Littleton Food Coop

a community owned market

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Create a Personalized Gift Basket

December 1, 2019 By Littleton Food Co-op

Littleton Co-op is a great source for local, unique and flavorful products that delight, inspire and nourish body and soul. Create a special holiday gift basket for friends, family and co-workers by choosing a selection of items that they will enjoy!

Customization is key
The key to creating a thoughtful gift that will truly be appreciated is understanding your recipient. Is she the person you turn to for health and exercise tips? Does he always have the low-down on the latest food trends? Are they regulars at the farmers market and love local farm tours?

Make a list, check it twice
Once you have settled on a theme, brainstorm a list of complementary items, determine your budget and begin exploring the options at the co-op.

Presenting your present
Baskets are nice, but a reusable lunchbox or tote bag, mason jars, metal, wooden or ceramic bowls, even backpacks or messenger bags are practical (and reusable!) options. Or wrap your items furoshiki- style, with a pretty scarf, table linens, or a co-op t-shirt.

Gift basket ideas

  • The Foodie – Chutney, chili or curry paste, spice blends, wooden spoons and a cookbook
  • The Party Host – Fine cheeses, spiced nuts, dates and figs, fine crackers
  • The Locavore – Seasonal fruits and vegetables, jams and preserves, salsas, honey, cheeses
  • The Office Mate – Fine coffee and teas, tea infusers, biscotti, fine chocolate, utensils
  • The Health Nut – Energy bars, protein shake mix, Emergen-C, yoga mat
  • The College Student – Energy bars, trail mix, snacks, socks, Emergen-C and a co-op gift card
  • The Beauty Basket – Hair and skin care, essential oils, bath salts, aromatherapy candles

This article originally appeared on Co+op Stronger Together

Filed Under: Holiday, Holiday Gifts, The Cooperative Times

How to Create the Perfect Cheese Platter

November 21, 2019 By Littleton Food Co-op

If there’s one plate of food that says “party,” it’s the cheese platter. Enticing and satisfying enough to carry a celebration on its own, the cheese plate is also the perfect attraction for introducing guests to one another before the main course.

Putting together a spectacular cheese platter is easier than you might think. Here are a few tips:

The cheese platter

Serve cheese at room temperature. The cold from the refrigerator inhibits its flavor, so take your cheese out half an hour before guests arrive to allow it to “bloom.”
Provide a serving utensil for each variety of cheese on your tray.

Serve a selection of three to five contrasting cheeses. Think different tastes, colors, and textures, like mild with robust (like Brie with blue cheese), fresh with aged (like Boursin with aged Gruyere), or soft with hard cheeses (like chevre with Parmesan).

Create a themed tray by offering cheeses from one region or source, or showcase an array of cheeses made from different milks (cow, goat, sheep).

Accompaniments

Whether you serve them individually or on the same platter, some foods are perfect complements to cheese. These include:

  • Fresh and dried fruits
  • Crostini, flatbread, and other crackers
  • Hearty and crusty breads
  • Olives
  • Nuts
  • Honey

To create an antipasto platter, include a mix of marinated vegetables and cured meats.

Wine and beer cheese pairings

In general, a wine that comes from the same geographic area as the cheese will be a good match. Here are some other pairings:

  • Goat cheeses and dry red wines
  • Cheddars with sweet wines and pale and brown ales
  • Fresh, medium, and hard cheeses with crisp, fruity red or white wine
  • Cheeses with bloomy rinds (like Brie) and fruity red wines or light, dry champagnes
  • Swiss cheeses with dark lagers, bocks, and Oktoberfest beers
  • Feta and wheat beers
  • Sweet cheeses with fruity beers

Check out the cheese offerings—especially any local cheeses—at the co-op! And if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the array of choices, just ask the staff for recommendations (including wine pairings). Then just sit back and wait for the doorbell to ring—your celebration will be off to a flavorful start!

 

This article originally appeared on Co+op stronger Together.

Filed Under: Food Facts, Holiday, The Cooperative Times

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Our 2022 Partners

January
North Country Beekeepers Association
February
Mt. Eustis Ski Hill
March
Women's Entrepreneurial Network (WREN)
& NH Farm to School
April
Littleton Area Senior Center
May
Adaptive Sports Partners of the North Country
June
Second Chance Animal Rescue
July
Boys & Girls Club of the North Country
August
Above the Notch Humane Society
September
The Colonial Theatre
October
Littleton Co-op Community Fund
November
Local Food Pantries
December
The Bancroft House



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43 Bethlehem Road· On the corner of Cottage St and Rte 302· Exit 41 off I-93· 603-444-2800
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