Higganum Village Market

The following menu will be available to order from for next week's market. Place your order by 5pm Wednesday for Friday pick-up at the Higganum Village Market (3:30pm-7pm.) Please email me orders at alexacdrc@aol.com

Casseroles (serves 8-10 people) Great for Freezing!
Meat Lasagna…$45
Chicken and Spinach Lasagna…$45
White Pesto Lasagna…$32
Cheese Lasagna…$30
Baked Beef Burritos…$45
Baked Chicken Burritos…$35
Baked Bean Burritos…$20
White Bean Gratin…$20
Baked Macaroni and Cheese…$20
Dad’s Classic Meatloaf…$30
Barbecue Turkey Meatloaf…$25
Alexa’s Sheppard’s Pie…$45

Half and quarter size portions are available upon request.

Meats (prices per person or otherwise noted)
Split Roasted Chicken…$10/half
Split Roasted Duck…$18/half
Broiled Salmon (organic or wild caught)…$10
Turkey Meatballs and Chicken Sausage in Marinara…$6

Sides (prices per person)
Maple Glazed Carrots…$3
Sautéed Artichokes, Red Onions and Garlic…$4
Parmesan and Sage Polenta Triangles…$3

Soup, Chili and Chowder (prices per quart)
Beef Chili…$12
Turkey Chili…$10
White Chicken Chili…$10
Clam Chowder…$12
Carrot Ginger or Carrot Dill…$6
Mushroom Bisque…$8

Frittata
Spinach, Tomato and Feta…$4
Mushroom and Caramelized Onions…$4
Asparagus, Dill and Feta...$4
Lamb Sausage, Sage and Pleasant Cow Cheese...$5

Green Salads (prices per person)
Baby Spinach with Blue Cheese, Mushrooms, Toasted Pecans and Red Wine Vinaigrette…$4
Field Greens with Toasted Walnuts, Cranberries, Goat Cheese and Balsamic Vinaigrette…$4

Pasta Salads (one pound minimum)
Farfelle Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes, Basil and Parmesan…$6/pound
Spinach and Egg Fettuccine with Calamata Olives, Artichoke Hearts, Grape Tomatoes, Feta Cheese and Dill…$7/pound

Other Salads (one pound minimum)
Organic Wild Rice Salad with Pecans, Scallions, Cranberries and Orange Vinaigrette…$7/pound
Broccoli Salad with Raisins, Peanuts and Sweet Red Wine Dressing…$6
Organic Wheat Berry Salad with Oranges, Pomegranates and Currants (seasonal)…$6/pound
Organic Curried Couscous with Currants, Golden Raisins, Toasted Almond, Carrots and Scallions…$6/pound

Lunch Salads (one pound minimum)
Tuscan Tuna Salad…$6/pound
Organic Salmon Salad…$8/pound
Curried Egg Salad -or- Tarragon Egg Salad…$5/pound
Curried Chicken Salad…$8/pound
Tarragon Chicken Salad…$8 /pound
Classic Chicken Salad…$6/pound
Classic Tuna Salad…$5/pound
Classic Egg Salad…$4/pound

As a chef local, organic and sustainable foods are very important to me. I use as many local ingredients as possible. Ingredients I'm unable to purchase from here in CT are natural and organic.

Gluten and Wheat Free Lasagna!!!

Yes that's right, gluten and wheat free lasagna!!!
I made lasagna tonight for dinner and I decided to use Debole's Rice Lasagna Noodles. It was delicious. I'm so happy to have found these noodles and to be able to offer a WF/GF lasagna. I offer a wide range of lasagnas; white, red, pesto, cheese, meat... For prices and options look at Delivered Delights.
Now I have to practice the baked penne and macaroni and cheese!!!

Afternoon Tea

I became obsessed with the idea of an afternoon tea when planning our wedding. We had an afternoon wedding, late for lunch and early for dinner. We stayed on time and budget by having an afternoon tea. This is a great way to have a get together on a reasonable budget. The little sandwiches, cheeses, savory bites and sweets pack a powerful punch. They have intense flavors, great presentation and simple elegance. Whether planning a shower, wedding or casual get together, this can be the way to go. I have put together a menu of my favorites, take a look and plan your next party!**

