Edition 168

February 26, 2010

• Local Box Contents
• News & Updates
• Recipe Corner
• Greenling Tidbits

• Back - Goose Eggs, the gaggle of local geese is laying again
• In Nepal -Kala & her fresh pico, she'll be back in the kitchen in April
• New -Local Brownies, We've not carried these before because they don't contain any Organic ingredients, but overwhelming requests have prompted a new shopping category - Local, Not Organic
• Still hanging in there - Lettuce, Beets, Broccoli, they've taken a beating in the fields, but are still producing
• New - Burdock root, from non-local sources, Burdock root is very crisp and has a sweet, mild flavor with a little muddy harshness that can be reduced by soaking julienned roots in water for 5-10 minutes. Give it a try! Braise it with soy sauce, sugar, sake, and sesame oil for a special treat
• Back! - Local Herbs, froze a few weeks ago, but have returned

Your Orders Help Support Refugees

We often see images of refugee camps in other countries, but did you know America accepts a steady stream of people escaping oppressive and dangerous environments?

For over a year Greenling has been donating hundreds of pounds of produce each week to foreign refugees right here in Central Texas. They've been completely displaced and are trying to start over with a new life in Texas. We try to help welcome them with some fresh, organic food!

See more about the Refugee Film Outreach program here

See the short Thank-you video here

Delivery Tip - Haven't ordered yet and wonder how your groceries arrive? Check out this 1-min video.

Another couple of 5-star reviews on Yelp!

by Caitlin H.

"How to put this? Greenling Organic Delivery... I want to have your babies. :) Seriously, though... I love it. I had no idea that an ORGANIC, LOCAL grocery would deliver groceries TO MY DOOR in Round Rock, TX. So, I had to give it a shot, right? I mean, seriously? I may never have to step foot in the stuffy Whole Foods again. Although, I may want to mention the price difference... oh wait, what price difference? Whole Foods may even cost more than my delivered to me, on my doorstep, no effort on my part groceries. sold.

These people are the real deal. On friday evening, I recieved my greenling delivery including fresh fruits and veggies (all local) and a half galon of the most delicious milk my husband and I have ever had the pleasure of drinking (and I swore off milk about 3 months ago, oops). Not only that, but the fruit was delicious and the veggies fresh. Our favorite things we got from delivery #1: milk, eggs, baby spinach, and grandma's hummus (holy crap its good). I can't wait to try out new things next time! So incredibly happy, I want to give them 6 stars for fullfilling my need to support the local and organic farms! Yay for happy chickens and cows!

PS: they have a gluten-free local box, and TONS of gluten-free grocery items :) for all my gluten-intolerant friends out there (including myself)."

Thanks Caitlin! We love you too. See hers and more new reviews here

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Introducing the Frankencabbage

Cabbage is normally rather humble and while being very versatile is often over-looked in recipe names and descriptions. It's easy to store, is cultivated around the world, and is content being a background ingredient providing substance, nutrition, and sometimes a crunch. It's not flashy or flamboyant and can look just a bit weird. That all was true until we introduced you to what Veggie in the House calls the 'Frankencabbage.' This beast of a veggie commands attention and engenders a little fear in cooks and young children alike.

Before you panic and lose sleep over what to do with this beast, first take a moment to appreciate the wonder that is cabbage. It's in the same family of supergreens as kale, collards, and broccoli. It's completely saturated with vitamin C and K goodness and contains more vitamins, minerals, and even omega 3s than most produce.

Recently we've learned that the phytonutrients in cabbage take nutrition to the next level! Cabbage actually signals our genes to increase production of enzymes involved in detoxification of our body. Cabbage is being shown to have some of the biggest impacts of any single veggie in cancer prevention and disease cure. It can heal digestive problems, ulcers, and is probably immune to kryptonite.

Some will get it again this week, some will be spared and get the humble green cabbage. If you get it, honor your frankencabbage by chopping it into little pieces and trying one of the recipes in this week's newsletter!

Rod's Big Red Tractor

By Candy Hunke - Greenling Buyer

It’s Wednesday morning, sleet is falling from the sky and I am on the highway heading to Acadian Family Farms, located in Lavaca County. Farm visits are one of my favorite work activities (who doesn’t like a day out of the office?). It gives me the opportunity to see exactly how the farmers work the land and ultimately produce the goodness that you enjoy on your table.

