It’s that time of year for holiday entertaining, cookie baking, pie making, turkey basting, present shopping, gift-giving and celebrating all of the reasons for the season. The North Market Holiday Open House & Craft Extravaganza is the perfect place for both inspiration and acquisition of all of your holiday trimmings. We’ve decided to give you twice as much of a good thing this year and we have expanded the event to last both Saturday, December 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, December 6 from 12-5 p.m.

Our merchants will be armed with an array of samples to tempt your taste buds and help you formulate your holiday feasts. As always they are endowed with the wisdom of years of experience to give you excellent advice. The second floor will be devoted to forty-five local artisans and crafters for a weekend of shopping for distinctive handmade gifts. Jewelry, glass, textiles, bath and body products and knitted items are just a few of the categories represented by the local artists in our craft fair.

Scheduled Holiday Open House Activities include:

Saturday, December 5
• 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., North Market merchants and Craft Extravaganza vendors on second floor open for business
• 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Christmas tree sales on the farmers’ market plaza
• 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., holiday music by Willie Phoenix
• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., holiday music by Suite Strings
• 1 – 3 p.m., Joyunspeakable, the living statue as the Nutcracker Toy Soldier
• 1 – 3 p.m., holiday music by Miss Molly
• 3 – 5 p.m., holiday music by the Eileen Howard Jazz Trio

Sunday, December 6
• 12-5 p.m., North Market merchants and Craft Extravaganza vendors on second floor open for business
• 12 -3 p.m., holiday music by Willie Phoenix
• 3-5 p.m., holiday music by Island Breeze

Participating vendors include:
Andy Glass ~ hand-blown glass ornaments
Baby Gee’s ~ blankets, burp cloths, hooded towels, bags and holiday ornaments
BC Appliqué ~ appliquéd towels, bibs, guardian angels
Black Market ~ hand knit scarves, jewelry
Bootleg ~ hand sewn silk-screened wristbands, silk-screened t-shirts, prints, totes
Kelly Burt ~ plush animals, painted bags, robot t-shirts
Carmacazzi ~ hand printed shirts for men and women
Claynimals ~ rolling clay animals
Corazon y Manos ~ jewelry boxes, crochet scarves
Crafty Beavers ~ knitted kitty hats, knit items, beaded jewelry, DIY lip balm kits
Creatrix Jane ~ handsewn clothing and accessories, handknit accessories
Kristin Ellis ~ original silver-smithed jewelry
Flying Wishes ~ my monster pillows, critter crayons, greeting cards
4 Healthy Paws ~ homemade healthy dog treats, bandannas, scrapbooks
Girl Pie ~ pressed fern ornaments, crocheted animals, headbands
Green Handle Designs ~ beaded and semi-precious stone jewelry
Hevvin Designs ~ vintage fabric clutches and messenger bags
Honeyrun Farm ~ artisan infused honey, handcrafted soap and beeswax candles
Jennifer Sadler Designs ~ jewelry made with resin, glass and stone beads
Brenda Jennings ~ hand-dyed and painted silk scarves, purses, art quilts
Jonathan Juravich ~ metal hand-punched ornaments, recycled key chains
Kim Gillie Krier ~ bags, art quilts, check book covers
Kitty Couture Designs ~ cookbook marks, jewelry and accessories
Magpie and Molly ~ hand cut sterling silver and copper necklaces and jewelry
MaraM ~ bags and accessories from recycled materials, paper gift tags, ornaments
Lynda McClanahan ~ art notecards, postcards, art prints, magnets
Meatless Art ~ original collages, prints, paintings
Mel’s Clay ~ polymer clay creations including pens, light switch covers, boxes
Moon Garden ~ handmade soaps, lotions, soy wax tarts, lip balm, shea butter
Morgan Art Works ~ wire sculpture, ornaments, kinetic mobiles
A Mother’s Work ~ stained glass stars and starbursts
Pieces of Eight ~ enamel copper jewelry and bowls, glass magnets, buttons
Prizepig ~ knitted scarves, hats, handbags, stockings
Poshta Stationery & Design ~ handcrafted paper goods
Clinton Reno ~ hand-screened posters, t-shirts, buttons, coasters
Revelry Press ~ mini chalkboards, coasters, cards, tshirts
Scrabble Chick ~ pendants from vintage Scrabble tiles, glass tiles
Smarty Pants Design ~handmade polymer clay beads, jewelry, buttons
Debbie Sterrett ~ beaded jewelry
Sweet Stella Designs ~ sweet polymer accessories
Sweetie Pie ~ vintage style retro aprons
Two Peas in a Pod ~ girls boutique clothing, totes, scarves, aprons
Umbrella Girl Productions ~ sewn stationery, greeting & gift cards, hair scarves
Wholly Craft! ~  items made by local artisans including scarves, coasters, plush
With Nature in Mind ~ soap, body butters, body powders, lip balm, bath cookies
Victorian Village Orchids ~ baked potato bags, table runners, purses
Vintage Vamp ~ artisan jewelry incorporating vintage parts
Vivisect Apparel ~ organic cotton screened tees, bags,  totes, grocery bags
Waterdance Art ~ Fusion glass vessels, sconces, fan pulls and lamp work beads

The North Market Holiday Open House and Craft Extravaganza will take place on Saturday, December 5 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday, December 6 from 12 – 5 p.m. Admission is free. Artisan applications are closed.

