final Friday Feeding; the wrap up

This Final Feeding is what we have been doing all week.  Helping you stock your pantries with clearance sale deals to feed your tummies while you stocked us up with good wishes that fed our souls. Thank you all around.

This is our final store post—VOL. 111—to send you and us all off warmly and graciously.  It’s a time to reflect on all the best and focus on the fun we all had together, how we have appreciated you and what a stellar group of patrons you were in supporting your town center store.  And how we have loved watching your families grow… sigh.

Promotional graphic displaying 'Clearance Sale' with '50% Off' in bold text on a black background.

Here are some parting smiles…

Ginger Winter. Ever wonder what happens to gingerbread houses once the season is over? Do they get tossed? Do they soften, mold and fall over? Well, not Beth’s Blair’s houses! Beth’s houses that were here on display through December have had a second life gracing her backyard with frozen joy, creating a landscape of edible bird houses.  What fun!

A gingerbread house decorated with icing and candy, surrounded by snow-covered ground and evergreen trees.
A festive gingerbread house decorated with icing, surrounded by a small gingerbread cottage and a green, textured Christmas tree, all set in a snowy landscape.
A beautifully decorated gingerbread house surrounded by snow, featuring a green wreath on the roof, candy canes at the base, and two festive trees on either side.
A small, decorative gingerbread house partially covered in snow, surrounded by a winter landscape.
A whimsical ice cream cone castle adorned with colorful candy decorations, partially covered in snow, surrounded by a winter landscape.
A decorated gingerbread house topped with snow, surrounded by white snow and featuring a small candy tree.


Remembering heart moments...

A young child sitting at a wooden table, playing with a gingerbread house toy and festive accessories like a striped cloth and a toy reindeer. There is a cup next to them and a window in the background.
A child wearing a galaxy-themed jacket and Spiderman hat is drinking from a green cup in a cozy indoor setting, while two adults observe in the background.
A woman and a young girl are sitting at a table in a cozy setting, with the woman smiling and laughing while interacting with the girl, who is wearing a colorful skirt and a headband.
A smiling employee at a country store interacts with a young girl, both wearing black aprons. The girl appears thoughtful as they stand near a counter with apple cider in the foreground and colorful decorations in the background.
A decorative skeleton figure wearing a black apron with a logo, displayed against a softly blurred background of a store interior.
A young girl and a man sitting at a wooden table in a cozy room, engaged in a game with colorful pieces.
A smiling young child wearing a pink beanie holds a piece of food in one hand while giving a thumbs up with the other, seated at a wooden table.
A young boy sitting in a car eats a large chocolate dessert, smiling and enjoying the treat while wearing a colorful winter jacket.
A young boy in a formal suit giving a thumbs up, standing at a table with drawings and art supplies, in a room with bright windows and artwork on the walls.
A young boy exploring a variety of candy jars in a store, with colorful candies displayed in glass containers and cotton candy in the foreground.
A woman wearing a witch hat and colorful scarf holds a 'grand prize' sign while standing beside a child dressed as a robot and another child in a purple outfit, in a cozy store setting.
A young boy wearing a colorful puffer jacket is joyfully receiving a small bag from an adult outside a building, with a mailbox in the background and autumn leaves scattered on the ground.

It takes a village; town team work…

Three men bending over a large, hollowed pumpkin on a wooden pallet, with pumpkins displayed in the background.
A man smiling while carrying a tray of baked goods outdoors, with trees in the background and parked vehicles in a parking lot.
A woman in a wide-brimmed hat and a quilted vest is talking to a postal worker at a window of a small post office. Another man stands nearby, observing the interaction. The post office features a bulletin board with various flyers and is surrounded by greenery and pumpkins.
A group of people, mostly children, gathered outside the Canterbury Country Store, which is illuminated by festive lights. The store entrance is visible, and people are seen interacting with a staff member inside.
Five young individuals standing in front of the U.S. Post Office in Canterbury, New Hampshire, dressed in winter attire and holding beverages.
Three individuals collaboratively lifting a wooden beam in a room with rustic decor and furniture.
A group of four people interacting near a gazebo displaying quilt patterns, with trees and cars in the foreground.
Three men working on a home renovation project, with one man painting a wall while the others assist. There are drop cloths on the floor and a vacuum cleaner nearby.
A group of people at an outdoor event, including a man with a beard, a woman dressed in orange, and a mother with two young girls, observing an exhibit or display under a tent.

It’s because of them that this worked.

Our current and past incredible staff…we are so happy to have had them in our lives! They cared for you, they cared for us and they cared for this store and building like it was their own. The best of the best. Take a bow guys!

A friendly woman with glasses smiles from behind a counter in a country store, featuring a decorated lamp and various baked goods in baskets.
Sue, our manager
A smiling employee standing behind a counter at Canterbury Country Store, wearing a black apron. The counter is adorned with various products including packaged snacks and decorative items.
Shaylee
A woman in an apron stands behind a counter in a shop, smiling at the camera. The counter is decorated with various products, including lip balms and handmade items. There are windows in the background allowing natural light to enter, and a festive atmosphere is created with decorations.
Vicki
Two smiling shopkeepers standing behind the counter of a country store, wearing black aprons with the store's name, surrounded by various products and decorations.
John and Constance
A smiling woman wearing an apron and gloves stands in a kitchen, holding cooking tongs, surrounded by various kitchen tools and ingredients.
Janet
A woman with silver hair smiles in a store characterized by wooden shelves filled with various food products, including jars and drinks, with an ice cream display in the background.
Ali
A smiling woman wearing a blue hoodie stands behind a counter in a store, with colorful fruit-themed decorations on the windows and shelves filled with various products in the background.
Jennifer
A smiling cashier at a store counter, wearing a light green hoodie, surrounded by shelves filled with various products and items.
Emily
A smiling barista wearing a colorful sweater stands behind a coffee shop counter, surrounded by menus, a register, and various snacks in jars, with warm lighting and a welcoming atmosphere.
Martha
A teenager and an adult man working in a busy kitchen, preparing food. The teenager is wearing a red shirt and a cap, standing at a table with cheese and other ingredients. The adult man smiles in the background, wearing an apron.
Josh with Dave
A woman with short hair is sitting at a wooden desk, working on a laptop. She has glasses and a red pen in her mouth, surrounded by documents and a notebook.
Silvia

THE END

We figure the store should be pretty empty by next week and our last day of retail will most likely be Wednesday the 29th.  But we will still be there clearing and cleaning and keeping the doors open for the post office through the 31st.  After that our landlords, the Canterbury Community Market LLC, will be manning the space and post office lobby until the next folks take over, whom ever they might be.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!

