Gifts at Melvin's

     Well let's see if I have everything in order here. First we "stuffed" the turkey then we "stuffed" ourselves. Then we went out on Black Friday-Thursday Night and "stuffed" ourselves into an isle that have too many people already on it just to "stuff" a cart full of useless gift to "stuff" under the tree. I think that about sums it up.  A trip to a taxidermist might of been an easier way to get "stuffed".
     " Get off your soap box and let's move on"
     I'm one of those who waits until the last minute to do  my holiday shopping. Not sure why but I just can't get to it sooner. For that reason I usually don't come up with very good ideas for gifts. Now for those of you who have my same problem I might have a solution for you. Melvin's Fir Street Market makes great gift baskets of all varieties. Gift baskets are filled with a variety of items that you can find at Melvin's Fir Street Market 365 day a year. If you can't find one that suits your needs all you have to do is ask them to make one that does. You can even pick out the items yourself and just have them put the gift basket together for you.

     Maybe you don't have time or even a clue what to get someone well we can even make that easier for you. How about a gift certificate in any amount you need. A gift certificate says "I may not know what you like, but, I Love You". During the holidays isn't what is all about anyway.
     While you're at Melvin's make sure you check out the gingerbread house we made her in our kitchen. You will find gingerbread houses all over town and the way to vote for the one you like best all you do is put a donation in the box next to the house in the business. All the proceeds goes the Habitat for Humanity which is really cool.

     Hope you all have a great an safe holiday season!

Melvin's Natural Organic Deli, Wine Bar and Market, 160 S. Fir Street, Sisters, Oregon 541-549-0711

Perfect Pies

      It is almost Thanksgiving, again, and I haven't even lost extra pie pounds I gained last year. Still that won't stop me from having a piece of each pie on the menu this year. I feel dessert should be the main coarse. Here at Melvin's Fir Street Market Melvin himself makes all the pies we sell. Each pie is hand made and fresh baked. We offer peach, berry, apple and of course pumpkin pies all for just $10 each. Each pie starts from scratch, peeling each apple to baking each pumpkin, I do it all the old fashioned way. Last year we sold out early and hopefully we have made enough to let everyone have a delicious fresh baked pie on their Thanksgiving dinner table. Of course, if you want to do all the work yourself that is cool also. Melvin's can supply everything you need to make your own fresh baked pies. Apples are in season right now and we have a great selection of locally grown apples from Detering Orchards in Harrisburg Oregon. If it is a berry or peach pie you want to  make, sorry that season is over but we carry a large selection of frozen fruit that will work just fine. I used fresh ingredients for mine when they were in season and then froze the whole darn pie. It works better that way and no one knows the difference. (whoops, secrets out now).
     In our bulk section you will find all the other ingredients you will need for your pie making. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger you name we can spice up your life. We also carry a great selection of local herbs that add that better then average taste to your turkey, stuffing or mashed potatoes. Bulk flours and sugars can save you a bundle. Speaking of bundling (no we don't sell car insurance) why not bundle all your shopping her at Melvin's. We carry everything you need for a great Thanksgiving dinner from fresh produce to dairy, frozen meats and turkeys to bulk foods. Cork Cellars is located right inside the store so you can pair up that special wine with you dinner. We even have some great gift ideas and gift certificates.
    If for some strange reason you don't end up with leftovers (like that will happen) Melvin's will be open Friday after Thanksgiving. Stop by during your busy day of shopping and get a sandwich, salad or bowl of soup from our deli. Promise we won't make you order a turkey sandwich.
    All of us here at Melvin's wants you and your family to have a happy and safe holiday. It is a safe bet we can make it a happy one. Thank you

Melvin's Natural Organic Deli, Wine Bar and Market, 160 S. Fir Street, Sisters, Oregon 541-549-0711

Happy Grilling!

