It’s Summer Break!  The kids are home and besides running between summer camps, the pool and family vacations, you really want to take advantage of your time with the kids.  What better way to do so but in the kitchen?  Cooking with your children is a great way to teach them basic life skills, pass on family secret recipes and show them how to eat healthy.  Most importantly, you get to spend great quality time with your kids just laughing and having a good time.  Since it is summer, try making simple recipes that do not involve the stove-top or oven.  No need to heat up the house even more!  Here are a few ideas…

• Blueberry Smoothie:  Blend yogurt, Wyman’s Blueberry juice and blueberries healthy refreshing drink!
• Crunchy Peanut Butter Banana Sticks: Insert Popsicle sticks in bananas that have been cut in half.  Spread Brennan’s Natural peanut butter on to one side of the banana and sprinkle with crushed up Brennan’s granola. Press the granola into the peanut butter so it stays.
• Watermelon Popsicles: Seed and cube some watermelon. Puree in a blender. Pour into a ice cube tray, Popsicle mold or Dixie cups.  Insert sticks into the cups after the Popsicles are partially frozen.
• Cucumber Sandwiches: Spread cream cheese on two pieces of whole-wheat bread. Place slices of cucumber one side and put sandwich together. You could also add some dill if you desire.
• Peachy Peanut Butter Pockets:  Cut off about 3 inches off one edge of pita bread so you can get inside. Spread both walls with a thin layer of Brennan’s Natural Peanut Butter.  Stuff with peach slices. 

Finally, here is a recipe that will take a little more time but will definitely be worth it!

Blueberry Fool  (serves 6-8)

Wash blueberries and remove any overripe ones.  Place berries in a medium saucepan and stir in the water and sugar.  Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until the berries are soft and have released their juices. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, pour whipping cream into a medium mixing bowl and beat it with an electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form, about 1 minute. Mix in vanilla extract.

Pour cooled blueberry sauce over the whipped cream and gently fold the mixture until blueberries and the cream are well combined. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, then spoon the dessert into serving dishes.

ENJOY!

This summer we’re welcoming a new farm to our family of growing partners: Fat Boys Blueberry Farm of Holland, Michigan.

Family-owned and operated for the last 80 years, Fat Boys Farms prides itself on quality fruit and hand-picks rather than machine harvests to ensure the best. According to Ed, the owner, “We have extremely good soil that retains water and produces excellent size.” A small farm by most standards, Fat Boy Farms has 44 acres, with 30 producing blueberries and 14 for non-producing young plants.

Ed’s love of farming blueberries began when he was 12 and first worked on farm. He bought it at age 25 and now works side by side with his dad every day. His wife and daughters sell their blueberries at local markets.

Plump and bursting with flavor, it’s easy to eat Fat Boys Michigan Blueberries by the handful. They’re also extremely good for your health. Packed with vitamin C, dietary fiber and antioxidants, blueberries have been dubbed one of nature’s top super foods! The antioxidants fight off the effects of free radicals like smog making your body a healthier place. Did you know that a one-cup, 80-calorie serving of fresh blueberries will give you five grams of fiber (more than most fruits and vegetables) and 15% of your daily vitamin C? No wonder we have them  in 10-lb. Boxes, great for pies or for freezing!

Blueberries are a delicate fruit and should be washed just before you enjoy them. You can add blueberries to just about anything including pancakes, fruit salad, yogurt, muffins, bars, buckles and pies. Fat Boys Blueberries can sweeten up any dish, but be sure to get yours now because they won’t be back at Brennan’s until next summer!

Can you believe Thanksgiving is THIS Thursday? Wasn’t it just Halloween last week? Though I should have realized because my Halloween candy is somehow all gone. Not that I’m not excited, because Thanksgiving is ultimate foodie holiday– a day filled with food, tradition and no stress about gifts. You can read the Black Friday ads and imagine that you will finish your Christmas shopping in one glorious day. Note, I did say imagine.

