Is there a better way to spend a cold rainy New England fall day than around a table with family or friends working on a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle? Everyone has a different approach to puzzling, some find a piece and hold it dearly until they find it’s home, others find a spot on the puzzle to focus on and work that area, most everyone agrees that completing the border is the way to start.

“The easiest pickling kit in the world is a brilliant “Make-in-the-bag” concept! Using a high quality made in the USA food-grade bag and spice mixes that are ready when you are. Just add pickling cucumbers, vinegar and water and everything else is in the bag. Once you make your own, you’ll never settle for store bought again.”

Who doesn’t love a nice gooey, steamy bowl of real Mac n Cheese on a cool fall day? The Calef’s family recipe using our famous Rat Trap Cheddar is a simple winner every time. We have been selling this from our freezer for years and now we share the recipe with you.

Here at Calef’s we pride ourselves in buying and selling local, that has been the foundation of our business for over 150 years. One of our favorite local suppliers is the Squamscot Old Fashioned Beverage Company, founded in Newfields, NH in 1863. It is a staple in our cooler and the best option to quench a late summer thirst.

In keeping with our mantra of buying and selling local, Calef’s has been carrying a broad selection of New England craft beer and cider for the past 10 years. Currently there are over 500 breweries in New England and while we can’t carry them all we have a very good rotating selection in our store.

All of our Cheese is “Snappy Old Cheddar,” a term used by the Calef’s for many generations to describe our delicious cheese! Calef’s has been aging our cheddars in store for many generations. Many people think that we make our Snappy Olde Cheese but we never have.

I am a honey lover. I include it in or on about anything I eat or drink. I have found that different honeys provide a new and interesting flavor component to what I consume. Thought I’d share some lessons I have learned along the way down my path of sweetness.

Several times a year a customer will stop in and tell us of their first job at Calef’s. There are many ways that a country store can give back to the community but providing good local jobs to our younger citizens is among the most important and rewarding.

Calling all cheese lovers~ if you want to preserve your block of favorite cheese full of flavor it’s time to look at specially made cheese bags or cheese paper, depending on your preference.

What makes Calef’s candy room truly unique is that we charge by the piece. There are prices on the jar and/or the candy that say how much it is. Customers often ask “why do you not sell it by the pound!, wouldn’t that be easier?” Yes, it would be easier, but easier is not always better.