      Meat, what can I say about Meat? Before I owned this natural food market I was a meat cutter for 30 years. I know hard to believe since I'm only 39. With the amount of knowledge I have about meat I could go on forever but I need to blog about other things also.
     Meat comes in several categories and sub-categories. The main ones are poultry, fish and red meats (beef and pork). There are many other red meats also such as venison, buffalo, yak, etc. To sub-categorize you can break them down into species for instance poultry could be anything from chicken, turkey or even rabbit. I won't even get started with fish because of the numerous species but I will tell you there is fish good for grilling and there is fish good for nothing
     Now days you can get meat that is raised naturally and also organically. These are the two ways that one should look for when purchasing any kind of meats. These meats will not have toxins such as antibiotics or hormones in then. They are usually raised in a more humane way also.
     Lets talk about red meats today and worry about the others another day. Most or at least some of you have looked at a steak and looked for two things. One, is it fresh? and two, is it marbled nicely. Marbling for those of you who don;t know is the amount or the flecks of fat that you can see throughout the meat. It is what gives it its flavor and also helps its tenderness. To get meat to marble nicely the grower has to at the right moment feed the cattle grain. Most of the grain has those toxins in it and are derived mostly from corn. Now on the other hand naturally raised cattle are not fed grain and are raised mostly on grass. Without being fed grain however you won't get that marbling that makes that steak so much more tender and flavorful. Don't get me wrong grass fed beef still has a great taste but it might not be what your used to if you have had grain fed beef. I  suggest you try grass fed beef for yourself since it is more healthy for you and your family. Here at Melvin's Market we sell grass fed beef right out of the freezer. No you can't look to see if it is marbled nicely because it is wrapped in white butcher paper but remember it is grass fed so it isn't marbled. The plus side of buying your beef from the freezer is that it is as fresh as you will ever get it. Think about it, it is butchered and put right in the freezer. The stuff you buy out of a fresh counter could have been there for days. Happy grilling!   

Melvin's Natural Organic Deli, Wine Bar and Market, 160 S. Fir Street, Sisters, Oregon 541-549-0711

Canned Fruit and Preserves

      Fill your pantry with canned goodness!

      Most of us can remember walking into our grandmothers, or in my case Momo's, fruit cellar or pantry and just be in awe at all the fresh and colorful canned fruit and vegetables. I mean lets face it it is not the same looking at an aluminum can with a picture of what is to be inside. I for one like to see what the product looks like before i purchase it.
      We would always grow a huge garden and eat as much as we could when it was fresh picked, talk about organic. Then as things started ripening faster and before it went to seed us kids and mom would go spend hours  picking the bushes clean, good times. Mom would get started on washing the hundreds of quart jars as us kids would snap the beans or play while mom and grandma did them, we were kids after all. My dad always had this sayin' he would bring out of the closest every year about this time. "Son, when it comes to the garden you eat what you can, can what you can't, then eat what you canned". Makes sense and I love my dad but you know how many times I've heard it.
      Well now you don't have to pick the fruit, clean the jars or steam up the whole house (in the middle of summer) trying to can your own preserves. From canned peaches, pears, dilled green beans, marinated mushrooms, sweet pickles to jams, jellies, marinades and even dressings you can see it in the jars and find it at Melvin's Fir Street Market.

Melvin's Natural Organic Deli, Wine Bar and Market, 160 S. Fir Street, Sisters, Oregon 541-549-0711

Organic Northwest Berries, Corn and Apples

You'll find the Freshest local and Organic Produce at Melvin's

       Looking for the freshest, local and organic produce in central Oregon. Look no further then Melvin's Fir Street Market. Melvin's produce section features seasonally local produce. Organic produce from Rainshadow Organic farm is raised just a few miles from the store.
       Fresh Oregon grown berries from strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and yes Oregon's own Marionberries are brought in fresh three times a week. As the seasons hit throughout the Northwest Melvin's is the first to have it in his produce section including Yakima corn and tomatoes, Oregon berries and cherries, Washington state apples and Oregon peaches and melons.
       Melvin himself drives to several Willamette valley farms just to get the freshest produce. Melvin's produce has been know to get so fresh you may have to slap it! 

Melvin's Natural Organic Deli, Wine Bar and Market, 160 S. Fir Street, Sisters, Oregon 541-549-0711

Melvin's Natural Organic Deli, Wine Bar and Market, 160 S. Fir Street, Sisters, Oregon 541-549-0711

Deli Health Foods made to Taste Great

Fresh homemade meals ready to go at Melvin's in Sisters  

 I love pizza but what I love even more is fresh made salads and sandwiches. Customers come to me daily saying "I don't even cook anymore since I found your food". You can eat for weeks from our selection of food items and never have to eat the same thing twice.
      Sandwiches, wraps, green salads, wild rice salad, quinoa salad, beet salad, chef salads, chicken salad, egg salad, hard-boiled eggs, enchiladas, curry bowls, lasagna, fruit trays, veggie trays are just a few of the great items we make everyday in our kitchen. Gluten free items also for those that are looking for that .
      For dessert you'll find things like Sandee's applesauce cake, banana bread, apple brownies, zucchini cake with cream cheese frosting, cocoa zucchini brownies. I must stop I'm starting to drool. I would talk more about the food we make fresh everyday but I've become quite hungry and must go get me a tuna sandwich made with Melvin's Walla Walla onion and peppercorn dressing. Maybe I'll even wash it down with some Kombucha that we have on tap.

Melvin's Natural Organic Deli, Wine Bar and Market, 160 S. Fir Street, Sisters, Oregon 541-549-0711