Read more here (last week's newsletter)

This Week's Box Contents & Local Items

Though it was cold, the lack of huge rains has allowed most of our farmers to get out in the fields and plant for the spring. Many spring items will be late this year because of all the winter rain, but as long as we don't get an early summer we'll get to enjoy such delicate treats as strawberries and sweet corn! Berries & greens & squash, oh my!

Here's what will be available from local farms on our website this week (the best selection of local produce in the state - guaranteed):

In Local Boxes ($34.99) this week (Mar 1-5):

• Collard Greens - Lundgren
• Cabbage - Acadian
• Green Onions - Lundgren
• Radish or Carrots or Turnips or Broccoli - Various
• Salad Mix - My Father's
• Swiss Chard - Acadian
• Beets - Naegelin
• Limes - G&S
• Tomatoes - Village Farms
• Herb - Pure Luck

Last Week's (Feb 22-26) Local Box Video:

In Farmstead Boxes this week (Mar 1-5):

• Red Chili Fettucini - Pasta & Co
• Sesame Garlic Dressing - SASS
• Baguette Rolls - Sweetish Hill

Order Here

Fresh, Prepared Meal Selection for this week:

Dish #1 - Indian Spiced Chickpea Salad w/ Yogurt & Scallions (1 pint - serves 1 for lunch) - Every once and a while we come across a dish that changes the way we look at an ingredient. This was one of them! The simple, nutrient-packed chickpea (a.k.a garbanzo bean) gets redefined in this salad. We toast whole spices in a little oil until fragrant, toss in tender, cooked chickpeas and gently skillet-fry the beans. When it's slightly cool, we fold in some cool, creamy yogurt spiked with scallions, fresh herbs and lemon to make a delicious side/salad that will have you rethinking this versatile legume.

Dish #2 - Cauliflower & Potato Curry w/ Steamed Basmati (1 pint) - Well hello Aloo Gobi! A traditional North Indian dish crafted around potatoes (aloo) and fresh cauliflower (gobi) that's almost as much fun to say as it is to eat. A warm spice mix of garam masala is fried golden with onions, ginger and ripe tomatoes to create a rich and delicious sauce that's cooled with a touch of coconut milk. Then we add golden potatoes and Texas cauliflower and simmer for a few hours until the flavors meld. Served over fragrant basmati rice.

Produce from Local Farms

• Swiss Chard - Naegelin
• Herb, Asst. - Pure Luck
• Herbs, Basil, Live - Bella Verdi
• Sunflower Sprouts - Groovy Greens
• Lettuce, Baby - Animal Farm and My Father's Farm
• Lettuce, Bibb - Bella Verdi
• Cauliflower - Ope's Farm
• Meyer Lemons - G&S Groves
• Kale - Naegelin
• Mars Orange - G&S Grove
• Cherry Tomatoes - Naegelin
• Grapefruit - G&S Grove
• Limes - G&S Grove
• Green Leaf Lettuce - The Farm Patch
• Romaine Lettuce - The Farm Patch
• Red Leaf Lettuce - The Farm Patch
• Spinach - Naegelin
• Scallions - Lundgren and Acadian
• Pea Shoots - Bluebonnet
• Watercress - Bluebonnet

Produce from Local Farms

• Microgreens, Arugula - Bella Verdi
• Microgreens, Broccoli - Bella Verdi
• Mushroom, Crimini - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, Portabella - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, Shiitake - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, White - Kitchen Pride
• Potatoes, Sweet -Naegelin
• Red Radish - My Father's Farm
• Red Spring Onion - My Father's Farm
• Onion, Yellow - Naegelin
• Arugula - Acadian
• Cabbage - Naegelin
• Tomatoes - Village Farm
• Broccoli - Various
• Collard Greens - Naegelin
• Mustard Greens - Naegelin
• Cilantro - My Father's Farm
• Kohlrabi - My Father's Farm

Events & Local Food Happenings Around Town

February Local Food Tasting Soiree

-Last Friday

-Rio's Brazilian Cafe (map)

We had a great time at Rio's and will definitely be back. Check out more pictures here.

