Oct. 15 is the final Haymarket farmers market of the season, and the three remaining markets are the perfect place to pick up treats for your Husker football party. Maybe farmers markets aren’t the first place you think of when you’re shopping for football party snacks or meals, but you may be surprised by what you’ll find.
Here are a dozen ideas:
Shadowbrook Farm & The Dutch Girl Creamery --Â Featuring her farm-fresh goat cheese, Charuth Loth has created Artisan Tailgate Snack Packs ($8). Topped with Husker red ribbons and bows, each pack includes a hard cheese, a spreadable cheese, crackers and either figs, grapes or tomatoes. Eat it yourself before the game or give the party hosts a special gift!
Gardner’s Wisconsin Cheese & Sausage -- With more than a dozen flavors of cheeses (including Buffalo wing, cranberry jack, smoked cheddar and smokin’ hot pepper), sticks (BBQ beef and pork, honey ham, spicy beef and beef and pork teriyaki) and summer sausage to choose from, there’s no chance you’ll show up empty handed for the tailgate party. Packages and build-your-own boxes are available; visit the website () or call 402-637-6112 to order by phone. You can pick up your order at the Haymarket farmers market on Saturday morning, too.
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Frank’s Smokehouse -- A well-known, family-owned Wilber institution, Frank’s Smokehouse says to give them a call (402-821-2647) during the week if you want them to bring hamburger patties to the market for you. All you’ll need to do is fire up the grill. You can also order hot dogs, Polish sausages and fully cooked smoked pork chops that just need to be reheated to eat. Ready-made, no-cooking-necessary meats include various flavors of summer sausage, salami, beef sticks and jerky.
Daffodil Mediterranean Cuisine -- Narges Montazer specializes in creating Persian delights, both sweet and savory. Call the restaurant (402-570-3840) to order catering-sized quantities of anything on the menu. If you just want a snack before heading to the game, the hot plates feature gyros, spinach pies, dolmehs, vegetable samosas and falafel with tzatziki sauce. Don’t forget the baklava -- rose, walnut and honey -- while you’re there or pick up some rice cookies or gluten-free macaroons.
Erick’s Enchiladas -- If you’re looking for beef, chicken, pork, cheese or bean enchiladas, Erick’s has you covered. Grab an enchilada ($2.50) to eat on the way to the stadium or buy a six-pack ($14) or 12-pack ($23) to serve at your football party. Pork, chicken and beef tamales are also available in an individual portion ($2), a six-pack ($12) or a 12-pack ($20). Add 16 ounces of salsa for $5, a pound of chips for $5, or save a dollar and buy chips and salsa for $9. To serve tamales and enchiladas to a large party, call 402-934-1433 to order in advance.
Bluff Valley Farm -- Ken Thiltges' family has farmed the land for six generations, and he'll be at the final market of the season on Oct. 15, with various cuts of lamb, pork and beef for the grill or smoker. He’ll have whole chickens, too, which are perfect for smoking. Their farm-raised, natural meats are produced without hormones or antibiotics. Call (402-245-5460) to make sure he’s bringing the cut and quantity you want or visit Open Harvest Co-op Grocery, 1618 South St., where you’ll find Bluff Valley Farm meats in the freezer case.
Bella Baby Nuts -- Under the big blue awning, you’ll find pecans or almonds in a variety of flavors, including simply salted, cappuccino crunch, cinnamon crunch and Asian zing. Sample any of the flavors before you buy, and a 7-ounce bag costs $9.99. (The stand also offers three bags for $25 on game days.) Snack on them right out of the bag or mix them with popcorn, sprinkle them on mixed green salads or put a handful on a bowl of ice cream.
Italian Fusion -- Owner Wendy Beinlich will be happy to tell you all the ways her gluten-free dry season rubs, marinades, sandwich sauce and salad dressings can dress up whatever you’re serving at your football party. The dry rub is perfect on the brisket, ribs, fish, pork tenderloin, chicken and even veggies (zucchini, sliced eggplant, mushrooms, tomatoes) that you’re grilling or smoking. The dressing is great on lettuce salads, but it also works well in pasta salad tossed with tomatoes, basil, Kalamata olives and fresh mozzarella or as a pre-grilling marinade. A 12-ounce bottle of dressing is $5 and a 5.5-ounce shaker bottle of the dry rub is $6.
Golden Kernel Kettlecorn -- Jodi and Dan Nelson and their son Aden make vats and vats of fresh kettle corn every Saturday morning during the Haymarket farmers market season. They never pop a single kernel in advance, and, when they can get it, the popcorn is sourced locally. The Nelsons especially like the corn that’s grown in Chapman. Bags are small ($2.50), medium ($6), large ($8) and family-sized ($19).
Medinger’s Market -- For truly tasty snacks that also happen to be healthy (no fat or preservatives), head to Don Medinger’s booth for his chips. Grown and dried on Medinger’s farm, the plain or spiced tomato, cucumber and pepper chips/strips work well in place of corn or potato chips for salsas and party dips. Apple chips provide a slightly sweet snack, and they’re delicious on their own or dunked in caramel apple dip.
Burley’s Baked Goods -- From Friend, the women at Burley’s baked goods have freshly baked breads and rolls -- whole wheat, sourdough and rye -- and all manner of sweets. If you’re in the mood for cookies, try the sour cream or chocolate chip ($2 to $4). Oatmeal cream pies are $1.50, and Danish puffs, pecan tarts, and enormous frosted cinnamon rolls are all various prices.
Karen’s Gourmet Crispy Cubes -- For at least 20 different flavors of crispy cereal treats, stop by Karen’s booth. Individual treats are $3 or two for $5. If you can’t decide on a single flavor of crispy treat, and it’s pretty tough, try a small party tray that has a sample of every flavor for $12 or a large party tray for $20. Karen’s Gourmet welcomes special orders, so call or send a text (402-416-4810) during the week so your tray of Gourmet Crispy Cubes is ready for your football party.