Please take a moment to VOTE for the MAIN STREET FARMERS' MARKET to help them win $5,000 and support fresh, local, healthy food!

This is our first season in operation and we could use ALL the help we can get to support our local farmers and artisan food producers.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

Leave a comment & let me know you voted!

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

Well, what do you think?

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

HEADS UP! I know of a Mother's Day Giveaway that starts today.

A Mother's Day Giveaway Bonanza

Today's prize giveaway is a One Year Subscription to Cook's Illustrated Magazine sponsored by yours truly. Click on the banner above to go there now!

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

Folks!  I can hardly express the excitement and hope for prosperity I have for Sulphur Springs (Texas) Farmers' Market.  I just about came out of my shoes when I heard there would be locally grown foods for sale just five minutes from my home!

Herbs, fruits, vegetables, organic-free-range eggs, fresh breads, fresh cheese, fresh salsas, gourmet cookies and patio plants & flowers.

Downtown Sulphur Springs is working hard to revitalize this historic area by bringing in new shops and fine dining.  Last year, Main Street was the first to get an extreme makeover with new red brick pavement, lamp posts, flower beds, water fountain, and jazz music floating through the air.
Remember when I told you about the ribbon cutting of the new Main Street last October?  Read it here: A New Main Street and Chili Dogs

SO WHO WAS THERE? Well, just to name a few...

Be ready to stock up!  Juarez Chile Co. makes delicious salsas, sweet-n-hot jalapenos pickles and more! It's  Impossible to decide which ones to bring home first.

CiboVino restaurant is the BEST, MOST FABULOUS, OUT OF THIS WORLD, I-Could-NEVER-Make-This-AT-Home fine dining experience in ALL of Texas.  Yes, I said "all of Texas".   CiboVino's Italian menu is loaded with incredible foods ALL made from scratch.

The gentleman in black in the photo above is Rick Murray, owner of CiboVino restaurant.  Rick has big plans and he's not stopping with Italian dining.  In the works and COMING SOON is ciboBQ in Winnsboro, Texas and ciboVino Steaks will open in 2010 in downtown Sulphur Springs Texas. I can't wait!

You can find ciboVino Italian restaurant at 218 North Main Street, Winnsboro, Texas 75494, See Google Map link.

SW Farms is new for me.  I don't have much to report, except that they make a tasty homemade ricotta cheese.  I will keep you posted as I come to learn more.

And finally,

Webb really knows how to put on a spread and works endlessly to put out fresh vegetables.  I was glad to see him at the farmers market.  Webb doesn't have a website; you'll just have to come to Sulphur Springs Farmers' Market EVERY SATURDAY 'til October from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. to meet him yourself.

I'll see you there!

Check out the NEW WEBSITE: Main Street Farmers' Market

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

Maggie being a mom at Windy Meadows Family Farm

Windy Meadows Family Farm is run by a the friendliest family.  Tucked within the tall pines and peaceful country side, you'll find Windy Meadows in Campbell, Texas, North of interstate highway 30, off highway 50.  They sell the healthiest chickens and freshest hand picked chicken eggs you will ever eat!

From their site:

The Mike and Connie Hale Family and their children have raised pastured chicken and grass fed beef and lamb on their 40 acres of  Windy Meadows Family Farm  in North East Texas for nearly twenty years.  Their concerns for food safety for their own children led them to the decision for raise natural meats without added hormones, antibiotics or feed stimulants. They now have a state-inspected poultry processing facility on their farm that produces pastured chicken and sausage for taste-discriminating palates in the Dallas area. Their customers fall into two categories: those who want pastured meats because they are raise in a more responsible manner, and those who simply want the best-tasting chicken.  Some of the chicken raised by Windy Meadows Family Farm grace the tables of some of the finest four-star restaurants in Dallas that are seeking  locally grown and responsibly raised nataural meats.  Their chicken is available at several loctions in the Metroplex, including several buying clubs and farmers markets.

I'm fortunate enough to live down the road from their farm.  I drive out on Mondays, I call first, and pick up my usual order (3 whole chickens, 2 dozens eggs, and bag of chicken soup bones).  For everyone living near downtown Dallas, one convenient place to get their pastured meats is from the Texas Meats Supernatural at the Dallas Farmers Market booth in Shed 2.  Look for the wood cabin.

The first thing I noticed after buying my first order from Windy Meadows was the minimal amount of fat on the whole chickens.  I slathered that first chicken with butter, smoked salt & fresh ground pepper, stuffed it with a cut lemon and few cloves of garlic then baked it at 425ºF for 1 1/2 hours.  Oh ho ho ho BABY!

