Big Acres'Spring eNewsletter
(04/24/2007)

Get Smokin' for Spring!

Here at Melanie's Fine Foods in Northern California we're enjoying warm spring days and cool nights. All of our fruit trees are blooming and the maples are sprouting new leaves. We couldn't ask for better weather and it just makes us want to cook outdoors! We're furiously working on new recipes to help you create an exciting and fun spring season using our all natural products!

In this issue:

• Celebrate 5 Years with Melanie's Fine Foods - Great deals at www.bigacres.com!
• Do you read food labels?
• New locations to buy our products
• Easter and Passover Recipe - Smoky Lamb Chops

Help Us Celebrate!
Five years ago, Kent & Melanie Yunk started Melanie's Fine Foods after acquiring the rights to the Big Acres'Sauces brand. At the time, we distributed three products to 75 outlets in Northern California. Now we're selling 18 items to more than 500 outlets in 40 states and Canada! You can find us on Amazon.com and HSN.com too.

We're very proud of our accomplishments and acknowledge that we couldn't have done it with you - our loyal customers! To thank you for your business, we're offering a special deal at www.bigacres.com.

Save 20% off orders of $20 or more when you shop by April 17! Use coupon code 5YEARS during checkout to receive your discount. Just visit our online store, make your selections and pay with your credit card or call us at 650-593-9301 to place your order. (When calling, be sure to mention this coupon code to receive your discount.)

Remember to save 20% by using coupon code 5YEARS! Offer good thru 04-17-07.

Do You Read Labels?
How do you know which items on the shelf are healthy or unhealthy? The Nutrition Facts table on the back of each and every Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved food product provides all the information you need regarding the amount of fat (including trans fats), protein, sugar, sodium and carbs contained in a product. By comparing labels, you will see that products that look the same from the front are truly different inside!

It's easy to find products on the shelf that are marked "All Natural" or "Organic". This designation is often clearly marked on the front label on a product. All natural products are typically produced without the use of chemical additives, although the rules for this designation are still somewhat undefined by the FDA. Our products are all natural and we do not use any chemicals in the processing of any of them. The ingredients in organic products are grown without the use of chemical pesticides and animal products are raised with organic feed and without the use of antibiotics, steroids, hormones, etc.

The ingredients list provides a lot of information about the foods we eat. A good practice is to avoid products that contain hydrogenated oils, trans fats or chemicals - preservatives, stabilizers, anything that says "for freshness" (a preservative), artificial colors, etc. Many of these ingredients are long words that are difficult to pronounce. A good rule of thumb - if you can't pronounce it, don't eat it!

Find Our Products. . . .
Well, here's a huge list of stores! All of these locations carry one or more of our products. Some of them carry sauces and smoker bags; others sell CitrusBlasters - check it out!

Arciero Winery, Paso Robles, CA
Auntie El's Farm Market, Sloatsburg, NY
The Berry Farm, Valatie, NY
Besta Pasta, East Norwich, NY
Brother's Market, Tampa, FL
Camp Verde General Store, Camp Verde, TX
Culinary Conspiracy, Nelson, BC CANADA
Dixieland, New Church, VA
Down Home Butcher Shop, Rockville, MO
Energy Home & Comfort, Fort Bragg, CA
Fausto's Food Palace, Key West, FL
Frecon Orchards Outlet, Boyerton, PA
Gemelli Fine Foods, Babylon, NY
The Gourmet Warehouse, Vancouver, BC CANADA
Great Gatsby's, Grover Beach, CA
Jones Dairy Farm, Fort Atkinson, WI
Lake Geneva Country Meats, Lake Geneva, WI
Lake Road Market, Rocky River, OH
Lemon's Philo Market, Philo, CA
The Little Traveler, Geneva, IL
Los Olivos Trading, Santa Inez, CA
Main Street Market, Egg Harbor, WI
Market in the Middle, Asbury Park, NJ
Mastantuono Winery, Templeton, CA
Myers Meats, Parshall, ND
North Mountain Farm Stand, Copake Falls, NY
Paradise Shrimp Co.Bonita Springs, FL
The Party Source, Bellevue, KY
Pete's Produce, Westchester, PA
Pottstown Meat & Deli, Peoria, IL
San Luis Obispo County Farm Supply, San Luis Obispo, CA
Santa Fe Shop #2, Fish Creek, WI
Sendiks-Graton, Grafton, WI
Shadybrook Farm Market, Yardley, PA
Shoreline Beverage, Huntington , NY
Sous Kitchen, San Carlos, CA
Steve's Prime Meats, Congers, NY
Stone Ridge Meat & Country Store, Wautoma, WI
Tim's Wine Market, Orlando, FL
Woodland Villa Market, Klamath, CA
Wynn's Market, N Naples, FL

For more locations, visit our Where to Buy page. If you can't find a location near you -- no problem, visit our online store!

Mouth-Watering Recipe

Stellar Lamb Chops with Veggies
Serves 4

6 to 8 lamb chops (1" - 1 1/2" thick)
2 to 3 tablespoons Big Acres Stellar Steak Spice & Rub
1 green bell pepper cut in pieces
1 red bell pepper cut in pieces
1 yellow bell pepper cut in pieces
1 cup broccoli heads
8 fresh asparagus spears (cut the hard part off)
12 small potatoes cut in pieces
14 baby carrots cut in pieces
Small garlic cloves cut in half to taste

Preheat oven or gas grill to 475 degrees or prepare hot coals.

Rinse meat and pat dry. Sprinkle Big Acres Stellar Steak Spice & Rub over chops and place in Smoker Bag. Add vegetables over and around lamb chops, seal bag tightly and cook for 15 minutes in preheated oven or grill. Then reduce heat to 350 degrees or medium heat and cook for another 25 minutes. Remove bag from oven or grill and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Cut open and serve immediately.

Happy Spring and many thanks for your business!

Best regards,
Customer Service Melanie's Fine Foods, Inc.

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