FrEsH Baked Artisan Breads....mmmmmmm

When I was a kid my mom baked bread from scratch. I’ll never forget the first slice FrEsH from the oven, butter melting on contact. Today this is becoming a lost art. Even in bakeries much of what you find is mass produced, what we call ‘bake-off’, meaning it comes in ready to bake. We make our own breads every day, deli sandwich, french, sliced varieties and rolls. Our Bakers, Richard, Carson and Jeff have been experimenting with true artisan bread recipes too but the best way to learn is always from another Baker.

                          
Santos Buenrostro is a Technical Sales Rep for bakery supplier BakeMark. A second generation Baker, Santos was making French Bread in his parents bakery by the time he was 12 years old. He spent 3 months at the San Francisco Culinary Academy and has traveled all over the world being trained and training others plus he works in BakeMark’s lab developing recipes. Quite a resume, right? When he set up a date to come here Santos was greeted with great enthusiasm from both the bakers and the more than willing taste testers! He shared so many fantastic recipes and techniques including Hard Crust Sour, Baquettes, Ancient Grains, Soaked Grains, Apricot Cranberry, Cream Cheese Jalapeño and his Pan De Leche rolls are sweet perfection!
                                        

With your support this will only continue to grow as Santos shares more and more of his recipes! I cannot wait for you to try all of them, I just know you’re gonna be as excited as I am when you do taste our NEW wonderful scratch baked artisan breads! Because you know, here at Susanville Super we’re ALL ABOUT FRESH! My Momma would be so proud :)

SuMmEr Yummies!!

You know those people that see something on Pinterest and do their version and post “nailed it!” not in the sarcastic, I’m a disaster way BUT really do nail it? Well that’s our Kailie. She is one of the most creative, artistic, working, amazing Mom, all around sweet people I know. Kailie has been with us since 2007 and is well known as a fantastic Cake Decorator!


Since Kailie is a working mom with a preschooler she’s always concerned about nutrition on the go. For a quick breakfast she makes overnight oats with FrEsH fruit in small mason jars and her Summer Corn and Blueberry Salad is savory/sweet perfection. These recipes are so delicious I had to ask her to share!
                                     

Overnight Oats
For 4 oz mason jars use 1/3 cup oatmeal, put that in first. Then add whatever fruit and extras that sound yummy. Leave room to pour almond milk, pour milk over once, let settle for a min and then finish topping jar off (about 1/3 cup milk)
The berries are sooooo ripe that I like it with just oatmeal, berries and almond milk. But my other favorites are peaches with brown sugar and cinnamon, and Granny Smith apple, vanilla protein powder and cinnamon.

               
Nutrition add ins... flax, hemp, or chia seeds, protein powder, nuts.


Flavor add ins.... maple syrups, honey, coconut flakes, almond butter, banana, chocolate chips, pumpkin purée, cinnamon, brown sugar, yogurt, fruit purée.


You can use almond, coconut, soy or dairy milk !


Corn Blueberry Salad
2 ears white corn
1 small pack blueberries or 1 1/2 cup
1 jalapeño
1/2 cucumber
1/2 a Red onion
Cilantro
1 lime
2 tblsp honey
2 tsp cumin
Salt and pepper


Boil corn and cut off cob, rinse blueberries, seed and chop jalapeño, peel and slice cucumber, chop onion, roughly chop a large handful of cilantro. Put lime juice, honey, cumin, salt and pepper in a screw top jar till combined and pour over salad.
                                  

Glass canning jars are a great way to store and transport single servings! If we don’t have the size jar you want just let us know and we’ll order it.


Thanks for sharing your Hometown Healthy recipes Kailie!

Lassen Volcanic

Some of my very favorite days have been when Rick and I would load our pockets with food, fill a couple of water bottles and take off on our tandem bike to ride 100 or more miles right out the front door. I’m riding a little less these days but finding the same joy in throwing those snacks in the car and driving somewhere to hike or bike.



Recently our family went to Lassen Volcanic National Park to tackle the climb to Brokeoff. It’s a tough one but so incredibly beautiful! Beginning with what feels like a rain forest, meandering stream and wildflowers everywhere, then you traverse through a conifer forest until you reach the arid volcanic last mile or so. On top of the mountain is a plateau with 360* views of Shasta, Lassen peak and Lake Almanor. Totally worth the price of admission. The hike is longer and has more elevation gain than Lassen Summit, if you’re not looking for something that challenging there are plenty of options in the park. ALL stunning.

  

Then there’s alway Drakesbad. Located within the Lassen Park boundary and accessed from Chester/Warner Valley Rd. It is a lovely guest ranch with a hot spring fed swimming pool, hiking trails, horses for hire and fresh delicious food. If you make a reservation for lunch or dinner you can use the facilities all day. My 16 year old granddaughter, Kailey, and I went for lunch and walked the trails but the best was the pool which we were lucky enough to have all to ourselves! Really a relaxing spot.

