Tuesday Spotlight: Fairytale Soap and Moisturizer

Today, our spotlight is shining on The Bean's creation, Fairytale. Fairytale is a colorful soap scented with baby powder and raspberry. When she told me about her scent blend idea, I was skeptical. However, once I smelled it, I was blown away. Baby powder is one of my favorite scents, or my comfort scent. I love the softness of the scent, but when blended with the light, fruity raspberry oil, it is taken to a new level. Fairytale is soft, lightly fruity, fresh, and comforting.

When my favorite human created this soap, we automatically thought pink was the color. However, everyone loves a fairytale, so my girl incorporated a deep indigo blue, a fushia pink, and gold because all fairytales need a bit of magical sparkle. The Bean's sophisticated nose, good eye for color, and creativity are well-suited for soap design. She has an intrinsic ability to know what will be popular. I have learned to trust her judgment and roll with her ideas. She has not been wrong yet.

This week, exclusively on the website, save 25% on Fairytale soap and moisturizer. Although considered a "kid's" soap, Fairytale appeals to young and old. I currently have a jar of moisturizer in my cabinet. It is a wonderful time to save on a favorite, try something new, or purchase an affordable gift. On this lovely summer day, stay safe, be smart, enjoy the savings, and keep washing your hands.

Click To Save

July's Man Blog

How in the world can it be July already? It is time for another monthly installment of the Man Blog. We are only three days away from someone with fewer fingers and perhaps one less eye. Two holidays are so distinctly American that I can only imagine the rest of the world scratching their heads trying to figure it out: Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July.

Thanksgiving is nothing short of the entire country preparing themselves for a competitive eating contest. Honestly, I can't even tell you the reason behind it. Did we all start as Pilgrims? Were we friends with the natives until we realized we didn't want to be friends? Throw in the official events: parades, giant sales the day after, Cyber Monday. Then, there is the presidential pardon of The Turkey. If we stop and think about it, is there any follow-up? Has anyone seen the official retirement sanctuary for pardoned turkeys? We celebrate a bird not being killed at that particular moment but eventually meeting its fate, all the while eating its equivalent. Actually, eating so much of the turkey, we have to remind ourselves that something in the turkey makes us sleepy. There actually is. However, we may not have noticed if it wasn't for the six pounds in our bellies.

The Fourth of July has the nicer weather, so enjoy the day outdoors. It reminds me of a time when we were all more polite and considerate of our wording. If we had waited until the twentieth century to declare independence from Britain, it would have been called British Bashing Day. It is an American holiday that combines outdoor cooking, drinking, and fireworks year after year. On any other day of the year, it would seem like madness if the entire country came together to overdrink and play with low-grade explosives. But this one magical day, only in this country, it is not only the norm but also expected. Pennsylvania is pretty tight on their fireworks laws (So very un-American). So not only do we have to wake up and decide to make a bad decision that day, but we also have to pre-game our poor choices days, if not weeks, in advance. Out-of-state fireworks are a big deal here. It shows the "country neighbors" that we love America and lets them know that we smuggle things like our founding fathers. Hopefully, they aren't loyalists turning us in to the fireworks police.

Another great part of this time of year is that we get to spend more time outdoors. The Bean and I managed to talk upper management into camping in the woods with us. As it turns out, some folks just aren't cut out to camp. Campfires, mountain pies, hotdogs, and popcorn are all great in her book. However, she is happier heading to the house when it comes down to a place to sleep. This month, we found that a snake was passing through the basement of our home, and yet she chose the house over the woods. As funny as a rubber snake would be, I am refraining. I enjoy camping out in the woods for fun. I don't want to go out of my way to make it my full-time home. She lacks a sense of humor when it comes to snakes.

During the week, my current wife and I usually head out to the porch when it cools off in the evening for our ritual chat. Occasionally, friends and family stop out and get off their feet and into the shade while we solve the world's problems over a mason jar of water. As it turns out, every time I have a beer or whiskey, I end up feeling like I have arthritis the next day. My aversion to doctors outweighs any want of alcohol. I am pretty sure I saved myself an entire day avoiding a doctor to have them state the obvious: don't drink alcohol. I would have been much happier if tuna noodle casserole was the culprit. Out of pity or the fact that most folks forget that we are terrible alcohol-free hosts and don't bring their own beer, water has been our go-to drink on the porch.

