Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Springfield Sale Items July 27-August 2

Our Signature Steak
8 oz. Bacon-Wrapped Filet Mignon
2/$10!

Also at Harter House

USDA Choice Bone-In Ribeye 
$6.99 lb.
Italian Sausage or German Bratwurst
$2.99 lb.
Smart Chicken Drumsticks/Thighs
Family Pack
$1.69 lb.
Super-Trimmed Pork Steaks
$1.89 lb.

Made Fresh at Harter House

Diet Lean Ground Round
$3.29 lb.

Seasoned Pork Patties
$2.49 lb.
100% Pure

Quarter Pound Ground Chuck Patties
10 Count
$6.99 lb.

Buy One Get One FREE! (LIMIT PLEASE)

Sara Lee Honey Wheat Bread
Save $3.19!

FOR EVEN MORE SAVINGS AT OUR STORES CLICK HERE!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Springfield Sale Items July 20 - 26, 2011

USDA CHOICE BONELESS TRI-TIP 
3.99 / lb.




FRESH, NEVER FROZEN,
BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST
$1.99 / lb.

Other Items from the Butcher's Case:

Bone-In Iowa Thick Cut Pork Loin Chop / $2.99 lb.


Made Fresh at Harter House
Family Pack Extra Lean Ground Chuck
4 Pounds or more
$2.89 / lb.

USDA Choice Boneless New York Strip Steak / $8.99 lb.

Smart Chicken Whole Fryers / $1.99 lb.

Double Smoked Pork Chops / $3.99 lb.

HoneySuckle White Whole Smoked Turkey / $2.59 lb.



For more specials this week, click here to view our Weekly Ad Specials!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Our Harter House Family

At Harter House, our employees are part of our family. So it's always sad when our family members move on to something new in their life. Gary Patton is retiring after working 11 years for Harter House, at 1500 E. Republic Road. Gary has over 44 years working in the grocery business. His expertise has always been produce, but Gary really did it all. He has been a "right-arm" for both Dale, our store manage and Mike, our grocery manager.
Gary intends to spend his time working on his farm. But don't feel too sorry for him, he has an air-conditioned tractor. And Gary is already planning his part-time return to Harter House in the fall, because he knows he will miss TOO MUCH!!
We wish you the very best, Gary. It will take two people to replace you!

Monday, July 18, 2011

4 Facts About Hee Haw and Marketing

Yesterday I spent my day researching Hee Haw (don't ask), as I did my usual Sunday routine (assassinating flies) and getting some extra work done for the coming week.  I'm in marketing and any textbook about the subject will tell you that the definition of marketing is figuring out what products people may be interested in, then strategize and communicate it to the customer.  Rarely do they tell you that often marketing is the act of researching a variety show from the 70's with pitchfork-holding farmers telling jokes to scantily-clad cowgirls in cornfields. This was a regular routine of my youth, between my father's forced marathon viewing periods of M*A*S*H and Star Trek. 
,
It was kind of like the flower ceremony on The Bachelor, only less embarrassing.

My problem:  How do you market a show that has been off the air for 20+ years for today's audience more attuned with the fast-paced action of CSI and the raunchy humor of South Park?  This then got me thinking about what I know about marketing and from there, I was on my way.

One of the first approaches a student learns in marketing is SIVA or, Solution, Information, Value, and Access.  In all honesty, it is basically the four P's (Product, Price, Place, and Promotion), renamed and focused towards the customer.  For giggles, let's discuss this using the test case of Harter House's Country Style Pork Loin Ribs.

1.  Solution requires their be a problem.  Marketers (i.e. Me) assume their is a problem, even if there is none.  We ask questions like:  Can we make it better?  Why are we not selling more?  Why will it not give people the power of flight?  Often we ask these questions when no problem exists, as in, the quality of Harter House's Pork Loin Ribs is perfect and the price is absolutely the lowest it could go, but that doesn't stop the marketer from attempting to create a campaign for the ribs.  This is exactly the same reason that multiple versions of Cheez-Its exist, even though they all taste the same. 

2.  Information is the easy part.  The key, is what information to share.  My life in marketing began at a bank, and we drilled people with words like trust, peace of mind, safe, and secure, all words that made the customer feel cared-for, while we raised APR's to 30% and offered high-risk home equity loans.  Needless to say, I eventually traded my high paycheck for a soul, and now I market for businesses I can feel good about, and I'm capable of sleeping at night again without waking up screaming covered in a cold sweat. 

