Regional US

Nervous Nellie's Jams and Jellies
     I love living in California, but miss the Maine blueberries I knew growing up on the East Coast. Oregon blueberries are okay, but not like the tiny, sweet, flavorful Maine variety. I haven't seen these for decades, but here they are at Nervous Nellie's, in the form of preserves. I've tried these, and they're the real thing, absolutely. Long live the Web!
     When she's not putting up blueberry preserves, Nervous Nellie makes a bunch of other intriguing things in her tiny, white, window-boxed cottage on the edge of a meadow on Deer Isle, Maine. I can recommend the Hot Tomato Chutney, and the Hot Pepper Jelly. These are both full of flavor, a great hot-sweet combination. These are the kinds of productions that should win prizes.
     I also ordered Cranberry Peach Chutney, Blue Razz Conserve, and Blueberry Chutney, based on Ms. Nellie's descriptions, in which I am gaining growing confidence. Any of these make great gifts, at Christmas or any time. www.nervousnellies.com

Vermont Country Store
     This catalog has a special interest for busy home cooks. Most of the pages are devoted to nostalgic clothing, but there are always a few small kitchen appliances, buried like little gems in a basket of clean laundry. These appliances are not generally available elsewhere. If they were, they wouldn't be in this catalog. See KITCHEN TOOLS for some of the items we have found here over the years.
    Foods are interesting as well. You can buy Vermont maple syrup and cheddar cheese (including sharp and extra sharp). They also feature nostalgic goodies such as Walnettos that you thought were gone forever.
     The Vermont Country Store, PO Box 3000 Manchester Center, VT 05255-3000. Ph. 1-802-362-8440. Fax 1-802-362-0285. Website www.vermontcountrystore.com.

From the Southwest

Cibolo Junction
     Here is your entree to the distinctive flavors of the Southwest.
     You would expect to find salsas here, and you do. There are three traditional southwest salsas, rather hot: Sabrosa, Southwest Style with New Mexico green chiles, and Tomatillo and Habanero.
     In addition three fruit salsas, with milder peppers, are available. Try Mango Papaya salsa with tomatillos, peppers, and a touch of chipottle chile. Or Cranberry Apple salsa with mild chiles and serano peppers.
     There are nine fruit and chile preserves. These include their top seller and award winner Habanero Peach Preserve, also Jalapeno Orange Marmalade. These preserves tend to the sweet and spicy, ideal for appetizers on crackers with cream cheese; relish with chicken, fish or pork; or poured over yogurt or ice cream!
     The soups and stews sound irresistible. These are mixes to which you add water and meat or chicken. How about Green Chile Stew: Idaho potatoes, green chiles, 8 herbs, spices and seasonings.
     Of the bread mixes, Indian blue cornbread with Jalapeno chiles and lime, is a featured item.
     Their herbs and spices section includes a list of chiles a mile long. You may buy whole pods, powders, or crushed flakes. The list begins with ancho and cascabel and continues through to pasilla and pequin.
     (This is important news for anyone wishing to experiment with Mexican cooking. If you look into Dana Kennedy’s classic, The Art of Mexican Cooking, you will see that most recipes require one or another specific kind of chile, unavailable generally in US stores.)
     A number of flavored sour dough pretzels are offered.
     The website is clean, sharp and colorful, a pleasure to browse. There is also a glossary of New Mexican foods.

History: Cibolo Junction takes its name from a landmark building in Panna Maria, Texas. In 1991, Susan and Brian McKinsey began their love affair their with the flavors and seasonings of the American Southwest in the Cibolo Junction Saloon and Country Store.
They created a dish called Bowl O’ Red, a fiery chili that became known far and wide. In 1994 they set up their business in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with one product. There are now hundreds. Some they manufacture themselves, for some they act as distributors. www.cibolojunction.com