Jane and Dave

A person with gray hair and glasses places a nameplate on a wall inscribed with names and years, indicating an ongoing historical or memorial project.
Jane mounting the final date to the Storekeepers of Town Center wall mural

Let’s stay in touch…

Continue receiving recipes and inspirations at my own personal BLOG janebalshaw.com. Subscribe on my home page by clicking here…

the Friday Feeding; VOL. 110

As Dave and I wind down our final weeks here at the Canterbury Country Store, we are reflecting on our process.  The process of creating the store/community concept and the process of physically making those ideas happen. We are Makers at heart with creative spirits that play out again and again in different mediums and in different places through our hands and our hearts.

And even as we are closing, the ideas still keep coming for other ways and other days that could be spent here.  But the bottom line is that we need to retire our aging bodies from the physically demanding work of full time food preparation even though we still think like our 20 year old selves.  This was so much fun.

But creativity still lives in our souls and in our studios and in our kitchen.  And part of the creative joy in our tenure here at the store was writing this Blog. I have maintained a Blog for over 15 years at my personal Creative website janebalshaw.com  If you wish to continue receiving my creative inspirations for your kitchen, home or garden please follow me there.  Click on link and subscribe by email on my home page.

Updates on our transition.

Good news; there are several parties (not commenting on Facebook) interested in continuing a variation on what we have started here. The process is #1 to be accepted as a tenant by our landlords, the Canterbury Community Market LLC, and then #2  work with us if they are interested our valuable transitional benefits and any of our equipment.  It’s a timely process to complete the licensing and execute a plan, so please have patience.

And when someone new comes in here we hope that they will be welcomed with open arms.  No one will do exactly what we did or what Toni & Joe did or anyone before us because everyone has their own particular vision.

CLOSING COUNT DOWN

This week was the last week we made prepared foods for the freezer.  The freezer has kept emptying—thank you—but now we need to put our attentions away from food prep and into the behind the scenes business of closing. There is still plenty there as of today.

Sandwiches and baked goods will continue through Saturday January 25. YUM.

Milk, eggs, dairy, frozen meats, wine & beer plus local farm products will remain until they are gone,  presumably by the 25th as well..

50% OFF CLEARANCE SALE starts next Monday January 19. All canned, jarred and bags foods, along with a few giveaways as a memento from us to you.

EXCLUDING artisan goods, local farm products, beer/wine, dairy, milk, eggs, frozen meats.

A display shelf in a store featuring various bags of snacks, including popcorn and potato chips, arranged neatly with some pantry items visible in the background.
A colorful display of various snack foods, including pretzels, chips, candy, and jars of preserves, arranged on wooden shelves in a store. The scene showcases a variety of packaging designs and products.
A wooden display shelf and a black metal rack in a store showcasing a variety of snacks, beverages, and groceries, including packaged meats, candy, sauces, and baking ingredients.
A display of snacks including various potato chips and pretzels on racks, alongside shelves filled with sauces and condiments in a grocery store.
Display of snacks and candies in a wooden shop, featuring jars filled with colorful sweets, a decorative plant, and various packaged goods on top of the counter.
A cozy display of gourmet food items and gifts in a wooden shop interior, featuring various packaged snacks, bottles of oils, and festive pasta shapes.
A display of various kitchenware including bowls, plates, cups, and utensils arranged on shelves.

Artisan’s work to remain till the end.

Some artisans are removing their work this coming week but most all of our artisans will keep their work here through Sunday the 26th.  The current art show will hang through Saturday January 25. Let’s give them one last hurrah and purchase their work!

“You have launched my art career. I just got a commission last night from some very wealthy folks for 2 big paintings and they already wired $5k.  I’m freaking out!!!  This is only because of people like you that are making me believe.  You and Dave have made such a difference in my life”.

“Your vision is what pulled me back into a social life and nurtured confidence in me that was buried deep. The Feed Loft was the very first place I EVER created and hung, put a price tag on, AND sold ANY artwork- EVER! 

That alone put you and Dave on my “heart map” and there you will remain”. 

“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate being a small part of your vision”.

A wooden display shelf showcasing a variety of handcrafted items, including pottery, art, wooden bowls, and books, alongside a decorated Christmas tree in the corner.
Colorful floral paintings displayed on a café wall, with large paper flowers hanging above them. Two wooden tables with black chairs are in the foreground.

ART!

What a fun art show opening we had last week!  We sold 10 pieces of art for Lauren and Jayne! The visiting was great and so was the food; the store was vibrating with joy!  I promised to give you the recipe for the little puff pastries I made.  It follows…

Three traditional pastries on a green leaf-patterned plate, each with a pinched design and a sweet filling.

Art Show Puff Pastry flowers

Roll out a thawed sheet of puff pastry to just larger than 9″ x 12″. Trim the edges with a pizza cutter or sharp knife so the rectangle measures exactly 9″ x 12″. NOTE: I used Dufour’s Gluten-free Puff Pastry.

Using a ruler cut the dough into 3″ strips then cut those strips into 3″ squares.

A piece of pale fabric or dough folded in half, next to a clear acrylic ruler marked with measurement grids.
A sheet of dough cut into square pieces with a dough cutter resting on top.