Tea Sandwiches 36 pieces
Smoked Salmon on Marbled Rye with Cucumber and Lemon Dill Cream Cheese...$55
Roasted Turkey on Cinnamon Raisin Bread with Cream Cheese Butter...$50
Roast Beef Pinwheels with Garlic Herb Cream Cheese...$45
Roasted Peppers and Provolone on Sourdough with Olive Cream Cheese...$50
Pear and Walnut Cheese Pinwheels...$45
Zucchini Bread with Honey Cream Cheese...$35
Black Forest Ham with Honey Mustard on a Buttermilk Biscuit...$60
Sharp Cheddar with Mango Chutney on a Buttermilk Biscuit...$45
Prosciutto with Fig Preserves on White Pullman...$55

Curried Chicken on a Croissant...$60

Savory Bites 36 pieces

Mini Vegetable and Cheese Quiche...$40
Blue Cheese Stuffed Endive...$45
Spinach and Prosciutto Palmiers...$50
Parmesan Cheese Straws with Olive Tapenade...$45
Assorted Cheese Short breads...$35
Smoked Cheese Triangles, Pecan Cheddar and Parmesan Cracked Pepper
Quiche Lorraine Squares...$35 (36 pieces)

Dessert Platters 36 pieces
Assorted Fruit Bars...$45
Lemon Bars, Date Bars, Raspberry Crumb Bars and Blueberry Crumb Bars
Assorted Sliced Breads...$30
Pumpkin, Zucchini, Banana and Apple
Assorted Cookies...$35
Oatmeal Raisin, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Shortbread
Assorted Tea Scones...$40
Raisin, Ginger Almond, Cranberry Walnut and Cheddar Dill
Assorted Brownies...$45
Classic, Chocolate Walnut, Chocolate White Chocolate Chip and Cream Cheese

Other Delights 8-10 servings
Lemon Tart…$20
Chocolate and Cinnamon Cake…$32
Passion Cake…$36
Sour Cream Coffee Cake...$32
Assorted Local Cheeses with Crackers...$45

(Please specify whether you like blue cheese!)

It is not to late to place your orders for Easter. Take a look at Delivered Delights or Afternoon Tea. I will be delivering these orders Saturday April 11th.

Orders must be in by Monday April 6th!!!

Email Alexa at alexacdrc@aol.com!!!

**For delivery information please see Delivered Delights.

Salad Dressing

I always seem to be the one bringing the salad and this simple start to the meal is always a hit. I make my own salad dressing, toast some nuts and rummage through the cheese drawer. Friends are always asking about the dressing and I think to myself it's only a few ingredients, it's so easy. The traditional ratio for salad dressing is 3:1, meaning 3 cups of oil for 1 cup of vinegar. That's a whole lot of oil! Not only does this weigh your healthy salad down, but can hide the subtle flavor of the greens. I like to go by taste! If you are using a sweeter acid like balsamic, citrus juices, rice wine vinegar... I would use only a few tablespoons of a very good oil. I like Zoe Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, but I also love walnut, almond, truffle and toasted sesame oil, just to name a few. To make your greens even tastier add a little something for sweetness and crunch. You can use anything! I love celery root, fennel, cranberries, strawberries, blueberries, raisins, toasted almonds, pine nuts and cheese...
Cheese is full of unlimited possibilities. A great cheese adds character to any meal, 1st course to the last. There are great local cheeses from Cato Corner Farm and Beaver Brook Farm, just to name a few. There are foodie books galore and of course the Internet to find local farms. Make a day of traveling around your state and tasting what your local artisans have to offer. For example right down the street from Cato Corner is Priam Vineyard, they have wine tastings and a farmer's market during the summer months. Beaver Brook is located near Ashlawn Farm, Four Mile River Farm, Scott's Yankee Farmer and White Gate Farm. For many of us this all day shopping isn't practical. However, Fromage in Old Saybrook offers a wide selection of cheeses and specialty items for your pantry.
Aside from yummy cheese, tasty tidbits and a simple vinaigrette. The greens have to be the best. Being the foundation of the salad they have to be fresh and have great flavor. We buy ours from White Gate Farm in East Lyme. Yes, they have greens this time of year. The last batch of greens I bought for salad was mache and arugula. They also have great mustard greens, two kinds of watercress, and a gourmet salad blend. Their selection does change regularly, but they are great at sending weekly updates via email.

Simple Vinaigrette

1/2 cup White Wine Vinegar

1t Honey, Three Sisters Farm

1t Organic Dijon mustard

kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste

4T Zoe's Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Whisk together and enjoy.

This makes enough for a few days!