Valentine's Day Happenings

Can you believe it's that time of year again? Valentine's Day is right around the corner and Triple Fresh has you covered.

We have flowers being sold by the dozen, by carnations, and bouquets. Prices vary from $4.99 to $19.99.

Grab a sweet for your sweetie! In the bakery we are selling cookies, brownies, and other pastries that are festive for Valentine's Day.

Some of our festive cookies

We also have cards and candy if you want to make a simple but sweet gesture.

Whether you are buying for a special someone or even for yourself, make this Valentine's Day a great one!

Just some of the beautiful flowers we have here in store

Fact Friday- Ercildoun Seminary

On Buck Run Road, you may pass a rather large house that has seen a thing or two in its life time.

This house was once a learning institution, a beer hall, and now a shelter for families in need. Let’s start at its beginning and see how this building came to be.

The building first opened its doors in 1854 as a learning institution for boys. Three years later, it would be transformed into a Seminary for all girls. It was referred to as the Ercildoun Seminary.

The education received at the Seminary included, but was not limited to, Geography, Chemistry, History, Astronomy, Latin, French, and English. With a list like this, the education didn’t come cheap. It was $80 a semester to attend. This included room and board, tuition, and laundry.

A tornado hit the area in July of 1877 (this is explained in more detail in our previous post).  Its upper floor was ripped off and destroyed from the powerful winds. The building was then abandoned by Mr. and Mrs. Darlington, a couple who lived there full time in the Seminary. They went on to create a similar learning institution for girls in West Chester.

The building reopened in 1879, two years after the storm. Over the next decade or so, the Seminary was lead by a handful of Head Masters. Professor George Moore was the last to hold this position.

It became residential in 1906 and was no longer used as a learning institution. When Prohibition was tightening its grip on the country, the building was used as a beer hall and named The Academy. To keep this under wraps, it was disguised as a literary club. Authorities caught wind of this in 1933 and were shut down soon after. Ironically, 1933 was the year Prohibition ended.

What the building looks like today. Courtesy of Bimmerpost

With its drinking past behind it, the building was then used as housing for special needs children from the 1940's to the 1970's. 

As of today, it is now the site of St. Joseph’s House. This organization assists single mothers, widows, orphans, and families in times of crisis. If you are not familiar with St. Joseph’s House, visit their website and take a look.

Like many of the buildings in Ercildoun, it was adapted over time to fit the community’s needs of the time. They needed a school in the 1850's so they built it. They needed a residential area in the 1900's so they changed it. They needed a place to keep their alcohol in the 1920's and 30's, and then they made it so.

You don’t have to look far for historical treasures. Sometimes all you have to do is take a quick walk down the road. 

Source used: Polk Morris, Janet. Ercildoun: A Quaker Village in Chester County, PA. (2014): 71-74.

iSwich Gourmet

There is a hidden gem that is as sweet as the cookies they sit next to: iSwich Gourmet.

What is iSwich Gourmet?

iSwich is sugar that is organically and locally made. The flavors include Espresso, Vanilla Bean, Cinnamon, Lemon, Lime, Coconut, and Dark Coco.

Here is a short description for each flavor:

Espresso- Our espresso sugar is made from dark rich coffee beans and our organic sugar. This goes great with ice cream, yogurt, cupcakes, or hot chocolate. You can also add it to your favorite chocolate or vanilla cocktails!

Vanilla Bean- Tahitian vanilla and organic sugar cane are found in this vanilla bean sugar. This also can pair with ice cream and cupcakes. You can also jazz up your brownies and creme brulee.

Cinnamon- This is a spicy sugar that goes great with apple desserts, sugar cookies, and toast! It also sits well on the rim of your glass for mulled apple cider and cocktails. Perfect for the fall season.

Lemon- It's tart and sweet. This combination can goes great with berries, muffins, or pound cake. Also goes great with flavored vodkas.

Lime- This likes to be paired with your Southwestern and Mexican cuisine. Goes great with tonic or margarita drinks for a special touch. This also goes well with ice cream, pound cake, cupcakes, sugar cookies, and berries.

Coconut- This is a new flavor! This goes great with coffee, tea, pancakes, or waffles. If you're more of a dinner person, pair it with your curries, chicken, or fish.

Dark Cocoa- Also a new flavor, this is for anyone who loves chocolate. This loves strawberries, pancakes, and French toast! Coffee and White Russians go best with this sugar flavor.


iSwich Gourmet is located right where the cookies live. Stop in today and try something new this month!

Pictured here are Espresso, Vanilla Bean, and Lime

Fact Friday- Ercildoun

Over the past month we have explored the historical background of Ercildoun. This place has been in existence for a very long time and has a lot more stories to tell.

