It’s hard to believe that we are about to say goodbye to 2015 and hello to 2016! This year has flown by and we are excited to hit the ground running in 2016 with new products, content and special offers. Keep an eye out for good things to come.
Happy New Year from our farm to your home!
One of my favorite holiday activities is hosting a cookie exchange. In case you haven’t participated in one, and would like to host one, here is how it works.
1. Invite 10-12 friends over who like to bake.
2. Each guest will bake a dozen of one type of cookie for every attendee, plus an extra dozen for serving at the get-together.
3. All cookies should be baked from scratch…no store-bought slice and bake.
4. Make a pot of coffee and open some wine…enjoy your guests and the fact you will have dozens of fabulous homemade cookies. And you only had to bake one type!
Here are two of my favorite holiday cookie recipes:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 eggs
1 cup canola oil
2 tsp. Vanilla
4 1/4 cups unsifted flour
1 tsp. Baking soda
1 tsp. Cream of tartar
½ tsp. Salt
Colored sugar
In a large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed, cream butter and sugars.
Beat in eggs one at a time until mixture is light.
Add oil and vanilla. Beat until well blended.
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt.
Gradually add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat until blended.
Wrap dough and chill for several hours.
Roll teaspoonfuls of dough into balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. Flatten dough to 2″ circles with the bottom of a glass dipped in granulated sugar. Sprinkle with colored sugar.
Bake at 325° for 8 to 10 minutes, just until set.
Let stand on the cookie sheet for 2 to 3 minutes before removing.
Makes about 7 dozen.
½ lb. salted butter (8 oz)
½ cup granulated sugar
1 ½ cup flour
1 tbsp. Cream
Powdered sugar
Jelly (homemade raspberry jam)
Mix butter and sugar well. Stir in flour. Stir in cream – may need to add additional cream – make the dough usable!
Roll very thin. Covering rolling pin with wax paper helps. Cut out with a cookie cutter a little larger than a silver dollar. Bake until light brown.
Place 2 cookies together with jam & sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Note: You can cut a shape out of the “top” cookie so that jam shows through when cookies are assembled. I use an Hors D’ouvres cutter.
Enjoy!
(Photo: Pinterest)
We’re making our list and checking it twice! Here are our favorite gift ideas for the holidays – Enjoy!
My Cup of Cake, Belgian Chocolate Souffle – $24
Our Belgian Chocolate Souffle in a coffee cup is a spectacular treat. This 16 oz mug arrives in its own gift box with all of the ingredients packaged and ready to go in five to six minutes.
Cow Cheese Markers – $20
Entertain in style with this cheese marker set of 5! Each marker is etched with a particular cheese: Swiss, Gouda, Bleu, Cheddar and Brie.
Avocado Honey – $15
Perfect to spread on breads, a rich sugar alternative for puddings and desserts this honey will cure you of that sweet craving we all have. Our honey is made from bees that pollinate avocado trees!
Love You to the Moon Charm Bowl – $12
Handcrafted and made of the finest quality pewter makes this the perfect gift for all. The charm bowl is a nice reminder of the love you have for them day after day.
Black Truffle Sea Salt – $12
An incredibly complex and powerful flavor that brings an intensely aromatic quality to any dish. The irresistible, earthy, musty, and simply intoxicating prized Italian black truffles are carefully infused with natural sea salt to bring a distinctive, profound flavor to your dishes.
Small Stoneware Dish Set – $18
This set of 6 features a transferware pattern in various styles & colors. We love using these for jewelry & various knick-knacks around the house!
I Believe in Pink Canvas Bag – $18
A playful mix of style and function, this canvas bag reads, “I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” – Audrey Hepburn
Count Your Blessings Cuff Bangle – $20
Each bracelet is one of a kind as they are all made by hand. Lead free pewter of the finest quality allows everyone to wear them!
PurseN Quilted Elegance Insert – $54
This PurseN Quilted Elegance Insert features 10 total compartments to keep you organized at all times. When it’s time to switch your handbag, simply lift the lightweight organizer out of the built-in handles and place in a new handbag.