Local Box Workshop

-Saturday, Feb 27th

-9:30am - 2:00pm

-$8

-Faraday's Kitchen Store (map)

-SOLD OUT

Join Chef Andrew Brooks (spiritedfood.com) for our Local Box Workshop at Faraday's Kitchen Store, as he shows you easy recipes and storage tips for using fresh, seasonal produce. You'll leave armed with a variety of ways to use what's local and in-season right now!

This event is sold out. Please check out our March cooking class here.

Grow Local Festival

-Saturday, Feb 27th

-9:00am - 4:00pm

-$5

-Schertz Civic Center (map)

Thinking about putting in a vegetable garden this spring? Don’t know what to do to get started? Need to know about those bugs in your garden? Then this may be the place for you to be. Get advice from local experts on gardening and landscaping. See a rainwater harvesting demo. Talk to an expert on lawnmower maintenance. Learn the proper way to prune your trees! Shop for bedding plants, seeds, fruit trees, rainwater harvesting barrels and other quality garden products.

See more here

Bad to the Bone Chef Smackdown

-Stubbs Austin

-Feb 27

-$35

Three of Texas' youngest and most acclaimed chefs - David Bull, Shawn Cirkiel, and Paul Petersen will go head to head in a high-energy, fun event with great food, live music and a competition that's interactive and exciting. DJ, el john Selector will spin bad-to-the-bone soul, funk and world beats to keep the tempo going until final votes for the chefs have been cast. Once the winner is announced, the evening melds into a rockin' live concert with Charanga Cakewalk, a seven-piece Latin band. This event benefits the Sustainable Food Center

For more information & reservations, click here

Resolution Gardens Local Food Potluck

-Marigold - 2200 S Lamar

-March 5th, 6-9pm

-Just Bring a Dish

Our friends over Resolution Gardens are throwing their own local food potluck next weekend. Celebrate locally grown foods with live music, friends, and food for all. Contact Johnny2resolutiongardens.com for more information or visit their website - http://resolutiongardens.com/

Slow Food Austin Farm Tours

-Throughout March

-$16 - towards food from farm

The Yonder Way tour was a huge success so Slow Food Austin has created several more farm tours from Urban farms like the relatively new Springdale to the Stryk Dairy farm where you can learn more about raw milk regulations (and why we can't sell you raw milk). Slow Food Austin also puts on great happy hours. Click here to follow Slow Food Austin on Facebook and stay up to date on their events. Or just check out http://slowfoodaustin.org

Recipe Corner

All about the cabbage, here's a couple of ideas from Veggie in the House, a local food blogger -

Spicy Tofu Stir-Fry w/ Peanuts & Quinoa

Scalloped Cabbage Casserole

Greenling Recipes

Stuffed Cabbage Soup

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
  
• 1 cup raw white rice
  
• 1 quart plus 2 cups chicken stock, divided
  
• 1 1/2 pounds ground meat, a combination of beef, pork and veal would be good
  
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons coriander
  
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  
• Salt
  
• Pepper
  
• 1 bay leaf
  
• 1 onion, chopped
  
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
  
• 1 carrot, thinly sliced with a vegetable peeler into strips then finely chopped
  
• 1/2-3/4 head Savoy cabbage, thinly sliced
  
• 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
  
• 1 cup tomato sauce
  
• Handful of flat-leaf parsley, chopped
  
• 3 tablespoons dill, finely chopped
  

Instructions:

Heat a sauce pot over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of extra-virgin olive oil, about 2 tablespoons. Add the rice and toss to coat in oil. Add 2 cups of chicken stock, bring up to a simmer, cover and cook for 16 to 18 minutes or until the rice is tender.

Heat a deep pot over medium high heat. Add the remaining extra-virgin olive oil, once hot add meat and begin to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Season the meat with allspice, coriander, smoked paprika, salt and pepper. Add bay leaf, onions, garlic and carrots. Cook veggies 2 to 3 minutes to begin to soften them, then add cabbage and wilt it down a bit. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, and remaining stock and cover the pot. Raise the heat to high and bring the soup to a simmer. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Once the rice is cooked, add to the soup and continue to simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in parsley and dill, adjust salt and pepper to your taste, and serve.

For More Recipes Check Out The Eating Out of the Local Box Blog. Also make sure to become a fan of Greenling on Facebook to get weekly recipes from Woman With A Whisk & The Best of Thymes food bloggers.