So, when I'm telling you the Country-Style Ribs are delicious, packed with flavor, juicy and meaty, it's not that I'm using terms that I researched and felt more people would be motivated to buy....okay, it was but my research also involved TASTING the Country-Style Ribs and discovering they actually were delicious, packed with flavor, juicy and meaty.  

For extra relevance at this point, and to provide even more detail and INFORMATION the good marketer would include a picture, like this:

Look at that detail...

3.  We have provided you with the Solution and the Information, now we have to sway You, the customer, to make a decision.  PRICE.  Too high, and it doesn't matter how much time we spent and number of adjectives we used, no one will buy.  Too low, and then we create a sense of doubt in the product.  However, this is an easy situation with Harter House.

See, the beauty of Harter House is they have developed a reputation that is a pinnacle in our community.  The Bettlach family are some of the best people I know.  They are trustworthy, giving and would do anything for a anyone.  They also LOVE their customers, and they show this love in two regards:  unmatched quality and unparallelled price.

In this case, we are talking about Grill Ready Country-Style Pork Loin Ribs for $2.49 a pound.  Hello?  Why are you still reading this?  Shouldn't you be at Harter House picking up about 10 pounds of ribs about now?

4.  Then comes promotion.  This can be done in a multitude of ways:  Commercials, Print ads, Billboards, or blogs where I randomly start by discussing 70's variety shows, move to marketing concepts and then wrap it up with a loose tie-in to Country-Style Pork Loin Ribs at $2.49 a pound.  Honestly, the options are limitless. 

Well, I hope you learned something today.  Tomorrow, I will attempt an article in which I tie together 80's, Eric Estrada-fueled, television favorite CHiPs, service dominant logic, and 16 ounce packages of Best Choice Bologna for $1.59 each, but until then I recommend going out, cooking some amazing Country-Style Pork Loin Ribs and having some good old-fashioned fun watching Buck Owens and Roy Clark host a classic episode of Hee Haw.

Since the title of the article is four facts about marketing AND Hee Haw, here are four things you might not have known about the show:

1.  Hee Haw was on CBS originally for one season until it was dropped by the network during it's "Rural Purge" along with The Beverly Hillbillies, Mayberry RFD, and Green Acres because they felt the audience was becoming to "rural and less affluent".  I'm hoping this may occur again someday with the network as the "Idiot Purge", by getting rid of "Big Brother".

2.  Hee Haw ran in syndication from 1969 to 1992!  In fact, before cancellation, to update to a modern audience they introduced sets like a SHOPPING MALL and city street. 

3.  The concept of the show actually came from Canada.  The shows creators, Frank Peppiatt and John Aylesworth were from Canada and most of the concept was based off the already popular "Canadian" The Red Green Show.

4.  Elvis Presley loved Hee Haw and wanted to be on it, however his manager felt that it was bad for his brand.  Colonel Tom Parker did think it was okay for him to wear white sequined jumpsuits though.
Hee Haw, bad idea.  That suit, good idea?

Friday, July 15, 2011

Potter-Mania!

With the final film of the Harry Potter saga upon us, and Harry Potter and the Death Hallows Part 2 sitting at 97% (Fresh Rating) on the Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes, it looks as if at least half of all Harter House customers will be spending some time in a movie theater this weekend.  The reviews have ranged from "...an emotional roller-coaster ride." (Dallas Morning News) to
"It's wonderful. Epic and heartbreaking and just as grand as it needs to be." (New York Daily News), I doubt many of Harry's fans will be disappointed, and will most likely see it more than once.

But how do you prepare for your trip to see the conclusion of an 8-Part epic (Part 7 was split into two halves.)?    Harter House presents:  How to prepare for the finale of Harry Potter!

1.  Don't drink anything the day of your viewing.  The movie is 2 hours and 10 minutes long.  With trailers and commercials, you are looking at 2 and a half hours of your day spent capturing the epic grandeur of Harry Potter.  You certainly don't not want have to get up and leave for the restroom missing an important or moving moment within the film.  Plus, the theater will be crowded (to capacity) filled with 14 and 15 year olds who have no problem speaking their overly-opinionated mind.

2.  Watch the trailer.    Trailers today leave very little to the imagination and will pretty much give you the entire movie in short snippets (check out Transformer 3's trailer for proof, and then thank yourself that you don't actually have to go see it.)  However, the trailer for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 feels as epic as the movie, and will definitely get you in the spirit.  I would recommend watching the entire series again, but that would take all day Saturday and Sunday to complete, leaving you no time to actually see the new film.



3. Make snacks. Not that $100 for an ounce of popcorn isn't reasonable, but this is a movie about magic. You need something extra special for this occasion. Try the following recipes and think of ingenious ways to sneak them in....not that we condone that sort of thing.

