Knapps Country Market

Spring gardening tips

sdaley — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:47:08 +0000

Now that the Knapp’s nursery is open for the season, we thought it would be a good time to share some basic spring gardening tips with you to help ensure you enjoy a colourful, lush garden this summer.

With the mild weather we’ve enjoyed over the last number of weeks, you’ve likely already stepped into the garden to clean things up. If not, now’s the time to rummage around in the dirt, removing any dead leaves and foliage left over from last year, as well as any debris or garbage that may have made its way into the garden during the winter months.

You should also take this opportunity to rake your lawn to get rid of any dead growth, leaves, twigs and other debris. This will encourage your grass to grow.

With this done, you’ll have a better idea of where your garden is at, growth-wise, and can assess your next moves from there.

At this time of year, your soil should be just the right consistency to start weeding. Though it’s the most dreaded job of gardening, weeding is a necessary evil that really will help your garden grow. Pulling weeds now will also save you a lot of work later. You’ll be able to more easily pull up their shallow roots and prevent their spread and growth.

If your early blooms such as tulips, crocuses and daffodils are already spent, be sure you do some dead heading. Cutting back the dead flowers and stems will redirect the plant’s energy into the bulbs to encourage growth again next year.

This is also the perfect time to clean up the edges of your lawn. We’re just about into the extreme growing season for grass, so be sure to edge all of your garden beds now, before it’s too late.

For all of your planting, seeding, fertilizing and basic gardening needs, don’t forget to visit the Knapp’s nursery. Open daily, we look forward to helping your garden grow.

Knapp’s nursery is now open

sdaley — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:58:54 +0000

Spring has sprung and that means the Knapp’s nursery is now open!

We’re pleased to open our nursery doors to local gardeners and welcome them into our greenhouse nursery that’s stocked full of plants for your enjoyment.

Choose from an assortment of lush hanging baskets, pre-filled planters, plant-your-own cells and container of perennials, annuals and vegetables, and just take some time to peruse the aisles, taking in the colour and scents of the vegetation.

Our selection of geraniums is second-to-none and because all of our plants are grown locally, you know they’ll do well in your local garden. Already acclimated and fertilized, they’re ready to go, and grow, at your home.

For the remainder of the spring and summer our nursery will be open daily, and we’re expecting to see crowds between May 19 and 21 as the Victoria Day long weekend is celebrated. This traditional start to the gardening season marks the busiest weekend at Knapp’s nursery, so come early to avoid the crowds!

Don’t forget to bring the kids with you. Our children’s play area will also be open, along with our ice cream parlour – always a hit with the little ones, and the big ones too!

The Knapp’s nursery will be open daily, starting April 28th for all of your local gardening needs.

Benefit from buffet dining

sdaley — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:00:30 +0000

Going out for dinner is a special treat that we all like to indulge in every so often. The convenience and choice is what we think makes a dinner out so enjoyable and that’s why we’re happy to offer buffet dinners to our customers every day.

With all the food from the soup and salad, entrees and desserts prepared fresh in our kitchens, you’re guaranteed a home-cooked meal prepared the country way.

We use the freshest, local ingredients for everything we make here at Knapp’s Country Market. The result is a selection of food that is second-to-none.

When you visit our buffet it’s a luxurious experience that lets you try a little (or a lot) of everything. The abundant selection makes choosing difficult and that’s why we invite you up to serve yourself as much of everything as you want. We do, however, recommend leaving at least a little bit of room for desserts because our homemade pastries shouldn’t be missed.

Our buffet is also the perfect place to try some foods you may never have indulged in before. We make a variety of homemade chutneys that combine deliciously with many of our entrees and they can add a different flair to a meal you may already love.

Just don’t be shy! Our buffet is here for your enjoyment. So come hungry and come often – we’re always trying new things and love to hear customer feedback. Visit us at 8076 Wellington Rd. 124 in Guelph, or call 519-824-4222 for restaurant hours and to find out what we’re serving tonight.

Natural produce just tastes better

sdaley — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:00:54 +0000

If you’ve ever shopped at Knapp’s Country Market you’ll know that we’re dedicated to providing you with the freshest, local and natural produce. Often referred to as organic or pesticide-free, we prefer the term natural because that’s just what it is: produce that’s grown naturally on local land by local farmers.

The absence of pesticides in our produce doesn’t mean you don’t have to wash your produce, washing cleanses produce of more than just pesticides, but it does mean that you don’t have to worry about adding unnatural minerals to your body. We believe that this is a healthier way to eat and raise our children and are happy to provide a place where you can purchase in-season produce to feed your family.

Here at Knapp’s we grow a variety of this natural produce in our own fields. From strawberries to tomatoes and peppers, we even invite you to come to our fields to pick this produce yourself when in season. Our pick-your-own fields let you take the freshness of the fields to your table to create simple, fresh meals that you almost won’t believe you created.