Very little fat came off that chicken, I had just enough of the juices to make up a scrumptious sauce to pour over mashed potatoes.  It was beautiful, I almost cried when I tasted the difference.  All this time, wasted eating store bought chickens and having to cover it other ingredients to help them to have flavor.  When all along, I could have been serving my family chicken that was raised as God intended.  I'm glad to have Windy Meadows meats within reach.

As for the eggs, same praise is shouted here.  For years now, I've paid extra to have the cage free chicken eggs from the grocery store.  But even their flavor & yolk color does not compare to eggs from chickens raised on fresh grass, roaming around chasing & eating grasshoppers, worms & other insects.  The happy chicken's yolk is a golden orange with notably more flavor you want on your plate for breakfast and in your baking.  You haven't eaten the best quiche, unless it's been made from happy chicken eggs.

Check out Windy Meadows Family Farm website to learn more about them.

If you don't live anywhere near Dallas or Campbell, Texas, that's okay.  You can still find grass fed chickens and their eggs near you.  Go to Local Harvest.org, they have a wealthy database of farms, farmer's markets, CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), food clubs and their own online store.  I recommend joining their newsletter to learn about new farms opening up, festival information and when fresh season crops are available.

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

Please give a big hand of applause to Simple Daily Recipes' WINNERS!!!

Deby in Florida,  Karyn in Ohio
& Mary Alice in North Carolina

Each won a $25.00 Gift Card for Ruby Tuesday Restaurant

Deby, Karyn, and Mary Alice subscribe to Simple Daily Recipes Roundup Newsletter.  In last week's newsletter, I invited all the email subscribers to have a little fun with me.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO

Go onto SimpleDailyRecipes.com and pick your FAVORITE Recipe(s).

In the comment box below the recipe, tell us why it's your favorite, i.e. your kids/spouse love it, it's a truly simple recipe, I cook this on a regular basis...

THEN close your comment with

your name

home state

Email Subscriber
etc., etc., etc.

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

I can't tell you just how excited I am about this year's Hopkins County Stew Contest. Ever since we've lived here, I have completely enjoyed our own Hopkins County Fall Festival and the opportunity to eat as many bowls of fresh hot stew as I can eat for just 5 dollars! The Fall Festival begins on the second Saturday of September, each year, with the Stew Cook-off always on the third Saturday.

And y'all, this year, I will be participating as a "Celebrity Judge!"
That's what the letter said, "Celebrity Judge."
I get to taste & judge ALL THE STEWS FOR FREE, YEEE-HAW!

Let me just say, although Sulphur Springs may be a small East Texas town, there's a whole community of foodies and great cooks here that KNOW how to put on a spread.

You see that man in the above photo? Does he look like he's playin' around?
NO sir'ee!  He camped out overnight on the Fall Festival grounds, woke up BEFORE DAWN, stoked his cooking fire and started building his stew from scratch when the sun broke the dark sky.  He's been peeling, cutting, stoking and stirring all morning long.  And why?

Well, this year's cook-off features over 132 cooking teams competing for several thousand dollars in prize money.  Cooking over open wood fires, teams prepare hearty chicken and beef stews in huge cast-iron pots.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE! The atmosphere will send you back in time as gingham and calico-clad ladies stir simmering pots and bearded men in denim and homespun digs stoke glowing campfires. Teams compete for prizes for "most appropriate heritage campsite and costumes", as well, in addition to the stew prizes.

We've even been on The Food Network's "All American Festivals" show in 2003, which featured our 2002 World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest.

WANT IN ON THE ACTION? WELL COME EAT WITH US!

The World Champion Hopkins County Stew Contest is held in Sulphur Springs, Texas.  Right by the Chamber of Commerce and Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, 1200 Houston Street.

View Larger Map

The cost for all-you-can-eat stew and fixin's is $5. Children under 6 eat free.
Stew tickets will go on sale at 9:00 AM
Stew will be served to the public beginning at 11:00 AM.
Service tents will open at 10:45 AM for attendees to obtain stew bowls, cheese, crackers, etc... Judges' samples to be delivered to the judges' tent at 10:45 AM.

COME EARLY and get your bowls. Folks around here don't mosey up to the stew pots, they stand in line when it comes time to eat!  This is the largest event in our county each year with a crowd of 8,000 to 10,000 in attendance.  So when the clock strikes 10:20ish go stand around the best smellin' stew you can find, start looking for the veteren stew makers, you can't miss them.  Then, work your way around.

