved out an enviable cult niche,” observes the  Minneapolis Star Tribune. He has built that following over the last three decades of his truly independent and alternative career by  playing marvelous live shows the better part of  every  year and releasing superb albums. But now with Tinderbox, Eaglesmith is  ascending to the next level, packing most every venue he visits and  being hailed  as a “genius” (Arizona Daily Star) for not just his  “devastatingly good” songwriting (Philadelphia Inquirer) but all that he does with it.

 

“His original tunes can sound like long-lost traditional songs with a modern edge,” notes the Atlanta Journal Constitution. As the  Nashville Scene  observes, “His voice is varnished with whiskey, the raw scratch as primordial as his earthy tales of desperate, often  farm-bound folk… winding tense t  tales  around bustling Bakersfield-tinged roots rock and bluegrass.”  While the Spartanburg  Herald-Journal praises, “A gifted singer-songwriter who  paints vivid  musical pictures filled with the kind of blue-collar heroes  found in the works of James McMurtry, Guy Clark and Jerry Jeff Walker.”

 

 

 

Tebworth Brothers

We are Wyatt and Marshal Tebworth, otherwise known as The Tebworth Brothers. Wyatt is 8 years old and has been playing mandolin and fiddle for almost 3 years. Marshal is 6 years old and has been playing his fiddle since 2010. We will be appearing at Orono Fair Thursday September 8th 2011

So you are travelling – and need good coffee – now what? August 22, 2011

the thought of drinking regular coffee when I’m not home is not very savoury to me… so what do you do? where do you go when you’re on the road

it’s so easy…. really easy

Most hotels have tiny coffee makers – so take some ground with you! grind for paper or mesh… a half pound bag makes about 250 ounces of prepared coffee (about 25 small cups or 20 large) - of course it depends on how strong you like it. 

Of course it all depends on how far you want to take it too…

I bought a 1 cup brewer with a mesh filter (about 10 years ago – and it works perfectly) - because using a paper filter takes away so much of the depth and boldness of coffee – (black and decker – and no this isn’t an endorsement) they are about $15 at a department store – I bring a small cooler – and ice is free at a hotel – for cream… (sometimes I like cream) and of course you can put just about any travel mug under the brewer spout (not fitted like some of the brewers out there) and voila – you just saved yourself a mint… and you get to have a good coffee – takes about a minute to brew a cup.

I just peeked into Starbucks in Niagara Falls – and for a cuppa, pricetag is $4.50 for an ordinary coffee (shudder) - mine cost under a dollar – and I’m drinking pure Kona…  yes – it’s a holiday so I brought pampering coffee… it doesn’t take long to have all of your money drain from your pockets in a place like this – if you drink 2 or 3 coffee a day – its like getting a free lunch

see? and people say there’s no free lunch…

Celtic Music Festival – August 5th and 6th, 2011 – PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO July 26, 2011

YES – Of course – we will be there – Friday and Saturday… Hope to see you there!   SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Friday, August 5th 6:00pm Kiss Me I’m Irish Beer Gardens opens   6:30pm Register for the amateur strongman show. Hosted by 10X Guinness World recorder holder Kevin Fast and Dan Markovic who placed 4th in the Strongest Man in the World competitions in Nice, France.   7:00pm Competition begins   9:00pm Open Beer Keg toss. Represent your street!   9:00-11:00pm Family Tyes Irish Band. This talented group from Ennismore play Celtic, East Coast and Country music.

http://celticfestival.swf

Saturday, August 6th 8:00am  Gates open Celtic village open for business. This village contains foods like Mrs. Bridges Bakery with Haggis, blood pudding, meat pies and mushy peas. Best British Shop has candies, chips, dvd’s. anything Coronation Street, chocolates. The Irish Shop has anything Celtic, clothing, jewelry and much more. Johnny Eh’s Fish and Chips will be on hand. The Montreal House. Balkan Express from the Farmers market will have treats on hand. Hall of Names. Come do your historical Name search, Get your coat of Arms and Clan information. We even have a Henna Tattoo artist coming to Celt you up temporarily. There will be Funnel cakes and deep fried Mars bar, popcorn, fudge and much more. We are now open to vendors but we can only except 50.   8:30am Men’s and women’s amateur heavy events begin.   10:00am Children’s village and play area opens.We will be having one of Peterborough’s very own local authors Cindy Krieg-Nuttall on site to read her loving story of a wise old Irish woman, a homeless Irish Wolfhound pup and a lonely little girl that take on this world in this tale of enduring love between a special needs dog named Chance and the girl who was willing to risk it all to keep him in her life. Story time for Cindy are starting at 12:00 and go on the hour.  We also have The Magical Land of Gurnafandry (children’s books) Author T.J. Jurgens on site for readings and autographs. Join the adventure as you are introduced to a Phoenix and baby dragon. The times for T.J.’s readings are starting at 12:30 and running on the half hour of the hour. Don’t miss Matthew and his amazing balloon creations, candy floss and hula hoops!   11:30am Opening ceremonies and Massed bands with our very own Hasty P’s Pipe Band hosting. See the pipe bands play your toe tapping favorites as they unite as one massed band. Watch little kids in kilts from 2 local Highland Dance Companies come together to do the Massed Highland Fling! Alana Cameron and Lynne Mooney of Ard-mhor have a treat cooking up for us with their students from the Collins School of Dance!   12:00noon Games officially open     Professional Heavy Events begin with 10X Guinness world recorder holder Kevin Fast. Past strongman of Canada Warren Trask who walked 465 feet with 210lb railroad ties in each hand. George Chiappa longtime strength and conditioning coach and gym owner for the Ottawa Gee Gee’s National champion football team. 12X Canadian professional Champion and legend Dan Markovic will be a guest judge. 7X Canadian Champion and Masters Champion Harvey Barkowskus will be on hand.     Entertainment begins on stage in the Kiss Me I’m Irish tent. Darlene and the Shamrock. The Claymours. The Celtic Jam crew from the Blackhorse Pub.   1:00pm Sheep dog demonstrations. Watch the smartest dog in the world work its magic with sheep and ducks!! Wildly entertaining.   1:30pm Magic Jay takes the kids stage.   2:00pm Each pipe band will do a 15 minute mini concert for the crowd throughout the afternoon First up our Hasty P’s Pipe Band.   2:30pm Port Hope Pipes and Drums.   3:00pm 413 Wing out of Trenton.     Other band times pending   The two highland dance companies will also be putting on Highland dancing demonstrations through out the day on the Blarney Stone stage. We also have some Irish step dancing going on. Also wandering minstrels and jugglers. Face painting. Celtic Shaman Fiona Newman will be on hand.   5:30pm Massed bands take the field again, 6:00pm Battle of the pipe bands, a must see and hear! 7:00pm Celtic Jam open stage in the Kiss Me I’m Irish Tent. 9:00pm The Mudmen round out the perfect day.

