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Farming and Thanksgiving: the Tradeoff is Delicious

Farm News

As a dairy farmer, we celebrate holidays in between the daily routines of milking the goats, feeding the goats and making cheese. We try to keep the chores to the bare necessities, so that I have plenty of time to plan my recipes and prepare the meal. Cooking is one of my passions, and thanksgiving is an exercise in roasting the perfect bird, agonizing over too many side dishes and relishing in the overabundance of amazing local food. We plan our feast from the ingredients of our fellow farmers: pasture raised turkey, veggies for the sides from several local organic vegetable farmers and apples from several local fruit growers. We even have locally milled flour! We supply the dairy. The only ingredients not sourced from within 50 miles of our farm are salt, pepper, olive oil and some spices. The tradeoff of working on holidays is the joy of farmers feeding other farmers.

Farm Open Hours—VISIT THE FARM, CHECK OUT OUR “FARM BAR”—ENJOY SOME OF THE BEST LOCAL FOOD AROUND! Indoor and outdoor seating available-weather permitting for outdoors. Weather permitting, we’ll keep you warm outdoors with our fire pits.


Our Current Open Hours are now Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am to 5 pm


The weather is getting chilly and the days shorter, but we still have some great reasons to visit the farm. Visiting the goats is usually at the top of everyone’s list, but our farm bar and small plates menu is pretty compelling. Our farm store “The Real Stand” is getting decked out for the holidays, and we have some amazing items that make the perfect gift-whether it’s just for you to enjoy at home or for that special someone in your life who appreciates good food.


If you can’t make it out to the farm, we have you covered. Our online store is now featuring some cheesy and not-so-cheesy gift baskets. There’s something for almost everyone at a variety of budgets. You can order for farm pick up during open hours OR have your order shipped. We even include hand-written notes with your holiday messages if you like. Just let us know!

Starting this Friday, Nov. 19th, we’re offering a special event we’re calling “Sip & Shop.” From 4-7 pm, we’ll feature a special cocktail, a curated wine list and cheese & charcuterie boards. Sometimes, we’ll have live music or a special wine expert. We’ll even give you some tips about how to put together a stunning cheese & charcuterie board for holiday entertaining. Come try some amazing organic and/or biodynamic wines that you can’t find anywhere else in Champaign-Urbana!


Order a Holiday Cheese & Charcuterie Platter for Thanksgiving! We're offering two sizes to feed a modest gathering or gaggle of guests. Available for farm pick up on Wednesday, Nov. 24th from 2-4 pm. While you're here, ask us to help you select some wines to accompany your holiday meal. We have some great organic and biodynamic selections.

This weekend’s "Farm Bar" menu items include:

  • Cheese boards featuring cheeses from PFFC, Jacobs & Brichford and Ludwig Creamery

  • Charcuterie Boards featuring Piemonte Sausage Co. and Underground Meats salumi

  • Spiced cranberry and toasted pecan “cheese ball” served with warm Publican Quality Bread baguette bread

  • Triple S Farms Pulled Pork Sliders with house-made BBQ sauce and pickled veggies

  • Apple Pie Bar with or without a scoop of gelato

  • Alchemy Scone (available all day on Saturdays & Sundays) served with honey-chevre

  • Hot spiced Cider!

Farm Events: We're making the most of the holiday season! We've got something happening every week until Christmas. Menus are now posted for both our December farm dinners.

Looking for a unique venue to host your business holiday party or a family gathering? Consider our farm! Contact our event planner, Lisa Wells, at prairiefruitsevents@gmail.com

Holiday parties? Let us help with a cheese & charcuterie board.


Looking for cheesy gifts for your business clients? We can put together a customized gift box for any budget. Please email Lisa Wells at prairiefruitsevents@gmail.com to discuss options.


