An Alternative to Fast Food for Busy Folks

Everyone is short on time. There are game practices, music lessons, part-time jobs, social life and charity functions, and other activities pushing the calendar into overdrive. Parents have work schedules, clubs, meetings and volunteer duties.

It’s a wonder families have time to eat at all, but they don’t have to fall into the unhealthy fast food trap.
Countryside Meats & Deli, 781 Highgrove Place, specializes in ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook entrees and entire meals, whether for a quick lunch, dinner or special occasion.

“We make it easy for people to stop by and get what they want for a homecooked meal,” says owner Jarrod Bush. “Or if someone wants something special for dinner, we can make it for you as long as we have the product.”

Just walk into the store and you’ll be surrounded by options. If you can’t make a decision, talk with Bush, who has more than 20 years’ experience and wants only the best for his customers.

In his locally owned and operated store, Bush has a clean, organized and attractive 20-foot-long meat case filled with top quality freshly cut Midwestern beef, pork and poultry.

The store offers a weekly advertised special every Wednesday and other in-house specials. There are cases full of “oven ready” meals such as lasagna, stuffed green peppers, meatballs, Italian beef, pulled BBQ pork, chicken pot pie, chicken Kiev and 25 varieties of bratwurst. There are cheeses and cheese spreads, sauces, dips, seasonings, dressings and marinade. There’s chicken, egg, tuna and crab salad, as well as cole slaw, broccoli slaw, baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, Italian pasta salad and creamed or pickled herring.

Gourmet items include four kinds of stuffed chicken breast with ingredients like Prosciutto, fennel, cheese and Italian seasoning; twice-baked and cheesy potatoes; stuffing made with ham and Swiss cheese, apples and cranberries, or traditional bread stuffing; garlic cheese bread and crab cakes. Large Portabella mushrooms filled with crab meat and Swiss cheese or Cheddar cheese and bacon are a favorite. ❚