Looking back at Celebrating Easter - Polish Style!

A few weeks ago we asked our readers, as well as our customers with of our business The Polish Farmers, for their favorite Easter Memories. Unfortunately, we didn't get much of a response. My favorite Easter memories not only include exploring the Easter basket I received from my parents, but the basket I received annually from my grandmother, Stella (Zwolinski) Schalata. While her annual basket was quite predictable, it was something I looked forward to receiving. She carefully chose the right items that were to make up the basket. The normal line-up of Easter goodies included: a large hollow chocolate egg filled with Hershey kisses, a coconut filled egg, the standard marshmallow peeps, a large molded chocolate bunny, and assortment of jelly beans, and of course a couple of dyed hard-boiled eggs. Naturally, my sister and I always had a new outfit and shoes for church on Easter Sunday. My father, usually made his famous kielbasi scrambled in eggs for breakfast. Easter dinner always had a large baked ham that my mom made. Traditionally, in a Polish Catholic Church, an Easter Sunrise Mass is celebrated. There is a procession with the priest, and other members of the parish that circles the inside of the church. The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus is celebrated in a grand way. Naturally, Holy Week involves several religious traditions comprising of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. In our family, my father made it a tradition to visit various churches in our hometown on Holy Thursday. We would visit other Catholic parishes, not just our own. I am not sure why, but that was my father's own tradition. From Palm Sunday to Stations of the Cross, and Easter Egg Hunts, the Easter Season is filled with wonderful traditions that remind us of the importance of our religious beliefs. If you have memories you'd like to share, it's not too late. We'd still like to hear from you. If we publish your story we will still send a gift certificate for the best entry we receive. The gift certificate will be good for some of our great products offered by The Polish Farmers. Email your entry to: tom@thepolishfarmers.com. Thanks, and best wishes for a Joyous Easter and a Happy Spring! Tom & Donna Schalata

Looking for your Easter Memories

It's easy to look back on your Christmas memories, but we're looking for your favorite Easter memories. Perhaps, you always looked forward to dyeing Easter eggs. Watching your mom set out bowls of various colors of dye. Waiting for the eggs to boil. The pungent smell of vinegar in the air! How about it? Don't you remember those days? There's the Easter Egg hunts around the yard or visiting the Easter Bunny at a local department store or at the mall. We are sure you have something to look back on. Even shopping for new clothes to wear to church on Easter morning. Whatever your favorite memories are of this Springtime ritual, we'd like to hear it. We will share your story right here on our blog for all to enjoy, and if your story is the best of the best, we send you a $25 gift certificate for our delicious pierogies, etc. Put your thinking caps on and get busy. Jot down your story and email to: tom@thepolishfarmers.com. Thanks a lot, and have a great Easter! Tom & Donna

New Year...New Newsletter

As we enter the new year of 2013, we energized to try new things here at The Polish Farmers. We are not letting the unlucky # 13 hold us back. The year 2012 was a great year, and gave us a lot of great new experiences, and we are looking to build on those new experiences to take us to the next level. Hopefully, you are on our mailing list, and at 11 AM EST on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013, the first edition of The Polish Farmers Newsletter hits the in-box of 173 members of our friends and family. If you didn't receive a copy, we may not have your email address. Pass it on to us and we'll make sure you get one. Now, for the purpose of our newsletter. First, and foremost, it is designed to stay in contact with our friends and customers, and keep them informed with what's going on with us. Secondly, it is designed to be informative, entertaining and economical. Informative, we will pass on some great recipes and menu ideas, as well as, tell you about interesting cultural traditions, etc. Entertaining, we will pass on fun things, like in this issue, "How did the famous Buffalo Wings come to be..." Or in a future issue, "What is your favorite Easter memory?" Economical... Special savings on pierogies, packages and other great values! We hope that whenever we pop into your In-Box we are a welcome surprise. Something you look forward to getting. If you have a friend or relative or co-worker who you think may enjoy getting our newsletter, forward a copy to them, or ask if they would like to be included on our list. Thanks for your support. We look forward to your feedback. Tom & Donna Schalata

Holiday Savings Time...