Well, anyone who knows me well knows that side dishes are my passion, so Thanksgiving is my dream day. In fact, I’m not sure if there will be room for turkey on my plate! Maybe on my 2nd. If you’re not following us on Facebook, check us out because we are doing a countdown to Thanksgiving with a new side dish recipe everyday or you can visit our recipe page for more ideas.  

Of course, if you are looking beyond side dishes. Jacobson’s is stocked with fresh turkeys. Contact the Jake’s nearest you to reserve your bird. And.. we are fully stocked on fresh baked pies. Choose from Pumpkin, Apple, Cherry, Strawberry Rhubarb and more!

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving or traveling, wine is a must. Our wine selectors are sampling wines perfect for your holiday feast, including New Zealand’s South Island Pinot Noir, a true crowd pleaser. If beer is your thing, then you are in luck because we are fully stocked on Winter brews including Hales Wee Winter, Scuttlbutt 10 Below and Tommy Knocker Cocoa Porter. Just to name a few. Mix and match a 6-pack with some Brennan’s Amber or Pils and you’ll have something for everyone.

Because this is Wisconsin, you cannot talk about any holiday without mentioning cheese. Besides traditional cheese and sausage platters to snack on when watching the Packers take on the Lions, I add cheese into my mashed potatoes and even to my green bean casserole. If you are looking for a hostess gift our cheese boxes are on display and ready to take or ship!

OK… clearly I could go on forever. I will wrap up and say, “Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving from all of us at Brennan’s!”

If you haven’t already tried it, now is the time.  Our Italian wines arrived recently, and with them came our previously sold-out Mastro Colombo Prosecco.  And it just so happens that this is the perfect wine for summer!   Drunk alone, it features flavors of apple and pear with a lovely effervescence and a delicate dry finish.  But it doesn’t stop there!  Prosecco is also the key ingredient in a few of our favorite recipes:

I’m sure by now you have fallen in love with our chin-drippin’ peaches, so why not enjoy them by the glass too?  For the best Bellini in town, puree one large chin-drippin’ peach, pour in the bottom of a champagne flute, and add 4 oz. of Prosecco.  Top with a fresh slice of peach and you have a terrific summer cocktail!  (One peach and 4 oz. Prosecco equals one serving, so just multiply by the number of friends you’re having over to serve a patio-full).  For something easier yet, just mix the Prosecco with our Wyman’s Blueberry Juice to taste. 

Also, don’t miss our recipes for Prosecco Popsicles and Strawberry Sparklers.  Hurry in today because once you try these cocktails you’ll want plenty of summer left to enjoy them many more times!

Door County, Wisconsin is famous for its great location, hiking and biking trails, and quaint harbor towns. At Brennan’s, Door County is most famous for its pie cherries.

 But don’t worry; you don’t have to venture all the way to Door County to get a taste of homegrown Wisconsin cherries. We’re now featuring fresh (NOT FROZEN) Door County Pie Cherries. These tart cherries, also known as Montmorency Cherries, are available in quart containers, 8 lb and 30 lb pails with sugar and 7 lb & 25 lb pails without sugar.

 Unlike their sweet cousin Bing, Montmorency cherries have a short life and are rarely sold fresh, most often sold frozen or canned. Best known as an ingredient in desserts, pie cherries can be used in cobblers, crisps and pies, of course. They can also be used in main courses, salsa, salads, jams, jellies and beverages.

 Not only are Door County Cherries a delicious treat, they also provide excellent health benefits. Cherries are one of the few “super foods” with powerful antioxidants and heart health benefits. So…you can have your pie and eat it, too! But only for a short time… stop in a get them before they’re gone!

When you’re a kid, Easter food is all about the candy. Was there other food at Easter? It’s all about the sugar high and seeing who could hold out the longest, you or your brother, and still have some jelly beans around in June so you could say, “Ha, ha I still have Easter candy.”

When you’re a grown-up (at least on the outside), Easter food is all about the ham, turkey, lamb or brunch. Plus… wine… and maybe a micro brew, and… maybe a little candy, too.