                   

                                         

Rick and I even took a bike ride in the park last month, it's super challenging but the scenery, and the company :), make the miles just fly by. 

                     


As summer winds down wouldn’t a visit Lassen for a drive, bike or hike be fun? I always consider it our Hometown National Park!

                     


Photo credit Rick Stewart

25 years of service!

When we came, here 25 years ago, Frank Schickel was already working in the market. He worked in the bakery, which was leased out, for a while. I was handling the system that loads all our pricing into the registers. Back then you needed to understand DOS to really get things done on a computer. I didn’t. In passing I would say things like, I wish the computer would figure out this or that for me (I’ve blocked out the DOS days so I can’t give specifics :) . The next morning I would have a note on my desk telling me the command to make this happen in language even I understood. Turns out our night time floor guy, Frank, is a genius. In the last 25 years he has done everything from floors to bookkeeping.
                      

Frank has fixed a whole lotta computers for us and everyone else he knows plus he buys our crew pink hardhats during remodel, screaming eagle hats for the 4th, straw cowboy hats for fair, etc, etc. So FUN. . Then there was the time he had the foresight to buy 3000 eclipse glasses to just give away to his community. Frank’s generosity doesn’t stop there. Once, maybe 20 years ago, I was collecting donations for a crew member’s family that suffered a tragedy. Frank handed me $100, when I paused he said “what am I gonna do with it?”. That’s Frank. Ever wonder why our total donations are even amounts, like Matt Lively $3000 or Crohns and Colitis Foundation $5000, it’s because Frank rounds it up out of his own pocket. We all know he’s the first and the last to give to our collections.


Thanks for all you do Frank Schickel. You’re one of our Hometown Heroes!

Belfast Petroglyphs

On the Summer Solstice each year LoCaL Historian Tim Purdy takes a tour group out Belfast road to see the petroglyphs. When the sun comes up on that day it shines through a triangle of rocks and illuminates the petroglyphs on the back wall of the small cave. Wow. It’s an awesome sight. As a matter of fact here’s what Tim says about the event:

"Were you aware that the Belfast petroglyph site also serves as ancient observatory? This event only occurs on the morning of the summer solstice when the sun enters a chamber highlighting a variety of glyphs, among other things. It is quite the sight to see.”


One year a few of my IGA family and I joined the tour which meets at 5 am, not all that early for grocers. I’m sure there were at least 20 folks there. Not only are there petroglyphs in the cave but EVERYWHERE. We climbed all over the rocks finding new glyphs with each turn. Incredible to see messages from Native Americans dating back 2000 years just 10 minutes from town!  



I went back a few days later to explore a little more and truly encourage everyone to do the same. Please be respectful of the area so it remains for many more generations to come.



Just another piece of our Hometown History~

Afternoon Tea

There is nothing to compare to the pomp and circumstance of High Tea. All those lovely little sandwiches and sweet treats served on china. Dressing up just enough. Last July a few of our IGA family decided to throw Jessica (then Eid, now Miller) an afternoon tea for her bridal shower. What fun! Since July is hot we had cold sun tea with lemon or lavender ice cubes. We ordered up the cake and cupcakes, which Kailie was given free rein to decorate and of course they were stunning!
                     

Our menu included:
Fruit tarts
Ham salad sandwiches
Egg salad sandwiches
Caprese skewers drizzled with balsamic
And I’ll share the SuPeR yummy ceviche-ish recipe we served with chips~
3 limes
1 avocado, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup tomato, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
1lb salad size shrimp
salt/pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients and chill. Ready to serve in about 15 minutes!

         
High Tea is one of my daughter’s favorite things on earth, since the 18th is her birthday it’s probably time to have another tea party!


Thanks to all my IGA girls that made this such a fun and easy event!

Lake 4-H

EVERYbody knows about the Lassen County Fair’s livestock auction but 4-H has many other opportunities for young people and they sure could use your help getting the word out! What if you could help by just participating in a scavenger-ish hunt and winning fabulous prizes! That’s a must do, right? Lassen County’s Lake 4-H troop and their leader, Jennifer West, have painted 140 rocks that will be hidden at the Lassen County Fair. 140 in honor of Lassen County Fair’s 140 years of Squeals and Wheels. So all you gotta do is find a rock and post it on Facebook or Instagram with #4hrocks or you can enter the drawing in the 4-H building.
Speaking of the 4-H building, please be sure and stop by to see what these SuPeR creative kids are working on! When Jenniver, Graceyn, Christina and Saydee brought the rocks in they shared all they’ll be showcasing. Place settings, Floral arrangements, cookies, photography, painting, so much talent and dedication that deserves our attention.
I adore the 4-H pledge~

I pledge my head to clearer thinking,
My heart to greater loyalty,
My hands to larger service,
and my health to better living,
for my club, my community, my country, and my world.

Raising community leaders and the power of a good work ethic is what 4-H is all about.
Hometown Proud!