Get Your Game On!

Alabama weekends are made for football! With high school games on Friday evenings, college and pro games on weekends and those memorable trips for Troy, Alabama or Auburn games there’s no shortage of good clean sports entertainment in the fall.

The problem with “game days” is the temptation to indluge in typical game day bad eating habits. We don’t want that. We want to have our fun and treat ourselves right in the process.

To that end this Market newsletter is dedicated to healthy football party and tailgate food. We hope you’ll find something you can take the ball and run with.

Be sure to check out our vendor notes this week. There are new products and fall tweaks on existing products, Most is very good . . . but we are sadly saying goodbye to friends.

Market Info

UPCOMING ORDER SCHEDULE Order Sept. 17-Sept. 20 for Pickup Sept. 23 September 24 – September 30 Market Closed

Order October 1-October 4 for Pickup October 7
Weekly ordering resumes till November 18

NEW PRODUCTS FROM ANGIES, CASABLANCA, DOTHAN NURSERIES, HORTONS FARM

ANGIE’S PASTA – aH-MaZ-iNg gourmet Pasta made with fresh ingredients, dececant cakes and fresh herbs. Angie has been a busy girl! Be sure to read the descriptions of her new product line. We’re excited to promote her SAFE and SUSTAINABLE home products.

AUGHTMON – Artisan bath and body products made locally.

New Listing for Volume Discounts from CASABLANCA RANCH. Read more about them: http://casablancaranch.com/.

Football season and tailgating is a good time for snacking on D’s Hot Pepper Jelly with Ritz Crackers and Cream Cheese. D’S JELLIES are made locally from locally grown products. They make the only true Mahaw jelly in the region!

The Market has been selling No Natz for DOTHAN NURSERIES for a long time, and this week they have something special – APPLES! Get yours while they last!!

HORTON’S FARM – GREAT products for Christmas Baskets. New Item – Pumpkin Spice Buckwheat Pancake Mix. Your source for Local HONEY, fresh Lettuce greens, Bee Bath and Body Products.

KATHY’S CHURPERS fresh eggs from happy chickens

MARY’S PEEPS – Hand made cakes and muffins. Mary’s Peeps provides good bakery items from a Mom and Grandmother who has been cooking for 40 plus years.

RICHTER FARMS – back from vacation – excellent heritage pork products

SANDSPUR FARMS – Bulk meat bags available. You can also list what items you want in your bag or I can choose an assortment for you. Kinsley, my 14 year old daughter, is taking her first culinary class in high school so she’s committed herself to making the banana nut bread from now on. Thank you to everyone that orders from our family farm.

SMITH FARMS – Ground Lamb and Dexter Beef

SPRING HILL FARM – Spring Hill Farm – To all our special customers – We have made the hard decision to close our business doors for a while. This is a busy season in our life and with much prayer, we have decided to switch gears and slow down.  We will miss the special friendships that we have enjoyed and are grateful for all the wonderful people we have met here locally.  This market is an awesome resource and the vendors are just amazing!  We were blessed to be a part of it for the past 1½ years! Thank you all for your support of our business.

SWEET ACRES FARM: Off this week

Football Food Inspiration

As if this week’s photos have not already inspired you, we thought it would be fun to score a few more points with healthy and tasty ideas. Enjoy!

Zucchini Pizza Bites found at http://www.blisstree.com


Mini Taco Bowls found at http://www.passionforsavings.com/mini-taco-bowls-recipe/

Footnotes

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net

Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan

For Friday Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303

Vendor Spotlight

Within the context of the Market, its easy to think of our Vendors in terms of the products they provide. For example, I say “Angie”, you think “Pasta”. I say “Casablanca”, you think “Beef”. I can just about guarantee that when I say “Aughtmon” you won’t think “Kittens”! But kittens it is and Lee has something special going on this week. I hope you’ll support him in this charity drive and stock up on some super good stocking stuffers, and maybe even spoil yourself some in the process!

