If you're like me you always plan to shop ahead for Thanksgiving. If you're not like me, you actually do it.
Let's start with appetizers - Winston's smoked salmon with capers perhaps. Or goat chevre, plain or with garlic flowers on little slices of rustic Italian baguette - maybe a little of Laura's apricot red pepper jelly on top. Marketside's flatbreads and pates - shitake mushroom, whitefish or sundried tomato.
The kids might prefer some of the Que Pasa tortilla chips with any one of our six locally-made salsas. Or Hardbite Smoking Barbecue Potato chips.
Now the main course. There are still turkeys available - please order ahead for pick up Thursday between 5 and 7.
Look for local cranberry condiments - Windy Hill's Cranberry Wine jelly or a cranberry relish. Carrots, beets, potatoes, squash and things I don't even know about yet will be in from the garden just ahead of the frost.
Finch Haven's sparkling apple ciders - plain or with cranberry or raspberry - make a refreshing accompaniment to a holiday meal.
Stock up on Kelsey's bread this week - remember she leaves to speak at a conference in New York next Wednesday. We will have bread next week though - if you haven't tasted Michael Schmidt's bread, you are in for a treat.
All the supplies are in for your own baking - organic butter and sugar, flour, oats, raisins, apples and pears. If you'd prefer someone else do the work, we'll take orders for pies, and Margaret has made some gluten-free fresh pumpkin pies. Your people aren't pie people? Then you need one of Theo's Belgian chocolate brownies or white chocolate blondies.
Remember the coffee - Karen is now bringing Sailor's Brew and the Ultimate as well as a milder Mexican and Natalie's favourite decaf.
When you take a break from all your preparations, put your feet up and enjoy a cup of China Rose or Belgian Chocolate Rooibos or any of the delicious teas Joanne has blended at Back to Basics. Perfect with one of New Moon Kitchen's Ginger Snappers, Mokas or Goldies.
Around the Sound Local Food Market is open Thursday and Friday 10 until 7 and Saturday 10 until 4 (and occasionally by pure luck if you catch me puttering on other days).
We're at 972 1st Avenue West in Owen Sound and we'd be happy to hear from you at 519-370-2333.
See you soon.
Anne