Show your autumn colors with Buffalo Trader Online!
September is here and things are slowing down a bit. The children are back to school, the fall harvests are coming in, and the nights are cooling down. As we watch the landscape turn from vibrant green to brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows, we celebrate the twilight of summer by gathering with friends and family for all of those great fall traditions we enjoy each year. In the coming months we will congregate around bonfires, sip hot chocolate, go on hay rides, and dunk for apples as the crisp fall air greets us like an old friend.
This is also a time to cozy up your home decor for the coming winter. When entertaining, let your holiday dinner exalt the change of season with the Harvest Autumn Leaf Table Centerpiece for a beautiful table setting. The Harvest Pumpkin Slate Welcome Plaque will give a warm greeting as guests enter your home. For a sweet and savory experience, our Pumpkin Spice Votive Candles are great, indoors or out! Lastly, save some of your fresh picked apples to make our Apple Pie Moonshine to keep warm on those extra chilly nights.
Apple Pie Moonshine
Ingredients:
1 gallon Apple Cider
1 gallon Apple Juice
1-1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
1-1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar
1 tsp apple pie spice (the kind used for apple pie)
8 whole Cinnamon Sticks
2 Granny Smith Apples, cored & sliced this with skin peel on
1 750ml bottle Rum (spiced rum is great!), Vodka, or Grain Alcohol
Cheesecloth
Directions:
1) Combine all ingredients in a large stock pot, except for the alcohol, and bring to a boil. Mixture will foam up quickly once it reaches boiling.
2) Remove the mixture from heat, stir down, and let cool to room temperature. Once the mixture is completely cool, strain through the cheesecloth. Rinse the pot and return the mixture to the pot. Add in the alcohol. Stir gently to blend.
3) Transfer to sterile mason jars (we used (20) 1/2 pint Mason or Kerr jars). We also divide up the cinnamon sticks so that each jar has 1 or 2 pieces 1-2" long. Fill the jars just to the neck to allow room for the apple slice. A funnel is useful to avoid spilling one drop of this golden deliciousness!
4) Add a slice of Granny Smith apple to each jar. Apples will float to the top. Place the seal and rings and tighten down. These will not seal closed. Do not reheat or attempt to seal!
5) The apple pie is ready for consumption! (though it gets better if you let it mellow for a couple of weeks.) It can be served heated sightly or chilled. Do not overheat or boil! It will evaporate the alcohol. Heat the way you would for hot apple cider or cocoa ONLY so it's not so hot it burns your mouth!
Remember to drink this with caution! You really can't taste how strong it is; it's so smooth! Store the jars in a dark, cool room or closet.
Spring Cant Spring Soon Enough!
As winter draws slowly to a close, we are lightened with the prospect of warmer weather, fresh tomatoes, and vacations. For many, thoughts of spring inevitably lead to gardening. The joy of trading in your snow shovel for a garden spade makes the heart smile, and tells the brain to get out in the sunshine!
With organic food coming back to the fore-front, there is no better time to plant a few veggies, herbs, or flowers. Having fresh herbs on-hand is a huge asset when cooking fresh foods. Whether you have little space or plenty, Buffalo Trader Online's gardening products are the perfect solution to get your herb garden going. For some outdoor flair, the Wagon Wheel Double Box Garden Planter will liven up any space. Also, the Apple Barrel Tricycle Garden Planter makes a charming addition to your outdoor patio.
Enjoy a classic spring/summer dish. Bon appetite! 
Capressi Salad
1 medium tomato
4 1/4 inch thick slices of fresh mozzarella (high quality is recommended)
4 Sprigs of fresh basil
Olive oil
1/3 Cup balsamic vinegar
Slice tomato into 4 slices and arrange on a plate. Place sliced mozzarella over the tomatoes. Pour vinegar into a small sauce pan. Heat until it thickens, but do not burn it. Remove from heat and allow to cool for a few seconds. Drizzle a little olive oil over the tomatoes and mozzarella. Then drizzle the balsamic vinegar reduction. Last, add the fresh basil over the mozzarella and serve.
Down-Home Dining
Dining is not only about eating, it is also an opportunity to slow down and enjoy friends and family! Meals are a socially necessary event allowing loved ones to reconnect their very busy lives. Nothing is more appealing than a beautifully set table complete with good food, good drink and good company!
Buffalo Trader features some magnificent down-home dinnerware that would be a fun addition to any dish collection. The Pine Cone 16 Pc Ceramic Dinnerware Set is perfect alone or perhaps mixed in with a more traditional stoneware setting in solid whites and greens. Consider using these dishes for a more festive arrangement around the holidays. They would be so country cozy placed on a great red tablecloth with a fun centerpiece featuring a few fresh pinecones, some greenery and white candles!
Here's a hearty down-home slow cooked dish that's easy and delicious. You'll spend less time in the kitchen and more time around your festive table with family and friends.
Bison Pot Roast
3-4 lbs Bison roaster (Chuck, Round or Rump)
2 C. of your favorite red wine (heavy Merlot or a Cabernet Sauvignon will do best)
4 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
3-4 cloves chopped garlic
Fresh chopped Sage to taste
Brown the meat in 1 Tbsp vegetable oil (approximately 3-4 minutes on each side) and place in slow cooker. Top with remaining ingredients and cover. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or until fork tender. Serve with mashed potatoes and a dark green such as wilted spinach.
Y'all enjoy!
