Mar 16, 2017 - All About Broccoli!

Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Mar 3, 2017 - Delicious Ravioli - Three Ways

Hello, World!

Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Feb 16, 2017 - Make Easy Moroccan Flavors at Home

Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Feb 2, 2017 - Hearts and Food Aflame

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Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Jan. 19, 2017 - Making Your Own Yogurt at Home

WELCOME TO WINTER! It seems as though the weather has been its usual fickle self lately -- going from balmy to blizzard and back in a matter of hours. This keeps things interesting during a Michigan winter. If you seek something a little more fun, keep in mind that we have all sorts of classes and events coming up to keep your mind off the weather. Take a look at our website and see what's available:  www.acornfarmmi.com  Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

WELCOME TO WINTER! It seems as though the weather has been its usual fickle self lately -- going from balmy to blizzard and back in a matter of hours. This keeps things interesting during a Michigan winter. If you seek something a little more fun, keep in mind that we have all sorts of classes and events coming up to keep your mind off the weather. Take a look at our website and see what's available:  www.acornfarmmi.com  Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Jan 5, 2017 - Fuel Up with Power Bowls

WELCOME TO 2017! We hope you're enjoying the first week of a wonderful new year, bright with promise and possibilities.  As with each new year, we always seem to be looking to improve upon something, whether it's to eat differently, exercise more, or learn something new. If your goal is to round out your kitchen knowledge, or eat at home more, we can help! We have some absolutely fabulous cooking classes slated for the first quarter of 2017. Five of them have filled already, but there are still eight different classes with spots left. They were released during the busiest days of December and most folks didn't have enough time left in their day for scoping out classes. The good news is that you'll probably still find a variety of classes that you'll love! Take a look online! You can book your spots right from our new website at www.acornfarmmi.com! As you probably know, we're closed this week for inventory and maintenance. We're cleaning and polishing and we're on target to open our doors again one week from today!  Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Dec 15, 2016 - Hearty Holiday Breakfasts Made Easy!

With relaxed work schedules, or guests in the house, the morning hours around the breakfast table with family and friends are some of our favorite holiday times. IN THIS ISSUE, we have three hearty breakfast recipes for your morning menus each with several do-ahead steps. WE'RE READY to help you conclude your holiday shopping whether you're just starting, or filling in some holes with a few stocking stuffers. We like to think of ourselves as a one-stop shopping spot -- we're certain to have something for everyone on your list! HAPPY DECEMBER! We're so pleased to see you've all been busy signing up for classes on our new website! Three of the classes have already filled, and many of them are well on their way. Our theme for the 1st quarter cooking classes is FEASTING WITH FRIENDS. We've got some fabulous home cooks in our Acorn Farm circle, and many of them have signature dishes or special comfort foods that they love to serve to their family and friends. We've asked a few of them to share their dishes with us.  We've also asked Chef Steven and Chef Brigitte to give us their take on comfort food and home cooking. The results will be delicious! TA-DA! OUR NEW WEBSITE  Since we have a wonderful, new website, you can always find the times, dates, and details of everything happening at Acorn Farm. We hope you've taken the opportunity to visit our new site at www.acornfarmmi.com. You'll find all of the classes for the first quarter of 2017 and you can  SIGN UP ONLINE!  When you browse the classes, please take a few minutes to explore the rest of the website. We've started a BLOG,  Milford Musings, that you'll find under Farm Life. We'll be posting regularly and hoping to hear from you in the comments section. If you're looking for help finding a special gift for someone, take a look at our Gathered Goods page, highlighting our curated collection of favorites. Tonight we're hosting a free demo and we'd love to see you there!  Read on . . .     TONIGHT!  LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! - FREE Thursday, December 15th, 6-8 pm Our favorite Chef, Steven Grostick, will be showing us how to make a beautiful appetizer table that looks like a million bucks without spending a million bucks (or a million hours.) He'll feature some easy-to-put-together finger-foods made with some of the products we carry, and show you how to supplement them with favorites from the deli and produce sections of your grocer to make a dazzling spread for your guests. Of course, you'll be tasting it all, and bringing home some recipes. Enjoy a leisurely time in the store, and taste a Christmas cocktail or a sip of wine. Here's the menu for the evening: Peppermintini Winter Cocktail Herbed Lemon Risotto with Prosciutto Ham & Fresh Winter Truffles Spiced Nuts Sweet Potato Crostini with Goat Cheese, Grapes & Pepper Jelly Roast Chicken & Black Beans in Phyllo Cups with Corn Relish Roast Pork Tenderloin Crostini with Farmhouse Chutney Cranberry & White Chocolate Farmhouse Oatmeal Skillet cookie with Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel & Whipped Cream Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Dec 1, 2016 - Celebrate with Holiday Appetizers

It's one of our favorite styles of holiday entertaining -- tantalizing small bites, a glass or two of wine, and plenty of good company and conversation! Sometimes these gatherings are planned; at other times, they occur spontaneously. Either way, they're always fun occasions! IN THIS ISSUE, we're setting the table with a few elegant, yet easy, appetizers that start the fun, or become the meal themselves. Cheers to the season! HAPPY DECEMBER!    Is it December already? We hope all of you enjoyed Thanksgiving and spent time with loved ones near or far. Now that the Christmas season is officially in full swing, you'll find many activities taking place both in ACORN FARM and in the VILLAGE OF MILFORD. TA-DA! OUR NEW WEBSITE  Since we have a wonderful new website, you can always find; the times, dates, and details of everything happening at Acorn Farm. We hope you've taken the opportunity to visit our new site at www.acornfarmmi.com. You'll find all of the classes for the first quarter of 2017, and for the first time ever, you can SIGN UP ONLINE!  They're filling up quickly, and we don't want you to miss out on great classes like, 'Hungry in Hungary' (Kathy's personal favorite), or another marvelous class from Brigitte Romero or Paul Beauregard - his last class was just outstanding! Of course, we always have some great ones from Chef Steven Grostick, who we like to call our Resident Chef. We consider ourselves more than a little lucky to have a nationally recognized chef teaching classes at our store.  Wow! When you browse the classes, please take a few minutes to explore the website. We've started a BLOG, where we'll be posting regularly and hoping to hear from you in the comments section. We've have a curated collection of our favorites over on the GATHERED GOODS page, and you'll be able to enjoy our fully searchable recipe collection in FARM LIFE - RECIPES AND RESOURCES. We think you're really going to like it! Before you click on over, enjoy the rest of the newsletter and all the recipes, and take note of the upcoming events & opportunities, the first two of which are taking place TODAY!   OH CHRISTMAS TREE, OH CHRISTMAS TREE!  You'll be glad to know that with your help, we raised over $1000 to help out WELLSPRING DETROIT on Give Back Friday. We're so excited about the work they do over at Wellspring that we want to give you a few more hours to place your order for a fresh tree, to be delivered to Milford this afternoon. If you buy a fresh tree every year, please consider purchasing one from Wellspring. This is their main fundraiser of the year. They do so much to elevate the lives of kids in Detroit, working with them to pass along the skills, education  and confidence necessary to make a bright future their reality. You can be a part of making that happen! GIVE US A CALL BEFORE 1:00 pm TODAY and we'll place your order. All trees are in the 7-8' range, Fraser Firs are $70 and Scotch Pines are $50. TONIGHT IS MILFORD'S CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE,  complete with a visit from Santa, carolers, a horse-drawn carriage for hire, and more! Stop in for a sip of cider and see what else is in store.     LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! - FREE  Thursday, December 15th, 6-8 pm  Our favorite Chef, Steven Grostick, will be showing us how to make a beautiful appetizer table that looks like a million bucks without spending a million bucks (or a million hours.)  He'll feature some easy-to-put-together finger-foods made with some of the products we carry, and show you how to supplement them with favorites from the deli and produce sections of your grocer to make a dazzling spread for your guests. Of course, you'll be tasting it all, and bringing home some recipes. Enjoy a leisurely time in the store, and taste a Christmas cocktail or a sip of wine. Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Nov 17, 2016 - Spritz! This Year's "IT" Cookie

