Start getting ready for the holiday season with a hot cup of java to warm the cockles of your heart. Local Cameron’s Coffee (cameronscoffee.com) in Shakopee has created delicious blends for sharing with family and friends as gifts or at gatherings. The Highlander Grog and Crème Brûlée Latte are my favorite holiday flavors and make me excited for the celebrations to come.
For a new take on the classic candy cane, check out the Funky Chunky peppermint bark. And if you need a break from baking cookies, their sea salt caramel popcorn is a treat you can easily leave out for your guests. You can find these festive tastes at select Lunds & Byerlys and Kowalski’s stores, or look for a location near you online (funkychunkyinc.com).
With all these goodies, it’s no surprise if your pants feel a bit tighter, but reading about food is a great way to enjoy it without the calories. Some delicious recommendations include the novel Kitchens of the Great Midwest (penguinrandomhouse.com) by J. Ryan Stradal, formally from Hastings. Also, two great quarterly magazines from the expanded Askov Finlayson (askovfinlayson.com) on North First Street—Lucky Peach and the Diner Journal, both full of wonderful food stories and fabulous recipes. Add one of the store’s Mast Brothers chocolate bars and you’ll be in heaven come sleet or snow.
