What's Cooking This Week in Findley Lake

I finally got to Erie County Farms during daylight hours. Usually I hit there at 5pm on Fridays, tired, slow, and fighting the last minute crowd. Sometimes workers are actually clearing off the counters.

This past Friday, a friend and I drove in at noon. What a difference 5 hours makes! While I bought my usual assortment of fresh veggies and meat, what was really difference was having the energy to do something with it once I got home.

Friday afternoon I made Cock-a-Leekie Soup using the chicken/leeks/purple potatoes that I'd bought. Put some of the pork into marinate for Thai Spicy Pork. Bagged up the rest of the chicken breasts, boneless pork chops and roasts, and cod, then got them right into the freezer. Usually I'm too tired to do more than stuff the meats into the frig and hope I get back to them.

Saturday cooked up the Thai Pork and made a pan full of Roasted Winter Veggies using a buttercup squash/fennel bulb/red onion that I had bought.

Sunday, today, I plan on blanching some of the kale and freezing it. The rest of the kale I'll cook completely. Then I'll set up my freezer suppers (about 2 or 3) of Thai Pork, baked sweet potato, and kale using divided freezer ware. Sunday supper is half of the roasted chicken that I bought Friday (other half went straight to the freezer). The side will be the Roasted Winter Veggies plus Roasted Garlic as a condiment for the meat.

Monday, I plan on making my own bastardized Hot and Sour Soup. Got the pork and tofu, bean sprouts, then either some frozen Asian veggie mix or some broccoli and mushrooms (also from my shopping expedition).

Tuesday is suppose to be fish and coleslaw (Friday's shopping)

Wednesday is suppose to be steak salad using a head of Boston lettuce and red onion. I may substitute Thai Pork chunks as they are already cook.

So what does it mean when I cook? It's usually a sign that I feel good. My family, like an army, runs on it's stomach. Most of the meals I'm cooking are also providing enough food for two or three other nights. This works perfectly into my plans for Turkey hunting next week. Amongst the chaos of my life, I have an outlined supper menu for the week posted on the frig (just an aberration this week). Next week will be a reprise of this week so I'll have very little cooking, just nuking. Sounds like a plan for the little hunting homemaker, me!

New Businesses, New Services

Wonderments, on Main Street, finally received the nod from New York State to open a wine shop. Wines from around the world and local wines from our corner of New York State are featured. This is a great addition to the business community in Findley Lake and a true convenience to both residents and visitors. If you are trying to be a "locavore" and consume products grown close to home, this shop is triply welcome. You save gas and time driving to wineries or liquor stores, you can choose from a great selection of local wines, and you are supporting our local economy. Be sure to tell the owners that you read it here first.

Also finally receiving their license from the Liquor Control Board was the Findley Lake Market. Carrying a large selection of beers in the new cooler room, the Market continues to expand it's offerings and services. Probably one of the best products carried is the Hersey's Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream. In our home, we use this for medicinal purposes. At any sign of congestion, or a scratchy throat, a quick trip to the Market gets us healthy again.

Findley Lake Auto Repair on Rt. 426 is selling mulch by the cubic yard. Here's a great chance to save yourself time and effort by stopping in to order yours.

Vinnie's Pizza is the place to pick up your Asian cooking staples. Whether it's Thai, Chinese, Korean, or a fusion dish, you don't have to drive to Wegman's to find a solid selection of necessary products including hot chili paste, several kinds of soy sauce, noodles, tasty desserts, and even shrimp paste. Never judge a book by it's cover and this is a perfect example of a pizza shop that serves dinner or take out, includes Asian favorites on it's menu, sells clothes, eggs, milk, and has an extensive inventory of Oriental and American foods.

The Main Street Cafe is a new face on Main Street. Checkout the selection of sweet rolls and muffins while you order your coffee to go. The weather is perfect for sitting on the benches in the gazebo or by the waterfront and enjoying the view while satisfying your sweet tooth.

Findley Lake Fashions, inside Our Own Candle Company, provides quality women's clothes and accessories. Complements to Teri for carrying styles and fabrics that appeal to all age groups. This has been a wonderful addition to Main Street.