The Fresh Market's November Holiday Events

Taste of the Holidays - at The Fresh Market!

Fresh Market, a specialty grocer decks the halls with seasonal samplings and holiday meal pre-order information events for November 2016.

WHO: 

The Fresh Market, a specialty grocer focused on providing fresh, delicious fare, locally sourced products, convenient meal solutions and an expanding selection of household items in an inviting atmosphere

WHAT: 

• “Taste of the Holidays” Sampling Event: The Fresh Market warmly welcomes shoppers to sip, snack and savor on holiday flavors at its Taste of the Holidays sampling event on Saturday, November 12 – Sunday, November 13. Shoppers can enjoy tastes of holiday staples such as TFM Pecan Pie, TFM Christmas Blend coffee and jolly amounts of other favorites from the specialty grocer.

• "Pre-order Holiday Meal Event": During the weekend of Saturday, November 19 – Sunday, November 20, shoppers will also have the opportunity to let The Fresh Market handle the holiday cooking by pre-ordering complete holiday meals or à la carte items. In addition, shoppers can sample some of The Fresh Market’s beloved holiday platters perfect for holiday entertaining including the TFM Holiday Cheese Ball Platter and the TFM Cookie Platter.

WHEN:

• “Taste of the Holidays” Sampling Event

Saturday, November 12 – Sunday, November 13 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

• Early-Bird Holiday Meal Ordering and Platter Sampling Event

Saturday, November 19 – Sunday, November 20 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

WHERE: 

The Fresh Market’s 177 store locations nationwide

For local store information, please visit: thefreshmarket.com/all-stores/.

MORE INFO: For more information, please visit thefreshmarket.com and The Fresh Market on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Bauli's Panettone Berry Trifle for Easter

Luca Manfe's Panettone Trifle With Red Berries

Here's a great recipe to use for Easter dessert that's not only delicious (AND EASY) but will look perfect on the holiday table!

What would be better than a  bright and colorful Bauli's Panettone Berry Trifle!

Photo Courtesy of  5W Public Relations

To make this already-simple recipe even easier, Celebrity Chef Luca Manfè, winner of Masterchef Season 4 (see bio at end of post) takes you step-by-step in this How-To video! And the entire recipe is found below, courtesy of the great folks at Bauli!

Bauli's Panettone Berry Trifle

Ingredients

 (4 serving)
•1 Panettone
•2 cups of Raspberries
•1 cup of sugar
•4 tbsp Marsala
•1 cup Mascarpone
•2 cups Custard cream
•2 tsp Vanilla extract
•2 cups Fresh cream

Directions

Cut the Panettone cake into slices eliminating all of the upper crust. Then cut into cubes and place the cut Panettone in glasses.

Pour the raspberries into a bowl then marinate with lemon juice, 250 ml sugar and 4 tbsp Marsala wine in a saucepan.

 Whisk the 250 ml mascarpone cheese until creamy then gradually add in the 500 ml cream and 2 tsp vanilla extract, stirring constantly to properly combine all the ingredients.

Begin the trifle by placing a layer of cake on the bottom of the cup followed by a layer of berries and a layer of mascarpone cream.
 Finish with whipped cream and add some berries.

Put the trifle in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
After one hour, it will be ready to serve.

Ingredients for the Mascarpone Cream:

 1 cup chilled whipping cream
 1/2 cup mascarpone cheese
 1/4 cup sugar
 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
 1/2 cup milk

Directions:

 In a stand mixer combine mascarpone, heavy cream, sugar and vanilla in a large metal bowl.
 With an electric mixer on high, beat until the mascarpone cream starts to seize and thicken.
 Turn mixer speed to low and slowly drizzle in milk, beating until well combined.
 Keep in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

For more great recipes visit http://www.bauliusa.com

About Luca Manfè

Chef Luca Manfè has been in the restaurant business since he was 16 years old, working in a pub in his small hometown in Northeast Italy. When he turned 21, he started to travel the world, working in Italy, Australia, Florida, and New York.  He had the privilege and honor to work with great chefs, experiencing ingredients and techniques from different cuisines. Ultimately, he landed in New York City, in pursuit of the American dream.  Fast forward ten years, and Luca has certainly achieved what he set out to accomplish. Today, Luca is a successful cookbook author, releasing his first cookbook, "My Italian Kitchen," in May, 2014.  He also runs a small catering company called "Dinner with Luca," and serves as brand ambassador for Italian confectionary company, Bauli. Luca is the first male (and non-American) to win the title of MasterChef USA.

Recipe: Pumpkin Soup for the Holidays

It's time for Pumpkin Soup!

Photo Source: 5W PR

Pumpkin soup is a great way to welcome the cooler weather in New England. I mean, really, who doesn't love a big ole' bowl of pumpkin love. It's the perfect comfort food.

Now that the fall season is in full swing, soups are a go-to staple for lunch and dinner.

Don't just settle for away from your typical Tomato and Butternut Squash soups.