To make meals that taste gourmet you don’t have to buy anything extraordinary, you just need to buy the best ingredients possible. Fresh, natural produce fits that bill and we encourage you to give it a try. You may find that your initial purchases seem more expensive, but we know you’ll be more satisfied in the result, so it is worth the investment.

Check Knapp’s Country Market often for a great selection of seasonal, natural produce that will transform your meals in a flash.

A superfood recipe the whole family will enjoy

sdaley — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:00:42 +0000

In a past blog post we told you all about the top 10 superfoods that we researched, as well as why they are so good for you. From avocados to walnuts, this list is full of food that tastes great and is good for you.

We mentioned that quinoa can be enjoyed as a breakfast dish, and we thought we should share that recipe with you. Courtesy of a Peruvian friend who has been making this recipe for years, quinoa is a popular ingredient in Peru, despite the fact that its popularity in North America is relatively recent.

Cooking quinoa is easy: it’s just like making rice. Combine one cup of quinoa with two cups of water. Bring to a boil and once the quinoa is thickened, it’s ready. One cup of uncooked quinoa produces about three cups of cooked quinoa.

Breakfast quinoa

Ingredients:

3 cups cooked quinoa
2 eggs
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 cups milk
2 tbsp flour
Dash of cinnamon

Directions:

In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, bring quinoa and milk to a boil, stirring frequently.

Mix eggs with sugar in a bowl, beating until sugar is well blended. Add flour and mix well.

Over low heat, add the egg and sugar mixture, mix well and stir constantly. Allow to boil for five minutes, or until thickened.

Enjoy!

For quinoa you can cook at home and turn into this delicious breakfast dish, visit Knapp’s Country Market in Guelph.

Free range poultry tastes better

sdaley — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:00:45 +0000

Many family farms have been replaced by large commercial producers and where chickens and turkeys used to roam freely in the barnyard, most are now cooped up all the time. Over the last decade or so there has been a movement towards free range poultry, the method of farming that allows animals to roam freely instead of being contained in any matter. The result is a product that is higher in quality.

Here at Knapp’s Country Market we’re proud to carry free-range turkey and chicken. Raised on local farms and brought freshly frozen to our store, you’ll taste the difference in this poultry. With no hormones or pesticides, free-range poultry is also healthier for you, too.

When shopping for free-range turkey and chicken at Knapp’s you can look for the certified organic and local sustainable certification markers on the poultry. Everything we sell has been inspected to make sure they are in fact raised in free-range conditions.

The Knapp’s family is committed to providing free-range poultry to customers because we believe it is better for you. We don’t serve our children meat and poultry that is full of hormones and we wouldn’t expect you to, either.

In addition to our free-range turkey and chicken, we also carry a selection of local, hormone-free meat for your enjoyment. We carry beef from Norpac, a local company that raises antibiotic-free beef with no growth hormones that is fed a 100 per cent vegetarian diet. The beef is tender, lean and very high quality.

Hot drinks keep you warm when it’s cold outside

Blogging Team — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:00:52 +0000

Coffee, tea and hot chocolate: these are perhaps the most popular hot beverages consumed on a daily basis. The coffee and tea are used by many people to wake up in the morning and get through the day, while hot chocolate is a favourite treat amongst many children.

Here at Knapp’s Country Market we like to make hot beverage drinkers of all ages happy and as such, carry a great selection of organic, fair trade coffee, specialty hot chocolates and loose tea, which is very popular these days.

Fair trade coffee refers to the organized, social movement and market-based approach to selling coffee beans to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. Meanwhile, organic coffee refers to certified beans that are grown in conditions that are 100 per cent organic, meaning inorganic matter such as synthetic nitrogen, phosphate and potash fertilizers are not used in the growing.

While organic, fair-trade coffee is a more expensive alternative to the regular coffee, it’s highly sought after and Knapp’s is happy to have a great selection from a variety of producers available at the market.

If loose tea is more your style, and it is quickly gaining in popularity around here, you’ll want to check out our selection. Here you can choose from standard flavours such as orange pekoe, English breakfast and earl grey, or you can get a bit more adventurous and try our fruity flavours. These make a great hot or cold drink and when served chilled make a great alternative to pop, though they are still full of flavour.

For the younger crowd, or young at heart, we’ve also got a great selection of hot chocolates to choose from. Rich, creamy and full of flavour, these make the perfect winter treat for all ages.

Check out our great selection of hot beverages at Knapp’s Country Market in Guelph.

Country crafts make great gifts

Blogging Team — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 13:00:47 +0000

Here at Knapp’s Country Market we spend a lot of time talking about our fresh, local produce, homemade meals and wide variety of specialty items, but the market is also home to a great selection of home sewn items and hand knit goods.

A stroll down our craft aisles will quickly reveal an assortment of children’s clothing, including beautiful one-of-a-kind girls’ dresses, country style kitchen linens and of course knit items including fantastic scrubbies that are great for cleaning the kitchen.

We even carry these really cool aprons for water bottles. They’re very popular, available in a variety of themes and fit any type of bottle perfectly. Plus they look really cute, so they make a nice, unique hostess gift.