“From time to time I like to raise money or collect donations for a good cause. I have recently started supporting a local organization called ‘Kitty Kottage’. They are a local shelter for housing kittens until they find their forever homes. They depend greatly on donations from the public in order to buy food and pay all veterinary bills associated with keeping them healthy and getting them spayed and neutered. They are one of few, possibly the only one locally that will take in kittens. They are the nicest and cleanest shelter I have seen. They are on facebook if you wanna see what they are all about, Kitty kottage Dothan. This week I will donate $2 from every bar of soap that I sell to Kitty kottage. Help me raise at least $100 to show our support and how much we care about God’s animals. Thank you for your support and God bless you! “

And Late Breaking News from Sandspur . . .”We will join forces with Aughtmon 1918 in his support of Kitty Kottage. We will also donate a portion of our sales. Just as long as it doesn’t get back to my dog Luke that despises cats. :)”

Market Info

UPCOMING ORDER SCHEDULE Order Sept. 3 – Sept. 6 for Pickup Sept. 9 September 10- September 16 Market Closed

Order Sept. 17-Sept .20 for Pickup Sept. 23 September 24 – September 30 Market Closed

WEEKLY ORDERS WILL RESUME FROM OCTOBER 1- NOVEMBER 18 ANGIE’S PASTA – aH-MaZ-iNg gourmet Pasta made with fresh ingredients.

AUGHTMON – Artisan bath and body products made locally.

Grass Fed Beef – from CASABLANCA RANCH. Read more about them: http://casablancaranch.com/. We will be listing quarter and half cow specials on September3.

D’S JELLIES – D’s Blackberry Jelly is the perfect companion for PBJ’s for school lunches.

HORTON’S FARM – Local HONEY, Lettuce greens, Bee Bath and Body Products. TUPELO restocked

KATHY’S CHURPERS fresh eggs from happy chickens

MARY’S PEEPS – Hand made cakes and muffins. Mary’s Peeps provides good bakery items from a Mom and Grandmother who has been cooking for 40 plus years.

SANDSPUR FARMS – We have new inventory in stock this week. More bacon and smoked link sausage!

SIMPLE LIFE ESSENTIAL OILS – Highest Quality Oils for a Healthier Lifestyle at an Affordable Price

SMITH FARMS – Ground Lamb and Dexter Beef

RICHTER FARMS – off this week SPRING HILL FARM – off this week SWEET ACRES FARM: off this week

Footnotes

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net

Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan

For Friday Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303

Come on Down!

A couple of years ago I happened upon an adorable ice cream bicycle with an equally adorable guy in vintage type garb selling popsicles at my credit union on a hot day. Thus began an ongoing friendship with Brett Smith who is a true food artisan. So when the Market stumbled on the fact that one of our pickup days is a national POPSICLE day . . . . how could you pass up an opportunity like that?

This Friday Brett will be at Dothan Nurseries from 10am to 11:30 am with Cherry Popsicles and some of his other wonderful flavors. And the treat’s on us. If you place an order with the Market this week your cherry popsicle is free provided you can pick your order up before he has to leave.*

It’s silly. We know. But hey, it’s August in Alabama and who says we can’t have fun? So bring the kiddos or the parents or the spouse or the friend. Enjoy the beauty of the nursery. Stop by and see us at the Market tent, then meet Brett and discover why Dothan Ice Cream Company is one of Dothan’s best up and coming businesses. If you want to learn more check out dothanicecream.com.

*Orders must be picked up no later than 11:30 to get free popsicle. Limited to one popsicle per customer.

Market Info

UPCOMING ORDER SCHEDULE Order August 20 – August 23 for Pickup August 26 August 27 – Sept. 2 – Market Closed

Order Sept. 3 – Sept. 6 for Pickup Sept. 9 September 10- September 16 Market Closed

Order Sept. 17-Sept .20 for Pickup Sept. 23 September 24 – September 30 Market Closed

WEEKLY ORDERS WILL RESUME FROM OCTOBER 1- NOVEMBER 18 AUGHTMON – Artisan bath and body products made locally.

