Geneva Green Market: Geneva, Illinois – A Local Food Green Farmers Market

Turkey expert and Geneva resident Renee Ferguson, known to some as the ‘Turkey Lady,’ will be signing her cookbook Saturday at the Geneva Green Market.

Mark Weaver, who with his wife Connie helps run the market at Inglenook Pantry, 11 N. Fifth St., said more vendors will be at the market this weekend and they expect a good turnout.

Ferguson’s expertise comes from the 14 years she previously worked for Butterball.

“I handled people’s turkey traumas,” Ferguson said.

She recalls an incident in which a customer called in for advice, asking whether the pop-up timer in their meat thermometer would change color. Ferguson said she advised the caller that it was not a pregnancy test.

“Everybody has a funny story about turkey,” Ferguson said. (read more)

If I cook from frozen do I have to use a power drill to put the meat thermometer in?
Great question but way ahead of the class! Hey! I’m Renee Ferguson and just to let you know I’ve handled America’s turkey trauma for over 15 years! And, yes, that is a real question I answered and one that I will let you know about as we get closer to T-Day.

Having worked for the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, I’ve answered many frazzled cooks questions. So I am here at the Community Winter Market, November 21, 2009 to guide you to a successful and less stressful Thanksgiving Day turkey. Even if you know your way around a drumstick there are questions to be answered and this Turkey Lady will do her best to help you become your own Holiday Hero.

The big question at this point in the game in early November is does size really matter. Well for sure! If you want to have ample portions but little or no leftovers plan on 1 pound per person. If you want to savor delicious turkey sandwiches the next day, or you have plans for some scrumptious casseroles in the days ahead you better plan on 1 ½ pounds of turkey per person. Sounds like a lot well think about this you’ve got to remember you are not buying a boneless, skinless cut of meat. The overall weight when you buy a turkey includes bones, packaging, giblets and something called drip weight. So plan ahead and buy 1 ½ pounds per person you can always freeze your leftovers for another day.

I invite you to visit my website at TurkeyTools.com if you need to Talk Turkey to Me or pick up your copy of my cookbook, Talk Turkey to Me, at Inglenook Pantry, 11 North 5th Street, Geneva IL on your next trip to the Community Winter Market. Find out why the FOOD NETWORK featured me as a turkey expert in a Throwdown! with Bobby Flay!

Be a part of the “Localvore Thanksgiving Challenge“, and get your locally grown ingredients for your favorite recipes at the Geneva Green Market – Thanksgiving Festival on Sunday, November 23, 2008. The Geneva Green Market makes it easy for you to prepare a feast that is 100% locally grown and produced. The Thanksgiving Festival is a wonderful alternative to a trip to the grocery store. Not only can you find everything you need for Thanksgiving, but local artisans will be selling beautifully crafted and socially responsible Christmas and hostess gifts.

Betsy Sanchez will be baking Walnut Cranberry Linzer Tarts, Pumpkin Pecan Tarts, Pumpkin Cake Roll, Swedish Cardamom Rolls (Bullar), Swedish Cardamom Braids (Pulla), Butter Braids, Biscotti for purchase.

The Location is at Inglenook Pantry, 11 North 5th Street, Geneva IL 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Localvore Brunch will be served with the farmers’ products from 9:30 to 2 p.m., so you can make Thanksgiving shopping an afternoon experience for the whole family.

If there is a particular ingredient that you are looking for, you can make a request by 1 p.m. at the Geneva Winter Market on Saturday, November 15th. Call to pre-order pies and make brunch reservations at 630-377-0373.

You can pre-order a Heritage Bourbon Red Turkey from Caveny Farm Heritage poultry at www.cavenyfarm.com. They will be available for pick-up at the Thanksgiving Festival; also local artisans will be selling their wears.  Klean Kanteens, $15.50-$20.00 will be for sale from Dianne Peterson’s wood toys and silks.

Local Wines

Little Traveler is your destination for some interesting and tasty wines to complement your holiday table.  We will have available for tasting a tart and refreshing Cranberry Wine and a soft delicately sweet Pear Wine from Lynfred Winery in Roselle, Illinois and from August Hill in Utica, Illinois.
We will also have available for sampling Traminette, similar to a Gewurtztraminer and Trapolino, a light bodied red served slightly chilled.  For those of you that lean towards a sweeter varietal, we will have their Sweet Catawba, remincsent of citrus and fruit candy.  It is just about time to warm up the Glogg and we will be bring along Glunz Family Winery’s Glogg, from Grayslake, Illinos…..perfect balance of sweetness and spiciness to warm you up on these cold winter nights.

Because we are only tasting these at the Geneva Green Market Thanksgiving Festival,  The Little Traveler is offering a $5.00 discount coupon good for your purchase of a bottle wine at The Little Traveler during November 24 – November 26, 2008 so you can enjoy these libations during your Thanksgiving Feasts and beyond.

Meet the Local Author – Book signing – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Talk Turkey to Me”, by Renee Ferguson,
“Now coming to a town near you”, by Gina Olszowski