Classic Cocktails Bar Set – $36
Mix martinis with ease. Concoct cosmopolitans on a whim. This bar set makes creating your own classic cocktails a breeze!
Lanton Money Clip – $75
This Italian leather money clip from Will Leather Goods is crafted using the oldest tanned processing in the world. Over time the leather will age in texture, revealing good memories from money spent.
Will Leather Waxed Canvas Dopp Kit – $70
A must have accessory for the frequent traveler. This waxed cotton coated travel kit has tanned leather detailing with a top zip closure.
Santa’s Cookies Message Plate Set – $35
Start a Christmas tradition with this enchanting three-piece Santa’s Cookies Message Plate Set. The plate has a chalkboard center so you can leave a message for Santa and he can write back!
Santa’s Choice Red Wool Stocking Kit – $24
This Stocking Kit comes with everything your kids need to design their own stocking, with 10 possible designs to choose from!
Time Teacher Clock and Watch Set – $40
Don’t forget the importance of analog time and sustainability with our Time Teacher Clock and Watch Set! Make both fun for your little one with our colorful owl and watch set made from recycled and biodegradable materials.
This is one of my all-time favorite recipes, perfect for Fall!
Ingredients:
2-1/2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. allspice
1-1/2 cups applesauce
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Butter Frosting:
1/3 cup butter, softened
3 cups confectioners sugar
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbsp. milk (may need to use a little more if frosting is too thick)
Few drops red food color
Directions:
Preheat over to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour a 9″ x 13″ x 2″ pan. Measure all ingredients into large mixer bowl.
Blend 30 seconds on low speed, scraping bowl constantly.
Beat 3 minutes on high speed, scraping bowl constantly.
Pour batter into pan. If there is any extra batter, pour into paper lined muffin cups.
Bake cupcakes 25 to 30 minutes. Bake layer cake 50 to 55 minutes. Cool. Frost with butter frosting
Butter Frosting:
Blend butter and confectioners sugar.
Beat in vanilla, milk and a few drops of food color.
Blend until smooth.
Enjoy!
(Photo Credit: Pinterest)
Satisfy your sweet tooth with our very own City Farm Sea Salt Caramels! There are 15 rich, luscious, sweet, velvety caramels with a hint of sea salt in each burlap bag. This is a lovely gift for friends, family or yourself!
Shop here: https://thecityfarm.com/product/city-farm-sea-salt-caramels/
Made in the USA, our Tuscan Rosemary Sea Salt features natural grains that are infused with the fragrant flavors of fresh sage and rosemary, making each taste feel like a trip to the herb garden. Use it for mixing with olive oil and spices or as an herbal rub. Looking to create a meal with a fresh, herb taste? Simply sprinkle on Rosemary Sea Salt and let the magic begin!
Tuscan Rosemary Sea Salt is delicious on roasted potatoes and Mediterranean dishes. Or try adding it to zucchini, squash, eggplant, tomatoes and onions prior to grilling. Use it to add freshness to roasted lamb or chicken.
Share with us your favorite way to enjoy Tuscan Rosemary Sea Salt in the comments below & shop our other artisan sea salts here.
Shop our Tuscan Rosemary Sea Salt: https://thecityfarm.com/product/tuscan-rosemary-sea-salt/
This Couscous Salad is truly an all-time favorite from my recipe book. It can be made well in advance – perfect for an end of Summer or Labor Day BBQ! Enjoy.
Ingredients:
2/3 cup dried currants
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1/8 tsp. powdered saffron
1-1/2 cups chicken stock
1-1/2 cups couscous
1-1/2 cups diced celery
1/3 cup green onion, sliced thin
1/3 cup pine nuts
1/4 cup fresh parsley, minced
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt & pepper
Directions:
Soak currants in enough water to cover them for 15 minutes, then drain and set aside.
In large skillet, melt butter and stir in saffron over medium heat.
Add stock and bring to boil. Stir in couscous, cover and remove from heat. Let mixture stand 4 minutes.
Transfer couscous to a large bowl, breaking up any lumps with a fork.
