Home and Outdoor Expo warms up the winter
FARMINGTON – Whatever you need for your life, chances are the Daily Journal Home Show will have it, whether it’s something to make your home castleworthy, or a get-away from home vacation worthy of a king.
The Daily Journal/B104 Home and Outdoor Expo at the Farmington Civic Center is gearing up for its annual show Jan. 29 and 30. Bill Towler, director of the Farmington Civic Center, said many old favorites will be back for the show, as well as many new exhibitors he expects will become fresh favorites, such as Stone Haus Furniture.
A relatively new store in Farmington, Stone Haus is owned by Clay Zimmerman. The store’s furniture is from a factory in the north part of Missouri that has been producing furniture with local craftsmen since 1987.
Stone Haus has a wide variety of oak, cherry and maple furniture that is heirloom worthy, including rocking chairs, coffee and end table sets. There is also a line of locally made rustic cedar furniture to round out their inventory.
Among return visitors will be the ever-popular Mary Hostetter from the Blue Owl, who will be demonstrating two of her restaurant’s biggest sellers, the Snicker bar pie and the crunchy chicken salad.
The salad recipe is her grandmother’s and Hostetter describes it as “heartfelt.” The Snicker bar pie on the other hand might be just what you need for a heartfelt Valentine’s Day.
“It is full of chocolate and all that good stuff!” Hostetter said. “And it’s one of our best-selling, most popular pies.”
Hostetter will be taking orders for pickup at the home show and will also have takeout for certain items, such as the white bean chili and a variety of soups. Call 636-464-3128 to make an order.
Hostetter has been getting a little bit of national attention for her pie-making — her Big Levee High Apple Pie with caramel pecan topping made a segment of Pie Paradise on the travel channel.
The eight-minute clip is supposed to air again at 9 p.m. and midnight tonight, but not to worry if you miss it this time around. Hostetter said this is the second time the segment has aired and she expects it will likely air again in February.
Hostetter’s desserts have been proclaimed best in St. Louis by AOL at cityguide.com and her work has also been featured on the food network with Paula Dean where she whipped up a Paula Dean Savannah High Apple pie — a bigger, better version of the Levee pie with 24 apples, instead of merely 18, layered several times with a delicious cinnamon streusel topping.
“My Big Levee High Apple Pie usually weights 9 to 10 pounds, but Paula’s was a 14-pound pie.”
Hostetter’s demonstrations will be at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.
Sunday at 1:30 p.m., Shelly Dugan with Mary’s Sweet Shoppe will demonstrate candy making and chocolate-covered strawberries.
“Shelly is my manager from the Sweet Shop,” Hostetter said, “and she does the chocolate classes. It’s a really fun thing, the kids love it. But we have adults, too, so it’s for kids of all ages.”
The sweet shop in Festus is at 118 Main Street, and in addition to the sweets, there are also soups, salads, sandwiches, quiche, panini and baked goods available for dine-in or carry out.
Another service now being offered by the Blue Owl are dessert buffets for weddings, with cheesecakes, pastries, candies, pies and specialty cakes, all customized for each person’s special day.
