Edition 39

July 31, 2009

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

• New -Coffee, multiple varieties, one good for cold-brew or iced coffee, from Austin Java
• Back in Stock -Beef Patties, from Betsy Ross
• Short Supply - Raw Agave - we're searching for a new source and will sub with Madhava Light Agave (not raw) for a few weeks
• Switcharoo - Local Eggs - will just be coming from Rinnger for a while. Vital Farms is just not able to keep up production

New Addition to the Family

Jessica joined us part-time while Devon took some summer school. Well, we liked her so much that we found a way to bring her on for good. Devon has moved on to the challenges of helping lead the warehouse and Jessica is staying on as our morning Lemon Aide (Customer Service) though you can still email Devon and we'll get it. Your Mango Maven (Melanie) will be helping you out with all of your needs in the afternoon.

Here's a video introduction to Jessica:

Newsletter Tip - Font a little too small for you? On a PC just hit 'Ctrl'and '+' to zoom in

Watermelon

We learned a new trick from Chef Andrew at one of our Local Box Workshops for cutting up a watermelon - cut off a piece of both ends (just enough so it can stand up). Then cut off the outside like you would a pineapple. Just cut the rind. You can come back and trim more if you're left with some white flesh. You should end up with a huge melon ball! Then just slice however you want.

Figs

Eat them! Now! Well, ok, you don't have to eat them as soon as you get them, but don't put them in the refrigerator and forget about them. And don't worry about them being too soft. As long as they're not moldy, they're edible.

Where Do Your Mushrooms Come From?

Kitchen Pride Mushrooms is a family owned and operated business in Gonzales, TX. You're probably used to seeing their varied mushroom products in the stores, but Greenling has a special relationship with this family to bring you the absolute best mushrooms in the land.

They have created a separate room just for Greenling mushrooms where they don't use any chemicals or anti-microbials common for a fungi operation. Our mushrooms are completely natural and we think they're better than what you'll find in the stores.

We recently had a farmer appreciation day where we invited farms out to the warehouse to enjoy their products cooked by us. Greg from Kitchen Pride came and taught us a few more lessons about mushrooms. Something else we've learned is that mushrooms are much more nutritious than we thought and are a good source of some things that are hard to find in produce.

A serving of white mushrooms is lower in calories and has more potassium than an orange or tomato and a portabella has more than a glass of OJ or a banana. But our fungi friends also are the only good source of Selenium in the vegetable family (powerful antioxidant & immune & thyroid system supporter). You'll also find gobs of the B-vitamins Riboflavin (skin and vision), Niacin (digestive & nervous system), and Panthenoic acid (hormone control & nervous system). Check out our selection of mushrooms in the vegetable department.

Summer Specials

Check out these specials and see Recipe Corner below for a recipe using them:

10% off all Wine & Beer (20% off Frog's Leap) - Travis county only

Stadium Hot Dogs, Applegate Farms - $5.89

Rio Sauce (assorted - short-dated) - $2.00

Texmati Long Grain Brown Rice - $7.29

Chicken Breast, Dewberry Hills - $9.79

Ground Beef, Local Grass-fed, Bastrop Cattle Co - $6.89/lb

Texas Olive Ranch Olive Oil - $12.89

Coconut Milk, Native Forest - $3.09

And many, many more! Just browse awesome.greenling.com to find them (hint - they'll say 'SALE' next to them)!

Follow Us on Twitter & Facebook

We're all about this social media stuff. Turns out it's a great place to announce events, news, post photos, recipes and more. We post a new local food recipe just about every day.  Christina P described the recent Stuffed Jalapeno recipe as 'Like crack.' Not that we know what that would be like, but it sounds very addictive. We also share any cool tips we come across having to do with food or Central Texas or Sustainability. So check us out and become a fan:

This Week's Box Contents & Local Items

Here's what's 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 (August 3-7):

• Blueberries - Berry Best Farm
• Yellow Squash - Texas Natural
• Eggplant - Tecolote
• Anaheim Peppers - Lundgren
• Figs - Purple Goose
• Melon - Tecolote
• Spring Onions or Leeks - Animal
• Lettuce - Bluebonnet
• Arugula or Watercress - Bluebonnet
• Peaches - Cooper Orchard

Last Week's (July 27-31) Local Box Video

In Farmstead & Local Produce Boxes ($49.99) this week (August 3-7):

• Toddy - Summermoon
• Wholegrain Shortbread (Sweet bar cookie for GF) - Full English or Wildwood
• Homemade Cheddar Cheese - Brazos Valley

