Buying made in America products is a popular trend that I hope will stick around for a long time. With so many unemployed Americans still searching for work, buying made in America products is something everyone can do that will add up to a big difference in the job market. The company I write this blog for, Wisconsinmade.com, started out as a one woman operation and now employees eight people. The company owner Linda wouldn't have been able to hire any of us if it weren't for the people who shop for made in America products. If you want to buy American and you aren't sure where to start, how about the kitchen? Here are some decorative and functional kitchen items that are made in Wisconsin!
Canister Set - I like my kitchen to be unique. I want my friends to say "Wow, where did you get that?" instead of "I saw that at Target last week!". These canisters by Jessie's Pottery will add some artistic flare to your kitchen and since each one is handmade, no two sets are exactly the same.
Mixing Bowls - I have one of these mixing bowls in my kitchen and I absolutely love it since I can use it for cooking as well as serving. The three bowl set fits together nicely for easy storage, but you might want to leave these beautiful bowls out for everyone to see.
Wisconsin State Cutting Board - Show your state pride with this Wisconsin state cutting board. Availble in a variety of woods, it's has a food safe coating so you can use it for chopping, or use the pre-cut hole to hang the board for display.
Coffee Scoop - This attractive coffee scoop is made of a variety of Wisconsin woods. Each scoop holds about two tablespoons of beans which is the perfect amount for a hot cup of joe.
Pizza Cutter - Stop struggling with those dinky hand held pizza cutters and try the rocking action of this cutter by Sunway. Made out of stonewood, a durable, dishwasher safe and maintenence free material that will last through a lifetime of delicious pies.
Next time someone complains to you that nothing is Made in American anymore, send them over to my blog and Wisconsinmade.com!
Beautiful Springerle cookies are baked in molds and hand-painted with intricate designs.The history of Springerle cookies can be traced back to the 1400s to the areas of Europe that are now Germany and Switzerland.The bakers at Embossed Edibles here in Wisconsin take pride in continuing this artistic tradition.
Biscotti are crunchy Italian cookies designed for dunking in your coffee, so you have an excuse to have cookies for breakfast! The Wisconsin bakery K-Delights bakes them up and covers them with chocolate, nuts, berries and more.They are available online at Wisconsinmade.com.
These buttery cookies are handmade in the town known as Wisconsin's "Little Swizterland" - New Glarus. The New Glarus Bakery bakes these thin, wafer-like cookies in an iron and flavor them with almond.
The history of Shortbread cookies dates back to the middle ages in Scotland. They were considered a luxury and enjoyed at Christmas celebrations and weddings.Today, they are still a Christmas favorite but visitors to the Wisconsin Dells enjoy them by the thousands at Cheesecake Heaven Cafe. If you aren't near the Dells, you can still taste this famous cookie by shopping at Wisconsinmade.com.
A Danish tradition, light and flakey Nut Rolls are handmade in Racine, Wisconsin. Each roll is filled with ground walnuts, cream cheese and topped with icing.They have been a customer favorite for over 20 years and were even featured on the Food Network.
Harmony Specialty Dairy Foods makes British cheeses like abergele, caerphilly, double gloucester and chesire right here in Wisconsin. I know my brick cheese from my colby cheese, but I still need some practice telling my abergele from my cheshire, so I made this quick guide to British cheese.
Abergele -This moist, tangy, creamy cheese often comes flavored. Harmony likes to flavor their British cheese with portabella and chive, cranberry and orange, or Indian spices like garam masala and tandoori masala.
Caerphilly-The full flavor and sweet honey notes of the Caerphilly makes it a standout addition to a cheese tray. The cheese has a white color and a firm yet crumbly texture. You can also crumble it on soups and salads.
Double Gloucester- The Double Gloucester is similar to a cheddar.It has a rich flavor and a smooth and hard texture.
Cheshire- A silky and crumbly cow's milk cheese with a rich, full-bodied flavor.
British cheese makes a yummy gift for the holidays, birthdays or just for fun. Pick your four favorite flavors from the varieties mentioned above and send them in a Golden Age cheese gift box or get one of each in an authentic wooden cheese box. Your taste buds will thank you!
Time for another Wisconsin Rose Bowl! On January 2nd the Badgers will head to Pasadena, California to take on the Oregon Ducks. For those of us who can't make it to the game in person, it's time to start planning our Wisconsin Rose Bowl parties. I've come up with a flavorful and fun party spread that will make the 2012 Rose Bowl one to remember.
Cheese and Sausage Spread - It's not a Wisconsin party without cheese! This is one of several Bucky snack assortments that ships nationwide at Wisconsinmade.com, so even if Bucky doesn't grace the snack food packages in your town like he does here in Madison, you can still enjoy your favorite Bucky snacks no matter where in the USA you live. This one includes cheddar, horseradish, port wine and garlic cheese spread, plus two summer sausages, beef sticks and red Wisconsin plastic cheese spreaders.
Wisconsin Rose Bowl Veggie Tray- Do you think making tomato roses for a veggie tray is only for Martha Stewart? It's actually easier than you think. Visit my Wisconsin Rose Bowl blog post from last year to see step-by-step photo instructions about how to make lovely tomato roses.