We're thinking ahead and getting our holiday baking plans ready! This year we're including lots of spritz on our baking list. These petite, buttery cookies take on many forms and flavors - perfect for holiday plates. IN THIS ISSUE, you'll learn how to make spritz along with the all the tips and techniques that you'll need to be successful in pressing dozens of holiday cookies. They're fast to make, delicious to eat, and great to share! HAPPY NOVEMBER!  We want to thank all of you who came out for our Open House last Sunday. We had a great time visiting with all of you, and sharing some food & fun. Now the holiday shopping season has begun and you'll find all sorts of unique gifts for the home and kitchen at ACORN FARM. Don't forget that tonight, Thursday, Nov. 17th is THE BIG REVEAL! At 6:30 sharp, all the Village children tear the paper from the stores' windows, to reveal the beautiful and sometimes very elaborate displays behind the wrapping! It's always a fun time for the kids, and a good way to kick off the season. Then stop in to some of the stores for a peek at what's new! EXTENDED - Order Now! WELLSPRING FRESH CHRISTMAS TREE SALE November 25, 2016   In the last e-news, you read about our Christmas Tree sale. We're delighted that they've ordered a few extra trees for us so there is still time to get on the list!  You may purchase a Fraser Fir for $70, or a Scotch Pine for $50, and they'll be delivered on Main Street on December 1st (Milford's Christmas Open House.) Every penny of profit from the tree sales goes to WELLSPRING DETROIT, an amazing organization that assists urban youth in developing themselves socially, spiritually, academically, and economically. They've been around for thirty years and can always use your help! Looking for a little more convenience? For an extra $15, they'll deliver it right to your home in Milford! Give us a call (248.684.1373) or stop in to order yours. If you're not purchasing a real tree this year, you can still help WELLSPRING with the click of a button.  Visit our Facebook page, where we've shared a post from Huron Valley Bank. "Like" the post and HVSB will donate $1 to Wellspring! That's an offer we can't refuse.  GIVE BACK FRIDAY  November 25, 2016   What a great day to shop!  Many of the merchants in Milford have teamed up to do Give Back Friday, a more thoughtful twist on Black Friday. And, you don't have to get up at 3 in the morning to participate. Participating shops are finding a way to give back on that day, whether it's giving a certain percentage of their sales to a charity or selling one particular thing all for charity. ACORN FARM will be participating, of course, so we hope you'll be in to shop Milford that day!  RED BAG SATURDAY     It's that time again! RED BAG DAY is a week from Saturday, NOV 26th! We'll be opening at 8:00 that day for Red Bag Members! Bring in your RED BAG and get 20% OFF MOST THINGS in the store. Don't have a RED BAG? Any Kitchen Club member with at least two purchases on their card is eligible to get one of our RED BAGS.  Make sure you do it before the 26th, as RED BAGS cannot be used on the day they're issued.   If you're not a member of our Kitchen Cash Club, by all means, come in and sign up. It's fast, free, rewarding, and the perks are great! Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Nov 3, 2016 - Fresh Ideas for Thanksgiving Sides

Thanksgiving is such a great holiday! It's an annual event that unites all Americans with different traditions, all centering around thanks and gratefulness for bountiful food, family, and friends. We'd like to offer our own thanks - we are grateful for YOU, our wonderful family of customers. IN THIS ISSUE, we're recommending three colorful vegetable sides that provide a little pizzaz to the traditional Thanksgiving. We've included our handy Thanksgiving checklist, as well as some key knife basics. First time carving a turkey? We've included a bonus "how-to" video below. HAPPY NOVEMBER!  We hope your Halloween was a fun one! Now that November is upon us, we've got a full slate of events ahead. We're diligently working on our first quarter classes for the new year, too, so keep your ear to the ground. We'll release them as soon as we have all the details. In the meantime, we hope you'll avail yourself of these opportunities. A YULETIDE TAPESTRY OUR ANNUAL HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Sunday, November 13th  -  12noon-4pm FREE!  Once a year we invite all of our customers in for a special afternoon in the store. It's our way of saying THANK YOU for being a part of the success of Acorn Farm. The event will take place on Sunday afternoon, November 13th, from noon until 4 pm. We take the opportunity to cook for you so you can enjoy some delicious brunch food, sample some of the things we have in the store, and take a moment to enjoy a quiet afternoon. We'll have some DRAWINGS and GIVEAWAYS as well. The store will be decorated in its finest for the holiday season and all of our holiday merchandise will be on the shelves -- some will even be wrapped and ready to give. This makes gifting just that much easier for you this year! We do hope you'll join us. It's always a nice time!  WELLSPRING CHRISTMAS TREE SALE  Order by November 11 --> Delivery by December 1   You'll remember that last year, our theme for the Christmas season was GIVING BACK. One of the charities that we (you) helped out was Wellspring, a youth development organization located in northwest Detroit. Its mission is "to assist urban youth in developing themselves spiritually, socially, academically, and economically". Their programs include after-school math and reading, recreation, field trips, outdoor adventure, leadership, community service, college prep, and summer employment. It has been in operation for 30 years and currently supports 300 youth per year. We have a special connection to Wellspring because one of the founders is Kathy's brother. This is a tremendous organization, making a huge difference in the lives they touch.   One of their primary fundraisers is an ANNUAL CHRISTMAS TREE SALE.  Although the big sale is typically in northwest Detroit, they've offered to let us in on the fun and make a drop-off in Milford. They will be offering premium 7-8' trees, both Fraser Fir ($70) and Scotch Pine ($50) and they will be delivered to downtown Milford on December 1st. For an extra $15, they'll bring it right to your door (within 6 miles of downtown Milford). Such a deal! Every penny of profit goes to Wellspring. They win because it furthers their ability to help others; you win because you'll have a great tree, a beautiful heart, and a bunch of Detroit kids will win because they'll get to continue learning and growing and experiencing new things at Wellspring.  GIVE BACK FRIDAY  November 25, 2016   What a great day to shop!  Many of the merchants in Milford have teamed up to do Give Back Friday, a more thoughtful twist on Black Friday. And, you don't have to get up at 3 in the morning to participate. Participating shops are finding a way to give back on that day, whether it's giving a certain percentage of their sales to a charity or selling one particular thing all for charity. ACORN FARM will be participating, of course, so we hope you'll be in to shop Milford that day!  RED BAG SATURDAY UPDATE! Typically our RED BAG DAYS land on the last Saturday of any month with five Saturdays, however, we've found that all of you prefer to have a Red Bag Day on Thanksgiving weekend. So . . . October's Red Bag day will instead happen on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26th THIS JUST IN!                             Since deer-hunting season is just around the corner; we've got some things in the store to help you after your successful hunt. One is the VENISON BIBLE, including everything you need to know about cooking venison. The other is the KITCHENAID MEAT GRINDER  ATTACHMENT, perfect for preparing venison sausage. If you're a hunter, or are on the receiving end of some great venison, you might want to take a look. Another thing we'd like to bring to your attention is the great special from Swiss Diamond.  With every $150 Swiss Diamond Purchase, you'll receive a FREE 7" fry pan. The staff at Acorn Farm all agree that Swiss Diamond produces the BEST NONSTICK COOKWARE any of us have used. It's durable, reliable, and can be used on the stovetop or in the oven.    Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Oct 20, 2016 - Super Simple Supper Soups

A good soup meets all the criteria for a quick and easy supper. It's nourishing, tasty, and a great way to boost nutrition by including local, seasonal vegetables. IN THIS ISSUE, we renew our love of fall soups with a focus on filling and fulfilling recipes ready for any day of the week. A pot of soup cooks without too much tending, and is forgiving if dinner is late, or destined to be eaten in shifts. Pair a bowl of soup with a salad, a crust of bread, and maybe a glass of wine for a perfect cool weather supper. HAPPY OCTOBER!  This is a busy week at ACORN FARM and we hope that you'll take advantage of the TWO FREE events that we're having! It all starts TODAY from 12 noon to 2 pm with a visit from Trish Ranallo of LE CREUSET. Come for 15 minutes or the whole time, it will be an ongoing demo. See the full description below! THIS SATURDAY brings an another favorite occasion! Our twice-annual KNIFE SHARPENING with Ed Bartush of Wusthof. That will take place from 12 noon until 3 pm. You'll find the details for that below as well! Both of these events are FREE and there will more than likely be some SPECIAL PRICING on the brands featured. We hope to see you a little later today and on Saturday as well.  Le Creuset Petit Dejeuner  -  FREE!  No Registration Required!  Thursday, October 20th  -  12noon - 2 pm with Trish Ranallo of Le Creuset  Sometimes, it can be difficult to get into Trish's classes, so we're offering this great, FREE, lunch & learn demo while we've got her in town. Petit Dejeuner means 'little breakfast' and we'll be showing some wonderful brunch ideas prepared in Le Creuset's fabulous French cookware. We're still putting together the details but we'd like it to be a fun afternoon with door prizes, recipe giveaways, and more -- maybe even a 'secret sale' that we normally don't offer on some Le Creuset pieces. Stay Sharp - A Knife Sharpening Event  -  FREE! No Registration Required! Saturday, October 22nd Once or twice a year, Ed Bartush graciously joins us to sharpen your knives for free!  Bring your knives -- any brand, no serrated, please.  In keeping with our knife-day tradition, we'll also have a donation jar for Community Sharing.  Our customers are a generous lot and each year, we've been able to help Community Sharing because of customers like you!   A Yuletide Tapestry - Our Annual Holiday Open House  -  FREE!           Sunday, November 13th  -  12noon-4pm  We'll supply you with more details as time goes on, but we'd love you to pencil it in on your calendar. We'd like you to be our guest that day. Come in for some food & fun, a first look at our holiday merchandise & decor, drawings, giveaways, and more!  RED BAG SATURDAY UPDATE!                             Typically our RED BAG DAYS land on the last Saturday of any month with five Saturdays, however, we've found that all of you prefer to have a Red Bag Day on Thanksgiving weekend. So . . .  October's Red Bag day will instead happen on SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26th THIS JUST IN!                             Since deer-hunting season is just around the corner; we've got some things in the store to help you after your successful hunt. One is the VENISON BIBLE, including everything you need to know about cooking venison. The other is the KITCHENAID MEAT GRINDER  ATTACHMENT, perfect for preparing venison sausage. If you're a hunter, or are on the receiving end of some great venison, you might want to take a look. Another thing we'd like to bring to your attention is the great special from Swiss Diamond.  With every $150 Swiss Diamond Purchase, you'll receive a FREE 7" fry pan. The staff at Acorn Farm all agree that Swiss Diamond produces the BEST NONSTICK COOKWARE any of us have used. It's durable, reliable, and can be used on the stovetop or in the oven.    Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Oktoberfest is On!