Here Are Some Ideas to Help Make Your Easter Feast Memorable!

Super Sweet & Juicy Pineapple

A classic on baked ham, in cake and in fruit salad, our pineapple is hand-selected, twice as sweet as normal pineapple and has four times the vitamin C. It is available whole, cored or chunked.

If you’re looking to put a new twist on pineapple for Easter, try this fun dessert recipe. You can make it even easier by using Brennan’s Caramel Sauce, rather than making your own sauce and sipping some rum on the side!

 Grilled Pineapple with Pound Cake & Rum Caramel Sauce

Brennan’s Preserves and Mustards

Don’t just think of mustard as a condiment for sandwiches, though it is a must! Combined our Dusseldorf Mustard and Apricot Preserves make a great glaze for ham.

Apricot-Glazed Smoked Ham

 Easter Wine

Easter is usually all about lighter, spring wines; unless of course, you are having lamb or beef. Our wine experts are always on hand to help you select the perfect wine for your Easter, but here are a few ideas to get you started.

• South Island Riesling (New Zealand): A little sweet, a little dry. A great crowd pleaser to pair with ham, brunch or poultry.
• Cherry Wine (Wisconsin): Great with glazed ham! It sounds like an odd combo, but it’s good.
• Kiwi Red (New Zealand): This Pinot Noir/Merlot blend is delicious with turkey.

US Championship Cheese

Cheese is an an Easter must for trays, for sandwiches and in brunch favorites like strata, frittata and quiche. Here’s one of our favorite brunch recipes that uses Wisconsin Gouda and Sharp Cheddar. Your family will ask for this every year!

Ham and Cheese Strata

Also, now’s a great time to shop for cheese at Brennan’s because the United States Championship Cheese is in! A fantastic opportunity to try exciting and new cheeses from around the country and right here in Wisconsin.

Happy Easter from Brennan’s Market!

There’s delicious Wisconsin beer in our cheese spread, locally-made beer in our mustard, and our Milwaukee-made sausage is shaped like a beer bottle. Now I know I’m in Wisconsin! (As if the cold and snow weren’t big enough clues.) These are a few of the tasty and whimsical items available at Brennan’s right now.  I personally need a little “winter whimsy” to get over the hump of February! So as friends come over this week to play board games, I will treat them to a few of my favorite Brennan’s Beer/Food Combos.

I’ll make a killer nacho sauce made from Brennan’s Jalapeno Golden Pilsner Cheddar Spread.  (*See recipe below)   For my friends who don’t want the heat of jalapenos, Brennan’s Pilsner Cheddar Spread as a faux fondue for dipping broccoli, dark breads, or my favorite… Brennan’s Baby Dill pickles.  And of course I can’t leave out our most popular beer spread…the Dark Amber Lager Cheddar Spread.  This spread combined with Happy Herbert’s Organic Pretzel Sticks and a bottle of the Dark Amber Lager will hold us over until the snow finally melts in April or May or June! 

I’ll serve Brennan’s Whole Grain Amber Beer Mustard with our Summer Sausage: the perfect dipping partners!  Or… make Summer Sausage and Colby-Jack sandwiches on hearty pumpernickel. I like to treat friends of mine who stay the night to a Colby-Jack Quesadilla in the morning and my version of Wisconsin-Bacon… Brennan’s Summer Sausage fried in skillet like you would bacon. Delicious!

Be forewarned.  If plan on making these treats, make sure you invite friends over that you really like.  Chances are they will love the fun and flavorful combos so much that they will want to stay and stick out the dying days of winter no matter how long it takes! Enjoy!

*WISCONSIN NACHOS FIESTA

Ingredients:

For 6 servings:
2 1/4 cups (18 ounces) Brennan’s Jalapeño Cheddar Cold Pack cheese
1/2 cup milk, heated
1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 cup sweet green peppers, chopped
1/4 cup sweet red peppers, chopped
1/4 cup scallions, chopped
24 ounces tortilla chips or tostada pieces

This year a lot more of us will be celebrating Valentine’s Day at home, rather than splurging at a restaurant. While Brennan’s may not be the first place that springs to mind as the “headquarters for love or romance” (we’ll let you use your imagination for those), we do have a few ideas. Since Valentine’s falls on a Saturday this year, here are some ways to make the entire day special for the whole family and that certain someone.