If you are looking for custom placemats, Knapp’s is the place to get them. Available in a wide assortment of unique, fun and colourful fabrics, you can even purchase coordinating napkins to complete the set.

All of the home sewn and hand knit items at Knapp’s are courtesy of local crafts people and artisans who sell their wares to us. We’re happy to provide them to you at reasonable prices and change our selection regularly so there is always something new for you to come and look for. If there’s something in particular you are looking for, let us know. We’re happy to try and find it, or ask one of our contacts if they can make something custom for you.

Visit Knapp’s Country Market at 8076 Wellington Rd. 124 in Guelph, or call us at 519-824-4222 to find out what we have available before making the trip.

Top 10 superfoods

Blogging Team — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 13:00:25 +0000

For those of you devoted to living a healthy lifestyle, we at Knapp’s Country Market completely understand and want to do everything we can to help you with that, particularly when it’s related to eating healthy, wholesome and delicious food.

We’ve done a little research and discovered there are a number of superfoods out there that can help you live that healthier lifestyle. In alphabetical order, they are:

Avocados: Full of heart-healthy monosaturated fats and potassium, avocados are also a great source of fibre. Try them mashes in quacamole, diced in a salad, or spread in a sandwich.

Black beans: The soluble fibre in black beans are what makes them a superfood. It helps lower cholesterol, while the low glycemic index helps manage blood sugar. Just be sure to drain and rinse canned black beans before using as they are full of sodium, which is not a superfood.

Clementines: These little citrus fruits are great for eating on the run because they come in their own packaging. Rich in vitamin C, a great source of boosting immunity, they’re great on their own as a snack or added to salads.

Green tea: Perhaps the most delicious zero calorie drink, green tea is loaded with antioxidants, which can help provide protection from cancer and heart disease. Green tea can be consumed hot or cold.

Pomegranates: These might be the most commonly known superfood. Pomegranates’ tiny red seeds and juice offer fiber, potassium and vitamin C. Try adding the seeds to a salad or yogurt. The juice is also great in salad dressings.

Sweet potatoes: We’re so happy sweet potatoes are a superfood. We serve them all the time in our restaurant and because they are loaded with beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium, folate and fibre, they’re really good for you. Mash these instead of white potatoes, or try making sweet potato fries.

Swiss chard: This leafy green vegetable is a great source of folate, calcium, iron and vitamins A, C and K. If you’ve never tried kale before, it’s great stir fried or added to soups.

Trout: A mild fish that many people enjoy, trout is rich in omega-3 fats, which can lower heart disease risk. Many of us eat salmon for the same benefits, but why not give this fish a try instead?

Quinoa: We’ve been hearing about quinoa a lot lately and perhaps that’s because it has all of the positive properties of whole gains, is gluten-free and full of protein. Quinoa can be used in so many dishes and recipes it’s unbelievable. Try it as a breakfast dish, side dish, or use it to bake.

Walnuts: This is an oldie but a goodie. Walnuts, along with almonds, Brazil nuts and pecan contain heart-healthy mono and polyunsaturated fats, protein, fibre and selenium minerals. They are also a great source of omega-3 fats.

For a great selection of all of these superfoods and many, many more, visit Knapp’s Country Market in Guelph.

30. Country crafts make great gifts (Arts & Crafts)

Visit Knapp’s Country Market at 8076 Wellington Rd. 124 in Guelph, or call us at 519-824-4222 to find out what we have available before making the trip.

Gluten-free diet tips

Blogging Team — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:00:58 +0000

Dealing with dietary restrictions can be a challenge that we at Knapp’s Country Market are all too familiar with. Many of our staff members have food allergies and owner Roger Knapp, in particular, deals with gluten sensitivities. As such, we know how difficult it can be to get the nutrients you need and eat a healthy diet. That’s why we offer so many specialty products: to accommodate all of your dietary needs.

For our customers who are trying to stick to a gluten-free diet, whether for medical or health reasons, we suggest following these few tips to ensure your success.

Check with your doctor before going gluten-free. He or she can be a great source of information about celiac disease, gluten sensitivities and how to best maintain a gluten-free diet. Your family doctor can also refer you to a nutritionist to ensure you’re eating a healthy and balanced gluten-free diet.
Before consuming any food you think may be gluten-free, check with the manufacturer. If you think it may not be gluten-free, it’s easy to make a phone call to find out before risking a reaction. Food manufacturers should be able to provide you with a certain answer as to whether or not the product is gluten-free and if they can’t, you may want to consider not eating it.
Always read product labels for ingredients. As you become more familiar with your gluten-free you will more easily recognize what ingredients contain gluten and which don’t. Learning about gluten and ingredients containing gluten will go a long way towards ensuring your success.

If you are looking for a wide selection of gluten-free products, visit Knapp’s Country Market. Our specialty aisles contain an assortment of products by various manufacturers and we’re always sourcing more. Don’t hesitate to ask if we carry something in particular. If we don’t we’re happy to try to source it for you.