Acid Pops
Adapted from The Leaky Cauldron

12 lollipops (I recommend using sour ones—these are acid pops!)
3-4 packages pop rocks (any flavor of your choosing)
1/4 cup honey

Unwrap the lollipops. Place the pop rocks into a shallow bowl.

Place the honey in a small bowl and heat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. The hotter the honey is, the thinner the consistency of the honey will become (and we want thin honey!). Coat the lollipops in the honey and roll in the pop rocks. If the honey thickens, heat it up again. Set the lollipops on wax paper until dry.

Assemble these as closely as possible to the serving time as the pop rocks will absorb some of the moisture in the honey and lose some of their "pop."

Cockroach Clusters

Yields 12 clusters

1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup butterscotch chips
1 1/2 cup dry chow mein noodles

Heat up the chocolate and butterscotch chips in a double boiler (or microwave) and stir until smooth. Mix in the dry chow mein noodles until evenly coated.

On a baking sheet covered in wax paper, drop a spoonful of noodles to form small clusters. Let cool completely and store clusters in an airtight container at room temperature.

Licorice Wands
Adapted from Betty Crocker

6 ounces vanilla-flavored candy coating (or white chocolate)
24 licorice twists (any flavor)
Sprinkles

Melt the candy coating in a small bowl. Coat 1/3 to 1/2 of the licorice twists in the candy coating (I filled a tall, 2 ounce shot glass with the candy coating which made it much easier to dip the licorice twists and get a clean edge). Sprinkle with sprinkles and place licorice twists onto wax paper to dry for at least 1 hour to set the coating.

Chocolate Frogs

Tempered chocolate, melted
Frog chocolate mold

Fill an ungreased chocolate mold with melted chocolate. Hit mold against hard surface several times to level out the chocolate and rid the chocolates of air bubbles. Freeze chocolate for 3-5 minutes (if you leave them in longer, the chocolate will lose its glossy sheen). Remove from freezer, flip over mold, and hit it against a clean surface until chocolates fall out.

Good luck with sneaking chocolate into a theater with temperatures reaching over a hundred this weekend. (tip: do not put them in your pocket)

However you decide to spend your weekend, make sure to stop by your local Harter House to pick up what you need for whatever you have planned. We have Quarter Pound Ground Chuck Patties 10 Count for $6.99 that would be perfect for any barbeques you might have after you are forced by your children to take them to Harry Potter.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Top Ten Worst Foods in America

I always love reading Eat This, Not That published by Rodale publishing.  I think of it as my survival guide when I go out to eat.  Unfortunately in Missouri, like most places in the United States, it is rare that a restaurant or fast food joint has to disclose exactly how much calories and fat you are putting into your body.  I remember my shock recently on a trip to California, when I looked at the menu at McDonald's and saw what the numbers of a Big Mac Extra Value Meal actually were.

My friends often tell me that I over-react when it comes to food.  "Why don't you just live a little?" they often demand.  Here's the thing:  Is that really living?  What food I put into my body defines the life I live?  I refuse to think that it is careless disregard that it is the sign of a good life.  At 40, I think that not paying attention to my diet is more likely going to lead me to an early and miserable grave.  Diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and a myriad of diseases have been linked to poor eating choices, but rarely has eating healthy been described as bad for you.  Yet, on a daily basis I am told I should just eat pizza, or a greasy burger, or a piece of cake, or hot wings.  They won't sway me because here's the secret:  I remember the people I cared about the most, the people I see every day, and my own past.   I watch as the individual in the motorized cart attempts to get the fried wings at K-Mart that were just a little out of reach the other day.  I feel empathy for the man who tries with all his might to fit in his seat on the airplane and has to ask for an extension for his seatbelt.  I remember my grandmother who died from cancer.  I remember my father who died from heart disease.  I remember my own embarassment when I was 300 pounds and I would leave my shirt on when I would go swimming.

Obesity numbers continue to rise in the United States.  It's not about vanity.  It's about living the life you want to live.  A life not defined by food or eating.  A life defined by the way you affect the world versus how we take from it.  Eating is not bad, and should never be looked at as that.  EATING IS GOOD.  We are a grocery store after all.  But as Harter House, we want you to be a customer for a long, long time.  We love our customers.  We have been a part of this community and have become close friends with many of you.

