We are so excited to tell you about our October Box!

 

Vietnamese Dipping Sauce

Viêt Kiêu Sauces Co – Rancho Cordova, California

Enve and Mary Truong, Owners

This sauce is a flavor explosion that is bright, with hints of garlic and ginger and slightly sweet. We absolutely love this dipping sauce. It is so versatile and is made with only fresh ingredients. Even if you have never had Vietnamese food we know you are going to love this sauce. Try dipping fresh rolls or egg rolls or even potstickers in it. You can use it as a marinade or make salad dressing with it. Owner Enve even showed us how to use it in omelets. Read on to find out more about this family owned company and about their tasty sauces. Also in the link are two how to videos; How to Make Fresh Shrimp Rolls and How To - Omelette with Dipping Sauce. Be sure to watch those.

Chinese Five Spice and

Californiano Salami

Rancho Llano Seco – Chico, California

 

The salamis in our October box come from 6th generation family owned Rancho Llano Seco. Llano Seco is one of the last intact Mexican land grant properties in California. This is something the family is proud of and takes seriously. They consider themselves environmental stewards, and have over 17,000 acres of conservation and easements. They are committed to the land and the animals they ranch and they make every decision with the history of the land in mind. Small in comparison to commodity ranches, that allows them to raise their pigs humanely, containment free, with no antibiotics or growth hormones. That alone makes for a great product, but what really makes these salamis special is the recipes!

We feature the Chinese Five Spice and the Californiano salamis in our October Box. They are made in such small batches that we had to split our order. But do not worry, they both are equally great. They are made with a nod to the ancestors, when home curing was the norm. What we love the most about each of these is the recipes. The Chinese Five Spice is an homage to Chinese immigrants that came to California and brought their culture and cuisine. It is a mix of flavors including salty, sweet, sour, bitter and umami. The Californiano likewise is also an homage, to the Mexicans who have lived here for centuries and to those who have recently immigrated, bringing their culture and flavors. The Californiano recipe has cocoa powder and the holy trinity of peppers -- guajillo, pasilla and ancho.

Each of these salamis are perfect for a charcuterie board or just snacking. They are meaty and tasty without a hint of an artificial ingredient. Llano Seco also grows heirloom beans, which you can learn more about by following this link. Watch our video below to meet Charlie Thieriot of Rancho Llano Seco and learn more about their ranching philosophy.

Meet the Farmer - Charlie Theiriot of Rancho Llano Seco

 

 Øland Landrace Soft Red Wheat Flour

Capay Mills – Capay, California

David Kaisel, Owner and Grower

 

Find out why we are so excited about this little bag of flour! Read our article that delves into this unique and flavorful wheat that is now grown and milled right in the Capay Valley in northern California, but has connections to noma in Copenhagen and origins in Sweden. This flour is very much like any whole wheat flour but full of flavor that you don't get with commodity flours. Use it as you would any whole wheat flour in cakes and cookies, and is especially good for no knead breads. Meet the grower and miller David Kaisel in our video we filmed at his mill in Capay.  

Herbs of Capay

Capay Valley Lavender – Capay, California

Sherri Wood, Owner

 

If you received our June Farm to Fork in a Box then you know we are big fans of Capay Valley Lavender. Owner Sherri Wood is an inspiration and her lavender farm is a dream to visit and take in. She grows several varieties of lavender including culinary lavender. We feature in our October Box her Herbs of Capay, similar to Herbs de Provence. Made with organic lavender right from Sherri's farm plus seven other herbs. This herb blend is perfect rubbed on chicken and roasted, and is also great on pork, lamb and fish. Here is an easy recipe from Simply Recipes for Potatoes Provencal that you might like. Experiment with it, sprinkle it on roasted vegetables, or add it to your next batch of bread. Watch our video below to meet FarmHer Sherri.

Meet the FarmHer, Sherri Wood of Capay Valley Lavender

 

Vegan Caramel Corn

Carmazzi Caramel Corn – Sacramento, California

Karen Carmazzi, Owner and Maker

 

This caramel corn recipe comes from Karen Carmazzi’s grandmother who swore her to secrecy! But really it's not a big secret that every bag is delicious, and made with the highest quality ingredients. There is not only nothing artificial in the ingredients, their caramel corn is also peanut, tree nut, soy, trans fat, gluten, GMO and high fructose corn syrup free. Karen decided to offer the popcorn to the public after several years of making batches for fundraising to pay for her children’s school trips to Europe. The wholesome allergy free ingredients were also driven by family, given that her daughter had a nut allergy. Now Carmazzi Caramel Corn is a family affair with everyone helping out. What we love most about her caramel corn is that she makes a vegan version. So many people are looking for ways to be a little more plant-based in their diets, and this one is a no brainer. The vegan version tastes just as good as the regular, which is addictively popcorny, crunchy, sweet and caramelly. The bag in your box is what they call the ‘All Mine’ and you will see why once you open the bag and have a taste. You won’t want to share.

 

Cherry Pepper Jelly

Homestead Favorites – Linden, California

Charlyn Hulsman, Owner and Maker

Meet the Maker - Charlyn Grupe Hulsman of Homestead Favorites

 

 This Cherry Pepper Jelly from Homestead Favorites is just what you need entering into the holiday season. It’s made from sweet Tartarian cherries and the peppers give it a little kick. Use it as a BBQ sauce to finish off grilled ribs, or a glaze on pork, or keep it simple and make a quick appetizer and put it on top of cream cheese and serve with crackers. Owner, Charlyn has been making her jellies since she was a little girl, alongside her mother and grandmother. Her ancestors homesteaded on the land she is on now and have been growing cherries since the 1960’s. She is a proud farmer and maker. We also love this jelly because it is low in sugar so everyone can enjoy it. Watch the video to learn more about Charlyn and her jellies, and be sure to watch the one with her tips. 

Meet the Maker - Charlyn Grupe Hulsman owner of Homestead Favorites

 

Carlyn's Tips

Classic Sea Salt Caramels

Puur Chocolat – Sacramento, California

Ramon and Nicole Perez, Owners

 

Ok, we do love caramel! But we love salted caramels even more. These little beauties come from Sacramento Chef Ramon Perez of Puur Chocolat. He is a master of flavor combinations and concoctions and all things sweet. Read this article to learn more about Chef Ramon and Puur Chocolat, and watch the video below to see him in action.

Meet the Chef - Ramon Perez of Puur Chocolat

 

We sincerely hope you enjoy our October Farm to Fork in a Box. Leave us aa message and let us know you like it. ~heather