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How to Prepare the Perfect Charcuterie Board

                

This holiday season, impress your guests with a charcuterie board! Carefully crafted and presented quite elegantly, a charcuterie board is essentially a fancy title for a meat and cheese board. Here are five easy steps to help you prepare the perfect appetizer!

1. Select Your Provisions.

Having a medley of diverse cured meats is the first step to create your cheese board. Aim for thinly sliced provisions such as prosciutto or peppered salami. Then try rolling the slices or layering them on your board. Typically these meats can be found at local food stores including Keeler Bay VarietyHealthy Living, and City Market

Photo Source: FN Sharp

2. Choose Your Cheese.

The next step is choosing your fromage. While it's hard to go wrong in this department, incorporating multiple contrasting textures will keep your board fun and interesting! Include artisanal cheeses like Isle La Motte’s Happy Bird Poultry Farm’s Smoked Seriously Sharp Cheddar slices and then mix in a softer cheese like Vermont Creamery’s  herb goat cheese. For one stop shopping, check out Arbor Farm Market or Cheese and Wine Traders for a wide selection of local Vermont products.

Photo source:  Happy Bird Poultry

3. Incorporate Fruit And Nuts.

Adding fruit to your board provides a pop of color and also creates a sweet mixture of flavors. Select fruit that goes with your cheeses of choice. Include an assortment of fresh and dried fruit then try to add a fruit spread or chutney! Test out My Kid's Kitchen's excellent selection of fruit preserves. Plus,  don’t forget to add a mix of nuts in there...Do we dare suggest candied walnuts?  

Photo source:  Arbor Farmstead

4. Add Crackers and Bread

When making your decision on what crackers to incorporate, think about the type of cheese and meats you’ve selected. Vermont’s Castleton’s Crackers complement nicely with harder cheeses while hand crafted bread such as a seeded baguette from Wally's Place would be ideal to pair with your spreads or dips. 

Photo source: Wally's Place

5. Assemble the Board

Firstly, we recommend using your largest cutting board or a sizable serving platter. Then, layer the cheese and meats on top of each other and sprinkle the fruit and nuts in where you see fit. Additionally, you can use a small bowl for creamy dip or olives. Include any necessary utensils such as cheese knives and garnish with an herb like rosemary or thyme for a pleasant aroma!

Photo source: A Dash of Megnut 

Now pour yourself a glass of wine, sit back, marvel at your board, and dive in! Whether you're gathering with family at the holidays or going to housewarming parties charcuterie boards will be sure to amaze your company and their taste buds!

Photo source: Edyta via Eating European

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Island Insights: Champlain Islands Holiday Gift Guide

 

As we roll into the month of December the search for the perfect present begins...This holiday season we challenge you to shop local and support Grand Isle County businesses. We have you covered with gift inspiration and great shopping spots right here in the Champlain Islands! 

1. Doghouse Pottery 

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Doghouse Pottery has an array of beautiful mugs to mixing bowls and even growlers you will be sure to find a special pottery item for someone on your list! All of their products are 100% handmade in South Hero, Vermont. Their shop is currently closed to foot traffic so check out their website to browse!

Photo by Amanda via Doghouse Pottery

 

2. Champlain Islands Candy Lab

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Is it really the holidays if you aren’t indulging in sweet treats? The Champlain Islands Candy Lab in South Hero, Vermont has an assortment of to die for Vermont artisanal chocolates and baked goods. They also offer holiday gift boxes and custom gift boxes, perfect for the chocolate connoisseur in your life!

Photo via Champlain Islands Candy Lab

 

3. Kraemer & Kin

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To appease the Beer lovers on your list, head to Kraemer and Kin’s tasting room in North Hero and pick up a gift card or a four-pack of their tasty, beautifully packaged craft brews. We recommend pairing that with one of their merch items, try adding a couple of their pint glasses or a Botanical Ampersand Tee. 

Photo via Kraemer and Kin

 

4. Meadow Lane Macrame

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Meadow Lane Macrame is a Handmade Fiber Art shop out of South Hero that creates unique pieces from wall art to super fun earrings. These boho inspired designs are irresistible and their plant hangers are a great gift for those with a green thumb! You can browse their different macrame collections on their brand new website.

Photo by Christel Nase via Meadow Lane Macrame

 

5. Hero's Welcome General Store

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When in doubt, head to Hero’s Welcome in North Hero. This general store will have you covered with everything under the sun. Whether you’re looking for your niece, nephew, or co-worker, this general store is packed with games, books, gag gifts, household items, clothing, and a wide selection of local products! 

Photo via Hero's Welcome

 

6. Grand Isle Art Works

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Located on Route 2 in Grand Isle, Vermont, Grand Isle Art Works has a variety of fine arts and crafts ranging from glass, mixed media, clay, wood, photography and much more! While you're there, keep an eye out for Across the Grain Pottery and their raku fish sculptures. This South Hero pottery studio specializes in functional pottery and raku, they even offer classes as well! Surprise your crafty friend or family member with the gift of a private pottery lesson.