Produce from Local Farms

• Arugula, Baby - Animal Farm
• Watermelon -
• Berries, Blueberries-Berry Best Farms
• Poblano Peppers - Acadian Family Farm
• Grapefruit - G&S Grove
• Herb, Asst - Pure Luck
• Herbs, Basil, Live - Bella Verdi
• Lentil Sprouts - Groovy Greens
• Tomatoes, Slicing - Various
• Sunflower Sprouts - Groovy Greens
• Anaheim - Arnold Organics/Lundgre
• Purple Hull Peas - Animal Farm
• Elephant Garlic cloves - Green Gate
• Lettuce, Baby - Animal Farm
• Lettuce, Bibb - Bella Verdi
• Italian Peppers - Lundgren/Acadian Family Farm
• Green Bell peppers - Acadian Family Farm

Produce from Local Farms

• Limes - G&S Grove
• Microgreens, Arugula - Bella Verdi
• Microgreens, Broccoli - Bella Verdi
• Mushroom, Crimini - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, Portobello - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, Shiitake - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, White - Kitchen Pride
• Onion, White - Acadian Family Farm/Tecolote
• Onion, Yellow - Naegelin
• Onion, Red - Rinnger
• Orange, Valencia - G&S Grove
• Peaches - Cooper Orchards
• Potatoes, Red - Naegelin
• Squash, Yellow - Naegelin
• Squash, Zucchini - Texas Natural
• Cantaloupe - Tecolote
• Shallots - Lundgren Farm
• Jalapeno - Lungren
• Serrano - Lungren
• Eggplant - Tecolote

News & Events

Lunch Bomb and Cooking Class at Thai Fresh

-Lunch Bomb Tue. Aug 11th, 12pm

-Cooking Class Tue. Aug 11th, 6:30-9pm

-Thai Fresh (map)

-Dutch for Lunch

-$25 for cooking class

Join Greenling for two separate indulgences at Thai Fresh on W. Mary. I've blogged about Thai Fresh before; it's one of my favorite local food restaurants and it's so much more. Jam runs this operation like a true artisan. She goes to the market every week to get the freshest produce and adjusts her traditional dishes based on what's in season.

We'll get together at lunch to show our support for all her hard work. Lunch Bombs happen the 2nd Tuesday of each month and we pick a different restaurant each time who uses local food to converge on and thank them for doing what they do.

Then, if you want to learn how to cook like her, join us that evening for a Local Box Workshop! She'll take the Greenling Local Box and incorporate it into some vegetarian thai cooking. Email jevans@greenling.com or call 440-8449 to RSVP for either & look for the facebook event page coming soon.

Oh, and you don't have to go to both. You can sign up for just the lunch or just the class.

Mason Featured on Let's Get Healthy Radio Show

-Sat., Aug 8th, 10:20am & 4:20pm

-Talk Radio 1370AM & KLGO 98.5FM

Mason has joined Bill Swail several times for his healthy living talk shows and will be on again the 8th both in the morning and late afternoon to talk about healthy eating in Central Texas.

Recipe Corner

Summertime in Texas is known for an abundance of squash! Zucchini and yellow squash are the most common and while they're great just grilled or sauteed, there are so many more things you can do with them.

Zucchini (or squash) Brownies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  
• 1 cup white sugar
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 2 cups grated zucchini or squash
  
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil or for a healthier version use applesauce
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan. In a large mixing bowl, sift together flour, salt, soda, cocoa, and sugar. Combine eggs, squash, oil, and vanilla; blend into dry ingredients. Stir in walnuts.

Bake for 20 minutes in preheated oven. Cool in the pan, and then cut into bars.

Michelle's Malagueta Trio Free Range Chicken

From Rio's Website

Ingredients:

• 1 pkg Dewberry Farms free range chicken breasts
  
• 1/2 green bell pepper
  
• 1/2 red bell pepper
  
• 1/2 yellow bell pepper
  
• 1/3 cup white onion
  
• 2 tsp Texas Olive Ranch olive oil
  
• 8 oz Native Forest coconut milk
  
• 2 cups Texmati rice
  
• Rio's Original Malagueta, Mango Malagueta, & Pineapple Coconut Malagueta (just 1 is okay :-)

Instructions:

Cube chicken breasts and marinate in Rio's Original Malagueta sauce for 20 minutes or so.

Prepare the rice per instructions.

Chop up the peppers and onion and stir-fry in olive oil. Add chicken breasts and Original Malagueta sauce to stir-fried vegetables.

Pour in 1/2 cup of each of Rio's Mango and Pineapple Coconut Malagueta sauces plus 8 ounces of coconut milk. Let simmer for ten minutes and serve over rice.

Makes four servings. Note: Michelle reports the flavors are even better for lunch the next day! Woohoo!

For More Recipes Check Out The Eating Out of the Local Box Blog