Oktoberfest is on! Everyone can join in on this famous German celebration with a feast of their own that celebrates the harvest and all things autumn! IN THIS ISSUE, you'll be inspired by some traditional, hearty German fare. These dishes just happen to be great for tailgating and game time noshing, too! Prost! HAPPY OCTOBER!  The cooler temperatures are painting the leaves with autumn colors and those crisp fall mornings are spectacular! October is a month filled with fun traditions, and one of Milford's favorites is LADIES' NIGHT OUT. It happens TONIGHT from 5 to 9pm. We hope you'll grab a friend and come on down. Stores in the Village will provide either a taste of something delicious, a fun drink, or specials in the store. It's always a fun night out with friends! Between now and the end of the year, we've got some great events for you here at Acorn Farm, and all but one require no registration and they're FREE! Take a look below!  Ladies' Night Out -- FREE!  Thursday, October 6th                 It only happens twice a year, but it's a lot of fun! Gather a group of ladies and come downtown to shop in Milford! We'll be ladling out some delicious samples that night in the store! Le Creuset Petit Dejeuner  -  FREE!  No Registration Required!  Thursday, October 20th  -  12noon - 2 pm with Trish Ranallo of Le Creuset  Sometimes, it can be difficult to get into Trish's classes, so we're offering this great, FREE, lunch & learn demo while we've got her in town. Petit Dejeuner means 'little breakfast' and we'll be showing some wonderful brunch ideas prepared in Le Creuset's fabulous French cookware. We're still putting together the details but we'd like it to be a fun afternoon with door prizes, recipe giveaways, and more -- maybe even a 'secret sale' that we normally don't offer on some Le Creuset pieces. Be Sharp  -  A Hands-On Knife Class  -  $25 - Two Spots Left! Saturday, October 22nd --  9-11 am with Ed Bartush of Wusthof If you spend much time in the kitchen, why not improve your skills? Learn the proper way to hold, use, store and care for your knives. In this hands-on class, you'll learn the do's and don'ts of life with a knife. Each participant will have their own workstation as you slice, chop, and peel your way through class under Ed's expert tutelage. Normally, this class is $40 and we send you home with a bench scraper. Instead, we thought we'd knock the price down this time in order to leave a little money in your pocket so you can consider treating yourself to some Wusthof knives. They've got a wealth of great specials for you to take advantage of. Stay Sharp - A Knife Sharpening Event  -  FREE! No Registration Required! Saturday, October 22nd Once or twice a year, Ed Bartush graciously joins us to sharpen your knives for free!  Bring your knives -- any brand, no serrated, please.  In keeping with our knife-day tradition, we'll also have a donation jar for Community Sharing.  Our customers are a generous lot and each year, we've been able to help Community Sharing because of customers like you!   A Yuletide Tapestry - Our Annual Holiday Open House  -  FREE!           Sunday, November 13th  -  12noon-4pm  We'll supply you with more details as time goes on, but we'd love you to pencil it in on your calendar. We'd like you to be our guest that day. Come in for some food & fun, a first look at our holiday merchandise & decor, drawings, giveaways, and more!  RED BAG UPDATE!                             Did you know there are two RED BAG SATURDAYS left in 2016?  Red Bag Days happen on the last Saturday of a month containing FIVE Saturdays. While it typically happens four times annually, you get a bonus this year since December has five Saturdays! Watch your email for our reminders, as we've moved the fourth Red Bag Day from October to November 26th, to provide you with some great holiday shopping.  THIS JUST IN!                             Since deer-hunting season is just around the corner; we've got some things in the store to help you after your successful hunt. One is the VENISON BIBLE, including everything you need to know about cooking venison. The other is the KITCHENAID MEAT GRINDER  ATTACHMENT, perfect for preparing venison sausage. If you're a hunter, or are on the receiving end of some great venison, you might want to take a look. Another thing we'd like to bring to your attention is the great special from Swiss Diamond.  With every $150 Swiss Diamond Purchase, you'll receive a FREE 7" fry pan. The staff at Acorn Farm all agree that Swiss Diamond produces the BEST NONSTICK COOKWARE any of us have used. It's durable, reliable, and can be used on the stovetop or in the oven.    Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Slow Cooking Goes Global

It's a dream come true, walk in the door after a long day at work and supper is ready! For the cooler season ahead, we've moved our slow cooker to the front of the kitchen countertop. IN THIS ISSUE, we explore one of our favorite cooking techniques, slow cooking. Just how does it work? Where does slow cooking excel, and where does it not perform? Then, we've put slow cooking techniques to work with three recipes each with a global flair.  Deliciousness awaits! UPCOMING CLASSES & EVENTS  Our classes have all but filled for the fall season, but we still have plenty of events  with no registration required. See for yourself, below. Take special note of Ladies' Night Out, one of our favorite Milford traditions! It's a great night to enjoy a night of shopping in the Village with a group of friends. Read on to see all of the opportunities available to you this fall! MAKING A DIFFERENCE OPPORTUNITY  I know it seems like the holiday season is a long ways off, but it will soon be sneaking  up on us - as it always does. In the meantime, we need your help with something. Last Christmas, we had a theme of giving back and many of your purchases helped people all over the world. This season, we'd like to do something similar, but we'd like to keep it a little more local. We're looking for some unique, grassroots charities that you think could use a little help! For example, we have a friend of a friend who has been involved in a great charity that goes to downtown Detroit once a week with piles of homemade PBJs to serve at the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd and Third in the Cass Corridor. Every Saturday morning, at least 250 people are fed. This is a small part of what they do, but they make a huge difference in a lot of lives. DO YOU KNOW someone right here in the metro Detroit area who's been quietly making a difference? Please let us know. We'll select a few of them to be our Charities of Choice this holiday season.  Ladies' Night Out -- FREE!  Thursday, October 6th                 It only happens twice a year, but it's a lot of fun! Gather a group of ladies and come downtown to shop in Milford! We'll be ladling out some delicious samples that night in the store! Le Creuset Petit Dejeuner  -  FREE!  No Registration Required!  Thursday, October 20th  -  12noon - 2 pm with Trish Ranallo of Le Creuset  Sometimes, it can be difficult to get into Trish's classes, so we're offering this great, FREE, lunch & learn demo while we've got her in town. Petit Dejeuner means 'little breakfast' and we'll be showing some wonderful brunch ideas prepared in Le Creuset's fabulous French cookware. We're still putting together the details but we'd like it to be a fun afternoon with door prizes, recipe giveaways, and more -- maybe even a 'secret sale' that we normally don't offer on some Le Creuset pieces. Asian Braise  -  $40 - Four Spots Left! Thursday, October 20th  -  7-9pm with Trish Ranallo of Le Creuset Everything Asian in your favorite French Pot! We'll start with the basics of braising; times, temperatures, and when to use braising as opposed to other cooking methods. We always enjoy Trish coming for a visit. This is a wonderful menu, inspired by flavors from halfway around the world. Hoisin/Sesame Chicken Wings - No need for a fryer, you can roast these in the oven! Asian Braised Pork Shoulder - garlic, ginger, and soy begin the parade of flavors and are soon joined by all their friends to create a lovely pot liquor in which to braise the pork. The tender pork will ultimately be served with a sticky, slightly sweet sauce, made from the braising liquid. Braised Baby Bok Choy - a buttery braise, flavored with sesame. Asian Slaw - a little fruity, very crunchy, colorful and fresh. Vegetable Lo Mein - chinese egg noodles, mushrooms, scallions, and traditional seasonings. From the continent that brought us noodles in the first place. We'll top the meal off with a beautiful Gingered Shortbread Cookie, with a lemony frosting, served with a little scoop of citrusy sorbet and crystalized ginger.  Be Sharp  -  A Hands-On Knife Class  -  $25 - Four Spots Left! Saturday, October 22nd --  9-11 am with Ed Bartush of Wusthof If you spend much time in the kitchen, why not improve your skills? Learn the proper way to hold, use, store and care for your knives. In this hands-on class, you'll learn the do's and don'ts of life with a knife. Each participant will have their own workstation as you slice, chop, and peel your way through class under Ed's expert tutelage. Normally, this class is $40 and we send you home with a bench scraper. Instead, we thought we'd knock the price down this time in order to leave a little money in your pocket so you can consider treating yourself to some Wusthof knives. They've got a wealth of great specials for you to take advantage of. Stay Sharp - A Knife Sharpening Event  -  FREE! No Registration Required! Saturday, October 22nd Once or twice a year, Ed Bartush graciously joins us to sharpen your knives for free!  Bring your knives -- any brand, no serrated, please.  In keeping with our knife-day tradition, we'll also have a donation jar for Community Sharing.  Our customers are a generous lot and each year, we've been able to help Community Sharing because of customers like you!   Acorn Farm Holiday Open House  -  FREE!           Sunday, November 13th  -  12noon-4pm  We'll supply you with more details as time goes on, but we'd love you to pencil it in on your calendar. We'd like you to be our guest that day. Come in for some food & fun, a first look at our holiday merchandise & decor, drawings, giveaways, and more!  RED BAG UPDATE!                             Did you know there are two RED BAG SATURDAYS left in 2016?  Red Bag Days happen on the last Saturday of a month containing FIVE Saturdays. While it typically happens four times annually, you get a bonus this year since December has five Saturdays! Watch your email for our reminders, as we've moved the fourth Red Bag Day from October to November 26th, to provide you with some great holiday shopping.  Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Making Good Food on the Move