BIG TIP, don't toss away your bowl & spoon!  You only get one each. As soon as you finish one stew, you go find another to eat.  I ask to have my bowl filled 1/3 of the way, then eat while I'm standing in the next stew line, and get another 1/3, and keep moving until I'm full.

For more pictures from past festivals check out the Hopkins County Fall Festival site.

I'll be hanging around the judges tent, so come find me and say 'Hello!'

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

HERE'S WHAT MAKES THEM COOL
For just $30.00, families receive a full box of top quality, fresh and frozen foods that would normally cost them $60 to $70 at the grocery store. And each month, a family can expect a good variety of real food choices; Bacon Wrapped Beef Filets, Lean Hamburger Steaks, Boneless Pork Roast, Meaty Beef Short Ribs, Frozen Green Beans, Pinto Beans, Fresh Apples, and more! And each month, the Angel Food menu changes. Not the same old choices, month after month, isn't that great?

There's another reason why I like them. Angel Food Ministries goes the extra mile to reach more families by accepting food stamps. Remember, they're offering a lot of food for half the price.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE PART - I can buy boxes of food for other famlies to enjoy.

HERE'S ALL I HAD TO DO

• Go over to Angel Food Donations
  
• Fill out the form
• Press the 'Make Donation' button
• Print my confirmation receipt
• File receipt in my tax file under tax deductible donations
• Do it again, next payday or next month, or whenever

It is such an honor to serve Angel Food Ministries. They can be found in over 3,200 communities in 35 states and help to feed over 500,000 families a month. To find a church or organization that hosts in your area, go to Angel Food Host Sites.

Are you interested in a quick and simple way to get involved?
Go to Angel Food Donations and follow the steps I took to make a donation. If you could use an Angel Food Ministries food box, then don't be shy. Go straight over to Angel Food Host Sites and look up the closest spot to get a box. There are specific dates to order boxes and specific dates to pick up the food boxes. Be sure to call ahead, so you don't miss out.

TOGETHER, YOU & I CAN DO MORE
As owner of Simple Daily Recipes.com, I am contributing 10% of all commissions from Google ads, My Amazon Store, affiliate programs and advertising to Angel Food Ministries. I need you to click on and check out all the advertising sponsors at SimpleDailyRecipes.com to help increase donations. While you're here, if you're planning to buy a cookbook, cooking appliances, or specialty food items online, then come through Simple Daily Recipes to buy it.

It's another great way for us to do more for other families.

For more information on Angel Food Ministries, take a tour of their website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact them.

Angel Food Ministries
1620 South Broad Street
Monroe, Georgia 30655
1-770-267-7015
1-888-819-3745
Fax: 1-770-267-8031

Or call the Angel Food hotline at 1-877-FOOD-MINISTRY for answers anytime!

It's a great time to get involved.

Your friend,

Jill McKeever

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

The kids and I just came from the post office.  Our first box of baked goods for Operation Baking Gals is on it's way!  The kids have totally grooved on this whole experience and are ready to bake some more.

If you haven't had the chance, take it now to listen to my interview with Susan from Operation Baking Gals.  It's never too late to join a baking team or become a host of a baking team.  Just email Susan and let her know.

SO HERE'S WHAT WE BAKED FOR THE SOLDIERS

• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• Banana Nut Bars

All simple recipes to make.  Everything was already in my pantry.  And these baked goods will hold up for the long haul.

The Banana Nut Bars were particularly MOIST & AWESOME.  They almost didn't make into the box.  It took a lot of self control to pack them all, minus three for taste testing purposes.  I had to know if they tasted right!

For More Information On Other Goodies to Send Along
Check out the comments section of the Enlist in Operation Baking Gals post.

Even if you don't have a chance right now to get involved, I highly recommend simply reading over the Operation Baking Gals blog.  Take a moment to enjoy the stories and feel the excitement being stirred up by all the hosts and bakers.  This is a monthly event so you can always get involved next month.

Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.

I had the great pleasure of meeting and talking with Susan from Operation Baking Gals. Susan told me the story of how she asked a few of her food blogging friends to help her bake some cookies for her cousin in Iraq. Today, she's handling over 200 bakers and 6 Host Teams that are sending a taste of home out to our brave men and women serving over seas.

It's a wonderful story, and Susan is a great gal to get to know. While you're listening or after you catch the show, go over and meet the teams and the soldiers on Operation Baking Gals. If you have the opportunity then please don your baking mitts and join the fun.

Listen in and Enjoy!

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Pick up the NEW book Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg & Zoe Francois from Amazon here.