It's about the small changes.  The little things we can add or take-away.  With this in mind, the following is reprinted from the Eat This / Not That blog.  The 10 Worst Foods in America, along with the substitutions they recommend:

10.  Outback Steakhouse Baby Back Ribs (full rack) 

 

2,012 calories
160 g fat (59 g saturated)
2,600 mg sodium
Keep in mind that this caloric heft comes without the addition of Aussie Fries, which will invariably adorn most of the plates at Outback. Nor does it take into account the free brown bread and salad that comes with every entrée order. For all that you can factor in an extra 800 calories or so, bringing the total damage dangerously close to the 3,000-calorie threshold. That much energy will add nearly a pound of fat to your body, which means if you start eating this meal once a week, one year from today you’ll have 41 extra pounds of baby-back body fat hanging from your midsection.

Eat This Instead!

Outback Special (9 oz)
445 calories
23 g fat (11.5 g saturated)
610 mg sodium



9.  Denny's Smokin' Q Three Pack 

 

2,020 calories
110 g fat (22 g saturated, 3 g trans)
3,570 mg sodium
Okay, technically this is three burgers, but the idea behind the mini-burger is that the restrained vessels will help you knock off some calories from the hulking mothership burger that inspired them. Rarely, though, does it actually work out that way. In fact, after searching high and low, we still haven’t found a single slider or mini-burger safe enough to order. Skip them all, but these especially, which up the caloric ante by crowning the not-so-mini patties with both bacon and onion crispers. They may look harmless, but this trio will knock out your entire day’s caloric allotment.



Eat This Instead!

Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Sandwich
520 calories
35 g fat (8 g saturated, 0.5 g trans)
620 mg sodium


8. Cold Stone Creamery PB&C Shake (Gotta Have It size, 24 fl oz)

 

2,030 calories
131 g fat (68 g saturated, 2.5 g trans)
153 g sugars
A couple years ago, Baskin-­Robbins’ milk shake line could have easily claimed the top five worst drinks in America, but when it decided to reel in some of the caloric excesses, Cold Stone’s PB&C was left exposed as the biggest bully on the block. And the damage is severe: This blended peanut-butter-cup concoction makes it possible to slurp down a day’s worth of energy with a mere 10-minute straw session. We hope Cold Stone decides to follow Baskins’ lead and downsize this atrocity, but if not, we’re happy to keep doling out the negative publicity.

Eat This Instead!

Sinless Oh Fudge! Shake (Like It size, 16 oz)
490 calories
2 g fat (2 g saturated)
44 g sugars

7. IHOP "Big" Country Breakfast

 

2,040 calories
55 g saturated fat
159 g carbohydrates
4,500 mg sodium
Here’s the anatomy of a breakfast disaster: Take a 12-ounce steak, bread it, fry it, and then cover it with gravy. Then, on the side, drop three eggs and three buttermilk pancakes. Does it not occur to IHOP that this is actually three full meals? And that two of those meals—all but the eggs—are the sort of indulgences that should be eaten only in extreme moderation? If this is the first thing you eat in the morning, don’t even bother getting out of bed.

 

Eat This Instead!

Turkey Bacon Omelette for Me
470 calories
25 g fat (11 g saturated)
890 mg sodium

6. Baja Fresh Charbroiled Steak Nachos 

 

2,120 calories
118 g fat (44 g saturated, 4.5 g trans)
2,990 mg sodium
If the full day of calories doesn’t get you, then the 2 days of saturated fat will. If that saturated fat doesn’t bring you to your knees, then the 2 days of trans fat surely will. If the trans fat doesn’t wreak total havoc on your system . . . we could go on like this for days. Is it just us, or is it slightly disturbing that you could eat eight full steak tacos and still take in fewer calories than what’s found in this plate of cheesy chips? Stick to two tacos and save nearly a half pound of body fat in one sitting.

Eat This Instead!

2 Original Baja Steak Tacos
460 calories
16 g fat (4 g saturated)
520 mg sodium

 

5. Outback Steakhouse Kookaburra Wings 

 

2,145 calories
185 g fat (75 g saturated)
3,711 mg sodium
Outside of Outback, a kookaburra is an Australian bird that makes a noise like a chuckling human. Inside Outback, “kookaburra” denotes a piece of fried chicken that’s been lacquered with egregious amounts of fat and sodium. Even if you have two other victims to help defray the damage, you’ll still wind up with 715 calories and well over a day’s worth of saturated fat. It would be easier on your gut if you just skipped the appetizer and instead wolfed down a Burger King Whopper on your way to dinner.
 


Eat This Instead!