Cut the squares from each corner inward leaving about 1″ of the center cut-free. Scoop a 3/4 tsp pie filling or jam into the center. I used Blake Hill’s Montmorency Tart Cherry Pie Filling. Grab a jar or two from the clearance sale! Fold in the corner points as shown squishing the points together to seal them.

Freeze the finished flowers for 10 minutes. Remove from the freezer and place on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 400′ for about 15 minutes until lightly browned. NOTE: you may sprinkle each flower with sparkling sugar before you bake for added beauty.

A square pastry dough with folded corners, topped with a dollop of red fruit jam, placed on a dark surface.
A top-down view of a uniquely shaped, white dough object resembling a bowtie, resting on a dark textured surface.
A top view of a sculpted, cream-colored object resembling an abstract flower or star shape, placed on a dark stone surface.
Top view of a decorative pastry shaped like an octopus or flower, with curled ends and a smooth surface, resting on a dark countertop.
An artistic pastry shape resembling a flower or star, with a light-colored, dough-like texture, placed on a dark granite surface.
A folded piece of dough with a small amount of red sauce inside, resting on a dark countertop.
A close-up of a piece of dough shaped like a star with four pointed edges, resting on a granite surface, with a knife positioned nearby.
Three freshly baked pastries with a golden-brown crust, arranged on a green leaf-patterned plate.
A jar of Blake Hill Gourmet Fruit Pie Fillings featuring Montmorency Tart Cherry Pie Filling. The label highlights the product's features, including its bursting flavor of tart cherries and uses in pies, crepes, and desserts.

We’ll see you around the store…

Jane and Dave

the Friday Feeding; VOL. 109

There is a lot been said lately about what Local truly is. Measured in years, measured by distance, measured through family ties. In any way it is calculated, local seems to be what we all long for. Because Local has weight and has meaning, as though by shopping it or eating it or living it we become community and are escaping the larger part of the artificial world.

But Thoreau said it best “We belong to the community. It is not the tailor alone who is the ninth part of a man*; it is as much the preacher, and the merchant, and the farmer”. We all belong, with warts and all, and this has been the mission of our country store here in Canterbury.

As we wind down our final month here we hope you can come in to really see and study all the goods we have carried to appreciate the hard work of our very local providers. Ask us about them while you are in; they all have good stories.

A bottle of Lavender Fields lavender simple syrup with a gold cap, featuring a decorative label with lavender illustrations and a scenic field design.
A pumpkin-shaped soap on top of a box labeled 'Pumpkin Soap' from Canterbury Soapworks, with a rustic wooden background.
A bottle of boiled cider with a red label, featuring a drawing of an apple, alongside two fresh apples.
A jar of Laurel Hill Wicked Good Strawberry Jam, showcasing a label with a strawberry illustration and the text 'small batch jams & jellies'.
A packet of 'Hearty Stew' meal-in-a-minute from Canterbury Country Store, featuring a clear window showing red lentils and various grains inside.
A glass of Concord Craft Brewing Co. beer with a golden amber color and a creamy foam head, featuring the brewery logo on the front.
Try their newest…White Mountain White Ale
Packaged bone-in pork chops in a sealed plastic bag with a label indicating weight and packing date.
Three bottles of The Natural Olive Extra Virgin Olive Oil displayed on a wooden shelf, labeled as 100% first cold pressed from Lakonia, Greece.
A jar of Maine Homestead Hot Dill Pickled Carrots, featuring whole carrots submerged in brine, with a label indicating net weight of 16 oz. Surrounding the jar are spices, including red pepper flakes and mustard seeds, along with a garlic clove.
A jar of Blackwater Hot and Sweet Mustard, 8 oz, gluten-free, displayed on a wooden surface.
A packet of Two Sisters' Garlic Dip on a wooden surface, featuring a label with product name, directions, and ingredients.
Loon Chocolate packaging featuring 70% dark chocolate with coffee, decorated with coffee beans and labeled 'ETHICALLY sourced & manufactured'.
Paper bag of maple corn bread from Canterbury Country Store, featuring a transparent window and label detailing ingredients and weight.
A bottle of cold-pressed high oleic sunflower oil, labeled as unrefined and non-GMO, placed on a wooden surface.
A package of real cranberry dip mix displayed on a wooden table, featuring instructions to mix with cream cheese for a delicious dip suitable for fruit slices, cookies, or crackers.
A black ceramic mug with a white bottom, featuring the text 'Canterbury Country Store' in a circular design, sitting on a wooden table.
A packet of real pumpkin dip mix on a wooden surface, featuring a colorful label with a pumpkin illustration and instructions for mixing with cream cheese.
Silver bag of Fox Family Potato Chips labeled 'Plain', featuring artwork of red foxes and text about the natural quality of the chips.

*The “ninth part of man” refers to a tailor, stemming from the old saying, “It takes nine tailors to make a man,” which originally was a way to belittle tailors, implying that they were so inadequate that nine were needed to create one person.

Flavor.

Why does it matter?

If you are a home food grower you might be looking at vegetable seeds right now and making decisions about which plants produce the most or perhaps what is the best value per seed dollar. But have you ever looked at the offerings by what might have the best flavor? I know Kevin of Canterbury Plantation does. And Andy at Turning Mill farm did. And Kathy’s greens were.

Just because a particular plant produces lots, holds up perfect in our climate and goes well to market doesn’t always mean that it is the best plant. I remember our young friend (whose fancy degree made him think he wanted to be a farmer) joined his friend down south to grow cucumbers to take to market. He was astonished at how tasteless the variety was that his friend chose. I said, well, yes it would be. Hybridized flat not delicately flavored, sturdy not tender, leathery not squeaky, (Did you know a good cucumber or zucchini should squeak when you rub it? If it doesn’t, it is not fresh or it is over-hybridized or it has a coating of wax on it).