Let's try something new with a delicious (and healthy!) Pumpkin soup. Below, is a simple recipe from Gaea Olive Oil’s Chief Wellness Officer, Vicky Vlachonis.

This soup is a tasty meal for all occasions and the perfect healthy addition to a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.


A few healthy benefits to note: Pumpkins are high in Vitamin A, and can even aid in weight loss. Gaea’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil is high in antioxidants and has an array of health benefits including anti-inflammatory and heart-health properties.

Pumpkin Soup

SERVES 4

Ingredients: 

•4 cups pumpkin, peeled, seeded, and chopped
•1 cup red pepper, seeded and chopped
•1 cup zucchini, chopped
•1 cup yellow onions, chopped
•1⁄2 cup celery with stem, chopped
•6 to 7 tablespoons Gaea extra-virgin olive oil
•1⁄2 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
•1 cup crumbled goat cheese (or hard cheese)
•2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger

Directions: 

Place the chopped pumpkin, zucchini, onions and celery in a large soup pot and add the vegetable stock until at least half the vegetables are covered. Bring the broth to a boil then let simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the soup cool to room temperature before pureeing vegetable and broth in a blender. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil to the pureed mixture and return the soup to the pot and let simmer for 15 minutes before serving in individual soup bowls. Top each serving with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the pumpkin seeds, crumbled cheese, and ginger.

Whole Foods Market at Bishops Corner West Hartford CT for Holiday Recipe Ideas!

Every year I mull over the same predicaments! What to serve for holiday dinners!?!? 

Not necessarily the ones where the entire family gathers on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, but appetizers and dinners that I can serve for friends dropping in for casual dinners and get-togethers!

Thankfully, I don't have too far to look for inspiration.  Great ideas can be found in my local Whole Foods Market. Unfortunately, for me, that's about a 40 minute drive to the Hartford/Glastonbury area from my hometown of Branford CT!

But as I was lamenting the fact that they're not right around the corner from me while I was there last week , Whole Foods Corporate tweeted me that they are always looking for new locations to open!  How's that for active listening to their consumers???

So, if you would like the great folks at Whole Foods to consider opening in an area near you, here's where you can make your recommendation ==>  bit.ly/1iXTJAJ 

At the event I recently attended at Whole Foods Market in Bishops Corner West Hartford CT, many of their culinary experts gathered to give us some great ideas for all the upcoming holiday soirees!

And I also got to meet up with some local bloggers I've been following, Carrie from Poet in the Pantry, Allie from VitaTrain4Life, Erica from Erica: Thoughts of an Organic Mama , Jess from Foodette Reviews, and of course, Wendy and Greg from Connecticut Lifestyles Magazine.

I started with some of their savory ideas. My favorite was the Crispy Risotto Ball served on a bed of pureed sweet potato, prepared by Chef Bryce. So crispy good and delicately fried on the outside, with soft and creamy risotto on the inside. Then I swirled a few bites into the sweet potato puree to take me right straight into holiday heaven food bliss! So good and this would be a great appetizer or side dish to serve at any holiday party.

Chef Bryce's Crispy Risotto Ball

My favorite inspired protein of the evening was the Grilled Lamb. I'm a little sheepish (PUNNY) to admit that I've never prepared lamb at home, although it is something I always order when I'm out. However, Chef Devlin furnished me with a recipe that just might get me over my trepidation of preparing it!

Devlin prepares rack of lamb

And Devlin also showed a simple yet creative way to display your lamb when serving it. Simply mound it up on a stack of grilled vegetables surrounded by some simple holiday decor! Recipe for the Rack of Lamb HERE.

For seafood we were treated to some of Craig's lobster tails and some bacon wrapped shrimp and scallops. Did you know that you can purchase party packs of bacon wrapped scallops and shrimp at Whole Foods?

What a great idea! Pop them in the oven with no fuss while you mingle with your guests!

Then I moved on to some of the sweets! We were able to sample some Bourbon Pecan Pie, Dairy Free "Cheesecake" , Chocolate Biscotti (Recipe HERE), and Cocoa Oat Truffles (Recipe HERE)!

Clockwise, L-R
Top L: Dairy Free Cheesecake, Top R Cocoa Oat Truffles
Bottom R: Chocolate Biscotti, Bottom L: Bourbon Pecan Pie

To cap the evening off with a beverage, we sampled a great alternative to the traditional heavy and rich eggnog! This one is called Almond-Nog, and it's quite light in consistency because of the Almond Milk, but still has that nice holiday flavor.

As you can see they used a banana as a thickener. I think when I make it I'm going to use a frozen banana to make it almost milkshake-like. YUM! And healthy too!

Almond-Nog

Thanks to Whole Foods in Bishops Corner West Hartford CT for the wonderful holiday cheer and inspiration!

Look for great events at YOUR local Whole Foods Market! 

Incredible specials, a calendar of events, cooking classes, holiday magazines, and more!

For more pictures from this event visit the Home Place Facebook page HERE!

What's on your holiday menu this season?

I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!