Grilled Shrimp on the Barbie
315 calories
21 g fat (9 g saturated)
561 mg sodium


4. Uno Chicago Grill Classic Deep Dish Pizza (individual size)

 

2,310 calories
165 g fat (54 g saturated)
4,920 mg soidum
In all the years we’ve been putting this list together, this pizza from Uno’s is the only item to never budge from the hyper-caloric countdown. While a number of burgers, salads, and pastas battle it out for the dubious distinction of being America’s worst, there is simply no competition for this nightmarish creation. With a day’s worth of calories, more than 2 days’ worth of sodium, and nearly 3 days’ worth of fat, bread, cheese, and sauce have never been stretched to such extremes.

Eat This Instead!

Cheese and Tomato Flatbread Pizza (1/2 pizza) and a house side salad
495 calories
22 g fat (8 g saturated)
1,065 mg sodium

 

3. Cheesecake Factory Crispy Chicken Costoletta

 

2,494 calories
85 g saturated fat
1,677 mg sodium
Here’s the secret to stuffing more than a day’s worth of energy—mostly from fat—into a plate of chicken and vegetables: First, pound the chicken until it’s paper thin. That provides the most possible surface area on which to attach oily breading. Then, cover the whole plate with a layer of butter. In this case, Cheesecake uses what they call “lemon sauce,” but don’t be fooled. You don’t get 4 days’ worth of saturated fat from lemons. To complete the caper, toss on a few token asparagus spears to make them think they’re eating healthy. Yeah, right. Nice try.

 

Eat This Instead!

The Factory Burger
737 calories
15 g saturated fat
1,018 mg sodium


2.  Uno Chicago Grill Mega-Sized Deep Dish Sundae

 

2,800 calories
136 g fat (72 g saturated)
272 g sugars
Uno Chicago Grill has a dangerous obsession with deep dishes. Not content merely serving the worst pizza in America from those calorie-collecting troughs, they use the same vessel to dish out the worst dessert in the country, too. The crust is replaced with an enormous cookie, the tomato sauce with a thick river of molten chocolate, and the cheese with a mountain of vanilla ice cream. The only thing keeping this from the bottom slot in our Worst Food countdown is the fact that Uno’s encourages sharing, but even if you split this dessert four ways, you’ll still take in more than twice as many calories as you would with a hot fudge sundae at McDonald’s.

Eat This Instead!

Mini Hot Chocolate Brownie Sundae
370 calories
16 g fat (8 g saturated)
38 g sugars

 

1. Cheesecake Factory Bistro Shrimp Pasta 

 

2,727 calories
78 g saturated fat
1,737 mg sodium
The troubling truth is this entire list of America’s Worst Foods could be fueled solely by the Cheesecake Factory’s atrocious fare. No restaurant combines elephantine portion sizes with a heavy-handed application of cheap cooking fats more recklessly than the Factory folk, resulting in dishes like the 2,582-calorie Chicken and Biscuits and the 2,455-calorie French Toast Napoleon. But it’s a relatively healthy-sounding plate of shrimp pasta that wears the tainted crown, delivering to your bloodstream more saturated fat than you’d find in three packages of Oscar Mayer Center Cut Bacon and as many carbs as you’d slurp down from 1½ cases of Amstel Light. Gross.



Eat This Instead!

Grilled Mahi Mahi
237 calories
1 g saturated fat
364 mg sodium

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Springfield Sale Items July 13 - 19

USDA CHOICE BONELESS TOP SIRLOIN STEAK
$4.99/Lb!


USDA CHOICE BONELESS RIB EYE STEAK
$8.99/Lb!


COUNTRY-STYLE PORK LOIN RIBS
2.49/Lb!


MADE AT HARTER HOUSE!!!
 Quarter Pound Ground Chuck Patties
10 Count
$6.99

Diet Lean 
Ground Round
$3.29/Lb!

OTHER SPECIALS THIS WEEK AT HARTER HOUSE:


  • Super-Trimmed Pork Steaks - $1.99/Lb.
  • Farmland Baby Back Loin Ribs - $3.99/Lb.
  • USDA Top Round Family Steak - $3.39/Lb.
  • Family Pack Smart Chicken Wings - $1.99/Lb.


WANT TO SEE WHAT OTHER GREAT SPECIALS WE HAVE THIS WEEK AT HARTER HOUSE?

VISIT HARTER HOUSE SPECIALS ONLINE!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The Tri-State Tornado

Thanking the volunteers that have given the time to Joplin
Because of the Joplin Tornado, I have been doing research on tornadoes and the worst natural disasters in the history of the United States.  I have never really been much of a "weather guy", I'm not one of those that takes much interest in what it is doing outside and when I see warnings or hear sirens I usually quickly lose interest.  I never thought of weather as something that "effected" me.  That was, until the Joplin tornado.  With over 49,000 people affected, the tornado hitting so close to home, and seeing the aftermath that was left behind, it made me well aware that I need to be much more vigilant when it comes to storms, and understand that taking shelter is not only cautious, but could save my life.