I am convinced that most of us who pack on the pounds eat in excess to try to get flavor sated. And here in the North East where great fresh produce in the winter is nil, we have learned to skip that tasteless stuff in the supermarket so their buyers have established the perceived lack of need then don’t stock it. It’s a circle. And our health suffers.

This time of year when perhaps we are all cutting back on calories to make up for the feasting season just behind us, I encourage us to consider Flavor as our new diet. And if you can’t spend your dollars at specialty stores where great produce is year ‘round (for the most part), consider upping your added flavor.

Here are a couple tips:

Salads: skip the bottled dressings whose chemically induced flavor components are designed to make you keep wanting more through their salty/sweet/fat go around. Instead grab greens that actually have flavor like arugula, baby kale, radicchio and dress them with some fresh citrus juice squeezed out of a tangerine or orange then splash them with some good peppery-fresh Extra Virgin olive oil and some salt. Your taste buds will dance!

A green glass juicer with a small amount of freshly squeezed orange juice and a halved orange on a white plate.

Grill your greens: instead of steaming or boiling (where the flavor can leach out) try grilling heads of greens to give you deeper flavor and the adventurous hot/cold crunch sensation on your palette. Let your pan or outdoor grill get very hot then press the cut head firmly on it until grill marks appear. Serve immediately with a drizzle of your choice. See recipe below.

A plate featuring a romaine lettuce leaf topped with pomegranate seeds, slices of cheese, and a drizzle of yellow dressing.

Add some extra flavor to your roasted or grilled meats and veggies. Toast a combination of seeds then grind them in a blender or Bullet. Add salt or additional spices to the mix then spoon over your finished food. Mix any combination of seeds in a skillet and heat on medium/high until they start to pop or blister and brown about 3 minutes. Add smaller seeds like sesame in only for the last minute.

A white frying pan filled with a mix of green pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds, placed on a textured green cloth.
A colorful ceramic plate filled with a coarse mixture of ground spices and grains, placed on a textured green fabric with colorful stripes.

Caesar Salad Dressing

Add the following to a blender and whirl until smooth. This will separate so shake before using. Because of the cheese and garlic, this requires refrigeration. It will thicken when completely chilled so let it sit out a bit before using.

  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 10 grinds of black pepper
  • 1 clove crushed garlic
  • a 1” squirt of anchovy paste; optional
A vibrant display of floral-themed paintings on a wall, accompanied by large paper flowers hanging above. The artwork features colorful arrangements of flowers in various styles, with a light fixture and wooden tables visible in the foreground.

Come to our final art reception tonight Friday January 9, 5-6ishPM

FEATURING THE ARTWORK OF LAUREN PROSPERE ALONG WITH JAYNE HASTINGS AND TYLER MOSER

Dave’s pizza, fancy finger foods, celebratory beverages & good byes.

Till next time,

Jane and Dave

This BLOG will continue for the near future and stay tuned for where it will go from here.

final show; Winter in Bloom

Come celebrate the years of joyful art shows that the store has mounted with this final colorful showing of Winter in Bloom artwork featuring the work of Lauren Prospere! The Artist’s Reception will be on Friday night January 9 from 5-6ish PM with Dave’s pizzas, fancy foods and celebratory beverages..

Come honor Lauren and all the artists with this special evening of vibrant images and good byes.

The show will be up late Monday January 5 through Saturday January 24.

Artist’s Reception

FRIDAY JANUARY 9, 5-6ish PM

Dave’s pizza, fancy foods, celebratory beverages and good byes

A vibrant floral painting featuring colorful flowers in shades of pink, yellow, and green displayed above a pink sculptural artwork resembling a flower with tiny decorative elements.
A colorful art display featuring framed watercolor artworks of flowers on a wall, accompanied by a large pink paper flower decoration above them.
A vibrant floral painting featuring an arrangement of colorful flowers in a striped vase, showcasing shades of pink, yellow, blue, and green.
A vibrant abstract painting featuring a bouquet of colorful flowers in shades of pink, yellow, and green, creating a lively and cheerful composition.

Art has always been an important part of my life; from grade school craft projects, to painting and ceramics classes in high school, to being a graphic design and digital media major in college. I spent my early twenties interested in surface pattern design (and to this day I have a huge library of designs online)! That hobby went on the back burner while I worked as an art director at a magazine, it I found that typesetting and page layouts didn’t quite scratch that creative itch. So I delved back into digital art and tried watercolors! (Fun, but not my thing..) I lost my creative spark once again when my kids came along, it felt like there was simply no time. Eventually I was ready to jump back in and spent the nap times and evenings drawing landscapes, flowers, and birds, many of which are on cards here at the store!

A couple years ago I wanted to try something new, so I took an online painting class. Excellent decision! It was stress-free, fun to experiment, and the best part, there was a focus on my favorite subject, flowers. All of these paintings start with a “chaos layer”, essentially a lot of mark making with extra paint and layers of collage. After that it’s time to figure out, “what looks like a flower to me?” and start blocking things out. Then the fun part, start adding in as much detail as you want, until you feel like it’s done. I’m excited to share this series as l’ve loved every minute of creating all these bouquets. They’re expressive, full of color, not quite realistic, but best of all they make me happy, and I hope they conjure up some happiness in you as well!

Lauren

Changes

Parting is such sweet sorrow. The Sweetness of fond memories overlaid with the Sorrow that no more moments will be had.

It is with such that we are announcing the end of our time here in this historic spot and will be closing our doors at the Canterbury Country Store by the end of January. We truly hope that this is a temporary move and that someone else will step up and step into our shoes at this updated place we have created.

WHY?!!!

When we have had so much fun and you have been streaming in?

As it turns out, you didn’t really need a grocery store.

You have LOVED our bakery goods and prepared foods; but not so much the groceries.

You have LOVED the artisan wares; but not too many groceries.

You have loved the large gathering space for your meetings and art shows; but the groceries…not much.