ANGIE’S PASTA – aH-MaZ-iNg gourmet Pasta made with fresh ingredients.

SWEET ACRES FARM: Unique canned products, decadent baked goods, fresh gnocci and more! SPRING HILL FARM – Did you know we have 4 types of homemade granola to make your breakfasts healthy, quick and easy?  Honey Crunch, Peanut Butter, Coconutty and Ginger Snap.  All made with fresh and wholesome ingredients!

We have fresh nut butters! We make natural peanut butter, maple peanut butter and cashew butter.  Our new product this week is “Simply Nuts” Peanut Butter. Only freshly ground dry roasted peanuts and sea salt.  It is this mom’s favorite peanut butter!  Thank you for shopping local.

SMITH FARMS – Ground Lamb and Dexter Beef

SANDSPUR FARMS – Locally-produced vegetables, beef, pork and handmade goods. CSA’s available

RICHTER FARMS – Heritage breed Red Wattle Pork raised in pasture and hardwood forests of Henry County

SIMPLE LIFE ESSENTIAL OILS – Highest Quality Oils for a Healthier Lifestyle at an Affordable Price MARY’S PEEPS – Hand made cakes and muffins. Mary’s Peeps provides good bakery items from a Mom and Grandmother who has been cooking for 40 plus years.

KATHY’S CHURPERS fresh eggs from happy chickens HORTON’S FARM – Local HONEY, Lettuce greens, Bee Bath and Body Products. TUPELO restocked, NEW PRODUCT – Gourmet Rice Blend

D’S JELLIES – D’s Blackberry Jelly is the perfect companion for PBJ’s for school lunches.

Grass Fed Beef – from CASABLANCA RANCH. Read more about them: http://casablancaranch.com/. We will be listing quarter and half cow specials on September3.

Footnotes

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net

Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan

For Friday Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303

Spotlight on Lunches

It’s that time of year again. Dothan City Schools started back last week. Other area school will be starting soon, and ever diligent homeschool moms are looking ahead to more structured daily routines that accompany study.

Preparing lunches that are both nutritious an delicious is not just for growing children! Busy parents, active middle age people and empty nesters all equally need to be diligent that we are fueling these amazing bodies well.

To that end we dedicate this issue of the Market Newsletter to Lunches. Our growers have shared some ideas to help you in their listings and there’s more good ideas following that.

Market Info

UPCOMING ORDER SCHEDULE Order August 6 – August 9 for Pickup August 12 Order August 13 – August 16 for Pickup August 19 Order August 20 – August 23 for Pickup August 26 Special Surprise to be announced concerning August 26!

Grass Fed Beef – from CASABLANCA RANCH. Read more about them: http://casablancaranch.com/

AUGHTMON – SALE….
Aughtmon 1918:  2 ounce lotions are $1.50 each with 12 scents to choose from. Perfect size for backpacks and a great gift for the teachers.   $2 off insect repellent and massage oils.

ANGIE’S PASTA – aH-MaZ-iNg gourmet Pasta (Market Note – accept our apologies for last week’s mishap with orders from Angie. Please re-order this week! We figured out what happened and have it fixed. Angie’s pasta is TOO GOOD to miss!)

SWEET ACRES FARM: Unique canned products, decadent baked goods, fresh gnocci and more! SPRING HILL FARM – School time is here and so are the busy mornings! :)  Need a quick lunch box addition?  Make some Herb Veggie Dip with our mix the night before and add some seasonal veggies on the side. This dip is a hit with my kids and makes the veggies disappear!  Or add a  small baggie of one of our granolas along with a container of Greek yogurt.  You can know that you are feeding your kids something healthy and good!

SMITH FARMS – Ground Lamb and Dexter Beef

SANDSPUR FARMS – Start the school year off with a healthy start. What about a gift certificate for the new homeroom teacher? We’ll even add a quick note introducing the Market, what we all stand for and what they can find available.