Just a reminder to get your holiday orders in by December 10.

We still have a limited amount of sale items from our Black Friday Sale. Mostly, Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Pierogies. We also have a few dozen Cheese Ravioli's. All are $5.00/package.

These orders must be placed by phone (610) 775-7206 or email: tom@thepolishfarmers.com.

If you have any questions on any of our items, please feel free to contact us. Thanks for your business, and have a great holiday!

Thanksgiving is over...time to prepare for Christmas

As mentioned earlier, thanks to all who have made this past year a successful one. Without your support, it would not have been possible.

Our first annual Black Friday Sale was a success, and it's something we make try to improve upon for next year.

For those who missed our special deals, we still have some left, and we will honor those prices as long as we have inventory.

Please keep in mind, we do not have a store or keep regular business hours. Ninety-nine percent of our business is made to order, and usually requires about a week of preparation. Perhaps, someday, with your continued support, we will have a retail outlet.

Please try to get your holiday orders in ASAP. We have a fund-raiser going right now for Pack 61 Cub Scout Troop in Adamstown. As soon as that is finished, we will be working on homiday orders, in ernest.

Thanks for your business, and thanks for your patronage.

Best wishes this holiday season,

Tom & Donna

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIALS...

Tuesday we were represented at Greensgrow Farm, Cumberland & Gaul Sts., Phila.

As people were picking up their turkeys and other Thanksgiving goodies, we were selling our pierogies, and other items at the market.

Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate, and sales were not as brisk as we expected.

Therefore, we have more items leftover than we expected.

As a result, we are having a "Black Friday Sale," only for the readers of this blog!

This sale is good only Friday And Saturday - Cash & Carry - In-stock only- While Supplies last.

Available for sale are the following:

Sweet Potato Pierogies - 12 medium - $5.00/pkg.
Pumpkin Pierogies - 12 medium - $5.00/pkg.
Cheese Ravioli's - 12 - $5.00/pkg.
Potato Pierogies - 12 medium - $5.00/pkg.
Potato/Cheese Pierogies- 12 medium - $5.00/pkg.
Italian Pizzelles (Vanilla or Anise) $2.00/pkg.
Jingle Bell Potpourri $3.00/pkg.


Give us a call at 610-775-7206 or email at tom@thepolishfarmers.com

PS: Look for our ad in Friday's Reading Eagle - Shop Locally!

Thanks! Tom & Donna

November Keeps Rolling Along...

It's like the quiet before the storm. The last two weeks have been quiet, but we have a feeling it won't be that way for long.

Most of our Thanksgiving orders are filled, and we will be gearing up for the Christmas Holiday Season.

Tuesday we will participate in the Thanksgiving Market at Greensgrow Farm, Cumberland & Gaul Sts., Phila. The market runs from 2 - 6 pm, and we will be offering a variety of pierogi flavors including Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, Apricot, Buffalo Chicken, Cheese Steak, & Hoagie. Will we also have a few other flavors, as well as Halushki, Cole Slaw and Ravioli's. All will be homemade.

My friend, Joe Zangrilli, is sending along his homemade Italian pizzelles, and we will have some of Donna's homemade "Jingle Bell Pot Pouri."

If you're from the Mohnton-Ephrata area, my grandson, Dylan's Cub Scout Troop, from Adamstown, is selling our pierogies as a fund-raiser. Deadline for orders is Nov. 30. The delivery date is set for Dec. 10. If you know anyone in the troop, please get a hold of them. It is a worthy cause.

Thanks to all the listeners from WRAW's Polka Party Radio Show. We sponsored a few spots on the program and plan to be back next week.

Also, check out our ad in the Reading Eagle on Black Friday. We're looking to get those Holiday Orders in.

Don't forget, we plan on cutting off holiday orders on December 10. It's never too early to place your order.

Since this week is Thanksgiving week, please go back and read our previous blog entry on the subject. Everyone has something to be thankful for. We know we do!

Take care, and have a great holiday!
Tom & Donna