And you have loved the routine of your morning coffee and your visits with friends and the ease of picking up your mail.

  • The meeting of this minds
  • What?! No more pizza?!
  • Artist’s pizza night

BUT…

… a cafe we are not; we are a grocery store. And a grocery store is not a grocery store without the sales of groceries and a general country store is not a general store with sales in only a couple categories.

We get it, we really do. Things are tight and why buy something here when you can get it at Market Basket for less just minutes away? And you have your favorite brands that we may not carry or cannot get access to. And you shop the Coop so just grab what you need there. And DoorDash is convenient. We were trying to walk the tight rope to give you what you need while offer you things that maybe you didn’t need but were surprised to find. It just seems that all lumped together you would prefer to shop elsewhere for most all your grocery needs.

No hard feelings.

And while many folks from out of town travel here for those grocery surprises, the overhead of keeping such a large space open to sell to a few does not cost out. And only selling baked goods, sandwiches and prepared meals cannot support the overhead either.

Let us say that there have always been the loyal few that recognized the need to support a store by spending here and there on grocery items to keep it going for the town. THANK YOU to all of you! The town has cherished your efforts and we recognized it too.

You need to know that we did not do the store to line our pockets. There was a realistic expectation that it never could pay a large wage. It was our intention to shape the space and pave the way for future businesses. We did this for you but for now we cannot sustain the effort. Thank you for your patronage and for the opportunity to serve you these last 2 1/2 years.

Jane and Dave

If you or someone you know would like to be the next owner/operator, please reach out to our Landlords, your Canterbury Community Market LLC, to discuss this. And we would be more than happy to help you shape a plan and get started.

The place is fully equipped and we have additional equipment, store operating manuals and prepared food & bakery recipes that we could pass on to you. What will it be next?!!!

Contact LLC: canterburycommunitymarketllc@gmail.com
Contact Dave and Jane: canterburynhcs@gmail.com

This BLOG will continue for the near future and stay tuned for where it will go from here.

Please leave your comments.

Exterior view of the Canterbury Country Store adorned with festive decorations and a snowy landscape.
Exterior view of a charming country store adorned with autumn decorations, featuring pumpkins, colorful flowers, and festive lighting.
Front view of the Canterbury Country Store, featuring a welcoming entrance with seasonal decorations, planters, and a blue mailbox.
Exterior view of the Canterbury Country Store featuring a white wooden building with a sign above the entrance, flower beds, and patriotic bunting.

the Friday Feeding; VOL. 108

Boxing day. The day after Christmas when all those with means sent their left-over feasting foods to the less-fortunate folks.

Well, the day after Christmas for most of us does mean left overs but in the very best way. Boxing things up is a nice idea but bits of this and dabs of that used up together make the best dishes because the flavor of each is deepened with that second-time-around cooking. Add a bit of fresh to it and it becomes something spectacular.

Dave and I treated ourselves to a special Christmas dinner out last week to enjoy the season…twinkly lights, festive cheers and a little dressing up [no baker’s wild-clipped hair for me and no pizza splattered shirts for him].

My meal was a bean and bacon stew topped with pan seared cod. Very rich and (probably because of all the appetizers I ate first) I could not finish it. I am never too proud to take good food home in a box so the next day I sautéd some celery, onions and red bell peppers in a little olive oil then added the bean stew with more water, simmered it for an hour then in the end added the cod broken into bite sized pieces. It was a spectacular soup accompanied by dunking strips made from Sunny Field bread doused in Russell’s Grateful Garlic sautéd in butter and baked for 15 minutes at 350.

Reusing your left-overs into another dish is not an original concept. Christmas Day trifle for example—which I made this year—uses left over bits of cake layered with jam (I made a cherry blackberry compote with orange instead) and custard sauce. And the 1950’s Back Burner soups were made using up the bits of cooking from the day before.

And a casserole was the original idea made 1950’s-modern with the addition of canned soups, sour cream and mayonnaise plus new ingredients. But a casserole in its purest original sense was great fodder for wasting not and wanting not, appreciating what we have and honoring the effort of laborious cooking over the hearth.

The key to a good casserole is the sauce that binds all the layers together. If you are not a canned soup kind of person, let me offer you the sauce basics to build your own left-overs dish.

These are variations on the classic béchamel sauce. The key to this sauce is low heat and patience.

Heat/melt in a heavy bottomed sauce pan over medium/low heat:
2 T fat
Add to this stirring constantly with a whisk and cook for 1 minute:
2 T flour
Slowly add whisking well on low heat:
1 cup of liquid
Seasoning to taste
Whisk and cook until sauce gets thick, about 10 minutes.


Turkey and stuffing left overs
Layer turkey, stuffing, frozen peas and cranberry sauce in alternating layers spoon sauce on top of each layer. Finish with sauce. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes at 350’ until the top is slightly browned.
Make your sauce with butter for the fat and milk adding salt and pepper to taste and 1/4 tsp Bells Seasoning. I also like to add 1/2 tsp of chicken bouillon paste. Double this recipe if you are doing a full casserole.

Mashed potatoes and/or root vegetable left overs
Layer mashed veggies with layers of uncooked or cooked greens like chopped kale or spinach and feta cheese. As above pour sauce over each layer finishing with sauce and sprinkling of cheese. Bake uncovered 30 minutes at 350’ until the top is slightly browned.
Make your sauce with extra virgin olive oil for the fat and vegetable broth for the liquid. Add 1/4 tsp each of nutmeg and granulated garlic.

Cheers!

Jane and Dave

Three children standing in front of Santa Claus in a festive setting, with a decorated background and seasonal decorations.
A person dressed as Santa Claus standing behind a counter with a customer, both smiling. The setting features wooden shelves with products and baskets displayed.
A cozy winter scene featuring a porch decorated for the holidays, with twinkling lights, a small evergreen tree, and snow-covered plants.
Stained glass decorations in the shape of a snowflake and a Christmas tree hanging in a window, with festive lights visible in the background.