During our ritual of chatting and brainstorming on the porch this past week, we had some rather great new ideas, and some older ones were put on the back burner and are now getting the express pass. Sunday, we all but finished Tina's children's book, Meet Little Lester. With page editing, obtaining the official ISBN, and copywriting, it is no wonder why it was put off for so long. Our little buddy, Jordan, doesn't really enjoy the part of the day when there is no sound, no screen, and no communication from the rest of the world. Or perhaps she is enjoying all of that without us. Either way, she usually joins us at the end of our "executive" meeting. This past week, she came out and announced that you two really should record this. Of course, we both were blindsided.

What are we going to do with a video of that? YouTube. It is a thing. It's a thing everyone on the planet knew about but us. Podcasts and Vlogs. I knew they existed. Precisely what they were or the details, not so much. After the explanation, I still feel I have not fully grasped what or why. At any rate, she convinced the two of us to start having our little chats available on YouTube. Of course, while we are at it, why not have some Foodie Friday Vlogs to go with the porch chats? She also informed us that the book needs to be made available as an e-book. Our daughter blows our minds with her "matter-of-fact, this is how the world works; why are you so slow? I am a brilliant genius" attitude.

Some of my favorite people on this planet are dairy farmers. Every single one of those folks has done so much with so little for so long that one day, they will do everything with nothing. Watching the decline in the dairy farms in our area, I am convinced the ones still up and running have one thing in common. They all said, "Why the hell not? Let's try it." Some had labor issues and were stretched too thin to do it all themselves, so they bought robotic milkers. Some called in a Rabi and market Kosher milk. Some have opened farm stores and sold their milk and local products. I have no shame when it comes to stealing the basics of a good idea. We had our "Why the hell not?" moment on the porch this weekend. We have both realized we are too old and disconnected to understand how the world works. We are lucky to have someone on the inside who is willing to explain things to us.

We have been blessed with good folks who have gone from customers to friends to our little soap family members. Good lord, if we don't see that Debbie likes a post after two days, we are fighting the urge to check on her. We can't wait to hear about Heidi's son squishing two bars together to create something new. If Robbie is late to market, we must text to see if everything is alright. If Rebekah with a K doesn't order on her regular schedule, we wonder if she is doing alright. The list goes on longer than my fat fingers care to peck. We will be asking for support and feedback from our soap family. These two projects we are on fire about are something we genuinely believe will bring a bit of good to the rambling nonsense of the world. We would love to hear what you think about a regular addition of a porch chat video and a Foodie Friday cooking video. Figuring out how to answer comments on the blog is another task on our list. Don't be offended by the lack of response; we read every comment. We simply don't know how to respond on the blog we right almost every day.

Until next month, enjoy the holiday of drinking and explosives. Everyone deserves a moment to ask why the hell not. Please let us know what you think about the porch chats and cooking videos, aka podcasts and vlogs, respectively. Stay safe, and wash on.

Foodie Friday: Tina's Strawberry Vinaigrette

We are not food photographers. The picture does not do this fresh, delicious salad justice.

Welcome to Foodie Friday, dear reader. We have another week behind us and a holiday to look forward to. Today, I will share my final strawberry-themed recipe. I have decided this summer will be a collection of recipes with ingredients sourced from either local farmers or Ligonier Country Market vendors. Last Saturday, I sourced all the ingredients for a grilled chicken salad with homemade strawberry vinaigrette. It was a delicious and easy meal. I was quite pleased with the results, and The Bibbed Wonder requested I make it again.

As you know, I have a great appreciation for The Ligonier Country Market and its many talented vendors. Armed with a recipe and a shopping list, I was able to gather all my ingredients from just a few vendors. I wanted to source as much from the market as possible for my summer recipe collection. I was not disappointed, dear reader. I was able to purchase everything from the olive oil and honey for the dressing to the chicken, berries, and salad greens. Everything I bought was organic and clean; I believe I had the freshest ingredients possible. It was delightfully easy to check everything off my shopping list with just a few stops.

https://www.liokareas.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LiokareasEVOO

