Alice's Favorite Things
Inspired by Oprah, and her annual list of Favorite Things, I too have put together a list of my favorite Something Special from Wisconsin ‘things’ this year. The Something Special from Wisconsin program highlights high quality products grown and produced right here in our state. Businesses who take part in the program guarantee at least half of the ingredients, production or processing activities come from Wisconsin. Shop for the products on my list below, as well as hundreds more at somethingspecialwi.com.
Snack All Season Long with Palo Popcorn
When family and friends show up last minute this holiday season, set out a bowl of Palo Popcorn. Though caution, their popcorn is addicting! The creamy cheddar flavor is hard to resist, and I always find myself going back for another scoop. Palo Popcorn is a family-owned, small batch manufacturer based in Sheboygan Falls. Their recipe starts with real cheddar cheese, producing a gourmet cheddar popcorn experience like no other. Stock up on varieties like jalapeno cheddar, white cheddar maple bacon, or Mexican street corn to impress your next guests. (Or keep them all to yourself, because they are that good!)
Smell Wonderful with soaps and lotions from Maple Hill Farm
Gift boxes from Maple Hill Farm also make a perfect gift this holiday season! The main stars of their gift boxes? Sheep’s milk soap and lotion! You read that right – the milk for the soap and lotion comes from sheep that are milked right on the Michielson's family farm. Their farm, Maple Hill Farm, began with two lambs, and has since grown to a large flock of milking ewes. Their ewes are milked seasonally, twice a day. The farm holds some of their milk back from the milk truck to make artisan sheep milk soaps and lotions. Milk is frozen during milking season, to allow for production to continue year-round. Their soaps and lotions are handcrafted in small batches in over 10 different scents. Pick up a lavender, almond, or spearmint eucalyptus gift box for every stocking on your list.
Shop for the Foodie with Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese
Marinated fresh mozzarella balls from Crave Brothers Farmstead Cheese are a perfect gift any foodie on your list. Their fresh mozzarella balls, marinated in olive oil, canola oil, and Italian seasonings are savory and delectable. Each time I bring them out of the fridge, they quickly disappear. All of the cheese from Crave Brothers, including the marinated mozzarella balls, is handcrafted right on their family farm using only the freshest, high quality milk from their cows. Their cheeses are produced with great care and have earned over 100 national and international awards.
Satisfy a Sweet Tooth with Suzy’s Cream Cheesecakes
Skip the dessert prep this season, and have Suzy and her team do the baking. Suzy Strothmann, president and founder of Suzy’s Cream Cheesecakes has been baking from scratch for as long as she can remember. Like many of us, baking reminds her of time spent in the kitchen with her mother. She began making and selling cheesecakes 36 years ago, and they quickly began flying off the shelves. Today, the number of cheesecakes baked in a day has grown, but the business’s core mission has never changed- to bake the finest cheesecake money can buy. Pick up a cheesecake from Suzy’s for your next holiday party!
Showcase your Wisconsin Pride
Support all of the Something Special from Wisconsin companies when you purchase program branded apparel. The new line of branded apparel and products is perfect for holiday gifting and everyday living. Choose from T-shirts and sweatshirts or mugs and traveler’s bags. Items are all branded with the familiar red, yellow and white Something Special from Wisconsin logo and can be bought and ordered online.