New art show opening Monday January 5th! WINTER IN BLOOM. Featuring the artwork of Lauren Propere

Artist reception Friday January 9, 5-6PM

the Friday Feeding; VOL. 107

“Merry, Merry everything!” is how an email from a friend closed a few days ago. I love the sentiment. No matter how you celebrate, these are the final weeks of merriment to close out 2025. And despite the cares of this world and despite your family traumas and despite the warring with the neighbors, we hope you can grab on to the little things of merry joy that can shift our attitude to lift our spirits and carry us into brighter days coming.

Little bits of merriment…

Noticing the setting sun over our Christmas village…

Having a silly adult visit with our neighbors Mrs. Claus and her head elf last Saturday.

Two individuals dressed in festive holiday attire, with one wearing a classic Santa Claus costume and the other dressed as an elf, posing together in a decorated shop.
Three people posing together in a cozy store, with a holiday theme. One person is dressed as Mrs. Claus, wearing a red dress with white trim, while the others are casually dressed, smiling and standing beside her.
Bob and Ellen with Mrs. Claus

Pinning corsages and boutonnières on each other (just for kitschy fun) at our staff Christmas party.

Having a special almond marzipan cake just for you without sharing, slice by tasty slice, savored with coffee, tea or our deluxe hot cocoa. In the store today Friday…

Having a quiet moment with toast and our holiday jam (made from our garden’s rhubarb and strawberries with a hint of festive orange). Try it on Betty’s squash rolls – yum! They will be in the store on Tuesday 12/23. Reserve some if you care too.

$8.95 per 1/2 dozen. 603-783-9933

Taking a starlit and moonlight walk ending in the town center tree light…

Taking notice of the joyful small things in life (like a 1/2” gingerbread house! On display at the store thru Jan. 4)

Eating by candlelight because magic happens when there are twinkling lights.

Make a meal special; just add candlelight

In the home I grew up in we always ate by candlelight. Never comfortably well-off, it was the one inexpensive nod to enchantment that my mother could offer the family. When the candles burnt low, the stubs were saved to eventually be melted end-to-end making an economical new layered candle for the holder.

We ate at an outdoor picnic table brought inside (a budget-friendly choice) and dined on simple fares, but that candlelight made it all seem special. Appointed. Purposeful. Joyful.

Dave and I always dine by candlelight still to this day. Even if we are exhausted or just eating left-over bites or even if one of us is alone, the candlelight pulls it all together to make an intentional practice of savoring what we are given.

Try it yourself sometime soon. You might be surprised at the joyful merriment it brings.

Jane’s Holiday Meat Loaf

I am sharing my meatloaf recipe with you here. In this version, I am including holiday colors and flavors from many cultures to create a new holiday classic. It is quick and easy to make and cold left overs make a great sandwich. Serves 2-4 people and can easily be doubled.

Mix all together with gloved or very clean hands squishing it all until thoroughly blended into a smooth paste:

  • 1lb ground pork (if you haven’t yet tried it, Robie Farms ground pork that we sell is quite incredible and all meat, not watery) Turkey or beef can be substituted.
  • 1 cup dry bread crumbles or crushed crackers. Here I used the Jalapeño Corn Bread crackers that we sell
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup diced green peppers
  • 1/2 cup diced red peppers
  • 1/4 cup grated yellow onions
  • 1T + 1 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tsp ground allspice
  • 2 1/4 tsp kosher salt

Shape into a loaf and place on a greased or parchment lined baking sheet. Spread over the top and smooth out:

  • 1/4 cup ketchup

Press into the ketchup in a decorative pattern:

  • 6 bay fresh bay leaves. Besides decoration this adds additional flavor.

Bake 375″ oven for 45 minutes.

Chopped red bell pepper pieces on a wooden cutting board beside a knife.
A box of Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread crackers next to a cutting board topped with finely chopped vegetables: grated onions, green bell peppers, and red bell peppers, all arranged neatly.
A wooden rolling pin resting on a dark surface, surrounded by crumbs and small pieces of dough.
A close-up of a mixing bowl containing ground pork, diced green and red peppers, grated onion, spices, egg, and breadcrumbs, ready for making meatloaf.
A mixture of ground pork, diced green and red peppers, and other ingredients, ready to be shaped into meatloaf.
A freshly shaped holiday meatloaf mixture with visible pieces of green and red bell peppers, placed on a baking dish.
A top view of a meatloaf covered in ketchup and decorated with fresh bay leaves, placed in a glass dish.

In the store this week-end…

A slice of dessert with a glossy layer of jam, placed on a crinkled paper liner.
Linzer bars
A round almond marzipan cake decorated with powdered sugar, orange zest, and a marzipan topping sitting on parchment paper.
Almond Orange marzipan mini-cakes
A freshly baked fruit galette featuring a flaky crust filled with cranberries and peach slices, presented on a parchment-lined surface.
Apple, pear and cherry galette pies

Stop by the store on Saturday to meet Santa and grab a free donut as a Merry Christmas gift from all of us! And sample some incredible cheese while you are there… Santa is here from 10-1.

A smiling woman in an apron stands next to a man dressed as Santa Claus, with a festive display of baked goods on the counter in their shop.
A smiling Santa Claus in a red suit holds a plate of stacked donuts, pointing with his other hand.
A round wheel of cheese with a white rind and a slice cut out showing a creamy interior.

If we don’t see you before, Merry Christmas to all of you and thank you for following this blog!

Jane and Dave

the Friday Feeding; VOL. 106

Winter Wonderland and cozy food.

Yes, we’re a snow-land here likened to years past, even though it is not technically winter yet.  Bring it on!  And along with this snow and cold temps brings the need to hunker down, be warm and fuel our bodies and souls with comfort.

You know here at the store we have the makings for much comfort food and we also have it already made for you with our stocked-up freezer and coolers. But part of this hunker-down ritual is the process of preparing your own said food.  It is soul work.

