Ingredient Shopping and a Sandwich or Two: King Arthur Flour

If you follow my other blog, Whitt's Kits Fabrics & Crafts, you will have heard about our trip to King Arthur Flour in Norwich, VT.  We have a pretty busy schedule, to say the least, so I am all about combining trips to get the most out of the time I have.  Bri's girl's softball team had an away game in Hanover, NH and we literally drove by King Arthur Flour on our way.  It seemed to make sense to me...

They are open 360 days a year from 7:30 in the morning to 6 pm at night.  You will find them an online source for amazingly good ingredients and cooking tools, but they also have a fantastic flour you can buy at local groceries stores (at least here in New England) which is some of the best flour going.  On top of that, they have bakery/cafe where you can get a sandwich or treat (see below) and a cooking school offering a multitude of classes you can attend. 

I left Whitt out in the car with the iPad and headed inside.

Let me just say that not only is it a fun place for foodies, it's beautiful in an architectural way.  Pure Vermont at it's best.

A variety of fresh baked-on-site goodies...sigh...

Can you see the donut/bagel cutter on the right?  I am the proud owner of one!

Seriously?  2 pounds of baking chocolate?  What's not to love?

An entire section of "SECRET INGREDIENTS" - oh yes, we need these...

I wandered aimlessly with pure intent for about a half hour, up and down the aisles, perusing the many culinary offerings.  This trip I selected the following items to add to the pantry:

The aforementioned donut/bagel cutter; a scraper, 2 containers of critters to top cupcakes and a bag of baker's cinnamon filling mix (so I can whip up "Cinnabon-type" creations!  Oh, you'll see...).  I was a very happy girl for less than $20.

To keep the hubster happy, it was time to hit the cafe for a couple sandwiches we'd have for dinner after the game (rather than fast food, yah, baby!)  Bri is a roast beef kind of guy, so I got him the "roast beef with blue cheese aioli, slow-braised balsamic onions, and baby arugula".  He loved it!  Ladies, PULEEZE do NOT tell him the ailoi was blue cheese, let him just think it was flavorful with a little bite, okay?  He thought the arugula was a bit strong, but that it went well in the sandwich.

Me?  I went with what is going to be my new favorite chicken salad sandwich: Grilled Lemon Chicken Salad "with yogurt, lemon tarragon mayonnaise, raisins, and toasted almonds".  Let me see, what were the notes I wrote in Evernote while I was eating?  Oh, yes:

• Wonderful hints of lemon - very light mayo/yogurt dressing. 
• Nothing extra on the bread which allows the flavors to shine.  You might think it would be too dry, but it wasn't.
• Bread is nutty and tasty - like the crisp, crusty edge;
• Smattering of raisins and bits of almonds - great accent to the chicken.
• Chicken was in nice small pieces, easy to chew.

Seriously, this sandwich was amazing!  I need to try to make some artisan bread and recreate the yogurt/lemon mayo.  I WILL be working on it and will let you know when I get it right!


While I was waiting for these, I wandered a bit more.  Loved this!  If I'd had someone with me (not in the car) you'd see me there!  Maybe next time...

Till next time, here's to great cooking and eating!
Carrie

Places to Shop: Monadnock Food Co-op, Keene, NH

Good morning!

I thought a great place to start this blog would be an equally new place for shopping local, if local for you is southwestern New Hampshire.  That place is Monadnock Food Co-op, on Cypress Street in Keene, NH.

I  ram across the announcement of it's opening about about a month or so ago via several different groups I follow on Facebook.  It sounded intriguing and as the excitement mounted and the opening got closer, I wanted more and more to stop by.

I was finally able to make my first trip and was pretty excited myself.  Oh, and did I mention: hungry.  I wasn't able to get there that day until just about 1 pm.  By that time (and having spent the last 3 hours with a wonderful group of 5th graders installing their exhibit) I was famished!  Not always a good idea when one is grocery shopping.

The good news was that I could hit the deli for a sandwich to tide me over (while cruising past shelves of goodies, coolers of fresh foods and a bakery).  A very pleasant young women made me one of the biggest sandwiches of my LIFE!  It literally took two hands to hold it - the Keene special!  It was a triple decker turkey-bacon-Colby Jack- lettuce-tomato sandwich on oat bread.  Yup...you can start drooling like I did!  Here's a few bites gone when I got out to the car! It was worth every penny - I had half for lunch and my husband had the other half the next day! 

Once I had sustenance in hand, I went back to the start and made my way from the beginning.  You walk in greeted by fresh fruits and vegetables waiting to head to your kitchen!  I settled for some lettuce (wanted to re-create the above sandwich), and a few other sundries and then headed on.

I made a stop at the dairy case for some fresh eggs and Greek yogurt, then it was on to the meat counter.  I decided there on some locally grown, grass fed beef (in the form of hamburger) and then turned my eye to some chorizo sausage.  Upon hearing my request, a woman came up and began describing this amazing pizza she'd made just the other night with some and that I would love it and told me everything I would need to make it for myself.  I suddenly thought, "Is it obvious that I am working on a food blog?  Is it on my forehead?"

Freezer Section with Francestown Store Frozen Foods!

More bulk dry goods than I've ever seen in one place!!

I then wandered up and down the aisles,  eying shelf after shelf of delicious options.  Above you can see a shot of some frozen food (through the glass - didn't want to effect things) and an entire row of bulk dried goods!

I settled on a few different things, here and there, including a six-pack of Angry Orchard Apple Ginger Hard Cider and a copy of Cook's Illustrated Make Ahead Recipes at the check out.

A friendly woman scanned my purchases, actually checked the signature on the back of my debit card and told me she'd hoped I would return. I will.

Due to the fact 3 of the members of my family will be playing softball up there almost every week this summer, I will have ample opportunity to find my way back.  I am SURE there are more sandwiches that need me to try them and all sorts of other wonderful goodies that will make their way home with us, despite the 45 minute drive.

Do you have a food co-op where you live?  Do you shop there often?  If so, why?  If not, why not?  I am interested in hearing from you.  You can comment below or send me a message via one of the boxes on the right.

Thanks for stopping by and happy eats!
Carrie