It also got me wondering about our past, and the lives that have been affected before May 22nd.

On March 18, 1925, at 1:01 PM, without warning, and after a weather forecast of 60 degrees and mostly sunny, the vortex of the Tornado first hit.  Cutting Northwest through Missouri, where it first touched down, it tore through Ellington, Annapolis and Leadanna until it reached the Mississippi and entered Illinois, not before it had taken 11 Missouri lives, injured 32 school children and caused well-over $500,000 in damage.  But the worst was yet to come.

Illinois, the hardest hit, uninformed about what had just happened in it's neighboring state, had no idea that they should be taking shelter immediately from what was about to tear through it's towns and beautiful tree-covered landscape.  Hitting the town of Gorham at 2:30 PM, it destroyed the entire town, killing 34, at a speed of over 62 miles per hour and reaching speeds of 73 miles per hour in some places.  The tornado continued on its northwest trajectory, cutting a mile-wide swath through the towns of Murphysboror, De Soto, Hurst-Bush, West Frankfort, Zeigler, Eighteen, and Maunie, finally crossing through Hamilton and White counties on its way to Indiana.  613 people died that day, through a time span of roughly 40 minutes, the most in a single state in U.S. history.

In the tornado's final route, through Indiana, it crossed the Wabash River into Indiana, ripping through the towns of Griffin, Owensville, Princeton, and finally finishing in Petersburg at 4:30 PM, taking 71 lives in the process.

The total that died with the 3 and 1/2 hours of the tornado's progress reached 695 and the number injured peaked at 2027.  Total damage was $16.5 million or if you adjusted for inflation $1.4 billion.  Nine schools were destroyed, the most by any natural disaster.  Because of the lack of emergency relief programs thousands were left without food or shelter, recovery was slow, and looting was unfortunately rampant.

Good did come from this disaster.  Our government quickly realized that a system had to be put in place to predict and warn those in the path of a storm to seek shelter and protect themselves.  This storm was one of the main reasons the National Weather Warning System was created, and, in addition, the Tri-State Tornado may have spurred the development of the technology for the Weather Forecast System to predict storm cells and tornadoes.

The hearts of all the employees and family of Harter House goes out to the city of Joplin during their time of need, and to those lives that have been affected by all natural disasters, present and past. 
St. Mary's- Joplin May 22nd

Many websites were researched in the creation of this article and if you want more information I recommend highly reading them:

The Great Tri-State Tornado Geography Essay:
http://www.tonyjiang.com/2005/03/the-great-tri-state-tornado-geography-essay/

NOAA:
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pah/?n=1925tor

Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tri-State_Tornado

Monday, July 11, 2011

Cookout-Harter House Style!

Our youngest guest:  3 months old

Kieran eating the legendary Harter House Hot Dog.

Stunt work, leaping through hoops.

Even Sierra gets in on the act cooling off under the umbrella.

Cameron showing off his acrobatic skills.

Food is always allowed at the Harter House family pool.  We do not  live by the 30 minutes after you eat rule.
We hope you stayed cool this weekend and enjoyed time with your family as well.   Don't forget to stop by Harter House today to take advantage of our special on our 8 Oz filets which are 2 for $10 until tomorrow! 

Friday, July 8, 2011

Fiona's Hope

Real Wood Floors is a company located in West Plains, MO,  with over 30 years of experience in lumber production and over 15 years in solid wood flooring production.  However, it is probably not a name most households are aware of, since they sell mainly to contractors, but they are considered one of the premier unfinished engineered product manufacturers today.  You may even be standing on one of their floors and you're not even aware of it.

I became aware of Real Wood Floors back in November of last year, when I met Samuel Cobb, Real Wood Floor's Vice President of Sales and Marketing, for a project he wanted help bringing awareness to.  Seeing as that I have always had a soft spot for organizations like Habitat for Humanity, the Kitchen, and Inner City Outreach, I immediately took interest in what Real Wood Floors has been doing over the last few years.
Not just installing floors, but changing lives.

Over the course of the last few years, Real Wood Floor's has stepped up and helped a cause that very few people are aware of, a group of children that are often swept under the table, China's orphans.  Abandoned children in China are horribly common, especially for children with debilitating physical handicaps, and although China reports the number of orphans at 50,000, for a population of 1.2 billion, it is believed the number of children both in orphanages and living on the street is probably well over several million.  The children range from newborns, adolescents, pre-teens, and teenagers, all searching for just someone to take care of them.  Needing love, care, and someone just to hold them and tell them everything's going to be 'okay'.  Couple this with birth defects, constant pain from infections, and sickness, and you can see how badly these children can suffer, and many do.