Let us offer you some suggestions.

Soup basics

The secret to a soulful soup is the base.  Just throwing things in a pot of water ends with a soup that tastes, well, watery.  But spend a bit of time in the beginning reducing and deepening the flavors of a few veggies and you will sigh with each bite.

ONE: Begin by sweating or sautéing any of the Aromatic vegetables; onions, garlic, carrots, celery, bell peppers.  In your pot add some good oil then on medium/low heat add chopped vegetables then sauté them until they are reduced and they begin to color.   I often add a bit of salt after a minute or two to draw out their juices and “sweat” them. NOTE: these are the flavoring of the soup so chopping them fine lets them simply melt into the finished dish.

TWO: At this point reduce the heat to low and add some herbs, and if you were using garlic, add it at this point also.  Garlic burns easily and then turns bitter, so always add it at the last. Stir and cook for several minutes to allow the herbs to release their flavors.

THREE: Add additional flavor at this point such as prepared broth, wine or even fruit juice.  Add your main vegetables, beans and/or chopped meats and cover with water.  

Place a lid on the pot simmer this for at least 30 minutes and better yet, up to an hour.  Add salt and pepper as needed.  Serve.

Some my favorite combinations:

  • celery, carrots, onions, with thyme and dry white wine.  Add chicken or tofu with more larger pieces of carrot and rutabaga or parsnips.
  • onions, garlic, green bell peppers with basil & oregano cooked in the oil from a jar of sun-dried tomatoes.  Add vegetable broth, sun-dried tomatoes, kidney beans and kale.
  • onions, garlic (lots), red bell peppers + one hot pepper with coriander & ginger. Add rice noodles, a splash of Lemonchello or Elderflower syrup and protein. (This combination cooks up fast so just 5 minutes will do it.)

This procedure also works with hearty bean dishes.

Diced onions, carrots, and celery sautéing in a pan with a wooden spoon.
A spoonful of colorful vegetable soup in a white bowl, showcasing ingredients like spinach, peppers, and beans.

Our favorite hack this year is using this caramelized onion jam as a base. Fast.

A jar of cranberry orange curd sits on a green plate along with triangular crackers, next to a plate of sliced cheese.
Three brown paper bags of heirloom dry beans displayed on a wooden surface, featuring clear windows showcasing the beans inside.
A refrigerated display case featuring various ready-to-eat meals, salads, fruits, and fresh vegetables, including apples, carrots, and bell peppers.
A picturesque winter scene featuring a snowy landscape with bare trees, a house adorned with lights, and a festive atmosphere.
A bowl of vibrant, chunky cranberry sauce with visible pieces of fruit, set on a textured surface.
A colorful quinoa salad topped with cheese cubes, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and shredded carrots in a clear bowl on a wooden surface.
A variety of gourmet sauces, jams, and condiments displayed on wooden shelves in a store, with a focus on balsamic vinegar bottles.

If you haven’t already finished your shopping list at the Farmers Marker or craft events here in town, consider a purchase of some Canterbury and NH made fine craft here at the store. Eric, Jim, Miriam, Heidi, Andy, Sue, Steve, Jerry, Lauren, Jayne, John, Edward, Doneta, Kent, Angus and Christian would be grateful.

See ya around,

Jane and Dave

the Friday Feeding; VOL. 105

It’s your store Canterbury; it’s been our gift to you.

Yes, Dave and I run this place but it is YOUR store.  We had a vision for something we all could enjoy so we did this thing for our community.  And like all gifts, our fulfillment is not is what we receive in return, but in seeing how you enjoy it.

So this holiday season please come in, warm up, feel cozy and enjoy your gift.  

And you might even find some gifts that you want to give others.  Pay it forward.

A decorative bowl filled with various chocolate treats and lollipops, including chocolate bars topped with cranberries and pumpkin seeds, arranged with wooden sticks and wrapped in clear plastic.
A collection of jars featuring 'Fat Toad Farm' goat's milk caramel, displayed in a woven basket with shredded paper filling.
A jar of Blake Hill Heirloom Apple preserves on a wooden display, surrounded by other jars and a sprig of greenery with red berries.
A display shelf featuring wooden Christmas trees, ceramic pitchers with intricate designs, and various wooden boxes, accompanied by a winter landscape painting in the background.
A wooden shelf displaying a variety of decorative items: ceramic pitchers, a framed artwork featuring fruit, decorative teal boxes, and candles, alongside small wooden candle holders and painted pinecone artwork.
A collection of woven textiles and embroidered items, including a round plate featuring pinecones and various colorful fabrics stacked behind it.
Packages of novelty pasta, labeled 'Snowman Pasta' and 'Christmas Tree Pasta', displayed together in a festive setting.
A stack of vintage-style boxes for a log building toy set called 'Roy Toy Log Building Set - The Camp,' featuring colorful illustrations of a cabin, trees, and children engaging in outdoor activities, set against a festive background.
A display of decorative candle tins featuring festive designs, including a Christmas tree and a moon, arranged on a metal rack.
A close-up of two spice containers on a wooden shelf. The left container is labeled 'SMOKY cranberry maple dry rub' and the right container is labeled 'SALT & PEPPER MEDLEY grinder' with various peppercorns and salt visible inside.
A wooden gift basket labeled 'CANTERBURY COUNTRY STORE' filled with assorted gourmet snacks, including chocolates and cookies, adorned with a red ribbon.
Two jars of Holiday Strawberry Rhubarb Jam on a wooden shelf, labeled with 'Canterbury Country Store' and details about the ingredients.
A festive Christmas promotion poster featuring Santa, Mrs. Claus, and a store employee, with event details for December tastings and meet-and-greet sessions.

December Saturday Tastings

  • Saturday Dec. 6 – cranberry orange curd. Try it on a cookie, cracker or cheese.
  • Saturday Dec. 13 – cheese and toppings. Sample some of our huge selection of cheeses and learn how to pair them with special toppings.
  • Saturday Dec. 20 – free donuts with Santa while they last.