Add celery, currants, green onions, pine nuts and parsley. Mix well.
In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice and cinnamon.
Add olive oil in slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until emulsified. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss.
Season to taste with salt & pepper.
Makes 6 servings.
*May be made 1 day ahead and stored, covered in refrigerator until ready to use.
It’s hard to believe another Summer has passed us by! The City Farm has a great selection of items for your end of Summer BBQ. Some of my favorites are the Stamped Ramekin Set; fancify your table top with this cute trio for your condiments. What a whimsical idea to offer your guests their silverware settings in our cute chicken wire galvanized metal Preserve Jar Silverware and Basket Set. And when not in use for the eats, you can transform the basket into any kind of storage!
At the ranch, I love to make Mint Juleps and with this Classic Cocktail Bar Set, you are guaranteed to make your guests happy. This 8 piece set is a must have! Last but not least, you won’t want to miss out on this great Bon Chef Apron to keep your clothes clean while at the barbi. Once a Bon Chef always a Bon Chef!
Here are a few of my other favorite end of Summer goodies:
Round Slate Cheese Board
Stoneware Baskets
Vintage 5 Piece Silver Place Setting
This is my favorite Limoncello recipe. It’s perfect for summer entertaining. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
8 lemons
1 (750 liter) bottle of unflavored vodka
2 cups of water
2 cups of sugar
Directions:
Peel 8 lemons. Use yellow rind only, as the white part will make it bitter. Put lemon peels in a glass bowl.
Pour vodka over lemon peels. Cover bowl.
Put in a cool, dark cupboard for 7 to 12 days.
Put 2 cups of water in a pot. Add 2 cups of sugar and heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let sugar solution cool to room temperature.
Pour lemon and alcohol solution through a strainer into the cool sugar water.
Put in bottle. Put bottle in freezer.
*You can use this recipe to make Orange Blossom liqueur. Substitute 1 1/2 cups orange blossoms for the lemon rind.
(Photo credit: Pinterest)
Made with a special ingredient (avocado oil!), our Avocado Hand Cream is a lavish cream that will leave your skin supple and fully hydrated.
The smooth, fresh, and simply cleansing hand cream is carefully infused with avocado oil to bring a natural glow to your skin. The avocado oil will certainly be your favorite secret ingredient!
The cream has a light aromatic quality to match the lightweight feel the cream has on your skin. Developed from an exclusive formula, this hand cream is buttery in texture without leaving an oily residue – a perfect blend of ultra-refined natural ingredients and precise chemistry to create a hand cream unlike any other.
You can use the cream in many ways – on your hands, on rough elbow skin, calloused areas on your feet, or places on your skin that received too much sun exposure. We suggest keeping a small Avocado Hand Cream container in your purse, especially if you are constantly on the go.
An easy and pampering gift: Give the hand cream to a girlfriend for a dual spa day, or a close family member who often complains about having dry skin.
Share with us your favorite time to use our Avocado Hand Cream in the comments below & shop our other City Farm exclusives here.
Shop our Avocado Hand Cream here: https://thecityfarm.com/product/city-farm-hand-cream/
How to Cut Your Avocado Properly to Get the Greatest Nutritional Value
Here at The City Farm, an avocado is a superfood we come in daily contact with. Our range of CF exclusive products incorporate avocado properties, such as avocado oil in our Hand Cream or avocado infused Honey. However, consuming an avocado provides the maximum sensation in terms of touch, sight, smell and taste.
We are all about efficiency here at CF, so we have been searching for the ideal way to consume avocados. We would like to share some great tips about cutting your avocado properly to receive the greatest nutritional value, from the Food & Wine website:
Here are the five steps to cut an avocado:
1. Cut vertically all the way around the pit of the avocado.
2. Twist both sides separately.
3. Remove the pit from one side by hacking the pit with a knife, twisting slightly to the left while lifting the pit out of its pocket.
4. Cut your two avocado halves into four quarters.
5. Instead of digging in with a spoon, peel the skin from the flesh. The skin will come off smoothly, keeping the healthy dark green flesh in tact.
