the Friday Feeding; VOL. 62

Brrr! It’s cold out there!  Come in for some warm food and remember that we will be closed for 4 Sundays in a row starting January 19.

It seems that you have enjoyed having fresh prepared food in our country store especially now in this chilly weather. Soups, chilis, baked beans, pot pies, pizzas, mac n cheese…warmth and comfort.  Some say the fact that it is available is innovative, and a new approach, to offer in a local store setting.

But not really.  We think of it as a return to an original concept.

Previous stores in this same building have had food offerings prepared in the simple kitchen adjacent and very early “taverns” scattered about town also have had food offerings.  But from a birds eye view, if one thinks of all of Canterbury as once places of commerce, I always think back to the Shakers at the furthest side of town.

The Shakers were gracious meal servers for travels and visitors and they were early adopters of the Food Truck concept, selling baked beans off a “wagon” in downtown Concord. Later in contemporary times I have heard stories of sandwiches being prepared there for sale by volunteer hands and big community hearts. Food and commerce.

Our Shaker connection runs deep whether we realize it or not, our neighbors and friends in the past have affected our ways and our doings even to this day.  As a young cook who studied culinary herbs, the lore of the Shakers as one of America’s first herbalists interested me greatly. It was the Shakers who introduced and advocated for more plant material in our stodgy English diets with herbs to accent flavor and health benefits.

What you see as Canterbury Country Store’s branding—our brown craft food containers and bordered labels—are actually Shaker inspired.  In fact, the border on our labels IS actually Shaker artwork lifted from a candy box as public domaine and scanned to create our own labels.

So as we continue to cook and make meals for you we are conscious of the Shaker connection…with the herbs we grow, the recipes we develop and the fact that during the season, Shaker Village sends their visitors here to eat.

Food for the skin

Some of you may know that I spent the majority of my career working in the skincare business formulating products and procedures. [Funny how making recipes is the continuum]! So you may have noticed some skincare products on our shelves with the same labeling and the same Shaker connection.

These are recipes I developed years ago using Shaker knowledge to cure little skin ailments. Joyce said that the Cure Cream was the only thing she ever found that worked on her diabetic feet. Last week, her doctor was very pleased with their health.

Food

Eldress Bertha felt that adding the herb thyme to any dish aided in digestion.  It is true that thyme and other sharp herbs, like rosemary, contain phenols that breakdown protein & fat thus helping the food digest. Old wisdom, modern vibe.

Click here for next weeks specials menu.

Click here for January’s general menu. Dave is making meat loaf sandwiches every Saturday now with local meat. Man, they are good!

Art

Our latest art show opened this week, “About Faces”. It is stunning and creative. Come out Friday January 17, 5-6pm to celebrate the artists with a little beverage and food sampling. Its also pizza night so pre-order a pizza if you wish.

Have a great week-end,

Jane and Dave