Mill City Market re-emerges from snow

May be awhile before we see markets like this one, but the Winter Market could be the next best thing. (Courtesy of modernforager.com)

It may be winter, but that isn't stopping those feisty vendors from Mill City Market from selling their wares. You'll find some familiar faces at the Winter Market on Saturday, from 10:00 am to 2:00pm at the Local D'lish.

I've been to Mill City Market enough, that I could build an entire holiday meal just from their vendors' foods. (I can see it now, I'd start off with Star Praire smoked trout appetizers and finish off with River Chocolate Company infused chocolate sauces and fruit for dessert).

Marjorie Hegstrom, director of Mill City Market, says the popular vendors include Aunt Else's Aebleskiver (super-cool Danish pastry balls), Edna's Caramels, and Very Prairie, which makes everything from homemade marshmallow (Wowsers!), to crackers and granola. Hegstrom says another exciting one will be Shining Hills Flower Farms, which creates beautiful local Minnesota flower arrangements. Other vendors include Prairie Hollow Farms (cow milk cheeses), Valli D'etna olive oil (olives grown in Italy, but farmer lives in MN and bottles here during non-harvest season) and pepper jams from Lucille's Kitchen Garden.

Haven't got your game plan together for holiday meals? Impress everyone by planning ahead. This means pre-ordering your grass-fed protein of choice, so the farmers can bring it to the market this Saturday. Braucher's Sunshine harvest farm (952-210-3140) will have grass-fed beef and lamb and free-range chicken. Minnesota Valley Organics (507-938-4186) will have pork products and chicken eggs. But, you better act fast!

My own thinking on the subject goes something like this: Hmmm, haven't done any holiday shopping yet. Food gifts make great gifts. I could buy, yet also sample.... Guess I'll be seeing you at the market!