Edition 192

August 13, 2010

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

• Out - edible Austin, Summer edition. Look for Fall edition first of September
• Last Week -Blueberries, from local sources, what a wonderful season we had. Get them for this last week before they're gone
• New -Gala Apples, from local farms, all the summer rain has started this season early
• Season ending -Watermelons, from local farmers, season is almost up so enjoy while you can
• New -Hungarian & Hatch Green Chilies, from local sources
• New - Kalamata Olives, from non-local sources
• Peak Season -Summer Squash, from local sources, taste the freshness. Just a little oil in a skillet and these burst with flavor

Back To School Goodness

With my first little one just starting to roll over it's hard for me to imagine shuffling him off to school, but it's that time of year again and it actually feels a little different for me just knowing how soon we'll be stocking up on supplies and healthy lunch fixins.

If you have any requests to make your lunches easier, please send along, and we already have lots of goodness to keep their brains growing and learning. From fresh-baked local sandwich bread & organic deli meats to lots of fruit and veggies for sides, Greenling's got school lunches covered.

Check out our Kid Stuff

Greenling Helps Murchison Be a Little Greener

When Murchison Elementary came to us asking for help with their recycling program we were excited to find a solution. With a little help from our bin maker, Orbis, we were able to provide recycling containers for every classroom on their campus! We were very excited and so were the kids. They sent us the above picture to thank us for helping them help the environment.

Fresh Pasta of The Week Club

Probably the easiest club you've ever joined - just add the fresh pasta item to your order once and we'll send a different flavor each week. Please let us know what you think and the favorites will soon be added to the site so you can get the same flavor each week if you like.

Pasta & Co has been perfecting pasta since 1983 right off of Kerbey Lane. Throughout the 27 years that they've served Austin's fresh pasta needs, they have always sought fresh, local ingredients and supported other local businesses. We've been occasionally offering Pasta & Co.'s fresh selections in our farmstead box so we're super-excited to be able to offer their artisan pastas on a regular basis. This week's selection is an Arugula Fettuccine, adding a little extra color and spice to your fettuccine dishes.

Add our Fresh Selection Pasta to your order this week

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

The summer staples - squash, eggplant, peppers, and okra are joined by extended-season treats like fresh peas, mustard greens, and radishes. These latter items will fade as the heat continues, but the former items will thrive! We'll cycle okra and eggplant so you're not getting them every week, but the squash and peppers will keep some color in the box each week. Peppers are actually as versatile as squash and can be thrown in everything from salads to sautees to sauces. Each one has a unique flavor from hot to sweet to bitter. Enjoy the variety!

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 16-20):

• Lentil Sprouts - Groovy Greens
  
• Red Potatoes - Naegelin
  
• Yellow Onions - Naegelin
  
• Crimini Mushrooms - Kitchen Pride
• Summer Squash - Texas Natural
  
• Mustard Greens - Texas Natural
  
• Red Radish - My Father's Farm
  
• Eggplant - Acadian
• Assorted Peppers - Various
• Okra - Acadian
• Fresh Peas - Just Peachy

Last Week's (Aug 9-13) Local Box Video:

In Farmstead Boxes this week:

• Fresh Carrot Pappardelle Pasta - Pasta & Co
• Kettle Popcorn - Lonestar Kettle Corn
• Indian Paintbrush or Lava Fudge cupcakes - Hill Country Cupcakes

Order Here

Fresh, Prepared Meal Selection for this week:

Dish #1 - Almond Thyme Pesto with Grape Tomatoes, Mozzarella & Penne (1 pint - serves 1 for lunch) - A tasty spin on pesto made with fragrant Texas thyme, toasted almonds and organic olive oil. Tossed with penne pasta, ripe grape tomatoes & Full Quiver Farms mozzarella for new take on pasta salads.

-Ingredients: semolina pasta, organic olive oil, almond, tomato, mozzarella, lemon, herbs, salt, pepper

Dish #2 - Honey Pepper Glazed Beets with Dijon Cream & Cashews (1 pint) - Sweet roasted beets pan-seared in honey & cracked black pepper and served with fresh herbs, smashed cashews & a dollop of dijon mustard cream, made with our own creme fraiche & fresh chevre.