Doing what they do best.

Real Wood Floors partners with Shepherd's Field Children's Village in providing comfort to children like Benjamin, born with Apert's Syndrome, causing deformity of the hands, feet, and head.  A child that was just dropped off as a baby to the doorsteps of the village, most likely because his family had no means to care for him.  How does Real Wood Floors help?  They do what they do best, install new floors for the children to play on.  It all started in 2007, when Real Wood Floors came and installed brand new flooring throughout one of the orphanages.  And not some cheap knock off, or remnants they had lying around, but real high quality hardwood floors.

A contractor taking some time to make an impact on a little girl.

The orphans received more than floors though, once the volunteers, made up of contractors and employees, arrived they formed a strong bond between these children and the love of the little boys and girls quickly took hold.  These were not men who were just here to do a job.  These were an example of the good in world that is in us all.

Fiona

It has been over four years now, and since 2007, Real Wood Floors has installed over 25,500 square feet in flooring and has made over $50000 in donations to Shepherd's Field.  It has now become their mission, and Real Wood Floors isn't even close to stopping.  Looking to expand their reach to other countries with needs, including the U.S., they have officially created the foundation Fiona's Hope, named after one of the children who has since passed on but left an indelible mark on their hearts, as well as working on a program called, One Box / One Day, to assist in the donation process.

I honestly have only touched the surface of what Real Wood Floors has done and what they are planning to do.  Harter House is proud to bring awareness to Real Wood Floors, Fiona's Hope, One Box / One Day, and Shepherd's Hope Children's Village, and we ask that you take a moment to read more at the following site:

Real Wood Floor's Mission Page:  www.realwoodfloors.com/mission

Real Wood Floor's Facebook Page:  www.facebook.com/realwoodfloors

Shepherd's Hope Children's Village:  http://www.chinaorphans.org/index.html

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Missouri Wine and the Norton

The Norton grape.
The Norton

Did you know that the Norton (Vitis Aestivalis, for the sciency types), or Cynthiana (a genetically identical grape) is the oldest American grape still grown?  And that our state is the largest producer of the Norton grape.  In fact, our state grape is the Norton.  Because of our ever-changing climate, the grape flourishes.  Built to withstand Missouri's sweltering heat with its hearty vine, and able to thrive in our rocky soil.

Norton's blue-black coloring produces a rich, full-bodied red wine with robust berry flavors, making it an excellent pairing with beef (Tri-tip anyone?) and complex cheeses.  Missouri Vineyards all over the region have been producing excellent quality Norton, or Cynthiana wines from Adam Puchta Winery in Hermann, MO to Little Hills Winery in St. Charles.

So, the next time you go to purchase a bottle of wine at Harter House, pass on the Merlot, Cabernet, or  Shiraz, and try a bottle of a local favorite for a change, the proud Norton.  Just stop by Harter House World Flavors and ask about the Norton's we have in stock and we will gladly point you to the little grape that was brought here by German immigrants over a 100 years ago, to a little town called Hermann, Missouri, and then sit back and take in the rich, delicious history of Missouri Wine.

Missouri Wine

You might not know that Missouri is the second largest Wine producer in the U.S. and that before Prohibition, we were the number one supplier of wine from New York to California.  We have a fantastic history and one that can be enjoyed over any weekend you feel like getting away.  Listed below is a short list of the wineries here in the Show-Me State.  Most provide free samplings, some have food and entertainment in the form of tours, music and just relaxing with good friends and great wine.

Adam Puchta Winery - My dad, Floyd's, absolute favorite is their Port, and for good reason.  Where most Ports come off as a syrupy mess, Adam Puchta knows how to bring out subtlety and calms the sweetness with floral accents.  Actually, I take that back, that's just me being fancy-shmancy, it's just really good.
7C's Winery - Specialize in fruit wines.  Located extremely close in Walnut Grove. 

My Dad (left) debating politics over wine at Wenwood.
Wenwood Farm Winery - My families favorite place to go.  Lots of music, good wine, and the owners are a hoot.  Wenwood always has something going on.  Just get there early so you can get a table in the shade.  For a real treat try my dad, Floyd, and my favorite, the Bauernhofan.  This dry red has a complex palate, goes down smoothly and finishes with you wanting more.
St. James Winery - A great place to stop on your way to St. Louis, right off I-44.
Stone Hill - There is nothing wrong with the Branson location, but for a taste of what it is really like to be at a vineyard, go to the original located in Hermann, MO, especially in October for Oktoberfest. 