How did SEPTEMBER sneak up on us so quickly? As the summer gives way to the season of apples and pumpkins, we'd like to invite you to Acorn Farm for one of our classes, activities, or some great shopping. We've got some beautiful Autumn merchandise, some fantastic dishware, serveware, and more! UPCOMING CLASSES & EVENTS  Now that we're heading into the back-to-school season, you might want to take a look at the great events we have coming up. We have a few classes that still have an opening or two, and a few more free events.   MAKING A DIFFERENCE OPPORTUNITY  I know it seems like the holiday season is a long ways off, but it will soon be sneaking  up on us - as it always does. In the meantime, we need your help with something. Last Christmas, we had a theme of giving back and many of your purchases helped people all over the world. This season, we'd like to do something similar, but we'd like to keep it a little more local. We're looking for some unique, grassroots charities that you think could use a little help! For example, we have a friend of a friend who has been involved in a great charity that goes to downtown Detroit once a week with piles of homemade PBJs to serve at the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd and Third in the Cass Corridor. Every Saturday morning, at least 250 people are fed. This is a small part of what they do, but they make a huge difference in a lot of lives. DO YOU KNOW someone right here in the metro Detroit area who's been quietly making a difference? Please let us know. We'll select a few of them to be our Charities of Choice this holiday season.  Ladies' Night Out -- FREE!  Thursday, October 6th                 It only happens twice a year, but it's a lot of fun! Gather a group of ladies and come downtown to shop in Milford! We'll be ladling out some delicious samples that night in the store! Le Creuset Petit Dejeuner  -  FREE!  No Registration Required!  Thursday, October 20th  -  12noon - 2 pm with Trish Ranallo of Le Creuset  Sometimes, it can be difficult to get into Trish's classes, so we're offering this great, FREE, lunch & learn demo while we've got her in town. Petit Dejeuner means 'little breakfast' and we'll be showing some wonderful brunch ideas prepared in Le Creuset's fabulous French cookware. We're still putting together the details but we'd like it to be a fun afternoon with door prizes, recipe giveaways, and more -- maybe even a 'secret sale' that we normally don't offer on some Le Creuset pieces. Be Sharp  -  A Hands-On Knife Class  -  $25 - Some spots still available! Saturday, October 22nd --  9-11 am with Ed Bartush of Wusthof If you spend much time in the kitchen, why not improve your skills? Learn the proper way to hold, use, store and care for your knives. In this hands-on class, you'll learn the do's and don'ts of life with a knife. Each participant will have their own workstation as you slice, chop, and peel your way through class under Ed's expert tutelage. Normally, this class is $40 and we send you home with a bench scraper. Instead, we thought we'd knock the price down this time in order to leave a little money in your pocket so you can consider treating yourself to some Wusthof knives. They've got a wealth of great specials for you to take advantage of. Stay Sharp - A Knife Sharpening Event  -  FREE! No Registration Required! Saturday, October 22nd Once or twice a year, Ed Bartush graciously joins us to sharpen your knives for free!  Bring your knives -- any brand, no serrated, please.  In keeping with our knife-day tradition, we'll also have a donation jar for Community Sharing.  Our customers are a generous lot and each year, we've been able to help Community Sharing because of customers like you!   The Redneck Laundry, Fine Dining for the Rest of Us!  Just 5 spots available!  Thursday, October 27th  -  7 - 9pm with Chef Steven Grostick - $45  If you think the last line to the national anthem is, "Gentlemen, start your engines!", you might just be a redneck. If you think loading the dishwasher means getting your wife drunk, you might just be a redneck. If you think the French Laundry is where your do your sheets when your washer is broken, you might just be a redneck. All semi-offensive joking aside, (all in good fun, you know) -- most of you have probably heard of the legendary French Laundry, an exquisite French restaurant in California's wine country. Since most of us won't make that trip any time soon, we thought we'd do a take on some fine-dining classics, served in a more, um, everyman style. Fabulous plates that, while lacking in class, are abundant with flavor. We'll be fixin' to show you how to prepare:   Beef Wellington - no fillet here--we'll use a little sirloin, a little sauteed mushroom and a little twist on the pate' - then wrap it all up in a little pastry purse.  Deeeelish!  Lobster Newburgh - Luscious bits of lobster in a creamy sauce on a slightly spicy Old Bay seasoned soda cracker. You'll definitely make these again! Potatoes Dauphinois - Homemade root vegetable chips with a lovely shmear of cheesy, dauphinois dip. Your taste buds will thank us.  Caviar, Darling - Cowboy caviar, that is. A bit of fresh corn polenta ( a serious step  up from the standard variety) topped with a cowboy caviar relish with Steven's exquisite touch. Good  with a capital G. Tarte ta'tin'  - a classic French apple upside down dessert, but . . . since the average household lacks the proper vessel for this treasure, we'll be doing it hillbilly style, cooked individually in a tin can. Acorn Farm Holiday Open House  -  FREE!           Sunday, November 13th  -  12noon-4pm  We'll supply you with more details as time goes on, but we'd love you to pencil it in on your calendar. We'd like you to be our guest that day. Come in for some food & fun, a first look at our holiday merchandise & decor, drawings, giveaways, and more!  RED BAG UPDATE!                             Did you know there are two RED BAG SATURDAYS left in 2016?  Red Bag Days happen on the last Saturday of a month containing FIVE Saturdays. While it typically happens four times annually, you get a bonus this year since December has five Saturdays! Watch your email for our reminders, as we've moved the fourth Red Bag Day from October to November 26th, to provide you with some great holiday shopping.  Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Saving Summer: Easy Freezing & Dehydrating Techniques