Photo via Grand Isle Art Works

 

7. Savage Gardens Bijoux Jewelry

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A local farmer, owner of Savage Gardens, and a jeweler?! Amanda Gervais does it all, including creating unique sterling silver pieces that are popular among many. Based out of North Hero, one of her most well-known pieces are her Lake Champlain pendants. To see more of Bijoux Jewelry’s designs visit her shop on etsy.

Photo by Amanda Gervais via Savage Gardens

 

That’s a wrap on our holiday gift guide folks! Now you can find something for everybody on your list this holiday season while supporting small businesses in the Champlain Islands. Don't see your favorite shop on our list? Please comment their name or website below!

 

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Vermont Market Update: October 2020

See the latest Northwestern Vermont real estate market report presented by NVBR below.

The Northwestern Vermont Board of REALTORS® (NVBR) has released its market statistics for October 2020. The information is derived from data contained in the New England Real Estate Network and covers Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle Counties.

October continued to be busier than the calendar normally suggests. Buyer activity remains higher than normal for this time of year, while in many segments of the market housing supply remains much lower than one year ago. Multiple offers remain a common occurrence in many areas, keeping housing hot while the temperatures continue to fall.

New Listings decreased 0.9 percent for single-family homes and 25.6 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Pending Sales increased 15.7 percent for single-family homes but decreased 4.4 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Inventory decreased 47.5 percent for single-family homes and 51.1 percent for townhouse-condo properties.

The Median Sales Price was up 18.5 percent to $339,500 for single-family homes and 0.2 percent to $277,500 for townhouse-condo properties. Days on Market decreased 34.4 percent for single-family homes and 47.8 percent for townhouse-condo properties. Months Supply of Inventory decreased 48.8 percent for single-family homes and 54.5 percent for townhouse-condo
properties.

Mortgage rates dropped to new record lows again in October, helping to offset the monthly mortgage payment increases caused by the rise in home prices seen in many segments of the market across the country. While prices often dip a bit in the winter months, continued buyer demand may temper any price retreats this year.

Vermont Real Estate Market Report October 2020

Hidden Homes: 15 Point Farm West Grand Isle, Vermont

While this home isn't for sale it's still fun to look! This dream property is secluded in Northern Grand Isle's Point Farm West. It includes breathtaking views of Lake Champlain and even an indoor swimming pool check out the video below to see more!

 
What other types of homes would you like to see featured? Comment below!

Island Insights: Conversations with CIDER

Island Insights graphic with aerial view of Champlain Islands

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Conversations with CIDER

The town of South Hero has seen several developments in the last five years from the Community Health Center, Wally’s Place, Worthen Library, Champlain Islands Candy Lab, Viva Marketplace and more to come. The next big thing to come to South Hero will be an affordable senior housing facility. CIDER (Champlain Islands Developing Essential Resources) has partnered with Cathedral Square (a leading creator of affordable housing with services for older adults and people with special needs) to bring this multi million dollar project to the Champlain Islands.

Over the last 15 years CIDER and Cathedral Square have been working hard to come up with an affordable senior housing solution for the Grand Isle County community. Introducing Bayview Crossing. It will house 30 apartments for older adults, a variety of amenities and services for residents, and an office space for CIDER. It is planned to be a mixed-income community, with apartments at both market-rate and subsidized rents. 


Robin Way pointing at field where construction will take place After years of searching for a site, septic tests, and archaeological studies, they have settled on a site behind the Community Health Center and plan to break ground in late 2021. One of the main criteria for creating this development was to be close to services. This location is within walking distance to the Community Health Center, the Worthen Library and local eateries making it an ideal location. 

Grand Isle County is the oldest county in the state of Vermont and one of the only counties without any type of senior housing. This makes it difficult for residents who need care and most end up leaving the Champlain Islands to find services. Since the early 90’s there has been an expressed need for senior housing in our area.

 

CIDER Quote

Cathedral Square is a local nonprofit and they have 25 affordable housing communities in Vermont but none in an area quite like the Champlain Islands. Due to Grand Isle County’s unique demographic makeup, it is a great opportunity for Cathedral Square to bring affordable senior housing to this rural area. They are currently in the fundraising phase of the project. If you or someone you know is interested in more information about donating visit their website.

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Learn more about CIDER

The mission of CIDER is to help people with special needs continue to live independently at home. This non-profit is run by executive director, Robin Way, as well as their team of staff, board of directors, and their dedicated army volunteers (they have between 100-150 volunteers in a year!). 

Their services range from ride services, meal programs, community events and classes, wheelchair ramp construction, medical equipment and so much more. All of these resources are free and they depend on their members and fundraisers to continue to provide these services.

Image of the CIDER sign and logoRobin Way in front of the new site that will become Bayview Crossing senior housing

“We see more kindness and generosity in any given day. People stepping up to help out each other. Neighbors helping neighbors. That's what it takes.” 

- Robin Way, CIDER Executive Director

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In our December Issue...Chocolate from Champlain Islands Candy Lab

Keep an eye out for a local gift guide that will help you get your holiday shopping done this season without having to leave the Champlain Islands!

 

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