Edition 190

July 30, 2010

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

• Sale! - Milk, from Organic Valley. Summer months are slow for dairies so we get to offer this at a special price
• New -Capers, from non-local sources to finish out your recipes
• New -Local Certified Organic Milk, Greek Yogurt, Crumbled Feta, local from Texas Daily Harvest
• Season ending -Watermelons, from local farmers, season is almost up so enjoy while you can
• New -Artichoke Hearts, from non-local sources
• New - Kalamata Olives, from non-local sources
• Short Season -Figs, from local sources, get em fresh while you can

Your Own Personal Sous-Chef

Another opportunity to make Greenling better and more useful to you! We're in the final stages of creating our prep kitchen to save you time in your kitchen. We're developing fresh, prepped veggies/fruit, baby foods, and meal kits to make eating Organic and local easier than ever! Help us customize these for you by taking this short survey:

Take the survey here

Whistle While You Work

All the wonderful rain we've gotten has been great for the gardens....except for the weeds! Holy moly, that's a lotta weed pullin. I found this great article and video on how to make tedious, hard work more enjoyable. I've always heard work songs and seen it, but never realized how cathartic it can be. Next time you're pulling some weeds in the hot sun, try whistling or learn this yootz -

Learn how to yootz

Meatrix, Reloaded

A couple of years ago I highlighted some cool videos that were introductions to the problems with our current food system and solutions out there. One of the videos I highlighted was The Meatrix, an awesome cartoon parody of The Matrix. At the time they hadn't finished the whole series yet. I hadn't been back until someone recently reminded me of this movie. Well, now they have the whole series spoofed as Moofius, Leo, and Chickity go on the entire Matrix adventure against factory food. They're great and I suggest sending them to anyone who is just learning about food issues.

I also gave links to our own little educational series spoof of the Mac commercials and here's another video by the OTA called Store Wars.

Psst...Thanks for Telling Your Friends About us

Remember you can always share the love of Greenling and get free food for doing it. Just download this coupon to give to others and type in your personalized coupon code - first 3 letters of your first and last name and the first 3 numbers of your address (add zeros if you just have 1 or 2 numbers) - where it says 'Go with Greenling and save!', print it and hand it out to your friends and co-workers. You get 10% off your next order after they've joined. They get 10% off, too, by entering your coupon code when they order.

This Week's Box Contents & Local Items

Well, well, Mr. Okra. Welcome to the party. The incredible summer weather (can you believe we had 43 100F days by this time last year and we might get our first this weekend for this year?) has lengthened some seasons, like for Peaches, and delayed slightly others, like Okra. For those that think it's slimy, you're probably rejoicing. There are many ways to keep okra from being slimy (blanching is good), and it's a nutritional powerhouse, so enjoy the beginnings of the season.

Here's what will be available from local farms on our website this week (the best selection of local produce in the state - guaranteed). Items with a (*) are only available in the Local Box:

In Local Boxes ($34.99) this week (Aug 2-6):

• Okra - Tecolote
  
• Bibb Lettuce- Bluebonnet
  
• Purple Hull Peas - Just Peach Farm
  
• Figs - Comanche
  
• Basil - Acadian
  
• Texas Peppers - Various
  
• Peaches - Caskey
  
• Eggplant - Tecolote
• Pears or Blueberries - My Father's Farm

Last Week's (Jul 26-30) Local Box Video:

In Farmstead Boxes this week:

• BBQ Garbanzo Beans - Baby Zach's
• BBQ Sauce - Baby Zach's
• Handmade Flour Tortillas - Margarita's
• Ginger Snaps w/ molasses & fresh ginger - Little Bluestem

Order Here

Fresh, Prepared Meal Selection for this week will be posted by this weekend.

Produce from Local Farms

• Arugula-Bluebonnet
  
• Arugula, Baby-Animal Farm
  
• Basil-Various
  
• Basil, Live-BellaVerdi
  
• Chard-Texas Natural
  
• Cucumbers-Acadian Family Farm/Tecolote
  
• Garlic-Ringger Family Farm
  
• Green Cabbage-Naegelin
  
• Herbs-Pure Luck
  
• Parsley-Tecolote
  
• Lettuce,Bibb-BellaVerdi
  
• Microgreens-BellaVerdi
  
• Mushroom, Crimini-Kitchen Pride
  
• Mushroom, Oyster-Kitchen Pride
  
• Mushroom, Port caps-Kitchen Pride
  
• Mushroom, White-Kitchen Pride

Produce from Local Farms

• Okra - My Father's Farm, Tecolote
  
• Pepper,Cayenne -
• Pea Shoots-Bluebonnet
• Pepper, Jalapeno-Acadian
• Peas - Just Peachy Farms
  
