05/11/2026
Hi friends - a couple things:
1) Remember, I will announce the winner of our latest contest tomorrow, 11-6-26.
2) It's the shopping season! Buy Michigan whenever possible. Here once again is our 2026 Christmas Food and Gift Guide.
FROM MICHIGAN WITH LOVE
FROM MICHIGAN WITH LOVE ISSUES ITS 2026 - AND FINAL – HOLIDAY FOOD AND GIFT GUIDE!
From Michigan With love just released its 2026 Holiday Food and Gift Guide – the final one after 20 years! This year’s guide has something for everyone, including some new products and some favorites from over the years. The guide was purposely released in October to give people more time to purchase creative gifts for family and friends this holiday, as well as to boost the Michigan economy.
What started as an idea 20 years ago has blossomed into the annual guide, as Franklin Dohanyos, owner of From Michigan With Love, has continued doing monthly TV segments all over the state featuring two Michigan products. Sadly, the monthly TV segments will come to a close after a long, fun run with the issue of this final holiday guide. Here it is:
PINCONNING CHEESE COMPANY, Pinconning
www.pinconningcheese.com
Pinconning Cheese Company celebrated its 77th anniversary this year. The store has over 150 varieties of cheeses plus many different flavors of cheese spreads. The most popular, of course, is Squeaky Mild Pinconning and the most exotic is a 16-year-old super sharp Pinconning Cheese. Pinconning Cheese creator, Dan Horn, began producing the now famous Pinconning Cheese in 1915. Over the years, Pinconning Cheese Company has been marketed as a destination to travelers headed north. The company also offers beautiful gift boxes.
DEARBORN SAUSAGE, Dearborn
www.dearbornbrand.com
A family tradition since 1946, Dearborn Hams and Sausages specializes in only the best hams that are perfect for holiday meals. All sausages are made fresh with only with the best cuts of meats. The company also has a plethora of snacks foods like jerky in various flavors, sausage sticks in various flavors, and other great tasting things – perfect for snacking during the games and for school/work lunches. Dearborn also produces Virginia Brand products and Farmer Peet’s products, including the much loved Pickle Bologna. The company’s products are available in stores across Michigan and at the retail stores in Dearborn and Roseville.
SATURDAY SUNRISE FOODS
Saturday Sunrise Foods is brand new and features products that were developed specifically to give consumers familiar, comforting foods made with simple plant-based ingredients, without sacrificing the flavor or experience people expect from the originals. Products include Golden Sunrise Cheese Sauce, Shellz and Cheese, Tomato harvest Rings, and Hearty Mac and Marinara. The new products are available through Amazon, Walmart.com, and Ebay, with distribution continuing to expand. These are convenient, shelf-stable comfort foods that taste great and all made with kids and families in mind.
MURDICK’S FUDGE, Mackinac Island
www.murdicksoriginalfudge.com
The original and best fudge on Mackinac Island since 1887! The company still follows Sarah Murdick’s exceptional recipe and the old-fashioned fudge-making techniques that have been passed down through the generations. There’s a flavor for every taste, including chocolate, chocolate walnut, chocolate cherry, butter pecan, double chocolate caramel sea salt, maple bourbon pecan, peanut butter, and turtle to name a few. And don’t forget Murdick’s nut brittles and caramel corn! Original Murdick’s Fudge has expanded to other locations on Mackinac Island as well as in Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, Michigan, in addition to three stores and a bakery in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
BETTER MADE SNACK FOODS, Detroit
www.bettermade.com
Now in its 96th year, Better Made continues to be Michigan’s favorite potato chip and snack food maker. The company is still family owned, and still supports Detroit and charitable organizations in Michigan. Better Made’s famous chocolate covered chips are back and available in milk or dark chocolate. Better Made also offer a handy 18 ct. Variety Pack – great for packing lunches and for after school snack time, a 10 ct. original and BBQ multipack, and one of my favorites – the Better Made Detroit Mix – a delicious bag of caramel and cheese popcorn that I can’t stop eating! Try Better Made’s new Kettle Chips in three delicious flavors.
MICHIGAN AWESOME, Holland
www.michiganawesome.com
Michigan Awesome in Holland, MI started in 2009 with the goal of celebrating all things Michigan! Besides some of the best packaging and coolest Michigan made boxes, Michigan Awesome also makes t-shirts, hats and hoodies, drinkware, and home goods, and other printed items with a true Michigan theme. Michigan Awesome also has wines and hard ciders available in stores across the state. These make great gifts for family and friends alike. There is a full product catalog available at the website and products can be shipped all over the U.S.
GREAT LAKES POT PIES, Clawson
www.greatlakespotpies.com
Great Lakes Pot Pies offers hand-made pot pies in a 9” and 5” size in a variety of flavors, including chicken, beef stew, pasty, and a new “Thanksgiving in a Pie”. There are hand pies in a variety of flavors, including breakfast and dessert, like chocolate chip and pecan pie, and gluten free and vegan offerings. All pies are hand-made with fresh ingredients locally sourced in Michigan as much as possible, and with no preservatives. Great Lakes Pot Pies makes a snack called “Pie Chips”, which are made from piecrust flavored with Cinnamon Sugar Pie on top.
LITTLE TRAVERSE TILEWORKS, Harbor Springs
www.littletraverse.com
Beautiful, whimsical, and stylish are just a few words to describe the hand-crafted Michigan-themed tiles designed and made by Little Traverse Tileworks in Harbor Springs. Tiles designed and made by Little Traverse Tileworks range from decorative Michigan-themed tiles from 2” x 2” through 6” x 6” and larger wall tiles to tiles used for kitchen backsplashes, fireplace and wall designs, and for bathrooms and enclosed patios, to name a few. The tiles are available at the studio and also in several stores throughout the state and region. Michigan artisans create the designs and molds for the decorative tiles in house. The company can create a custom tile specifically for any customer.
Blessings,
Franklin
WELCOME TO A WORLD OF GOOD EATS Where you’ll find the finest hams, franks, sausages and other premium meat products perfect for grilling days, holidays and every day. You can always count on Dearborn Brand products to make the good times delicious.