We'd like to THANK ALL OF YOU who visited the store during our Polish Pottery event! It was a wonderful time, of course, with the sale, the delicious food, and our Polish Dancers. We can hardly wait until next year! UPCOMING CLASSES & EVENTS  Now that we're heading into the back-to-school season, you might want to take a look at the great events we have coming up. We have a few classes that still have an opening or two, and a few more free events.   MAKING A DIFFERENCE OPPORTUNITY  I know it seems like the holiday season is a long ways off, but it will soon be sneaking  up on us - as it always does. In the meantime, we need your help with something. Last Christmas, we had a theme of giving back and many of your purchases helped people all over the world. This season, we'd like to do something similar, but we'd like to keep it a little more local. We're looking for some unique, grassroots charities that you think could use a little help! For example, we have a friend of a friend who has been involved in a great charity that goes to downtown Detroit once a week with piles of homemade PBJs to serve at the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd and Third in the Cass Corridor. Every Saturday morning, at least 250 people are fed. This is a small part of what they do, but they make a huge difference in a lot of lives. DO YOU KNOW someone right here in the metro Detroit area who's been quietly making a difference? Please let us know. We'll select a few of them to be our Charities of Choice this holiday season.  Ladies' Night Out -- FREE!  Thursday, October 6th                 It only happens twice a year, but it's a lot of fun! Gather a group of ladies and come downtown to shop in Milford! We'll be ladling out some delicious samples that night in the store! Le Creuset Petit Dejeuner  -  FREE!  Thursday, October 20th  -  12noon - 2 pm with Trish Ranallo of Le Creuset  Sometimes, it can be difficult to get into Trish's classes, so we're offering this great, FREE, lunch & learn demo while we've got her in town. Petit Dejeuner means 'little breakfast' and we'll be showing some wonderful brunch ideas prepared in Le Creuset's fabulous French cookware. We're still putting together the details but we'd like it to be a fun afternoon with door prizes, recipe giveaways, and more -- maybe even a 'secret sale' that we normally don't offer on some Le Creuset pieces. Asian Braise  -  $40 - Spots Filling Fast!  Thursday, October 20th  -  7-9pm with Trish Ranallo of Le Creuset  Everything Asian in your favorite French Pot! We'll start with the basics of braising; times, temperatures, and when to use braising as opposed to other cooking methods. We always enjoy Trish coming for a visit. This is a wonderful menu, inspired by flavors from halfway around the world.  Hoisin/Sesame Chicken Wings - No need for a fryer, you can roast these in the oven! Asian Braised Pork Shoulder - garlic, ginger, and soy begin the parade of flavors and are soon joined by all their friends to create a lovely pot liquor in which to braise the pork. The tender pork will ultimately be served with a sticky, slightly sweet sauce, made from the braising liquid.  Braised Baby Bok Choy - a buttery braise, flavored with sesame.  Asian Slaw - a little fruity, very crunchy, colorful and fresh.  Vegetable Lo- Mein - chinese egg noodles, mushrooms, scallions, and traditional seasonings. From the continent that brought us noodles in the first place. We'll top the meal off with a beautiful Gingered Shortbread Cookie, with a lemony frosting, served with a little scoop of citrusy sorbet and crystalized ginger.  Be Sharp  -  A Hands-On Knife Class  -  $25 - Some spots still available! Saturday, October 22nd --  9-11 am with Ed Bartush of Wusthof If you spend much time in the kitchen, why not improve your skills? Learn the proper way to hold, use, store and care for your knives. In this hands-on class, you'll learn the do's and don'ts of life with a knife. Each participant will have their own workstation as you slice, chop, and peel your way through class under Ed's expert tutelage. Normally, this class is $40 and we send you home with a bench scraper. Instead, we thought we'd knock the price down this time in order to leave a little money in your pocket so you can consider treating yourself to some Wusthof knives. They've got a wealth of great specials for you to take advantage of. Stay Sharp - A Knife Sharpening Event  -  FREE! Saturday, October 22nd Once or twice a year, Ed Bartush graciously joins us to sharpen your knives for free!  Bring your knives -- any brand, no serrated, please.  In keeping with our knife-day tradition, we'll also have a donation jar for Community Sharing.  Our customers are a generous lot and each year, we've been able to help Community Sharing because of customers like you!   The Redneck Laundry, Fine Dining for the Rest of Us!  Some spots available!  Thursday, October 27th  -  7 - 9pm with Chef Steven Grostick - $45  If you think the last line to the national anthem is, "Gentlemen, start your engines!", you might just be a redneck. If you think loading the dishwasher means getting your wife drunk, you might just be a redneck. If you think the French Laundry is where your do your sheets when your washer is broken, you might just be a redneck. All semi-offensive joking aside, (all in good fun, you know) -- most of you have probably heard of the legendary French Laundry, an exquisite French restaurant in California's wine country. Since most of us won't make that trip any time soon, we thought we'd do a take on some fine-dining classics, served in a more, um, everyman style. Fabulous plates that, while lacking in class, are abundant with flavor. We'll be fixin' to show you how to prepare:   Beef Wellington - no fillet here--we'll use a little sirloin, a little sauteed mushroom and a little twist on the pate' - then wrap it all up in a little pastry purse.  Deeeelish!  Lobster Newburgh - Luscious bits of lobster in a creamy sauce on a slightly spicy Old Bay seasoned soda cracker. You'll definitely make these again! Potatoes Dauphinois - Homemade root vegetable chips with a lovely shmear of cheesy, dauphinois dip. Your taste buds will thank us.  Caviar, Darling - Cowboy caviar, that is. A bit of fresh corn polenta ( a serious step  up from the standard variety) topped with a cowboy caviar relish with Steven's exquisite touch. Good  with a capital G. Tarte ta'tin'  - a classic French apple upside down dessert, but . . . since the average household lacks the proper vessel for this treasure, we'll be doing it hillbilly style, cooked individually in a tin can. Acorn Farm Holiday Open House  -  FREE!           Sunday, November 13th  -  12noon-4pm  We'll supply you with more details as time goes on, but we'd love you to pencil it in on your calendar. We'd like you to be our guest that day. Come in for some food & fun, a first look at our holiday merchandise & decor, drawings, giveaways, and more!  RED BAG UPDATE!                             Did you know there are two RED BAG SATURDAYS left in 2016?  Red Bag Days happen on the last Saturday of a month containing FIVE Saturdays. While it typically happens four times annually, you get a bonus this year since December has five Saturdays! Watch your email for our reminders, as we've moved the fourth Red Bag Day from October to November 26th, to provide you with some great holiday shopping.  Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Time to Enjoy Tomatoes to the Max!