• Pepper, Bell Assorted - Comanche Creek, Ringger
• Potatoes, Red-Naegelin
• Shallot-Lundgren
  
• Sprouts, All-Groovy Greens
  
• Summer Squash-Various
  
• Tomato, Cherry-Acadian
  
• Tomato, Slicing - Oak Hill
• Tomato, Green-Ringger Family Farm
  
• Watercress-Bluebonnet
• Berries, Blueberries -Berry Best Farms
  
• Limes - G&S Grove
• Cantaloupe -Massey
  
• Peaches-Caskey, Lundgren
• Watermelon - Ringger

Events & Local Food Happenings Around Town

San Antonio Raw Vegan Potluck

-August 8th, 4:30pm

-Free

-Home of Mary McClendon (map)

The scents of summers - blooming crepe myrtles, flowers and yes even the wonderful scents coming from your dehydrator (or the fresh herbs -YUM!). This month you will learn about more scents - the applications of essential oils for personal use, medicinal purposes and food preparation.

Mary McClendon is nice enough to offer her home near Floresville for the August event.

Learn more & RSVP here

Drought Mitigation Workshop

-August 12-13

-$200

-Bastrop, TX

Don't forget we just came out of one of the worst droughts in history. We'll surely have another soon. As Mark Rose, of LCRA says - 'Droughts are normal in Texas. What has changed is the number of people. We just don't get enough water for everyone.' So consider this workshop -

Preparing for, managing through, and recovery from drought in the South Central Region of Texas. Texas Workforce Center, Bastrop, Texas. Presenter: Walt Davis Audience: Ranchers, Farmers, Practitioners/Producers in this region along with industry and university professionals. Free to qualified applicants through FarmAid Grant funds. Contact: Amy Normand at 830-868-2427

Nourishing Food, Nutrition & Cooking Workshop

-August 14th 9am-6pm

-$125 includes organic lunch

-The Austin Center (map)

Want to learn to cook healthy, delicious and satisfying food? In this workshop, you'll learn EVERYTHING you need to know! Dispel the dietary myths from our present culture and learn the truth about REAL nutrition. Reclaim your birthright of vital, vibrant health by learning to prepare delicious, nourishing foods and making well educated choices when selecting the best ingredients for yourself and your loved ones!

The Nourishing Foods Nutrition and Cooking Workshop is offered by Amanda Love, Certified Healing Food Specialist, Natural Foods Chef, Nutrition Educator, WAPF Conference Chef and recent recipient of the Weston A. Price Food Activist Award.

Learn more and RSVP here

Farm Camp for Adults

-Starting September 12th

-$50

-Green Gate Farms

Let out your inner-farmer! Green Gate is graciously opening their farm to people interested in knowing how an organic farm works. Yep, you'll get to be a farmer for a day (Sunday) and learn about tractors, tools, irrigation, and how to care for vegetables, flowers, 150 animals, and other critters on the 5-acre Organic farm. Future classes available as well on Oct 10th, Nov 14th, and Dec 12th. RSVP by emailing greengatefarmsevents@gmail.com.

Recipe Corner

Fried Okra Salad

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup buttermilk
  
• 1 egg
  
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
  
• 16 okra pods, washed and cut into bite-sized rounds or slices (the new rave)
  
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  
• 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
  
• 2 teaspoons Creole seasoning, divided
  
• 1 cup solid vegetable shortening or oil, for frying
  
• 4 cups Spinach or Arugula
  
• Salt
  
• Freshly ground black pepper
  
• 1 cup sliced smoked mozzarella
  
  

Instructions:

Beat together the buttermilk, egg and hot sauce in a small bowl. Add the okra and turn to coat evenly. Let sit for 30 minutes.

In another bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, and 1 teaspoon of Creole seasoning.

Dredge the okra in the flour mixture and heat the shortening in a skillet, if using, otherwise heat oil in a deep-fryer or Dutch oven to 360 degrees F. When it is hot, place the okra in the oil and fry, turning once, for about 2 minutes, or until lightly golden. Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle the okra with the salt and pepper. Divide the salad greens among 4 salad plates, season with salt and pepper, to taste, top each with okra, smoked mozzarella and drizzle with dressing. Serve immediately.

Warm Andouille Dressing:

• 4 ounces finely chopped andouille sausage
  
• 1 tablespoon minced shallots
  
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  
• 3/4 cup olive oil
  
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  
• 1 teaspoon sugar
  
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  
• 4 turns freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

Heat a medium dry skillet over high heat. Add the andouille and saute for 1 1/2 minutes. Add the shallots and garlic and saute for 1 minute. Add the oil and vinegar, cook for 1 minute, and remove from the heat. Stir in the sugar, salt, and pepper. Serve immediately. Refrigerate any remaining dressing.

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.