Breakfast-in-Bed for Your Someone Special

Rather than then the traditional mimosa, try our Blissini Cocktail made with Brennan’s Bubbly, a sparkling wine from California & Pomegranate juice. The vibrant pink color is just right to set the tone for Valentine’s Day.

You could make an elaborate breakfast or you could keep it simple by making a Brennan’s Granola Parfait. Simply layer Brennan’s Granola with yogurt and your favorite berries.

Family Fun Ideas

What kid doesn’t like a kiddy cocktail. Try Brennan’s Pomegranate Punch for a festive red drink. A variation on the breakfast recipe that’s family friendly, simply substitute lemon/lime soda for the Bubbly and garnish with orange slices.

For a treat, make Valentine’s Chocolate Cherry Sundaes with Brennan’s Cherry Ice Cream and Brennan’s Hot Fudge. Gooey and delicious!

A Romantic Evening for Kids: After the kids are at Grandma’s

Rather than an elaborate meal, keep in fun with fondue. There’s a ton of different recipes for fondue. Our cheese departments are featuring recipes including Classic Fondue with Swiss, Cheddar Tomato Fondue and Champagne Fondue. Besides just bread, dip in mini pickles, sausage and vegetables.

Chocolate Fondue is also a fun way to spend the evening. We’ve got some delicious recipes available, including on with mascarpone cheese. Dip strawberries, marshmallows, cake, dried fruit and nuts.

Stop in for more great ways to make your Valentine’s one to remember.

Happy Valentine’s!

Are you looking for tasty, juicy piece of fruit to get you through the winter blahs?  (A trip to Mexico or Jamacia would probably be even better, but I wanted to start small). Look no further than the Sharon Fruit. Originally from Israel’s Sharon Valley, hence the name, Sharon Fruit is is succulent and very sweet and doesn’t have a core or seeds.

Low in sodium, Sharon fruit offers a good source of vitamin A, contains some vitamin C and offers an excellent source of dietary fiber.

Ripen them at room temperature, and simply rinse, peel and slice. Enjoy fresh, cooked or candied. Add Sharon fruit’s tasty charm to fruit salads or mixed green salads, as you would pears. For a sweet treat, cut two fruits in half lengthwise; remove ends. Sprinkle with one-half cup brown sugar and two teaspoons cinnamon. Top with three tablespoons firm butter slices. Place in baking pan; bake thirty to fifty minutes depending on fruit size. Serve hot. Delicious!

Sharon Fruit can also be used in cookies, cakes and puddings. I found some good recipes for Sharon Fruit, but am looking for some great recipes. Calling all cooks… if you have a great recipe for Sharon Fruit, I’d love to hear about it. Reply to this post and I’ll put in on our blog or use the recipe in our stores. I’d love to hear from you!

Now that fall has officially arrived, it’s time to take advantage of the seasonal treats it brings, among them… Brennan’s Pumpkin Butter. Made from sugar, spice, and everything nice, it’s a creamy, flavorful treat that can be enjoyed on just about anything. Whether it be apples, toast, or crackers, it will definitely be everyone’s favorite. Just because it’s cold out, doesn’t mean your stomach needs to be! Warm your insides with Brennan’s Pumpkin Butter.

Also our Pumpkin Butter makes a delicious, yet easy to make pumpkin pie.

Brennan’s Pumpkin Butter Pie Recipe:

Combine 2 eggs, 1 can of evaporated milk, and 2 pints (36 ounces) of Brennan’s Pumpkin Butter. Pour into a 9″ pie shell. Bake for 60-70 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool and enjoy with a mound of Brennan’s Ultra Super Premium Vanilla Ice Cream.