The Spirit of the Season
There are so many holidays that can be celebrated this time of year; but, no matter which one you or I celebrate, I believe we celebrate the same things. We hope. We wish for happiness and peace. We do not want for anyone to be hungry or cold so we donate food and give money. It is a time to level the playing field, to think of others not just ourselves.
The thing I have been pondering for weeks now is that at Traders Point Creamery these ideas are nourished and nurtured every day of the year. Our motto to "Nourish the Land that Nourishes Us All" permeates from and into the people who are connected to that land. It does not matter if you are farming hundreds of acres or just a few rows in your backyard. There is something magical that happens when you connect the people who work the land and the products that come from that land to the people who buy the products from that land. I have come to believe that one cannot nourish the land without having that service nourish the soul.
I invite you to come see what I mean. I have not seen it happen at a grocery store where you pick up a package from a shelf and pay a clerk. I have seen it happen here where you purchase your package from the person responsible for growing or producing it. At The Green Market any Saturday morning you can see the vendors helping each other unload or pack up. In The Farm Store, you can see delivery drivers loading while store personnel are stocking. There is a peace and harmony to the frenzy. No one is honking or shouting to hurry up or get out of the way. There may be a line of people waiting for a particular vendor at The Green Market or a crowd of people waiting to sample in The Farm Store, not to mention the fact that several hundred people come through one little door to get in the Red Barn each weekend; yet, people
wait their turns patiently, happily open the door for each other, generously give up their seats to others in the cafe, and heartily laugh and talk in the aisles. It is a joy to see. It is a joy to be a part of.
One man recently said it best after the Traders Point Creamery "family" helped his family. He said, "How do we ever begin to thank all the wonderful people at Traders Point?" I believe it is with a promise to continue to nourish the land that nourishes us all so that the magic happening now can be preserved for generations to come. I believe it is also with a wish that the same hope, happiness and peace we enjoy every day is also yours every day.
Happy holidays from all of us connected to the land at Traders Point Creamery.
The Giving Tree
The holidays are a wonderful time to give to those in need, and we created a special "Giving Tree" at our Christmas on the Farm celebration that you and your family could participate in for a great cause. Donations to the Traders Point Giving Tree benefit United Way of Central Indiana’s Christmas Service, a direct assistance program which provides food, clothing and toys for Christmas to Indiana families in need. Donations at the event were commemorated with a cowbell to be decorated and placed on the Giving Tree at the Farm. Thank you to those who garve so generously.
For those who didn’t attend the event but would like to donate, checks made payable to “Traders Point Giving Tree” can be mailed to the Creamery at 9101 Moore Road, Zionsville, IN 46077 by December 20th. All donations are tax deductible.
Special Holiday Dinners!
Traders Point Creamery is proud to present its first annual Holiday Dinners. Join us from 6-10pm for elegant meals served in courses both December 22nd and December 31st.
December 22nd we'll present five courses for your dining pleasure. The price will be $41.50 per person. Robert Scott of Il Troubadoure will provide accompaniment with his harp and classical guitar.
December 31st, the festivities begin at Traders Point Creamery with a six-course dinner. Your seating includes a bottle of wine, tax, and gratuity priced at $150.00 per couple.
More information about both evenings can be found on our website at traderspointcreamery.com. These special evenings' seatings require reservations which can be made by calling 733-1700, extension 25.
The Green Market
Looking for special gift ideas or holiday decorations? Check out The Green Market this Saturday, December 15, from 9am-12noon. Please note Swiss Connection will not be here as they have their annual Roundup this weekend. Robin Harrison will be here playing live out in the Red Barn. The Weston A. Price Foundation returns as well. Check below for a complete list of the vendors who will be here and the products they will have.
* Bob Sanders-He's returning to fill orders from last week! Pick up your order this week or come by just to watch him carve spoons and tools.
* Bluffwood Creek Honey-raw honey products, beeswax candles and soaps
* Flower Child Aromatherapy-handmade soaps, sachets, incense, perfumes * Grabow Orchard-apples, breakfast breads, dumplings, Sorghum
* Harvest Lodge Catering-tamales, baked goods, caponatas, salsas
* Harvest Moon Farms-fresh holiday bouquets, dried floral and herbal wreaths, and fresh evergreen wreaths
* Homestead Growers-mushrooms, mushroom patties, tomato sauce, raviolis
* Hoover's Country Store-bacon, ham and other pork products
* Mallow Run Winery-a variety of dry and semi-sweet wines, gift baskets, candles
* Murphy Farms-chicken eggs
* New Day Meadery-a variety of honey meads
* Peace Leaf Tea-custom green tea blends, tea accessories, gift baskets
* Phelps Family Farm-Hickory Smoked Christmas Hams, eggs and a variety of meats and sausages
* Redwine- a variety of fresh and dehydrated vegetables and produce; beef; turkey and duck eggs
* Schacht Fleece Farms- A new seasonal vendor with whole frozen chickens, pork products, and lamb. Check out their sign this weekend!