-Ingredients: beets, honey, olive oil, organic dijon mustard, organic cream, buttermilk, chevre (goats cheese), herbs, spices, salt, pepper

Produce from Local Farms

• Arugula- Simmons
  
• Basil- Various
  
• Basil, Live- BellaVerdi
  
• Cucumbers- Acadian Family Farm
  
• Garlic- Ringger Family Farm
  
• Herbs- Pure Luck
  
• Lettuce,Bibb- BellaVerdi
  
• Microgreens- BellaVerdi
  
• Mushroom, Crimini- Kitchen Pride
  
• Mushroom, Oyster- Kitchen Pride
  
• Mushroom, Port caps- Kitchen Pride
  
• Mushroom, White- Kitchen Pride
• Okra - Bradshaw, Tecolote
  
• Pepper,Cayenne - Tecolote
• Pea Shoots- Bluebonnet
• Pepper, Jalapeno- Acadian
• Peas - Just Peachy Farms
  
• Pepper, Bell Assorted - Comanche Oak, Ringger

Produce from Local Farms

• Pepper, Sweet Italian
• Pepper, Banana - Acadian
• Pepper, New Mexican - Tecolote
• Pepper, Hungarian - Tecolote
• Pepper, Serrano - Acadian
• Pepper, Anaheim - Comanche Oaks
• Pepper, Sweet Red - Tecolote
• Shallot- Lundgren
  
• Sprouts, All- Groovy Greens
  
• Summer Squash- Various
  
• Watercress - Bluebonnet
• Berries, Blueberries - Berry Best Farms
  
• Limes - G&S Grove
• Cantaloupe - Massey
  
• Peaches- Caskey, Lundgren
• Watermelon - Ringger

Events & Local Food Happenings Around Town

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

Slow Money Salon - Understanding & Investing in Sustainable Food

-August 19th, 7pm

-FREE

-Ventana Del Sol Cafe & Cultural Center (map)

Mantras abound: Eat local! Eat seasonal! Eat slow! Support local farmers!

Yet how can such ideas take root without considering viability? What is the economic landscape of Austin's local food movement? Who are the key players? What do food sector jobs look like? What about affordability? If local and sustainable food went mainstream, who benefits?

Slow Money Austin is hosting monthly salons to discuss these issues and meet people interested in helping the local food movement and the entrepreneurs hoping to drive it.

Greenling Tasting Soiree

-August 21st

-FREE

-Zhi Tea World Headquarters (map)

Join us in east Austin for our next Greenling soiree: a tea party!

This month, Greenling and guests are gathering at the retail location Zhi Tea as we indulge in the wisdom (zhi) of tea. It may be August, but thanks to their iced elixirs of organic bliss and the shade of the oak trees, we’ll keep ya nice and cool. Delicious and nutritious dessert heroes Good Pop will be on hand to share their latest frozen treats and Lift Café will also have some yummy bites and wraps from their menu for you to enjoy. Yum!

Guests are invited to bring side dishes and desserts for this potluck, but you don't have to. All dishes should please include one ingredient of locally produced, organically grown food and will be in the running for inclusion in our upcoming cookbook.

Plus, the dish that gets the most votes overall that night wins a FREE Local Box!! You get to be famous AND get a free box of $34.99 of local, seasonal veggies so don't be shy!

Bring your friends, carpool, bike etc….just be sure to ‘Go, and have some tea.’

RSVP by calling 512-440-8449 or emailing jevans AT greenling.com

http://www.goodpops.com/

http://liftaustin.com/

http://www.zhitea.com/

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.

Olive Oil Crush & Field Day

-September 14th

-FREE

-Texas Olive Oil Ranch

The Texas Olive Ranch Harvest & Gold Crush 2010 will be open to visitors September 14 -15 (tuesday & wednesday) from 9 am - 2 pm for you to see the mechanical harvester operating, and observe the pressing of the 2010 new oil. We will sample the new oil with delicious grilled bread during visitors hours. This is the first year the olive harvest is open to visitors and we are spreading the word about fresh, healthful and delicious Texas grown olive oil. It will be hot, both literally and figuratively. Sun protection, hats and boots are suggested.

In addition, the USDA is hosting OLIVE FIELD DAY, an olive agriculture seminar at Texas Olive Ranch September 14. Interested parties should call 830-279-0164 to RSVP for this event. This will ensure your information packet and meal.

Recipe Corner

Carrot Parpardelle w/ Zucchini Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 lb fresh pasta
  
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  
• 1 1/2 lbs zucchini, coarsely shredded
  
• 1/4 cup yogurt or 1/4 cup low-fat sour cream
  
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, I used sharp
  
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
  
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  

Instructions:

Cook pasta in boiling water for about 2-3 minutes. Heat oil, add garlic for about 30 seconds. Add 1/4 of the zucchini; cook on high; stirring to coat with oil. Add rest of zucchini. cook about 3 minutes. Add sour cream and cheddar cheese. Turn off heat while cheese melts.

Toss with pasta. Serve with extra parmesan on top.

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.