RICHTER FARMS – Heritage breed Red Wattle Pork raised in pasture and hardwood forests of Henry County

SIMPLE LIFE ESSENTIAL OILS Highest Quality Oils for a Healthier Lifestyle at an Affordable Price MARY’S PEEPS – Blueberry muffins, and  oatmeal banana muffins for school treats,  also for lunches for adults as well as children, and maybe an after school, or work snack.  Remember the blueberries are grown by me and makes this treat a good one. Remember Mary’s Peeps for good bakery items from a Mom and Grandmother who has been cooking for 40 plus years.

KATHY’S CHURPERS fresh eggs from happy chickens HORTON’S FARM – Local HONEY, Lettuce greens, Bee Bath and Body Products. TUPELO restocked, NEW PRODUCT – Gourmet Rice Blend

D’S JELLIES – D’s Blackberry Jelly is the perfect companion for PBJ’s for school lunches.

Healthy Lunch Ideas

When it comes to lunches, boredom is a precursor to kids swapping food items when teacher isn’t looking. Help keep your student on the nutritional straight and narrow by breaking up the monotony with fun food variety. Help keep yourself on track to not succumb to a double cheeseburger the same way!

1. Food on Sticks
Think chicken satays, beef skewers, or sausage kebabs, packed on lunchbox-sized sticks for kids. Because everything is more fun on a stick. (For young kids, use flat, blunt-edged bamboo sticks, not the stabby toothpick-like kind.)
2. Quesadillas
They’re kid favorites for a reason — and contrary to our adult biases, they don’t need to be piping hot to be delicious.
3. Spring Rolls
Rice paper wrappers or large lettuce leaves make great rolled-up meals that are fun to eat. Fill them with tofu, pork, or shrimp; or let your kids branch out using their own ideas.

4. Deli Meat Roll-Ups
Think outside the bun! Rolling sliced deli turkey, ham, or roast beef around cheese sticks, cream cheese, and even greens can change the way your kiddos think about lunch meat.
5. Hummus and Pita Plate
Nine out of 10 kids love a good smear of hummus. Why not make it the star of the show? Send with veggies and crackers for a fun nutritious lunch.
6. Quinoa Salad
Mix meats, cheeses, and veggies your kids like into plain quinoa and dress lightly with a basic vinaigrette.
7. Breakfast for Lunch
Make extra food when you have time for a nice breakfast on the weekend, and save the leftovers for lunches —think hard-boiled eggs, leftover pancakes, and leftover sausages.
8. Leftovers
Last night’s lasagna might just taste better the next day. And if you’d eat it for lunch on the weekend, why not pack it in a lunch box? Nothing beats a cold chicken leg on a Monday.
9. Stuff a Pita Pocket
Pita Pockets can be stuffed with meat, veggies, cheese, fruit, dried fruit, chickpeas, any type salad fixing and any combination thereof! Dressings or condiments are a nice touch but best sent separately to be added right before eating.
10. Layer a Wasa Cracker
Wasa’s are a great way to break the boredom of sliced bread. Anything that will spread on bread will spread on a Wasa, and toppings are limited only by your imagination.
11. Bagel Pizzas
Make a large batch of these ahead by layering sauce, pepperoni and mozarella on sliced bagels and baking till cheese is melted. Once cooled they can be wrapped and refrigerated or frozen.

Creative Sides

Rice, sliced cucumbers, sliced mango, yogurt-covered pretzels
Avocado slices or guacamole, jicama sticks, pineapple chunks, pumpkin seeds, or tortilla chips
Cubed meat or cheese, sliced red bell peppers, blueberries, chocolate square.
Whole-wheat pretzels, celery, cinnamon-sprinkled apple slices, coconut macaroon
Salami cubes, olives, carrots, baby tomatoes, and grapes.
Tomato/mozzarella/basil on a toothpick, popcorn, pear slices, small brownie
Sliced strawberries, squeezable yogurt, broccoli flourets with ranch dressing