* Seldom Seen Farm-fresh produce and vegetables, mixed greens
* Seven Springs Farm-beef, stewing hens, and eggs
* The Chile Woman-peppers!
* The Downtown Farm Stand-fresh produce
* The Village Bakery-authentic baked goods from international regions
* Traders Point Creamery-a variety of Certified Organic non-homogenized dairy products and 100% grass-fed beef along with holiday gift baskets
* Valentine Hill-a variety of breads, baked goods and holiday items
* Weston A. Price Foundation-They're back with health and wellness information! Special guests Joe Gady and Rob North will join the booth with green sauerkraut, cultured vegetable mix and Heritage Breed Grass Fed Turkeys.
Cocka-Doodle-Doo!
Traders Point Creamery has available for a limited time fresh dressed boilers. These are not the hens and roosters who roam freely on the property! These have been raised for their meat. We are selling the chickens in The Farm Store for $3.99/lb. They will be fresh through Saturday and then frozen.
We will also have available live boilers. Next Thursday, December 20, from 2-6pm you can come by the farm to pick out your own boilers. These will be alive and will require you to dress them yourselves!
Please call us at 733-1700 if you have any questions or need more information about the boilers we will have for sale in the next few weeks.
Rise and Shine
Join us for breakfast every Saturday morning from 9 am-12 noon in the Creamery Loft. This weekend, we're serving up Scrambled Egg Casserole with tomatoes, green peppers, and Homestead Growers' mushrooms along with American Fried Potatoes, Bacon, and Oatmeal on the breakfast buffet for those who like a hot, home-cooked meal. If that's too much for you, try your favorite Traders Point Creamery Yogurt as a parfait at the Make-Your-Own Yogurt Parfait Bar. We also have Hot chocolate, coffee and tea to warm you up as you wander throughout the farm and Green Market.
The Creamery Cafe
Throughout the holiday season, The Creamery Cafe will be open during regular hours. Let us serve you lunch Wednesday thru Saturday from 11:30am-2:00pm. The menu is listed on our website at traderspointcreamery.com. Reservations are always accepted and are necessary for large groups. Call 733-1700, extension 25, for more information or to make a reservation.
Friday and Saturday Night Dinner
Traders Point Creamery serves dinner every Friday and Saturday night from 6-9pm. The Loft transforms into a dazzling setting complete with white tablecloths and candle lit tables. Dinner itself is priced at $29.50 per person and includes your choice of Starter, Entree, and Dessert. Beverages, Wine, and Beer are available a la carte. This weekend's menu includes:
Starters
Bacon and onion Tart
Confit of Duck Salad
Creamy Potato Leek Soup
Traders Point Signature Salad
Entrees
Cheese Ravioli with Garden Fresh Tomato Sauce
Half Herb Roasted Chicken
Pan-Seared Rainbow Trout
Potato Ravioli with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Desserts
Apple and Cranberry Country Style Pie
Fudge Brownie with Traders Point Ice Cream
Traders Point Ice Cream
Please call the Cafe at 733-1700, extension 25 for more information or to make a reservation.
Stocking Stuffers!
Looking for something special for a Traders Point loving family member? Whether you live here or across the country, we have the perfect stocking stuffers in our Farm Store. How about a bottle licker to help your yogurt-craving loved one get every last drop from the bottle? Keep your holiday clean with a handmade bar of Traders Point Creamery Spice Milk Soap. Make sure your kisser is prepared for all that mistletoe with our Traders Point Creamery Lip Juice. What about a handsome reusable shopping bag for a regular customer or even a milk carrier? We have gift certificates available for that hard to buy for relative and can ship Fleur de la Terre to anyone on your list. Stop by to shop yourself or give us a call to put our elves to work for you.
Recipe of the Week
Sherried Fruit Compote a la Mode
This is my favorite winter dessert. It is perfect on a cold December night, and will fill your home with the aroma of Christmas.
1 Can- Peaches in natural juice
1 Can- Pears in natural juice
1 Can- Pineapple slices in natural juice
2 cups dried fruit- cherries, blueberries, cranberries, apricots, raisins, prunes, apples- you pick!
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tbs corn starch
1/3 cup sherry
1 tsp cinnamon
2 pints- Traders Point Vanilla Ice Cream
Preheat oven to 350. Drain fruit (reserve 1 cup of juice) and arrange with the dried fruit in a casserole dish. Pour the reserved juice from fruit and into a sauce pan. Mix a couple spoonfuls of the juice with corn starch and mix till there are no lumps. Add to the juice in the sauce pan and slowly bring to a boil. Add brown sugar, cinnamon, and sherry. Pour over canned and dried fruit. Cover and bake in a casserole dish 40 minutes. Uncover and cook for 10 minutes, till it is thick and bubbly and the dried fruit plumps up. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