Bratwurst - I recently went to a football game in my home state of Virginia, and when hunger struck I went over to the concession stand. My heart sank when I realized that the stand did not serve bratwurst! Wisconsin sports fans should take a lesson from my sad story and appreciate the fact that bratwurst are always available in Wisconsin! Enjoy State Street's famous bratwurst no matter where you live when you order from Wisconsinmade.com.
Smoked Duck- The Oregon Ducks are about to get smoked by the Wisconsin Badgers, so serve a smoked duck at your Wisconsin Rose Bowl Party. This delectable pre-cooked bird can be warmed in the oven or sliced and served with crackers (quackers?!). I wonder if the Oregon fans will be snacking on Badger during the game? I doubt it!
Babcock Hall Ice Cream No Badger celebration is complete without the sweet finish of some Babcock Hall Ice Cream. Select from classic flavors from your college days like Union Utopia (vanilla with fudge swirl), Peanut Butter Cup and Orange Custard Chocolate Chip.
In the ABC World News Made in America Christmas series, Diane Sawyer reported that if every American spent $64 on made in America gifts this holiday, businesses could create 200,000 jobs in the United States. Watch the video here:
At Wisconsinmade.com we've always been advocates of supporting local businesses. Not only do 250 Wisconsin businesses sell their gifts on Wisconsinmade.com, but the website is a small business in itself. The site was started in 1999 by Linda Remeschatis, and 12 years later, she employs eight people here in Wisconsin. Wisconsinmade.com is proof that buying American-made gifts can create local jobs.
Every gift on Wisconsinmade.com is made in Wisconsin, so as long as you shop with us, you know you're keeping dollars in America. Here are a few food gift ideas that will meet the $64 mark. Also, all of our customer service representatives are based in our Wisconsin office, so no calling overseas for order assistance.
Wisconsin-made Gift Ideas That Cost Around $64
Bacon Gift Assortment- My fellow bacon lovers, if you have not tried Nueske bacon, what are you waiting for? Applewood smoked by experts in Wittenberg, Wisconsin, this bacon puts the grocery store varieties to shame. I prefer the super thick cut, but my coworker Marilyn prefers the thin sliced. Try all five varieties to find your favorite and as a bonus, enjoy some bacon scones and bacon cheese spread for $64.95 + shipping.
Cheesehead Gift Basket- The Pack is undefeated so show your green and gold pride with this cheesehead gift basket. The famous foam cheesehead is filled with game day snacks like pretzels, peanuts, crackers and of course, three kinds of Wisconsin cheese. $67.50 + shipping.
Christmas Gift Box- A rustic wooden Christmas box filled with cranberries, pretzels, mustard, gingerbread cookies and more. A popular gift to send to friends, family members and business associates. $68.50 + shipping.
Mad Grad Medley Ice Cream and Cherry Pie Combo- Wisconsin's best dairy experts train at the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Babcock Hall. Taste the fruit of their labors (literally) with Babock Hall Ice Cream. Mad Grad Medley is a flavor creation of a UW-Madison grad that combines vanilla, chocolate shavings and Door County cherries. Add a Wisconsin-made cherry pie and you have a cherry lover's delight. $64.90 with shipping included.
$64 Wisconsinmade.com Gift Card- In honor of the Made in America Christmas special, we created a $64 gift card so your gift recipient can select their favorite Wisconsin-made treats. The gift card is available via e-mail (great for last minute gifts!) or in the traditional plastic version.
For the most part, I'm all for pigging out around the holidays, but sometimes it's better to give a healthy holiday treat. Maybe you have a family member that is trying to stay healthy and you don't want to derail them with a box of cookies, or maybe giving a cheese and sausage gift basket to your running buddy seems counter productive. Whatever the reason, there are plenty of healthy yet delicious holiday food gifts around. Believe it or not, some of them even come from Wisconsin. The state that is famous for cheese and bratwurst is also known for cranberries, cherries and other healthy holiday treats.
Cranberries- Cranberries are a ruby in the Wisconsin agricultural crown. Studies suggest that cranberry rich diets have the potential to prevent heart disease, ulcers and certain types of cancer. If you enjoy dried cranberries, try Curbanies. This sweet snack is similar to a dried cranberry, but goes through a special drying process so they retain some moisture. For an even sweeter cranberry treat try some dark chocolate covered cranberries.
Popcorn- An extra large bag of movie popcorn can contain thousands of calories, but it's the butter that's to blame, not the popcorn. The gourmet popcorn varieties grown in Wisconsin have plenty of flavor without all the extra toppings. You can even taste the difference between the types of kernels. Dieters love popcorn for the satisfying crunch without the calories and fat of other salty snacks. Not sure how to pop kernels without the bag? Check out this blog post with stove-top popping instructions.
Tasty Wisconsin treats like cheese and sausage gift baskets or Kringle pastries make perfect gifts for under the tree, but what about stocking stuffers? Here are some smaller gifts that will show Wisconsin pride AND fit in a stocking.