The dog days of summer bring along some big Milford traditions.  Most of you know that MILFORD MEMORIES begins this Friday. We're hoping you'll join us at ACORN FARM before the art fair begins for a long-standing tradition of our own. Our 8th ANNUAL POLISH POTTERY SALE begins tonight at 5:00! Be sure to see the details below. You may notice in our fall schedule, we've made a little change in one of our classes, Redneck Laundry. While most of our classes are nearly sold out already, our customers weren't clamoring to sign up for what we thought was a great class. We decided it might be a good idea to ask some of our regulars why they hadn't considered the class and every single one said "Duck. I'll never make duck."  We heard you, and we're replacing the duck with a great potato dish that actually inspired the whole menu. You'll find those details below, as well. We do hope you'll give it a second look as we thought it sounded like a fun (and certainly delicious) class.  STARTS TONIGHT! POLISH POTTERY SALE  - KICK-OFF PARTY Thursday, August 11th - 5-8 p.m. Sale continues through August 14th! It's our biggest event of the year!  Our 8th Annual Polish Pottery Sale will kick off with our Polish Party on Thursday, August 11th with Polish Food, Polish Dancers, drawings, and more!  Not to be missed, this is a great event, drawing Polish Pottery fans from all over! Every single piece of polish pottery in the store will be on sale for 20% off the normal price.  We'll have an absolutely grand selection of everything from tiny pitchers to lovely covered roasters. Pass the word along to your friends. If they like polish pottery, they're going to LOVE this! Return to Sunday Supper  - $40 - FULL!  Thursday, September 15th - 7 - 9pm with Steven Grostick  There's just something about the aroma of roasted beef winding its way through the house. It brings back happy memories of family and home. Gathering around the table with those you love, whether friends or family, is one of the simplest pleasures in life. With the schedules we all have imposed on ourselves these days, we wanted to show you how to make that special dinner in less than half the time in a pressure cooker. You'll still have all the deep caramelization and tender roast---you'll just have it a lot quicker. No pressure cooker? No worries! We'll tell you how to prepare it slow-mo, too! Roasted Eye of Beef -  Onions, shallots, and a vinegar glaze all contribute to the tantalizing bouquet wafting out of the kitchen. We'll prepare a creamy horseradish sauce to serve alongside. Yorkshire pudding - Don't throw out the drippings from that roast! Use them to make this classic, savory popover of sorts, prepared in a muffin pan. Puffy and crisp, a bread like no other. Herb & Garlic Roasted Baby Potatoes - Tiny treasures in a rainbow of colors, roasted to crispy perfection while keeping a soft, delicious center. The humble potato at its finest. Maple Balsamic Cabbage Medley - A trio of cabbages, quickly braised in the pressure cooker and finished with Michigan maple syrup and a rich, thick balsamic vinegar. Biscoff Banoffee Tart -  You know it's good when you start off with a crust made of Biscoff! Add bananas and toffee and this dessert becomes a perfect 10! This wonderful import comes from our friends across the pond. God save the queen. A Stroll Through the Orchard  -  $40  - with Steven Grostick  Wednesday, September 28th  -   7 - 9pm - FULL! Thursday, September 29th  - 7 - 9pm - A few spots left! Apple season never seems to last long enough, so we'd like to take advantage of that unrivaled, tart goodness that you get from a freshly picked apple. We'll celebrate the beloved apple in every single dish, highlighting its versatility and flavor! Spiked Apple Cider- this one speaks for itself! Stacked Apple Salad - reminiscent of the distinctive salad first served at the prestigious Waldorf Hotel, but even prettier!  Dressed with a creamy apple cider vinaigrette. Cider-Brined Chicken & Sage Pan Gravy - Chicken takes an overnight, flavor-infused, cider soak----then marries with a medley of beautiful flavors; peppers, onions, apples, and more.  It starts on the stove and finishes in the oven.  The sage-y pan gravy balances out the sweetness of the apples in this highbrow, yet homespun dish. Fried Apples and Onions - an easy-but-elegant favorite this time of year.  You simply must try this -- the tart yet sweet apples play like a symphony against the tangy caramelized onions. Apples Braised in Caramel - then finished with a brandied apple sabayon and sprinkled with candied pecans.  You can serve it in a martini glass for show!  Ladies' Night Out -- FREE!  Thursday, October 6th                 It only happens twice a year, but it's a lot of fun! Gather a group of ladies and come downtown to shop in Milford! We'll be ladling out some delicious samples that night in the store! Fabulous Fall Plates  -  $40  - FULL!  Thursday, October 13th  -  7-9pm with Paul Beauregard  We wanted to have a fun, fall menu and the dishes we had on our "maybe" list were all too delicious to cut. The result? Autumn, tapas style! Lots of little plates, each a perfect combination of fall flavors. This would be a great meal for game day, whether you're gathered at home or tailgaiting. Or dress it up with a tablecloth and nice dishes and throw an elegant tapas party.   Cranberry-glazed Cocktail Meatballs - lovely, perfectly-seasoned, little meatballs, tossed with a rich, cranberry BBQ sauce. You'll be begging for more. Award-Winning White Chili - We guarantee you've not tasted this chili before. It's won several awards and you're lucky enough to be invited to get the recipe! Hearty, yet gourmet, incorporating both pork loin and white beans. One taste and you'll be a believer. Polenta Portabellos - a tasty goat cheese polenta goes in the little portabellos, then we top it with veggies and voila!  The perfect bite! Butternut Caprese Salad - roasted & cubed butternut squash, tomatoes & mozzarella are only the beginning.  A gorgeous salad that will delight the eyes as well as the taste buds. Apple & Sausage Flatbread - light & hearty at the same time. Flavorful chicken & apple sausage sauteed to perfection,  sits gracefully atop a bed of whipped, herbed creamy cheese mixture on a flatbread crust. Fresh apples slices and herbs provide the finishing touch on this. You'll have trouble not eating it all before you serve it. Pumpkin Mousse - Smooth as silk, light as a feather, topped with a walnut toffee crunch. Life at the Lodge  -  $45 - FULL!  Wednesday, October 19th  -  7-9pm with Chef Steven Grostick  We'll have our chef 'pumping iron' with this class, featuring Lodge Cast Iron Cookware. This rustic menu has all the the comforting flavors of fall. Enjoy it around an open hearth either with your family or at a dinner party with friends, as it's the perfect menu for any occasion. Learn the ins and outs of cast iron cooking, including our most asked question -- "how do I take care of it?" (It's a piece of cake!) Class participants will leave with one of Lodge's little single serving fry pans, perfect for a single egg, a warm dip, a raclette, and more! Caramel Apple Pork Chops - warm, slightly spicy, and sweet!  Throw away your knife and enjoy these fork-tender pork chops that pair so well with . . . Butternut Squash Gnocchi - tender, pumpkin-colored little potato dumplings with with pine nuts and crispy fried fesh sage.  How very gourmet! Fennel & Apple Slaw - refreshing on your palate along with these hearty fall dishes. Blistered Brussels Sprouts & Braised Turnips - because there's more to life than potatoes.  Come fall in love with something new. Mini Praline Bread Pudding-served with a generous ladle of pear compote. Le Creuset Petit Dejeuner  -  FREE!  Thursday, October 20th  -  12noon - 2 pm with Trish Ranallo of Le Creuset  Sometimes, it can be difficult to get into Trish's classes, so we're offering this great, FREE, lunch & learn demo while we've got her in town. Petit Dejeuner means 'little breakfast' and we'll be showing some wonderful brunch ideas prepared in Le Creuset's fabulous French cookware. We're still putting together the details but we'd like it to be a fun afternoon with door prizes, recipe giveaways, and more -- maybe even a 'secret sale' that we normally don't offer on some Le Creuset pieces. Asian Braise  -  $40 - Spots Filling Fast!  Thursday, October 20th  -  7-9pm with Trish Ranallo of Le Creuset  Everything Asian in your favorite French Pot! We'll start with the basics of braising; times, temperatures, and when to use braising as opposed to other cooking methods. We always enjoy Trish coming for a visit. This is a wonderful menu, inspired by flavors from halfway around the world.  Hoisin/Sesame Chicken Wings - No need for a fryer, you can roast these in the oven! Asian Braised Pork Shoulder - garlic, ginger, and soy begin the parade of flavors and are soon joined by all their friends to create a lovely pot liquor in which to braise the pork. The tender pork will ultimately be served with a sticky, slightly sweet sauce, made from the braising liquid.  Braised Baby Bok Choy - a buttery braise, flavored with sesame.  Asian Slaw - a little fruity, very crunchy, colorful and fresh.  Vegetable Lo- Mein - chinese egg noodles, mushrooms, scallions, and traditional seasonings. From the continent that brought us noodles in the first place. We'll top the meal off with a beautiful Gingered Shortbread Cookie, with a lemony frosting, served with a little scoop of citrusy sorbet and crystalized ginger.  Be Sharp  -  A Hands-On Knife Class  -  $25 - Some spots still available! Saturday, October 22nd --  9-11 am with Ed Bartush of Wusthof If you spend much time in the kitchen, why not improve your skills? Learn the proper way to hold, use, store and care for your knives. In this hands-on class, you'll learn the do's and don'ts of life with a knife. Each participant will have their own workstation as you slice, chop, and peel your way through class under Ed's expert tutelage. Normally, this class is $40 and we send you home with a bench scraper. Instead, we thought we'd knock the price down this time in order to leave a little money in your pocket so you can consider treating yourself to some Wusthof knives. They've got a wealth of great specials for you to take advantage of. Stay Sharp - A Knife Sharpening Event  -  FREE! Saturday, October 22nd Once or twice a year, Ed Bartush graciously joins us to sharpen your knives for free!  Bring your knives -- any brand, no serrated, please.  In keeping with our knife-day tradition, we'll also have a donation jar for Community Sharing.  Our customers are a generous lot and each year, we've been able to help Community Sharing because of customers like you!   The Redneck Laundry, Fine Dining for the Rest of Us!  Some spots available!  Thursday, October 27th  -  7 - 9pm with Chef Steven Grostick - $45  If you think the last line to the national anthem is, "Gentlemen, start your engines!", you might just be a redneck. If you think loading the dishwasher means getting your wife drunk, you might just be a redneck. If you think the French Laundry is where your do your sheets when your washer is broken, you might just be a redneck. All semi-offensive joking aside, (all in good fun, you know) -- most of you have probably heard of the legendary French Laundry, an exquisite French restaurant in California's wine country. Since most of us won't make that trip any time soon, we thought we'd do a take on some fine-dining classics, served in a more, um, everyman style. Fabulous plates that, while lacking in class, are abundant with flavor. We'll be fixin' to show you how to prepare:   Beef Wellington - no fillet here--we'll use a little sirloin, a little sauteed mushroom and a little twist on the pate' - then wrap it all up in a little pastry purse.  Deeeelish!  Lobster Newburgh - Luscious bits of lobster in a creamy sauce on a slightly spicy Old Bay seasoned soda cracker. You'll definitely make these again! Potatoes Dauphinois - Homemade root vegetable chips with a lovely shmear of cheesy, dauphinois dip. Your taste buds will thank us.  Caviar, Darling - Cowboy caviar, that is. A bit of fresh corn polenta ( a serious step  up from the standard variety) topped with a cowboy caviar relish with Steven's exquisite touch. Good  with a capital G. Tarte ta'tin'  - a classic French apple upside down dessert, but . . . since the average household lacks the proper vessel for this treasure, we'll be doing it hillbilly style, cooked individually in a tin can. Rustic & Refined  -  $40  - FULL!  Thursday, November 3rd   -  7 - 9pm with Chef Steven Grostick   Inspired by the land of the world's finest cheeses and most delicious chocolates, this class will introduce you to some Swedish classics as well as dishes that complement their cuisine.   Apres Ski Steak with Mushroom and Onions - a homey, comfort food dish with loads of flavor, served fork-tender with a deep, dark, delicious gravy. Perfect after a chilly night on the ski hill. Roesti Potatoes - grated potatoes, perfectly seasoned and made into a very large potato pancake. Once it's developed a thick, crispy crust, we'll turn it out and cut it in wedges to serve. The aroma of Roesti cooking in any European kitchen usually evokes warm, happy memories. Reisling & Gruyere Soup - So delicious, it's almost like sipping fondue from the pot. Especially when it's topped with crispy croutons! Composed Swiss Chocolate fondue - roasted banana, toasted pound cake, and a poured chocolate fondue sauce. No wonder Switzerland is neutral. Desserts like this keep a smile on everyone's face. Thanksgiving Francais  -  $40 - FULL!  Wednesday, November 9th  -  7-9pm with Chef Brigitte Romero   When a French chef finds herself serving dinner on our American holiday, this is the delicious result. The dishes are based on our traditional favorites but with a uniquely French point of view! Do enjoy! Classes with Chef Brigitte are always wonderfully tasty and we learn so much! French Onion Soup with a Gruyere Gratin - a little appetizer to warm you as you settle into class.  Fresh Cranberry Sauce with Poached Pear Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Hazelnuts & Arugula   Turkey - simply roasted with fresh herbs and butter.  Chef Brigitte will show us how to carve a whole turkey for a very elegant presentation.  Pumpkin Creme Brulee with a seasonal crisp cookie--Chef's choice!  Acorn Farm Holiday Open House  -  FREE!           Sunday, November 13th  -  12noon-4pm  We'll supply you with more details as time goes on, but we'd love you to pencil it in on your calendar. We'd like you to be our guest that day. Come in for some food & fun, a first look at our holiday merchandise & decor, drawings, giveaways, and more!  Last Red Bag Day of 2016                     Saturday, November 26th                             Our last Red Bag Day of the year is due to fall in October, but the general consensus between staff and customers is that everyone prefers to have a Red Bag Day during the holiday shopping season. November 26th is also Small Business Saturday so it will be a great day to be in downtown Milford!  Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Fresh Summer Fruit Delights