Footnotes

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net

Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan

For Friday Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303

Spotlight on our Farmers

“Aunt” Wash Maybin- A local legend from Henry Co Al
from Richter Farms

After moving out to the farm in 2010, we heard fascinating stories about the history of our area from our new neighbors. One such account was about Wash Maybin, an African-American midwife who was well liked by the community, as was her family. She lived about ½ mile from our property down our farm’s dirt road, and was part of the farming community in the early 20th century. In spite of the obstacles to success our African American Community faced in the early 1900s, she did what she could, focused on opportunities instead of obstacles, and succeeded. She owned a small farm just down the road from our property, and assisted delivering newborn babies for both black and white families. As a midwife, she would come to the home of an expectant mother, stay with their family to assist with the birth, take care of the mother and baby for two weeks, and charge $25. If the baby developed ailments, Aunt Wash would prepare her own home remedies and treat the baby or mother with positive results.

The locals called the 1 ½ mile dirt road we live on the “Wash Mabin Road” up until Henry County renamed the roads for the E911 system. It was a shame that Henry County didn’t do what Houston and other counties did and name the road according to the historical name “Wash Mabin Road”. However, a previously unnamed spring fed branch creek flowed through our property as well as the property that Wash Mabin farmed, and helped feed the Abbey Creek, and we decided it needed an official name. The creek needed to carry on the legacy of our most notable past resident, so we applied to assign the name to our creek. After 13 months of fact checking with the US Board on Geographic Names, filling out paperwork and waiting, our branch was officially named the Wash Maybin Branch! It seemed fitting that our farm branch was named for someone who saw opportunities, overcame the obstacles, and succeeded.

We couldn’t think of a more fitting example for us sustainable farmers who have obstacles such as large scale confinement operations selling cheap but low quality meat, large farms producing chemical containing and GMO grains and vegetables, and the challenge of economic transport of food to the consumer. Modern sustainable farmers are carrying on the tradition of past generations who want what’s best for ourselves and our neighbors, and we’re willing to swim against the current of our present society and trends. Richter Farms chose to produce the finest quality sustainable pork for ourselves and our customers. Many people have tasted and agree that we’ve succeeded.

Market Info

Farm to Table Recipes

Slow Cooker Pork This is one of those easy make ahead recipes. Perfect for a picnic, company or packing lunch!

Ingredients
3 pounds boneless pork shoulder roast, trimmed
1 package McCormick® Slow Cookers BBQ Pulled Pork Seasoning
1/2 cup ketchup
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup cider vinegar

Instructions
Place pork in slow cooker.
Mix Seasoning Mix, ketchup, brown sugar and vinegar until blended. Pour over pork. Cover.
Cook 8 hours on LOW or 4 hours on HIGH. Remove pork from slow cooker.
Shred pork, using 2 forks. Return pork to slow cooker. Mix and heat with sauce before serving. Serve on sandwich rolls, if desired.

Footnotes

Our Website: marketatdothan.locallygrown.net

Our Email: marketatdothan@gmail.com

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarketatDothan

For Friday Pickup: Dothan Nurseries, 1300 Montgomery Highway, Dothan, AL 36303

This and That

I’ve had several people ask me about the marvelous lettuces Horton’s Farm sells through the Market. In particular HOW do we grow such wonderful greens in such HOT weather.

The truth is, we don’t.

But, the lettuces are local, sustainable, and maybe the most organically produced product sold through me market. Let me introduce you to someone:

This is my neighbor, Mr. Danny. He lives in an immaculate 100 year old house with Henry, his little dog. He is retired from a manufacturing position and enjoys his family, friends, his church, and gardening.

Mr. Danny uses organic seed from Johnny’s and has a four week rotation system that allows him to harvest peak quality greens every week. In between plantings his hand tilled beds are treated to a high nutrient cover crop that he hand tills back into the soil (green manure they call it) before planting again. All his beds are hand built, and he built every frame that provides shade in the summer (as seen above) and protects it during winter. The rich soil in each bed has never born the weight of farm equipment or even a footstep. This allows the roots of his greens to go crazy taking up the nutrients that make them so delicious and healthful.

And now you know!