The deck overlooking the Missouri Hills at Montelle.  One word:  breathtaking.
Montelle Winery - This Winery in Augusta has won tons of awards and once you taste, you will know why.  Prepare for the gorgeous deck to sit at that will take your breath away.  I cannot praise the setting enough, and when music plays on the weekend, I can just open a bottle, sit back and let my day just move along at it's own pace from the outside world.
Blumenhof Vineyards & Winery - Great winery just outside of Washington, Missouri. 
The Hill at Hermannhof.  A challenge after a couple glasses.
Hermannhof Winery - If you have never been to Hermannhof, you do not have the right to call yourself a Missourian.  Every October, it is tradition to sit on the hill overlooking Hermannhof, eat cheese, drink wine, and smile as you feel the warmth (and polka music) overtake you.
Robller Vineyard Winery - The beauty of Missouri vineyards is that they are a family affair, and with Robller Vineyard it shows, run by Robert and Lois Mueller, and their 3 children, for over 30 years.
OOVVDA Winery - If you like fruit wine and staying close, this is the place for you.  Located just outside of Springfield, OOVVDA specializes in Raspberry, Cherry, Strawberry and several other varieties of fruit wine.

This is an extremely short list, and does not even touch the tip of the iceberg of Missouri Wines.  We have over 300-plus wineries in Missouri, and it would take probably a lifetime to visit them all (although I will try!).  I have had many good times with my family and friends at several of these wineries, and it is a tradition that I will pass on to my children and my children's children.  It is a part of Missouri's heritage and one we should be both proud of and protect.  Stop by Harter House today and try our wines for yourself, and one of these weekends, pack up, grab your family and friend's, a blanket, and prepare yourself for a great time.

My Dad's Favorite.


Special thanks to MO Wine Girl for her expertise when it comes to Missouri wine and knowledge of the Norton grape.  If you don't follow her Facebook or her wonderful websites, you need to, right now.

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/MoWineGirl
Her Mo Wine website:  www.missouriwine.org
Her Norton Website: www.nortonsays.com

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Springfield Sale Items July 6 - July 12

8 Oz. Bacon Wrapped Filet Mignon - 2 for $10!

Super-Trimmed Center Cut Pork Chops - $2.69/lb.
7 Oz. Chicken Kiev or Cordon Blue - 2 for $6!
8 Piece Smart Chicken Cut-Up Fryers - $1.99/lb.
Boneless Pork Loin Roast - $2.99/lb.
Country-Style Pork Loin Ribs - $2.49/lb.

Made Fresh at Harter House:
Extra Lean Ground Chuck - Family Pack - 4 lbs. or more - $2.89/lb.
Breaded Pork Patties - $2.49/lb.

Buy One / Get One FREE! - Limit Please:
Farmland Fully Cooked Barbeque Ribs - 32 Oz. (Save $6.99!)
Hormel 40 Oz. Boneless Barbeque Pork Shoulder Roast (Save $8.99!)
Hiland Quality Check'd Ice Cream Squares - 56 Oz. (Save $3.99!)

Also at Harter House this week:
FRESH Salmon Filets - $10.99/lb.
Cod Fish Filets - $6.99/lb.

and MUCH, MUCH MORE....
CHECK OUT ALL OF THIS WEEK'S SPECIAL'S AT HARTER HOUSE!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Another Reason to Drink Wine

The Wine Cork Navy
Ever wondered what to do with all those cork toppers from the bottles of wine that were purchased from Harter House?  I have seen a multitude of projects from friends to find another use for wine corks from cork boards to keep messages and photos, to coasters for a coffee table.  Here is a fun project you can do with the kids that will keep them busy on a hot summer day.
Building the Navy.

Materials you will need:
Wine Corks (collect them in a baggy in your kitchen)
Hot Glue Gun
Toothpicks
Scissors
Craft Foam
Small Eye Screws
String

Step 1:  Line up 3 corks together and hot glue them in the form of a small square.  It doesn't have to be perfect.

Step 2:  Press and twist the eye screw into the front of your cork raft.

Step 3:  Using the craft foam, cut it into the shape of a sale and impale it onto a toothpick.

Step 4:  Press the end of the toothpick into the top of the boat.  Press a small dab of hot glue to hold the toothpick in place

Step 5:  Tie an end of the string to the eye screw.

Step 6:  Find some water (river, creek, stream, pool, bucket) and have fun!
The raft.