100 mile dinner – in PETERBOROUGH – August 7th 2011 – 6 pm… July 21, 2011

“PETERBOROUGH   EXHIBITION”

Morrow Park

11 Roger Neilson Way

Peterborough, Ontario

K9J  0A4

(705) 742-5781   FAX (705) 742-0648

http: // www.peterboroughex.ca      info@peterboroughex.ca

PETERBOROUGH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY HOSTING

100 MILE DINNER AUGUST 7, 2011

 

 

Peterborough Agricultural Society is excited to announce it will be hosting a 100 mile dinner August 7, 2011.

Tickets will cost $30.00 for adults and $15.00 for children and are available at the Shish-Kabob Hut, Peterborough Exhibition Office, Peterborough Farmers Market (Saturday), Rural Routes, GPAEDC (Kawartha Choice) and Kawartha Tourism Office.   The event will be held at the Morrow Building and start at 6:00 p.m.

In partnership with local producers and area chefs (SKH Catering Company Shish-Kabob Hut, Algonquin Catering and Black Honey) this dinner will allow patrons to enjoy local food prepared by area chefs. This will be a great kick-off to our 166^th annual exhibition which will commence Thursday August 11. The 100 Mile Dinner will be a new tradition as we think of our theme “LOOK TO OUR FUTURE”.

In addition to local food, a live auction will follow dinner.

Peterborough Agricultural Society President Debra Post “is very excited to invite the residents of Peterborough to this event”.

Watch www.peterboroughex.ca for more details.

 

Peterborough Exhibition: 165 years of Community Traditions

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ANNOUNCEMENT PLEASE CONTACT

For information about the Peterborough Agricultural Society please contact:

DEBRA POST-PRESIDENT 705- 932-1782

For information about the 100 Mile Dinner please contact:

 DON VASSILIADIS-EVENT CO-ORDINATOR 705-745-3260

C O F F E E coffee coffee and more coffee July 3, 2011

there sure are challenges with buying coffee this year – have had great difficulty sourcing anything Indonesian, or good quality African

The good news is that I have 2 great brokers who think for me – they buy the best quality… because they know you want good coffee ..

new this week…

2011 Sumatra Takengon FTO (heavenly body, thick rich and full mouthfeel with earthy hints and frothy crema)

2011 Papua New Guinea (no certifications – but seriously delicious organically grown from the north)

2011 Antigua Pea Berry (intense, sweet, caramelly, rich… what’s not to love??)

2011 Malawi AAA ( an amazing all day drinking medium coffee from Africa… Malawi wants trade.. NOT aid)

2011 Costa Rica Fancy FTO (what’s this thick creamy caramelly texture???? WOW)

2011 Honduras Marcala FTO (from the bourben coffee strain)

2011 Mexico Swiss Water Decaffeinated Organic (Medium bold – think decaf has to be weak???? NOT!~)

2011 Nicaragua FTO ( heavenly rich, slightly acidic (NO…. NOT BITTER) acidic means it has a little bite)

2011 Tanzanian Pea Berry ( perfect, small and intensely sweet – as always)

As always, roasted properly, single origin offerings and trying desperately to keep my prices reasonable… We also have established through our many professional chefs and farmers market clientelle, an amazing liquid coffee concentrate with a whole host of applications.  I use it for ice coffee – but it’s great for baking, as an instant coffee, or as a red eye shot to ramp up your regular strength joe… Sumatran based for depth and it’s low acidity…mmmmm …. just figured out how to make it stronger too!

Got a coffee recipe you want to share? I WANT TO KNOW!!!

Try it with vanilla ice cream in your blender with a little milk… BANG … cappuccino milkshake……. mmmmmm