Ask Jeni Bauer what the ice cream business is like in the winter and her eyes light up. “Winter is just another opportunity for bold flavors – we move from the crisp flavors of the harvest season into the warmth of the comfort season.” With richly spiced delicacies like Spiced Pecan Praline (the pralines are hand-made in our kitchen using Krema pecans) and Blue Jacket Dairy Goats’ Cheese with Fig Sauce, Jeni has created ice creams that, if not warm in the bowl, are warm in the soul. Jeni’s Saignon Cinnamon ice cream pops with a bright, red-hot flavor. Her Apple Cider Sorbet – plucked straight from the Saturday farmer’s market – is spiked with Chinese Five Spice.

This December, Cognac Ice Cream will be an enticing companion to any holiday pie. Jeni’s Cranberry Royale Sorbet uses fresh cranberries and fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. “It is amazing and definitely my favorite sorbet we’ve ever made. Try it in a champagne float for New Year’s or serve next to a scoop of our Blood Orange Ice Cream, also available this winter,” Jeni recommends.

This January, Jeni will offer a new flavor: Smoked Dark Chocolate with Handmade Marshmallows. “It’s meant to bring back the winters of your childhood – sitting by the hearth with a big mug of hot chocolate,” Jeni says.

New flavors are always appearing at her shops; sampling is not only encouraged, it is expected! Jeni’s offers 30 flavors daily, about 15 “signature” and 15 “seasonal.” Jeni invites patrons to stop by to try a taste -”like all North Market Merchants, we love giving samples. It’s part of the market experience!”

For holiday traveling or gift giving, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams will ship a beautifully wrapped box of ice creams anywhere in the United States. Each box comes with a lovely handwritten gift message and will delight any recipient! Customers can order at any Jeni’s store, on her website (jenisicecreams.com) or through the Dean & Deluca catalog. December 16 is the last day to order shipments for the holiday season. For large corporate orders, please contact the kitchen at 614.488.3224.

As retailers across the nation post dismal sales figures for the first three quarters of 2008 and predict a dire retail holiday season, I can’t help but wonder if our country’s economic crunch (aka, recession!) is corresponding to an overall fatigue with consumerism. Have we reached the saturation point in accumulation of material goods? Have we had our fill of the latest and great electronic widgets and gadgetry? Is a return to simpler times and simpler values ahead, or even in place now?

Many North Market shoppers are turning to comfort foods and small treats, like delicious handmade chocolate truffles, a scoop of ice cream in a waffle cone, a bag of seasonally flavored popcorn. They are staying at home more and cooking good, hearty meals like stew, pot roasts, vegetable terrines, and charcroute garni – big, one-pot meals that are comforting, healthy, and satisfying.

At the North Market Cookware, we are seeing an increased interest in the big, Le Creuset enameled cast-iron Dutch ovens and skillets. Or, the big enamel over steel 12, 16, and 20-quart stockpots meant to hold family-sized amounts of soups and chilis.

Le Creuset cast-iron 6 3/4 quart Dutch oven available for $239.99 at North Market Cookware

Another item receiving more attention than ever this year is the Swissmar raclette. The name “raclette” comes from the French word, “racler” meaning to scrape off. Its origins go back centuries to when Swiss mountain shepherds moved their cows high up into the Alps for summer grazing. The shepherds carried only basic supplies such as potatoes, pickles, dried meats/sausages, and always a big round of cheese. By the evening campfire, the shepherds would cut off slices of cheese and place them on a rock near the fire. Just before the gooey, melted cheese slid off the rock and into the fire, they would scrape it off and put it over the roasted meats and potatoes! Doesn’t that sound delicious, and fun? Now, a raclette is an all-in-one unit that allows the consumer to easily grill a combination of meats, vegetables and fruits on the top grill plate while melting slices of raclette cheese, Emmental or Appenzells in small pans beneath the grill.

Swissmar raclette available for $99.99 at North Market Cookware

It’s a great way to share a cozy meal with family and friends. Curds and Whey sells raclette cheese for perfect meltability.

North Market Cookware has received a “special buy” shipment from All-Clad. Many popular items are now available at 25% off – or more! If you’ve always wanted a 4 or 5 quart sauté pan, now is the time to buy it (or ask Santa). Or how about an All-Clad crepe pan to complete your set for only $29.99?

Amidst all those dire predictions for a dismal retail holiday season, I am making a prediction of my own. I predict a season that brings families and friends together for a holiday filled with simple pleasures and meaningful gifts meant to comfort and inspire.

Happy Holidays from Kay, Jacki and Jess at North Market Cookware.