I began by purchasing olive oil from Liokareas. This oil is unlike anything you will find in grocery stores. The taste is clear and fresh. I was skeptical that there would be a difference between Liokareas and a good-quality oil I buy from the grocery store. I was pleasantly surprised and will not return to using my old olive oil brand. The young man who works the booth at Ligonier is knowledgeable about his product and happy to tell you all about their family business.

https://savagemountainfarm.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SavageMountainFarm

I then went on the hunt for fresh produce. I trust my friend Christina Moore, who is Confections by Christina, for advice on where to find the best produce. Christina suggested I check out her friends from Savage Mountain. My list included blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, salad greens, and red onions. I found all my produce at the Savage Mountain booth. The folks who are Savage Mountain are good, salt-of-the-earth people who farm with integrity and care. They helped me pick out the best produce, made suggestions, and were lovely to talk with.

https://naturesgrovefarm.com/

https://www.facebook.com/NaturesGroveFarm

Next on my list was chicken. My husband used to raise Cornish-cross chickens and take them to the market to sell. However, after the first year, several others also began selling chicken. The time, effort, and overflooded market did not make it a financially sound decision. The difference between fresh, farm-raised chicken and the chicken in the grocery store is vastly different. The freshness, juiciness, tenderness, and flavor of a bird that has been raised free-range, fed a clean, natural diet, and allowed to grow and mature as God intended is worlds apart from what we find in grocery stores. The poor birds born into the factory farming industry have no semblance of a normal, healthy life. They are housed in cages or large, overcrowded buildings. They never see sunlight, breathe fresh air, or run around eating bugs and exploring. In my opinion, it is systemic abuse, but that is a topic for another day. I purchased my chicken from Nature's Grove Farm, our neighbor across the way at the market. I will say the medium breasts I bought were extraordinary. I highly recommend them. You will pay considerably more for their meat than you would at WalMart, but there is absolutely no comparison. I can't encourage you enough, dear reader, to know your farmer and their practices.

https://www.pisarcikflowerfarm.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pisarcikgreenhousesandflowerfarm

For my recipe, I also needed honey. Although I did not purchase honey this week, I had "squirreled away" a beautiful jar of Pisarcik Flower Farm wildflower honey from our fall event. Pisarcik's wildflower honey is THE best honey I have ever had. This beautiful family grows the most gorgeous flowers, and the family is the absolute sweetest. We love them. You will find their wildflower honey at their stand in Ligonier. The packaging is so cute; they top the jars with beautiful, colorful fabric. It is an adorable presentation.

Now that I am done gushing about all the goodness found at The Ligonier Country Market allow me to share the strawberry vinaigrette recipe I created on my own. I thought it turned out well. It was straightforward and, oh, so delicious. The taste of the fresh strawberries really shines in this easy salad dressing.

Tina's Strawberry Vinaigrette

1 Quart Strawberries, washed and hulled

2 TBLS. Olive Oil

2 TBLS. Honey

2 TBLS. Apple Cider Vinegar

1 tsp. Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Place all ingredients in a blender.

Blend on high until it is smooth.

Refrigerate until ready to use.

If it is too thick for your preference, you may add more olive oil.

I grilled my chicken breast, seasoning it with salt and pepper. I really wanted the strawberry vinaigrette to be the star of this salad. I also included cheddar cheese curds, raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries in the salad, along with hard-boiled eggs and freshly cut fries cooked in the air fryer. It was an easy, satisfying, and delicious meal. I rounded out the meal with fresh sourdough bread from Seasons of Sourdough.

https://seasonsofsourdough.square.site/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100081124002720

If you can attend The Ligonier Country Market, I gently encourage you to explore all the fresh foods available there. There is so much more to enjoy than produce. One can complete their weekly shopping with fresh, local vendors and never have to set foot in a big chain store. Enjoy it while it lasts, dear reader; we are a quarter of the way through the market season.

I hope you enjoy my strawberry vinaigrette recipe. Please let me know what you think if you try it. I enjoy reading your feedback and suggestions. On this lovely summer day, stay safe, be smart, enjoy fresh, local food raised with integrity and care, and keep washing your hands.

Here is a link to The Ligonier Country Market. Feel free to explore all the wonderful vendors, talented artists, and producers located in one lovely market setting.

https://ligoniercountrymarket.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LigonierCountryMarket1