Mini Cheese and Sausage Gift Box- Wisconsinmade.com features cheese and sausage gift boxes in all shapes and sizes. This particular box is small enough to fit in a stocking and it ships to APO and FPO addresses so even your friends and family serving overseas can enjoy a taste of Wisconsin.
Cranberry Salsa - Did you know Wisconsin is one of the top producers of cranberries? Have a spicy Christmas with some cranberry salsa.
Green Bay Turtle Candy- For the Packer fan with a sweet tooth, chocolate turtles in a gift box tied with a green and gold ribbon will surely bring a smile.
CityTins - These retro tins contain $200 worth of gift cards to local Wisconsin restaurants, but cost only $25 including shipping. At a price like that you might want to sneak one into your own stocking. CityTins are available in both Madison and Milwaukee versions.
Wisconsinmade.com Gift Card- If you can't decide what Wisconsinmade.com gift to send to your friends and family, let them decide. A Wisconsinmade.com gift card makes an easy stocking stuffer, or if you're shopping last minute, send an e-mail gift card instead.
It may not be Chicago or New York City, but the Madison dining scene is pretty impressive considering the size of our city between the lakes. From late night munchies like Ian's mac and cheese pizza to a cozy dinner for two in the mansion at Quivey's Grove, there's something for everyone here in Madison, Wisconsin. Whether you're new to Madison dining or you've been here for years and love a good deal on dinner, check out CityTins- a retro tin filled with discounts to your favorite Madison restaurants.
Retro Style. The artsy tin is filled with gift cards that should probably be called "gift coasters". Use them to protect your coffee table while you enjoy some pre-dinner drinks.
The Dinner Spinner. Can't decide which Madison dining establishment to visit? Give the Dinner Spinner a whirl and it will point you in the the right direction.
$200 in savings. $200 worthy of savings for only $25? That's a no brainer!
Keep It Local. All of the restaurants included in the CityTin are local eateries- no chain restaurants.
Also available in a Milwaukee version. Same idea, different city.
Visit Wisconsinmade.com to stock up on CityTins for holiday gifts, but don't forget to get one for yourself.
Month Clubs make excellent gifts since your recipient will be reminded of you each month when a gift arrives. I noticed my coworker loves hot sauce, and I needed to find her a wedding gift. I decided to get her a Hot Sauce of the Month Club gift, but unfortunately every Hot Sauce Club I found came up short! I had high expectations from seeing the month clubs at Wisconsinmade.com and couldn't find a Hot Sauce of the Month Club that met all of my requirements. Here is a list of qualities to look for in a month club:
1. A list of the gifts you will be getting each month. Many of the clubs I looked at didn't tell me what gift would arrive each month. In the case of the Hot Sauce Club, I was left with unanswered questions. Does the club start with the mildest sauce and get hotter? Or does each month have a hot sauce assigned to it? The Wisconsinmade.comCheese of the Month Club, on the other hand, has a cheese for each month, and you can cleary see what cheese will come each month of the year before you order.
2. A welcome letter. At Wisconsinmade.com, we send out a welcome letter to all month club recipients as soon as we receive the order. This makes the month clubs a perfect last minute gift, because the letter will usually arrive to the recipient's home within a few days of the order being placed. The letter tells the recipient that they are signed up for the month club and should expect a gift each month.
3. A place to include a gift message. Wisconsinmade.com has spoiled me because any gift I send from Wisconsinmade.com allows me to include a gift message, which in the case of the month clubs, is included in the welcome letter. Some online stores don't even have the option of a gift message, which I find frustrating. How will the recipient know who the gift is from?
4. Information about when the month club will take a break. Some food month clubs, like the Cheese of the Month Club, take a break during the summer months if it is too hot to ship, make sure you look for this information when ordering.
5. A phone number to call. Many online stores hide their phone number and when you do finally locate it, you get connected to someone in foreign country who is hard to understand. Not the case at Wisconsinmade.com! Our phone number right on the top of the website. Oh, and it's also right here: 1-877-947-6233. All of our customer service representatives are located in Wisconsin. Since we're month club professionals, there probably won't be any problems with your month club, but just in case, help is only a phone call away.
In the meantime, I'm going to start tracking down 12 hot sauces from Wisconsin so I can create a Hot Sauce of the Month Club the right way!
Looking to send a month club this holiday season? Browse all of the month clubs available at Wisconsinmade.com:
If you're looking for a gift for the foodie in your life, consider gifts for the kitchen. Like most foodies, I basically live in my kitchen. I know where every tool goes and I move efficiently like a restaurant chef. I can get territorial while I'm cooking too. Guest can sit at the island, but don't cross over into the danger zone or you'll get karate chopped. Here are some gift ideas for those of us who call the kitchen home.
Don't let the blue flowers fool you, when I put on my apron, that signals to my friends and family I mean business in the kitchen. Approach with caution.
This adorable crock will store your utensils and announce to visitors who rules the kitchen. If you're sassy like me, you could have it personalize with "KEEP OUT": the heart makes even a command seem friendly!
I can think of only one reason I would step out of the kitchen and let someone else in- if you want to clean, my kitchen is your kitchen!
