Pie Baking Contest: A Sweet Success

This is what dedicated customers look like.

This is what faithful Waterloo Farmer's Market vendors look like.

And this is what faithful 2nd Annual Waterloo Farmer's Market Pie-Baking Contestants look like!

The rain didn't keep this boy away from the Waterloo Farmer's Market 2nd Annual Pie-Baking Contest! Van entered the kids' category with his delicious Strawberry Raspberry pie and ended up receiving over-all Reserve Champion! Congratulations Van!

Beth Crave of Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese had the very difficult job of being our pie-baking judge. John Spies (right) was our pie auctioneer and Harold Hann was his assistant. They did a fabulous job. Thanks guys!

We had Lemon Meringue, Peanut Butter, Apple, Strawberry, Triple Berry, and even Taco and Sauerkraut pies! 

One of our younger contestants even put her name on her pie.

Our Grand Champion award went to Paula Lenius for her picture perfect Lemon Meringue Pie. Congratulations Paula!

The bakers received half of the auction proceeds and the Waterloo Carousel fund received the other half.  The auction raised $135 for the Carousel fund, and lots of great memory making was had by all who attended.

Oh, and let's not forget the Farmer's Market-

This week at the Waterloo Farmer's Market in the Park - The summer is flying by - June is over already this week and it's time to start thinking about the Fourth of July!  Come to the market and buy strawberry shortcake at 1776 prices!  Also, our Waterloo Historical Society will be on hand with entertainment and displays from Waterloo of yesteryear. Also, kids don't miss our special bike and scooter red, white, and blue decorated parade!  Bring your bike or scooter to the market at 5:30, decorate them and we'll have a parade around the market at 6:00.

See you at the there!

2nd Annual Father's Day Olympics!

Unlike last week's cold weather, we had a picture-perfect day for the Waterloo Farmer's Market last week!

 

The strawberries are ready!

and SPRING PEAS!  

Great to eat, pod and all - buy a box and I bet they'll be gone before you get home!

 

With the weather being so great, many people came out and visited with friends and neighbors.

 

It's just the way a farmer's market should be. A very happy place! At 6:00, we had our 2nd Annual Father's Day Olympics. First, there was seed spitting. The kids lined up and our grand prize winner spit her seed 15 ft. 2 inches!

 

 

Then, we had the farm fresh egg toss. 

Oops!  Looks like this egg didn't make it!

 

Oh darn! I lost!

 

Next, we had the Daddy Dress-Up Relay Race. Kids got on teams and took turns racing to put on daddy's Hawaiian shirt, blue jeans, belt, socks, and shoes.

 

Next, we had the Daddy Look-Alike Contest:

 

Congratulations Joe and Joselyn!  She DEFINITELY looks like dad!

 

Congratulations to all our winners and we're looking forward to more winners at this week's 2nd Annual Pie-Baking Contest!  Get those pies ready!  Just click on 'Upcoming Contests' for details on how you can enter up to three pies or bid on as many pies as you would like. Half of the proceeds go to our Carousel fund, and the other half goes to our pie bakers.  So, come out and have some old-fashioned fun, and help the farmer's market support the Carousel fund!

The Perfect Summer Meal

Last week Terri Klas, registered nurse, nutritionist, and naturopath, came to the Waterloo Farmer's Market dressed in her winter coat! Now, if you all remember, the day before was almost 90 degrees - you gotta LOVE springtime in Wisconsin!

 

Terri braved the cold weather and brought us, what she thought, would be "A Taste of Summer meal" -- you know, a meal where you wouldn't have to get in the hot kitchen and cook, yet still create a healthy meal for families. Well, had it been 90 degrees instead of 50 degrees, it would have been the perfect summer meal.  She served grated carrots, zucchini, onions, and tomatoes and rolled them up in cabbage or lettuce leaves along with a choice of herbed goat cheese or a very tasty macadamia nut blend she made in her food processor. And, yes, it was delicious!  Kids and adults alike all loved it!  

 

For dessert, she served balls made of dates and other yummy, healthy ingredients. Your kids wouldn't even know these weren't cookies because they vanished quite quickly.

Other produce served up at the market last week was rhubarb, radishes and onions and lots of plants for everyone to buy to start our own gardens.

Here we have some of our vendors with their matching flannel shirts munching on popcorn trying to stay warm, and then we have Ken Seibert, our beautiful window box maker - who is always smiling and thinking spring!

Badger BBQ is a very faithful vendor with all of their terrific spices to serve on all of your favorite summer grilled meats or anytime of the year.

Linda Whitley was also there with her beautiful artisan breads - don't miss her onion bread, tomato basil, saffron raisin, and pepperoni rolls - every week she's got something new, so be sure to try her samples and buy a loaf to try - you never know what combinations she'll put together.

Also, last week's pie of the week was Raspberry Chocolate Cheese, and we also featured Hunka Hunka Chocolate Chip Cookies, Melt-in-Your-Mouth Sugar Cookies and Rhubarb Cheese Squares, and much more!

This week the Market Grill will be featuring Mushroom Swiss brats and our newest grilled cheese -- Sundried Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Cheese on sourdough bread along with our "Big Cheese" which consists of swiss, muenster and mozzarella on sourdough bread.

 

Don't miss this week's attraction - The 2nd Annual Father's Day Olympics.  Bring dad or grandpa and come play games, relay races and enter our Dad and Kid Look-Alike Contest!  Prizes will be awarded. Don't miss the old-fashioned fun!

Celebrating June Dairy Month at the Market!

June is a special month to us Wisconsinites and dairy farmers and well, everyone that loves dairy. June is Dairy Month - 30 days of celebrating the great products dairy farmers produce for us every single day. From milk to cottage cheese to ice cream, we can't get enough of it. We want to say a special Thank You to our sponsors for our June is Dairy Month Fest and to the Waterloo Wonder Stars 4-H club for dishing out free ice cream to our customers. It was a great hit!

 Thank you to the Waterloo FFA Alumni for bringing their petting zoo! 

Also, congratulations to Linda Whitley who was the lucky winner of our First Annual Grilled Cheese Contest! Her sandwich included cheese from Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese, along with cheddar cheese and a slice of tomato on her homemade semolina herb bread. Delicious! She won a great assortment of cheeses from the Crave Brothers!

This week's lucky winner of free produce, plants, cheese, spices, rhubarb, and flowers from our vendors and a meal from the Market Grill was Darlene Gordon. Be sure to sign up each week for your chance to win great treats from the market.

We hope to see you at this weeks' market for Terri Klas' cooking demonstration. She will be showing us how to use all of the fresh produce and goods from the market.

Rain or Shine

It didn't rain at last week's market, but we want to make sure you know: rain or shine, the market will go on.  Fortunately, Fireman's Park has a pavilion that allows our vendors and customers to head for cover. If we ever have to cancel the market though, be sure to follow us on our Facebook page for the latest updates.

Mary Ann Harter is our first weekly winner of free produce, a meal from The Market Grill, flowers, plants, spices, cheese, and more from our very generous vendors! Want a chance at winning some great prizes? Just attend the market and put your name in our drawing. Good luck!