On this Friday, I would like to share some quick facts about this small but impressive place.

1. Ercildoun is about 43 acres in size.

2. It is often referred to a "hamlet" and not a city or town. A hamlet, by definition, is a small settlement, generally one smaller than a village. It is considered a large hamlet.

3. There was a tornado that took place in 1877 that was very significant and taught in college courses for quite some time. More information on that event is in the previous blog post!

4. The name Ercildoun was taken from a poem by Sir Walter Scott. The poem was titled, "Thomas the Rhymer".

5. At first, the name was spelled Ercildown until it was changed to the current spelling on April 14, 1854

6. There are about 100 people that live in Ercildoun.

7. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 20, 1985.

8. One notable residents was Rebecca Lukens, who is recognized as the first female CEO of an industrial company, Lukens Steel.

9. It is home to the People's Hall. This building was heavily apart of the anti-slavery movement.

10. It is in East Fallowfield Township, home of the best market place and caterer, Triple Fresh!

Fallowfield Meetinghouse, built in 1811

Sources used: "Ercildoun, National Historic District, East Fallowfield Township, Chester County, Coatesville PA 19320".www.livingplaces.com. 2018-02-1.

Philly Cheese Steak Pull-Apart Sliders

You don't have to be a "Pat" or a "Geno" to make this easy and delicious take on a Philly classic!

Ingredients

1 Package of King's Hawaiian Dinner Rolls (12 count)

1 lb of chipped steak

1 Medium yellow onion, diced

12 slices of American cheese

6 slices of provolone cheese

3 Tablespoons of mayonnaise

3 Tablespoons of butter

Salt and ground pepper to taste

4 Tablespoons of oil (vegetable oil works well)


Cooking Instructions

Preheat oven at 350F

Cut rolls horizontally into top and bottoms (leave individual rolls connected). Place bottom half of rolls in an 11x7 inch casserole dish. Spread the mayonnaise over the rolls and layer with American cheese.

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons of oil and chipped steak. Cook continuously flipping the meat over and slightly chopping the meat into slightly smaller pieces until meat is no longer pink. This is easier with two spatulas if you have them. This process should take about two minutes. Spread meat over American cheese evenly.

Return skillet to medium heat and add remaining oil and onions. Sautee onions until soft and slightly caramelized. Spread onions over meat and topped with the slices of provolone cheese.

Place top half of rolls on the provolone cheese. Melt the butter in a microwave and brush top of the rolls.

Cover the casserole pan with aluminum foil and bake for 10 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese has melted. Cut rolls from each other and serve!
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This simple recipe is enough to keep your guests happy for the big game.

If you don't have the time to make these sliders, call Chef Mark and he'd be happy to make them for you!

Go Eagles! 

Our very own sliders in the deli! 

Fact Friday-The Great Tornado of 1877

The weather has been awfully strange so far this year. All of this inconsistency had us pondering about the great tornado that hit Ercildoun in July of 1877. Yes, a tornado. According to some sources, this particular tornado was studied in some college courses.

An eyewitness account that was documented in Ercildoun: A Quaker Village in Chester County, PA spoke about the big storm and its aftermath.

Seminary after tornado

The account tells the story of Mr. and Mrs. Darlington who were living in the Ercildoun Seminary at the time. They were the only ones there since all the other children went on break. It was late in the afternoon when Mrs. Darlington alerted her husband of a loud rumbling noise. He tried to tell her that it was just a strong thunderstorm. He was proven wrong when he approached his window and saw an insidious funnel cloud coming right for them. As soon as they could process what was happening, the upper floor of the seminary was non-existent. 

Mr. Darlington’s new stables, house, and carriage were destroyed in less than a minute. His heavy cow was flown over a 20 ft hedge and landed in his neighbor’s yard.

Another resident by the name of Emma Scott Tracey was not around at the time of the tornado, but her family would always speak of how great their house and property was pre-tornado. Tracey would say, “The yards were beautiful as our neighbors’ Dupont Longwood Gardens.” Her family’s property was restored but their large property was turned back into farming grounds.

The damage that this storm cost was about $36,000. The Fallowfield Meeting House was not harmed by the dangerous winds.

Two years later in 1879, physical evidence of the storm was mostly gone and the properties were either rebuilt, or the rubble was cleaned up.

To learn more about the interesting history of Ercildoun, think about purchasing Ercildoun: A Quaker Village in Chester County, PA written by Janet Polk Morris. 

Football Party Packages

Take a look at our tasty and carefully prepared party packages!