Highland Foods Store

Good morning. It is a beautifully blue winter day with a pair of bluebirds checking out their nesting box, flying in and out of the box. It has been an unusually warm and snowless winter here. Has mother nature tricked these birds into thinking it’s bird nesting time? Let’s hope not. Nevertheless, spring is on its way, this year likely coming sooner than later.

Spring time means garden preparation and planting hearty greens such as kale, spinach, lettuce and peas. The first spring planting is always an exciting time here. Working the soil with your hands, taking in the sweet smells of the land and air, making rows and planting the seeds. And then the anticipation of the first sprouts poking up under their shallow blanket of clean earth. Soon after, they blaze your garden with their delicate greens and reds.

What could be tastier than a fresh spring salad or sugar snap peas? You can eat them right out of the garden or toss them in a salad bowl with a simple salad dressing. A mix of balsamic vinegar, olive oil, Maple Pepper® and a dash of basil is the perfect dressing for such an occasion. One of our favorite spring time treats is fresh kale, seasoned with a brush of Maple Pepper® salad dressing, and lightly broiled just until crispy. Eat as is - kale chips - or crumble over your salad or baked potato with a dollop of sour cream or a pat of butter.

We always enjoy hearing from our customers. Let us know how you use your Maple Pepper®. Enjoy these last few weeks of winter, think snow, and look forward to spring.