Homemade Food Gifts

Posted on 12/05/2011 by Lindsey

‘Tis the season, right? To be jolly, filled with glee and love, and…..cake. And pie. And, ooh!, ice cream!

And eggnog. Can’t forget eggnog.

I like the holidays.

And this year, because I recently started my business, Cherryvale Farms (which you’ve heard of, I’m sure! Right?) the holidays are extra special. Because they are extra filled with joy and good wishes from friends, family and our fans.

Oh, and the holidays are also filled with expensive gift giving. But you knew that. And, knowing that I just started a business, you probably sense that now is definitely not the time for me to be doing expensive gift giving. Businesses are expensive, sheesh!

So, I invite you to take a peak at my homemade holiday gifts for this year. Cost? Mere dollars! Look? Total awesomeness! And most of the ingredients I already had in my pantry.

And you thought I’d be dolling out the foie gras and truffles this year?! Ha! ….I’m saving that for next year

Check out my homemade gift recipes after the jump:

Coffee, Spice & Everything Nice Body Scrub
Ancho Citrus Salt
Porcini Salt

And on the agenda later? Homemade quince paste! It’s in season and a great (if demanding) weekend project! Continue reading →

Oatmeal Applesauce Cookies

Posted on 11/15/2011 by Lindsey

Today is already a blur. And it’s barely noon.

I woke up, completely convinced today would be a slow, almost boring day where I’d bake up some cookies, clean the house and maybe make a trip to the dog park with Walnut.

Then I get a call from my business partner which I failed to pick up. So I get a voicemail. Which I ignore for a few minutes because I’m busy with these cookies.

Then I get an IM message “Call me”. Then an email “Call me”.

Jesus, can’t a girl just bake some cookies in peace?!

“We just got an order for 50 cases of Pumpkin Spice Bread Mix.”

OH. MY. GOD.

This is our biggest order yet! And just in time for Thanksgiving.

Now I’m off to the kitchen to do many, many hours of packaging. And giving many thanks along the way.

Recipe after the jump…

Continue reading →

Rancho Gordo Beans i.e. the Best Thing Ever

Posted on 09/12/2011 by Lindsey

I don’t take that statement lightly. I’m serious. These beans are some of the Best. Things. Ever.

Like the perfect chocolate cake. Or a light and fluffy sourdough roll. Maybe even the ultimate homemade-by-grandma tomato sauce.

They are that good.

Why on earth do I have such praise for, of all things, beans?! Because they are heirloom varietals. They are fresh (er, freshly dried). They are grown, harvested and sold in a sustainable manner. They have cool packaging.

Major points for the cool packaging.

Double major points for producing an incredibly high-quality product that’s accessible, reliable and delicious.

I made a little pilgrimage to the Rancho Gordo storefront in Napa this past weekend with the sole intention of buying several pounds of beans. And I did. And there they are (plus a few more bags not pictured).

These beans are meaty, robust, flavorful and far more complex than the sad bag (or can) of white or pinto beans in your cabinet now. These beans are an investment in your fall / winter cupboard. Your mother taught you to invest. You remember that, right? Heed her advice and buy some beans. Not as cool as stocks, I know, but she’ll be proud of you nonetheless.

I have some of the Rio Zape Beans in the slow cooker right now slowly making their way to becoming vegetarian baked beans. Will report back with the final results!

So go buy some beans. Buy good beans from Rancho Gordo. Your feelings toward beans will never be the same.

Cherryvale Farms Products Now Available at Retail! – Update

Posted on 09/01/2011 by Lindsey

Well, this week has been very exciting! We’ve hired a sales brokerage for the Bay Area / Northern California and they are just wonderful! As of this afternoon, Cherryvale Farms products will soon be carried in four retail stores!

We’d love your support of our products – so go shopping and buy a box! (Online retail launching soon, too!)

Our first San Francisco store is Nick’s Market. Go sell out their shelves!!! (as soon as they stock their shelves, of course, which should be early next week

Nick’s Market: 144 Page Street, San Francisco, CA 94111

If you live in the Eureka / Humboldt area, check out these stores. They will have our products on shelves next week too!

Mariposa Market: 400 S Main Street, Willits, CA 95490

Chautauqua Natural Foods: 436 Church Street, Garberville, CA 95542

Wildberries Market: 747 13th Street, Arcata, CA 95521

And there’s more!

North Coast Co-Op: 811 I Street, Arcata, CA 95521

Eureka Natural Foods: 1450 Broadway, Eureka, CA 95501

And in the East Bay!

Harvest House: 2395 Monument Blvd, Concord, CA 94520

And we’re regularly adding more stores, now available at our Retail Stores tab.

Packing Boxes

Posted on 08/23/2011 by Lindsey

Oh, it is an exciting time here at Cherryvale Farms. Because after you mix the product, you have to bag it. Then you have to box it. Then you have to put a sticker on the box. Then put the box into a larger box. Then tape that box.

And I don’t even want to get into the label application process. That’s like too deep.

Because there are no less than 10 steps in assembling our product. Wondering what they are? Let me share the Apple Strudel Muffin process. Because it’s a doozy.

Assemble batter ingredients > Batch mix batter ingredients in giant mixer > Measure individual portions of mix and pour into bag > Seal bag > Set aside > Assemble strudel topping ingredients > Batch mix strudel topping ingredients in giant mixer > Measure individual portions and place in other bag > Seal bag > Place both bags in individual packaging box > Close box > Apply label to box > Place box in case box > Seal case box > Apply case label to case box.

Oh wait. That’s 15 steps. I told you it was a doozy.

But it’s all worth it and we love our product and our packaging.

Climb through the packaging maze with us after the jump…

Continue reading →