Watch how the store was decorated. Thank you to Mike and Maureen for helping us!

Let’s bake

Tis the season, right? When all the goodies roll out of our kitchens and we end up with abundance and after a point we say no more sugar. I offer you the following two versions of a classic favorite. My grandmothers original is not too sweet but the second version hits the mark for all the folks who have food intolerances; they are gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan and paleo.

Click on each recipe to download a printable version.

A handwritten recipe for Grandma's Snow Ball cookies on aged paper, showing ingredients and instructions.
Recipe for gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan and paleo snowball cookies with a snowman decoration.

Enjoy your holiday week-end,

Jane and Dave

the Friday Feeding; VOL. 104

Giving thanks. What we like so much about Canterbury is the behind-the-scenes unpaid, unsung heroes.  It’s extraordinary.  And especially at this time of year.

Those who clean out the gutters on our building.  You know who you are. We thank you.

Those who string the lights on our building and the center green.  You know who you are. We thank you.

Those who prune those trees in the green and beat down the brush and pick up the trash.  You know who you are.  We thank you.

And those who rake & haul, those who nail & paint and those who check & balance us so that this unlikely little store in the middle of nowhere can survive and thrive. It takes our village and we thank you.

And finally, tho they are paid, they still may be unsung, THANK YOU to the staff of our store who remain positive and have fun.  We ALL know who you are. We thank you.

THANK YOU.

A smiling woman stands behind a counter decorated with holiday items, including baked goods, a lamp, and a festive floral arrangement.
Sue
A smiling staff member wearing a Canterbury Country Store apron stands behind the counter, with packaged goods and a computer register in the background.
Shay
A smiling woman at a retail counter, wearing an apron, surrounded by various holiday-themed items and gifts.
Vicki

As you race…

… into this next week of Food, Family and Festivities know that we are here for your last minute items and holiday shopping. We are closed on Thanksgiving.

A wrapped package of cultured salted butter from Ploughgate Creamery, featuring a prominent label with product details on a wooden surface.
A package of sourdough bread stuffing mix displayed with a clear window showing the toasted bread pieces inside.
A box of Maldon Sea Salt Flakes featuring a green and white geometric design, with some salt flakes scattered on the surface.
Bottles of All Times Sparkling Cider and jugs of Brookdale Fruit Farm Apple Cider displayed in a refrigerator.
A creamy gingerbread martini in a glass garnished with a sprinkle of nutmeg, placed on a wooden surface, with gingerbread cookies in the background.
A jar of Blake Hill Pumpkin Maple Butter, featuring a label with pumpkins and the text 'Pumpkin Maple Butter' in a decorative font.
Cans of ConTooCook cider in various flavors, including cranberry and blueberry, arranged on a shelf.
A vibrant bouquet featuring sunflowers, pink and red carnations, white chrysanthemums, and delicate filler flowers, arranged beautifully on a brown background.

It’s a festive month at the store in the center of town. Click here to see all that is coming up…

Last weeks BAKED! art show reception. If you weren’t here, we are sorry you missed a good party but the show is up into the first week of January. Come see the beautiful art and amazing gingerbread creations.

A woman and a girl share a joyful moment while decorating cookies, with the woman holding a piping bag and the girl excitedly pointing at it. The setting has warm lighting and a cozy atmosphere.
A child's hand with white icing shaped like a heart, resting on a wooden table. Nearby, a small empty cup and festive items like a gingerbread cookie and a striped cloth are visible.
A young child in a purple jacket plays with a gingerbread cookie while sitting at a wooden table with a gingerbread house decoration and festive items nearby.
A cheerful woman in a purple jacket smiling and playfully pointing to her teeth while standing in a cozy indoor setting with two others nearby.
Even big girls like frosting
Two women smiling and posing together in front of decorated gingerbread houses at an art show.
Gingerbread artist Beth on the right with her mentor Jenny
A child and two adults admire gingerbread houses displayed on a gallery wall during an art show reception.
Two people engaged in conversation in an art gallery, with various artworks displayed on the walls.
A woman and a child decorating a gingerbread house during a festive event.
Two smiling individuals posing together in a casual setting, one holding a cookie and wearing a plaid shirt, while the other wears an apron with the Canterbury Country Store logo.
Dave and Jane

Gingerbread martini!

A gingerbread martini with a gingerbread man cookie garnish, set against a window with a blurred outdoor view.

I do enjoy a good fancy drink for special occasions but my complaint is that most of them on any menu feature pre-mixed chemically-stabilized liquors. Here is a fun recipe that includes just simple straight ingredients and it tastes great! Do with or without spirits, as you choose.

For each martini, place in a shaker or jar with a lid:

  • 1 drop of pure cinnamon bark essential oil (try Granite State Naturals for this or get it on Amazon)
  • 1 tsp dark molasses
  • 1T Quince syrup (we sell this; its is 100% cold pressed quince with no added sugar)
  • 3T vodka or ginger beer
  • 1 crystallized ginger cube
  • 3 ice cubes

Shake very well until all is blended and cold. Pour into a glass reserving the ginger cube. Top the martini with 2oz (1/4 cup) of plain sparkling water. If you really like ginger like I do, put the ginger cube into the glass to continue flavoring the martini.

Cut a slice in the reserved ginger cube and put it on the side of the glass along with a gingerbread cookie if desired. OR if you really like ginger like I do, put the ginger cube into the glass to continue flavoring the martini! Enjoy!

A gingerbread martini with a gingerbread cookie garnish, placed on a table near a window, showcasing a scenic view outside.
A jar of cold pressed quince syrup with a yellow label featuring a quince illustration.

Have a happy thanksgiving,

Jane and Dave

PS Don’t forget to reserve some of Betty’s squash rolls to pick up on Wednesday. We committed to a bunch made fresh for the store and we gotta sell em!