The opinions expressed in these blogs are solely those of the people who wrote them, and do not represent the views of WPSU or Penn State University.

Local Food Journey

Local Food Notes for Oct. 30

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 10/30 at 11:09 AM

This week we offer a way to eat well and help Friends & Farmers, celebrate 13 years of zany Austrian food experiences at Herwig’s, and how you gardeners can save big at Tait Farm.

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Local Food Journey

Future is bright for Friends & Farmers Cooperative

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 10/28 at 06:59 AM

On Oct. 16, Friends & Farmers Cooperative had a strong turnout for their second annual membership meeting. While this was great news for Friends & Farmers’ board, the bigger picture is even brighter for the local cooperative, which is still working towards a goal of local food grocery store in the State College area.

For starters, Friends & Farmers received a $93,000 grant for its online market from the United States Department of Agriculture. “The grant will help increase the market share and visibility of local food,” Michele Marchetti, Friends & Farmers board member, said. “Basically, it’s going to support three activities.”

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Local Food Journey

Local Food Notes for Oct. 23

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 10/23 at 10:12 AM

This week’s Local Food Notes includes National Cooperative Month, running with wine (no really), Boalsburg Farmers Market holds another Teaching Kitchen, and Way Fruit Farm apple pie contest.

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Local Food Journey

Recipe: Hog maw…don’t knock it ‘till you’ve tried it

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 10/20 at 07:59 AM

Last year, on an episode of the Cooking Channel’s “My Grandmother’s Ravioli”, host, humorist, and NPR fixture Mo Rocca went to eastern Pennsylvania to discover Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. They visited local households and got real recipes, like fastnachts, stewed dried corn, and a peculiar-to-outsiders dish known as stuffed pig stomach, or hog maw.

First things first…I know the idea of stuffed pig’s stomach instantly makes some of you recoil, but trust me, it’s delicious. If you’re having a tough time with the idea of a stuffed stomach, here’s a way to look at it; think of it as a giant sausage made with a casing that’s farther away from the, um, end of the pig than regular sausage casings. One thing that’s quite funny…people who enjoy this think of it as simple, down-home fare, and are often shocked to discover people finding it exotic/weird/gross. I grew up with it, so to me, it’s a common thing.

The name of this dish varies depending on region. In my home area, York County, it’s known as hog maw. In Lancaster County, it’s known as stuffed pig stomach. It also has a few nicknames, such as “Susquehanna turkey” or “Dutch goose”, which is due to this being served during holidays. In my family, it was the centerpiece of our harvest dinner, a local southcentral PA tradition of having a family dinner in mid-late October that kicks off the family holiday dinner season.

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Local Food Journey

Local Food Notes for Oct 16

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 10/16 at 09:53 AM

This week, check out Friends & Farmers Membership Meeting (open to all), learn more about how our area is celebrating National Cooperative Month, head to the Way Fruit Farm Apple Festival, sip wine among the fall finery at Mt. Nittany Winery, and go pumpkin crazy at the Hollidaysburg Pumpkin Festival…

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Local Food Journey

Friends & Farmers Cooperative to hold 2015 Membership Meeting on Oct. 16

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 10/14 at 08:59 AM

Are you a local foodie who would love it if there was a grocery store in Central Pennsylvania for local products? Then here’s some good news from the Friends & Farmers Cooperative about the perfect event for you, happening this week.:

All are welcome at Friends & Farmers Cooperative’s 2015 Membership Meeting on Friday, Oct. 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Centre County. Enjoy local food samplings, kids activities from The Makery, silent auction and raffle give-aways, and an exciting update on Friends & Farmers’ progress toward opening a member-owned grocery store with a focus on local products. RSVP for the meeting here.

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Local Food Journey

Recipe: Baked steel cut oats with almonds and blueberries

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 10/06 at 09:12 AM

Steel cut oats have been a trendy food item for a while now, and with good reason. They have a lower glycemic index, which is good news for diabetics. They are also pretty tasty, more flavor than rolled oats and a chewy texture that many people find appealing.

They are pretty easy to make, as well. Not quite instant, but you can have a hot bowl of steel cut oats in just over a half-hour. While a bowl of steel cut oats with a little salt and brown sugar is very nice, you can do more with them. This is a pretty easy recipe that you can do much of the prep work for the night before, then pop it in the oven for an hour for a nice, hot, and delicious breakfast.

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Local Food Journey

Friends & Farmers Cooperative Online Market recieves major USDA grant

Posted by Jamie Oberdick on 10/02 at 09:50 AM

The United States Department of Agriculture announced that the Friends & Farmers Cooperative Online Market received a $92,000 USDA grant to increase local food consumption and production in Centre County.

Friends & Farmers Cooperative plays a vital and growing role in the burgeoning local food movement. In one year, its retail Online Market has sold more than $70,000 worth of locally grown and produced food. The Online Market is a stepping stone to the co-op’s planned brick and mortar store. Owned and financed by the community, this store will source as much as possible from farmers within 50 miles of State College.

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