What a beautiful summer we're having! It's hard to believe that MILFORD MEMORIES and our POLISH POTTERY PARTY are only two weeks away. Our summer classes have all filled but there are still plenty of things going on at Acorn Farm that you can read about below.  Saturday, July 30th - 10am - 5pm RED BAG SATURDAY ATTENTION RED BAGGERS! The third RED BAG DAY OF 2016 takes place this Saturday! That means all of our RED BAG members are entitled to 20% OFF most things in the store when they shop with their RED BAG THIS SATURDAY. Any member of our KITCHEN CASH CLUB who has at least two purchases recorded on their card, is eligible to receive a RED BAG. You must get your Red Bag BEFORE this Saturday, as red bags cannot be used on the day they are issued. If you haven't yet joined our Kitchen Cash Club, come in and register at the store. It's fast, free, and rewarding. After six purchases have been recorded on your card, we'll total the dollar amounts, take 10% of your total, and return it to you as a gift certificate to use any way you'd like in ACORN FARM. SAVE THE DATE: POLISH POTTERY SALE - KICK-OFF PARTY Thursday, August 11th - 5-8 p.m. Sale continues through August 14th! It's our biggest event of the year!  Our 8th Annual Polish Pottery Sale will kick off with our Polish Party on Thursday, August 11th with Polish Food, Polish Dancers, drawings, and more!  Not to be missed, this is a great event, drawing Polish Pottery fans from all over! Every single piece of polish pottery in the store will be on sale for 20% off the normal price.  We'll have an absolutely grand selection of everything from tiny pitchers to lovely covered roasters.   Pass the word along to your friends.  If they like polish pottery, they're going to LOVE this! UPCOMING FALL SCHEDULE Right now we're putting the finishing touches on our Fall Cooking Class Schedule. Once we've confirmed dates with our chefs and fine-tuned the menus, you'll see it in your Inbox. Look for it within the next two weeks! Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Chilling Out with Summertime Treats

As many of you know, our COOKIES FOR KIDS' CANCER Bake Sale took place over the weekend. It was an overwhelming success, raising a whopping $1,536.72 to fund research for kids' cancer treatments! A HUGE THANK YOU belongs to those of you who baked the goods to sell. We were truly moved by your generosity. Everyone who baked, baked something truly special and put their heart and soul into their donated items. Thank you, thank you, and thank you again! We'd also like to thank the folks who purchased goods at the bake sale. There were so many people giving over and above the price of the cookies that our donation jar was full in no time. Thanks for your Help with our Bake Sale! As the summer progresses, we still have many exciting events happening at ACORN FARM. We put out a few new classes last week, as well. One has filled but we still have a little room in the other - see below!  SATURDAY EVENT:  I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM . . . Saturday, July 23rd, noon-3 pm - FREE! No registration needed! We all scream for ice cream! Come into the store on July 23rd to get a taste of summer. We'll be demonstrating all sorts of summer treat-makers, from Ice cream machines, Zoku Instant Icy Pop makers, to an easy-to-use ice cream sandwich mold! We'll even be showing a superb ice cream scoop invented by a local couple. We're hoping they'll be able to make an appearance on that day to tell you all about it.   As you can see, there are lots of sweet reasons to be in the store on July 23rd. Come down for a taste of summer. You KNOW you want to! Saturday, July 30th - 10am - 5pm RED BAG SATURDAY ATTENTION RED BAGGERS! It's just a couple weeks before our third RED BAG DAY of the year, so put it on your calendar in big RED letters!  We've got loads of great goods just waiting to go home with you at a 20% discount. Are you a part of our Kitchen Cash Club but haven't received a Red Bag? Any member of our KITCHEN CASH CLUB with two or more purchases recorded on their Kitchen Cash Card, is eligible to receive a Red Bag. Four times a year our Red Baggers can come in on RED BAG SATURDAYS and shop for most items in the store at 20% off. There won't be another Red Bag Day until the end of November so don't miss this one!   Make sure you come in to get your Red Bag BEFORE July 30th as they cannot be used on the day they are issued. Not a member of the Kitchen Cash Club? Come in and register. It's fast, free, fun, and....well..... REWARDING! SAVE THE DATE: POLISH POTTERY SALE - KICK-OFF PARTY Thursday, August 11th - 5-8 p.m. Sale continues through August 14th! It's our biggest event of the year!  Our 8th Annual Polish Pottery Sale will kick off with our Polish Party on Thursday, August 11th with Polish Food, Polish Dancers, drawings, and more!  Not to be missed, this is a great event, drawing Polish Pottery fans from all over! Every single piece of polish pottery in the store will be on sale for 20% off the normal price.  We'll have an absolutely grand selection of everything from tiny pitchers to lovely covered roasters.   Pass the word along to your friends.  If they like polish pottery, they're going to LOVE this! FAREWELL TO SUMMER - only 3 spots left! with Chef Steven Grostick  Wednesday, August 31st - 7-8:30 p.m. - $40   As summer comes to a close, we'll be celebrating the fabulous flavors of farm-fresh vegetables. You just don't get those flavors any other time of year. Let's enjoy the harvest together with this menu! If weather permits, we might move this class outdoors, to enjoy the wonderful end of summer!  Lemon Blueberry Vodka Spritzer - the name says it all! Shrimp burgers--delicious, right? A little panko, some scallions, bound together, seasoned and cooked to perfection, topped with a remoulade and put on a bun. Corn chowder shooters - As corny as Kansas in August.  Steven will put his spin on this fresh-off-the-cob delight Fried green tomatoes- a traditional dish with a sauce/relish/salsa that will depend on what interesting ingredients Steven finds at the Farmer's Market. Jicama salad - Oh my!  When we first tried this recipe, three of us ate the whole batch.  Amazing flavor, simple ingredients, you'll LOVE it!  Avocados, red onion, oranges, and more. Granitas - A light and refreshing summer dessert for a sweet ending. We'll serve two kinds; cucumber-basil and a watermelon-lime! Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Not Your Mother's Potato Salad