COVID protections on the farm

As the weather gets cooler, we want to remind our patrons that we follow the state guidelines for wearing masks indoors. While visiting our farm store, we require that you wear a mask, unless you are actively eating and/or drinking. If you are engaged in enjoying our food and beverage offerings, and you need to speak with one of our staff, we request that you wear your mask. Our staff wear masks during service, and everyone is vaccinated. We encourage all of our guests to be vaccinated too! Please check our website for up-to-date open hours. We are requesting proof of vaccination for our two farm dinners. Thank you for your cooperation and for helping to keep everyone healthy and safe.

Champaign Urbana Winter Market November 20th

This Saturday, come to the Champaign-Urbana Winter Market, run by The Land Connection. Our stand is located just inside the south entrance to Lincoln Square Mall. Hours are 8 AM to 12 noon.

Here’s the line-up of offerings for this weekend:

  • Fresh Mozzarella! We are making fresh mozzarella with the amazing cow milk from Rocky Road Dairy. Like all of our cheeses, we make this cheese as close to traditional methods as possible. Comes as a perfectly formed ball (approximately 5-6 oz)--perfect for homemade pizza or a melty open-faced sandwich!

  • Artisan Cottage Cheese-grass-fed milk from grazing cows makes an AMAZING cottage cheese. It is both gorgeous (lovely yellow in color-a testament to the grass the cows are eating) and delicious. If you think cottage cheese is boring, you really need to give this a try! It’s a game changer!

  • Pimento cheese dip—so popular, so delicious! -featuring our cottage cheese, organic red peppers from Blue Moon Farm and parmesan like cheese called “Everton Reserve” from our cow-dairy friends at Jacobs & Brichford in Indiana). This is an instant appetizer for your hungry holiday guests—serve warm with crackers.

  • Merry Cow-introducing our latest cow-milk creation---a washed rind cheese made with 100% organic, grass-fed milk. The rind is bathed weekly a saline wash including local beer and ripening cultures. Texture of the past is firm; flavor is slightly yeasty but mild. Great on a cheese board with roasted veggies and salami.

  • Fresh chevre

    • Plain

    • Herbs de Provence

    • Cracked peppercorn

    • Roasted garlic—it’s back for the holidays!

  • Fleur de la Prairie-a delicate bloomy rind decorated with locally sourced dried edible flowers and herbs. Now available as mixed milk (cow-goat) 2021 GOOD FOOD AWARD WINNER!

  • Black Goat: our ash-ripened bloomy-when young, it has a lovely light yeasty flavor with a dense fudgy paste. As it ages, it gets nice ‘n gooey. Now available as mixed milk (cow-goat) 2021 NY International Cheese Competition Silver Medal Winner

  • Angel Food: our little “crottin” style bloomy, similar in style to a mini-brie. This batch is made with BOTH cow and goat milk-aging nicely, with a lovely tangy buttery flavor

  • Little Bloom on the Prairie: Now available as mixed-milk for the fall-slightly gooey edges with buttered mushroom flavor. Try with a wedges of roasted winter squash and a drizzle of pumpkin seed oil (if you can find it!!!).

  • Pelota Roja- raw goat milk Manchego style cheese with a guajillo-olive oil rub—so good for shaving over roasted potatoes or your favorite casserole! 2021 GOOD FOOD AWARD WINNER!

  • Mixed Milk Feta—our first batch of cow-goat feta is ready for your enjoyment; aged in Whey Brine-perfect to crumble over a hearty fall stew or roasted beets, warm out of the oven. Or turn it into a dip and serve with roasted carrot sticks!

  • Goat Milk Yogurt—Rich fall milk makes the yogurt firm these days; it makes a great smoothie or enjoy with your favorite granola and fresh fruit- available in pints and quarts this week!

  • Can’t make it to the market? No worries! Order from our online store for farm pick up either Saturday or Sunday during farm open hours.

HOLIDAY GIFT OPTIONS ARE HERE FOR SHIPPING OR FARM PICK UP!-Check out the newest offerings on our website! We have something for everyone.


 
 
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