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Minnesota Grown on Facebook
For the holiday season we will be giving away a Minnesota Grown gift basket to one of our Facebook fans. Make sure you are checking our page to see how you can be entered into our drawing to receive the all Minnesota Grown gift basket.
 | Here is a sneak peek at what is in the gift basket so far!
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Christmas Trees in the News
Christmas trees have gotten a lot of news coverage this holiday season! Check out the local stories we dug up:
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Candy Cane Cocoa
Need a sweet treat to warm you up this holiday season? This is perfect for company or the kids!
Ingredients- 4 cups milk
- 3 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate, chopped
- 4 peppermint candy canes, crushed
- 1 cup whipped cream
- 4 small peppermint candy canes
Directions- In a saucepan, heat milk until hot, but not boiling. Whisk in the chocolate and the crushed peppermint candies until melted and smooth. Pour hot cocoa into four mugs, and garnish with whipped cream. Serve each with a candy cane stirring stick.
Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com .
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Raspberry & Almond Shortbread Thumbprints
These cookies are perfect for the holidays. Try a variety of jams or jellies for the filling!
Ingredients- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2/3 cup white sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
Glaze Ingredients - 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon milk
Directions - Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium bowl, cream together butter and white sugar until smooth. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Mix in flour until dough comes together. Roll dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Make a small hole in the center of each ball, using your thumb and finger, and fill the hole with preserves.
- Bake for 14 to 18 minutes in preheated oven, or until lightly browned. Let cool 1 minute on the cookie sheet.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the confectioners' sugar, 3/4 teaspoon almond extract, and milk until smooth. Drizzle lightly over warm cookies.
Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com.
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Creamy Au Gratin Potatoes
Need a yummy, satisfying potato side dish this holiday season? Try this version of au gratin potatoes.
Ingredients:
- 4 russet potatoes, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
- 1 onion, sliced into rings
- salt and pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions: - Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Butter a 1 quart casserole dish.
- Layer 1/2 of the potatoes into bottom of the prepared casserole dish. Top with the onion slices, and add the remaining potatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- In a medium-size saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Mix in the flour and salt, and stir constantly with a whisk for one minute. Stir in milk. Cook until mixture has thickened. Stir in cheese all at once, and continue stirring until melted, about 30 to 60 seconds. Pour cheese over the potatoes, and cover the dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake 1 1/2 hours in the preheated oven.
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Keep Up with Carrie!
Want to keep up with Minnesota Grown spokesperson Carrie Tollefson? Check out CTolle Run! She has fun videos and updates regularly.
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Got Your Minnesota Christmas Tree Yet?
This past year has been the best growing season that Christmas tree growers have had in a long time. Minnesota's relatively wet spring and summer made this year's trees more lush and more beautiful than ever. This means that it is time for you and the family to get out and visit a Minnesota choose and cut tree farm or retail lot to pick out the family tree--that is if you haven't already gone out. Looking to make a day of it? Many Christmas tree farms offer additional activities like visits from Santa, hot cider, holiday treats, wagon rides and live reindeer. Find your local tree farm in our Minnesota Grown Directory.
Here are 5 need-to-know tips from the Minnesota Christmas Tree Association once you get your tree home:
- Make a fresh cut.
- Place tree away from heat sources.
- Water immediately.
- Don't add anything to the water.
- Check water level daily.
Want more information on Minnesota Christmas trees? Visit www.mncta.com.
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Tree Trivia!
Last month we had a turkey trivia contest--Congrats to Patrick and Roger, the 1st person and 12th person to get the answer correct and receive a FREE Minnesota Grown hat. Answer to last month's question: The average weight of a turkey purchased for Thanksgiving is 16lbs. This month's question: Approximately how many real Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. every year?? The 5th and 15th person to email Casey at Casey.DeRosier@state.mn.us will receive a FREE Minnesota Grown reusable bag. |
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Wreaths
Don't forget to pick-up a Minnesota Grown wreath while you are out getting your Christmas tree this year! It will add a nice touch to your holiday décor. Jan of Jan's Christmas Trees said they produce about 1,000 wreaths each year! They also make custom wreaths, and so do a lot of our other growers. The smell alone is worth the purchase!
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Apple Walnut Stuffed Pork Roast
Here is a fun take on pork roast. This could make a great main dish during your holiday dining festivities.
Ingredients:
- 5 tablespoons butter
- 1 apple - peeled, cored and chopped
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 celery stalk, diced
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 5 cups dry bread crumbs
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 (3 pound) boneless rolled pork loin roast
Directions:- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the apple, onion, celery, and walnuts, and cook 5 minutes, until vegetables are tender. Mix in the applesauce, water, and breadcrumbs. Cook and stir until the breadcrumbs have absorbed the liquid. Season with cinnamon, kosher salt, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger.
- Unroll the pork roast, and place in a baking dish. Spoon the stuffing mixture over the roast. Arrange any excess stuffing around the roast. Roll the roast so that the fatty side is on top, and tie with kitchen twine.
- Bake 45 to 50 minutes in the preheated oven, to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
Find a Minnesota pork producer near you.
Recipe Courtesy of allrecipes.com. |
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Poinsettias
 Is it a family tradition to pick up a poinsettia as a centerpiece or for decoration during the holidays? Try to purchase your poinsettia from a local grower or greenhouse this year! Nola Wagner of Wagner Greenhouses told Minnesota Grown that they grow 30,000-35,000 poinsettias each year! That means that there are plenty to go around. Nola was also happy to provide us with a few poinsettia care tips:
- Keep your poinsettia from freezing!
- Poinsettias like a lot of light, but not necessarily direct sunlight.
- Water your poinsettia 1-2 times each week. TIP: Take the pot cover off while watering to make sure the water drains away, then put the pot cover back on.
- The perfect temperature for a poinsettia is between 65 and 70 degrees F.
- Once March or April rolls around you can go ahead and plant your poinsettia in your yard.
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Need a good holiday gift idea?
 A Chinook Book is perfect for holiday shopping, or as a gift to that person who has everything. The Chinook Book is a guide to living well and having fun, while supporting local businesses in the Twin Cities. Order your book today! Sale price of $17 plus free shipping through Dec. 31, 2011! |
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Holiday Gift Ideas
Minnesota has so many products available that make great gifts. Want more ideas? Visit Casey's blog, Livin' La Vida Local. |
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2011-2012 Minnesota Grown Directory
There are still a lot of reasons to order your Minnesota Grown Directory--Christmas trees, squash, wineries, holiday gift ideas, meats, honey, cheeses and more! Order your
FREE copy today by calling 1-888-VISIT-MN (1-888-847-4866). If you have an upcoming event and need a larger quantity, visit MinnesotaGrown.com to order. |
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Minnesota Meats
Do you have the freezer space to stock up on Minnesota meat this winter? If so, you might want to consider ordering a half or quarter of an animal from a farmer you trust and have it custom-processed to your specifications. It's a great way to get a variety of cuts that will make your winter meals wonderful. Plus, you are supporting your local farmers! Don't have enough freezer space? Several of our producers also sell meat by the cut.
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Sponsors
The sponsors of the Minnesota  Grown Directory make what we do possible. Minnesota Farmers Union is our biggest sponsor. They work to protect and enhance the economic interests and quality of life for family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. They are a nonprofit membership-based organization. Did you know you don't have to be a farmer to be a member of Minnesota Farmers Union? Check it out!
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