Summer is in full swing and Milford is, too! Since our last newsletter, we've added a few events to our summer calendar. Our classes have all filled up for the summer but you can expect to see a new slate of classes within the next month, for late summer and early fall. Until then, take a look at all the other Acorn Farm happenings to see where you might fit in!  The next major event is a big one . . . . Downtown businesses will be searching every nook and cranny, cleaning out their stockrooms and clearance shelves to stock the sidewalks full of great deals! Come down and browse! There will surely be something for everybody. Friends, neighbors, boys, girls....bakers of all ages! We need YOU to Be a Good Cookie! There are TWO ways to help! BAKE FOR THE BAKE SALE to be held on:  Friday, JULY 8th   In our last newsletter, you read about our upcoming bake sale to fund childhood cancer research through Cookies for Childhood Cancer. Now the date is quickly approaching and we'll be needing lots of your help! We need folks to bake cookies, cakes, pies, breads, muffins, or any other sweet treat that comes out of your oven. Do you know of a Girl or Boy Scout troop that needs a community service project? A National Honor Society student that needs a Community Service credit? Have them give us a call -- we could use their help. If you feel so moved, your baked good donations are extremely welcome! Bake something, package it to sell, and bring it down to the store before July 8th. We'll be selling the baked goods in the store all day. The aroma alone should be enough to bring in some folks to help us defeat childhood cancer. Every single penny brought in by the bake sale will go directly to Cookies for Childhood Cancer, a wonderful organization started by some "good cookies" whose own lives have been touched by childhood cancer.  When you're done reading our newsletter, please learn a little more about this organization, here. COME TO THE BAKE SALE on FRIDAY, JULY 8th: If you are unable to bake but you love to eat (and who doesn't?), you can help out in another way! Come to Acorn Farm on the 8th and buy some baked goods! Grab a lovely dessert for your weekend barbecue or cookies for your visiting grandkids. Every little bit helps in a very significant way by funding research that discovers better and less toxic treatments for kids with cancer. Who wouldn't want to help? SATURDAY EVENT:  I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM . . . Saturday, July 23rd, noon-3 pm - FREE! No registration needed! We all scream for ice cream! Come into the store on July 23rd to get a taste of summer. We'll be demonstrating all sorts of summer treat-makers, from Ice cream machines, Zoku Instant Icy Pop makers, to an easy-to-use ice cream sandwich mold! We'll even be showing a superb ice cream scoop invented by a local couple. We're hoping they'll be able to make an appearance on that day to tell you all about it.   As you can see, there are lots of sweet reasons to be in the store on July 23rd. Come down for a taste of summer. You KNOW you want to! Saturday, July 30th - 10am - 5pm RED BAG SATURDAY ATTENTION RED BAGGERS! There is just over a month left before our third RED BAG DAY of the year, so put it on your calendar in big RED letters!  We've got loads of great goods just waiting to go home with you at a 20% discount. Are you a part of our Kitchen Cash Club but haven't received a Red Bag? Any member of our KITCHEN CASH CLUB with two or more purchases recorded on their Kitchen Cash Card, is eligible to receive a Red Bag. Four times a year our Red Baggers can come in on RED BAG SATURDAYS and shop for most items in the store at 20% off. There won't be another Red Bag Day until the end of November so don't miss this one!   Make sure you come in to get your Red Bag BEFORE July 30th as they cannot be used on the day they are issued. Not a member of the Kitchen Cash Club? Come in and register. It's fast, free, fun, and....well..... REWARDING! SAVE THE DATE: POLISH POTTERY SALE - KICK-OFF PARTY Thursday, August 11th - 5-8 p.m. Sale continues through August 14th! It's our biggest event of the year!  Our 8th Annual Polish Pottery Sale will kick off with our Polish Party on Thursday, August 11th with Polish Food, Polish Dancers, drawings, and more!  Not to be missed, this is a great event, drawing Polish Pottery fans from all over! Every single piece of polish pottery in the store will be on sale for 20% off the normal price.  We'll have an absolutely grand selection of everything from tiny pitchers to lovely covered roasters.   Pass the word along to your friends.  If they like polish pottery, they're going to LOVE this! Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm

Putting More Flavor on the Grill

SUMMER HAS ALMOST ARRIVED! We love this time of year when we get to see all of you again. As the weather warms up, lots of exciting things start happening downtown. The FARMERS' MARKET is once again up and running on Thursdays and the first SUMMER CONCERT IN THE PARK happens tonight. We've got some great things happening at Acorn Farm as well!  THIS SATURDAY! COOL BEANS Saturday, June 11th, 11-2 p.m. We've got some great things happening at ACORN FARM, as well!  If you're able, pop into Acorn Farm this Saturday, June 11th for Cool Beans! Between 11am and 2 pm, we'll be serving up a little coffee and a little espresso! We'll welcome Candy Massolia from BODUM, demonstrating their line of  Glasses, French Presses, and Travel Cups, and more. They're offering some pretty amazing pricing on these items in bright, summer colors, with French presses as low as $16. We'll also be introducing our new espresso machines by NESPRESSO! Whether you love a rich, full-bodied shot of espresso or a cup of the finest coffee, Nespresso can make it for you!  We'll show you how! So hold off on your morning cup-a-joe this Saturday and have a cup on us! A little tiramisu on the side will start your afternoon off right. We'll see you then! COOKING CLASS:  GLAMPING & GRILLING WITH GROSTICK! - only 4 spots open! Wednesday, July 6, 2016 - 7:00 - 8:30pm - $40 with Chef Grostick Just the aroma of something cooking on the grill evokes a flurry of childhood memories and some of the fun food of our youth! We're going to explore some of those great foods with a little more grown-up twist!  Take a look at this simple but sophisticated menu: Toas-tite Campfire Sandwiches  - Three different delights for the gourmand to enjoy! BBQ Pulled Pork on Cheddar & Scallion Cornbread Tuna Melts with Havarti Roast Beef with Mustard & Beer-Braised Onions on a Hoagie Roll Grilled Carrot Salad - with cauliflower and french beans in a Tarragon Brown Butter Vinaigrette. Mini Red Hasselback Potatoes - delicious potatoes, cut into a fan of sorts, topped with goat cheese, bacon & roasted garlic and and cooked until crisp on the outside, tender on the inside.   Cast Iron Trout - prepared to the perfection that only cast iron can produce.  We'll finish it with a little pancetta and tomato sauce. Campfire S'Mores - Oh, yes!   We'll let Chef Grostick do his gourmet spin on these.  Don't expect the same S'mores you had around your troop's campfire. BAKING BENEFIT:  BE A GOOD COOKIE! Friday, July 8th, All Day Now's the time to bake a difference in someone's life! On July 8th, we will be hosting our FIRST ANNUAL BE A GOOD COOKIE BAKE SALE! We're asking you, our Kitchen Club members, to bake something to sell to raise money for childhood cancer research. Every penny raised from the bake sale will go to COOKIES FOR KID'S CANCER - an organization that grants funds to research new, improved, and less toxic treatments for childhood cancers. Since 2008 they have already granted more than $7 million, and have funded six dozen research projects. Twenty-six of those are now available treatments in the war on childhood cancer. Where do you come in? How about a little baking? Cookies, cakes, pies - whatever you decide is just fine with us. Bring it to the store on July 7th, packaged and ready to sell. We'll price your goodies and sell them the next day, during the Milford Sidewalk Sales. Do you have a child or grandchild that would like to help do the selling? Call the store and we'll sign them up for a 30-minute block of time for "manning the booth" -- with our help, of course. COOKING CLASS:  BLAME IT ON RIO! Tuesday, July 19 - 7:00 - 8:30pm - $40 - FULL! OR Wednesday, July 20, 2016 - 7:00 - 8:30pm - $40 - only 4 spots open! with Chef Grostick The Olympics are coming! The Olympics are coming! While not many of us are going to be traveling to Brazil to watch the beloved games, we'd like to honor the host country with a fabulous spread of Brazilian favorites, full of bright and bold flavors.   Brazilian Lemonade - Start the evening cooling off with a simple Brazilian lemonade.  Sweet, fresh, and made with, surprisingly enough, limes! Salada de Couve com Manga - A salad with some great brazilian staples - mango and kale, with the crunch of pine nuts Frango Churrasco - Chicken thighs, bathed in a perfectly seasoned marinade with garlic, lemon, and coriander, then skewered and grilled to a heavenly crispness. Brazilian Pork Ribs - Toto, we're not in Kansas City anymore. Enjoy a distinctively different Brazilian sauce with soy, lime and parsley, a good dose of garlic and some unexpected herbs.  A slow-simmer turns these into juicy moist ribs before they're finished on the grill for a fantastic char. You're about to experience a new "go-to" rib recipe for your repertoire!  Grilled Flank Steak with Root Vegetable Chips & Brazilian-Style Chimichurri - Enjoy some of the same flavors you'd find in the Caribbean islands but without the heat. The marinade carries the aroma of cumin, coriander, and lime and the chimichurri adds a beautiful freshness to the dish. Add a little crunch with the chips to finish it off and you'll be ready to fly the Brazilian flag. Pudim - a lovely custard-like flan served with glazed and grilled pineapple and other tropical delights! SATURDAY EVENT:  I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM . . . Saturday, July 23rd, noon-3 pm - FREE! No registration needed! We all scream for ice cream! Come into the store on July 23rd to get a taste of summer. We'll be demonstrating all sorts of summer treat-makers, from Ice cream machines, Zoku Instant Icy Pop makers, to an easy-to-use ice cream sandwich mold! We'll even be showing a superb ice cream scoop invented by a local couple. We're hoping they'll be able to make an appearance on that day to tell you all about it.   As you can see, there are lots of sweet reasons to be in the store on July 23rd. Come down for a taste of summer. You KNOW you want to! SAVE THE DATE: POLISH POTTERY SALE - KICK-OFF PARTY Thursday, August 11th - 5-8 p.m. We're already gearing up for our POLISH POTTERY event though it's months away. We'll be bringing in nearly ten times the amount of Polish Pottery that we usually carry, and every single piece will be 20% off. This only happens once a year so we celebrate it with a party on that Thursday night. This year we are lucky enough to have a small contingent of young dancers from the Polish National Alliance Centennial Dancers to delight us with some traditional Polish folk dancing. You'll be able to shop, eat (our treat), and enjoy a cultural display like we've never seen in our store! Pencil it in and bring your babushka! Happy Cooking! Kathy Magaluk and all of us at Acorn Farm