Be healthy and efficient with our abundant avocado advice! Enjoy!
With Summer just around the corner, this is a delicious & simple recipe to make for family and friends!
Ingredients:
2 lbs. summer squash
3 eggs, beaten
melted butter
1 cup matzo meal
1/2 cup grated onion
Directions:
Cook the squash. Drain and mash well.
Add eggs, a little melted butter, matzo meal and grated onion.
Mix well. Pour into greased square pan or greased muffin pans.
Bake at 375° for 1 hour
Made in the USA, our Black Truffle Sea Salt is an incredibly complex and powerful flavor that brings an intensely aromatic quality to any dish.
The irresistible, earthy, and simply intoxicating prized Italian black truffles are carefully infused with natural sea salt to bring a distinctive, profound flavor to your dishes.
This delectable salt will certainly be your favorite secret ingredient!
You can use it on just about anything – pasta, vegetables, seafood, eggs and steaks. We love adding it to buttered popcorn or french-fries.
An easy and tasty snake: Mix it with olive oil and use as a dip for bread!
Share with us your favorite way to enjoy Black Truffle Sea Salt in the comments below & shop our other artisan sea salts here.
Shop our Black Truffle Sea Salt: https://thecityfarm.com/product/black-truffle-sea-salt/
I have been making this Avocado Soup recipe for years! It’s very rich, so small servings are ideal. Enjoy!
Ingredients:
1 13-3/4-oz. can chicken broth
2 medium avocados, seeded, peeled, and cut into chunks
2 Tbsp. dry sherry
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. dried dill weed
3/4 cup light cream
Directions:
In blender container combine chicken broth, avocado chunks, dry sherry, salt, onion powder and dill weed.
Cover; blend until mixture is smooth. Stir in light cream.
Turn into refrigerator container.
Cover; chill well.
Top each serving with slices of avocado or dollops of sour cream, if desired.
(Photo credit: Pinterest)
Avocado picking is in full force at The City Farm! From our farm to markets across the US, Greatist offers great tips on how to pick the perfect avocado. Enjoy!
This easy & delicious Carrot Cake recipe is perfect for Easter. I like to bake some of this batter in mini muffin pans. Each muffin is about two bites!
Ingredients:
2 cups flour (sift first, then measure)
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
3 eggs
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 cups sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained (reserve juice)
2 cups grated carrots
3-1/2 oz. shredded coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts
Frosting (if desired):
2 oz soft cream cheese
3-4 Tbsp. of reserved pineapple juice
4-5 cups sifted powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Directions:
Sift together the flour, baking soda, nutmeg, salt, cinnamon, and cloves in a bowl. Set aside.
Beat together the above ingredients.
Begin by beating the eggs. Add the oil, beat well.
Add the buttermilk, beat well. Add the sugar and vanilla, beat well.
Blend the dry ingredients into this mixture.
Add the following to the batter: crushed pineapple, grated carrots, shredded coconut, and chopped walnuts.
Bake in a 9″ x 13″ pan, or bunt pan approx. 55 minutes at 350 degrees.
Frosting (if desired):
Beat the cream cheese and pineapple juice. Add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until fluffy.
(Photo Credit: Pinterest)
We are so excited about the new line of DIY kits that we just got in! Not only can you make your own jewelry or mix up some delicious cocktails, but you can also become a selfie pro!
Our very favorite kit right now is the Mason Herb Garden Kit. It’s so easy — and makes a wonderful hostess or housewarming gift.
The herb garden kits include a special blend of perlite, pea pebbles and organic soil that creates a self-watering system, all you need to do is water up to the rock line once a week and you’ll be enjoying freshly grown herbs right in your own kitchen.
Kit contents: 4-half pint mason jars, organic potting soil, organic perlite, pea pebbles, herb seeds & craft flags
Putting in all the goodies
Watch your garden grow!
Comes packaged & ready to go!
We are getting ready for the warm, sunny Spring & Summer days ahead! Here’s a peek at our latest photoshoot. All these new arrivals and more coming soon!
