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- Out - edible Austin, Summer edition. Look for Fall edition first of September
- 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 & Okra, from local sources, taste the freshness. Just a little oil in a skillet and these burst with flavor
Browse these items here |
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The Expiration Date Myth
“Expiration dates” often say nothing about when your food actually expires, according to food writer Nadia Arumugam whose recent piece for Slate Magazine talked about the fallacy of following these dates.
Arumugam spoke with several food scientists and food manufacturers and came to the conclusion that expiration dates are more useful as indicators of food’s optimum taste, rather than its safety. And sometimes it's neither...just guessed at and included because it's required.
What actually matters are the conditions that you store your food under, and your own human instincts – if your food smells and looks abnormal – are a more tell-tale sign as to whether or not it is safe to eat.
So, before you toss your food the day it hits its “expiration date” check to see if it looks and smells okay.
In the US we waste 40% of the perfectly edible food we buy.
Read the rest of the article from Earth Eats
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Austin: (512) 440-8449
San Antonio: (210) 805-1919
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Johnny Would Be Proud
 Just a few years ago there was no such thing as local apples. At the very least apples usually conjure images of a crisp fall day. Well, my friend, hold onto your mouse...this year's weather has brought us many surprises and the latest one is early-season local apples. I completely expect at least one call saying 'Um, so the Local Box isn't all local now, huh?' It is! We promise. Kim & Jacque McBride of Bat Creek Farm in Bertram, TX, just 45 miles from Austin and 111 from SA, have been perfecting their apple orchard with several varieties. One of the best is their Gala apple. The Texas heat has them maturing fairly small, which we think is perfect! These are crisp, sweet, and perfect size for school lunch boxes or a mid-day snack. As long as the weather holds, we expect these to last far into the fall.
Psst...If You Missed It, We Now Have Fresh Pasta
Ok, so you went Ku-raaaa-zeeee for our new fresh pasta. So crazy, that we were scrambling like pastured eggs in the skillet trying to get enough to feed your appetite. We had to use several flavors just to get enough. We're all prepared now with consistent supply so add fresh pasta to your order.
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This Week's Box Contents & Local Items |
Notice no okra? We're alternating weeks for all those that aren't used to a long summer of okra. There are a million uses for it and it's a nutritional powerhouse, but alas, it's just not the most popular little guy.
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 23-27):
- Green Bell Peppers - My Father's Farm
- Butternut Squash - Massey
- Peaches - Caskey
- Limes or Lemons - G&S
- Basil or Chives - Various
- Italian Cucumbers - Tecolote
- Eggplant - Animal Farm
- Gala Apples - Bat Creek
- Arugula or Lettuce - Bluebonnet
- Blueberries - Berry Best
- Fresh Peas - Just Peachy
Order Here |
Last Week's (Aug 16-20) Local Box Video:
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In Farmstead Boxes this week, a Mediterranean escape:
- Authentic Pita Bread - Med Chef
- Sweet & Decadent Baklav - Med Chef
- Babaganush - Med Chef
Order Here
Fresh, Prepared Meal Selection for this week:
Dish #1 - Carrot Salad w/ Fennel, Beet, Pecans, Pumpkin Seeds & Golden Raisins(1 pint - serves 1 for lunch) - You could call this a slaw, but don't expect a limp, mayonnaise-laden cup of cabbage. This is a celebration of the fine carrots we've been sourcing from Johnson's Backyard Garden. Thin ribbons of carrots are mixed with sliced fennel, shaved beets, toasted almonds, pumpkin seeds and plump golden raisins, then tossed in a tangy-yet-sweet vinaigrette to marinade in.
-Ingredients: carrot, organic fennel, beet, almond, pumpkin seed, raisin, sherry vinegar, rice vinegar, lemon, canola oil, honey, ginger, garlic, herbs, spices, salt, pepper
Dish #2 - Spaghetti Aglio Olio w/ Julienned Squash(1 pint) - In Italy, this dish is often reserved for quiet family meals at home because of it's humble nature, but we think the beauty is in it's simplicity. Our handmade spaghetti is sauteed in garlic oil with thin ribbons of fresh summer squash, herbs & pepper flakes and topped with Parmigianno. A truly elegant pasta dish that is perfectly portioned for lunch, but also great as a light pasta side dish.
-Ingredients: olive oil, garlic, red pepper, herbs, parmesan, canola oil, salt, pepper pasta: organic flour, organic eggs, organic olive oil, sea salt
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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
Order Here |
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
Order Here |
Events & Local Food Happenings Around Town
Greenling Tasting Soiree
-August 21st, 6pm
-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/
16th Annual Sweet Sorghum Festival
-Sept 6, 10am-5pm
-FREE
-Homestead Heritage Farm(map)
Homestead Heritage invites you to visit their sorghum mill at Brazos de Dios and watch as they make sweet sorghum syrup—from pressing the raw cane with their horse-powered mill to cooking the juice into rich, golden brown syrup.
Learn more 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.
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.
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Recipe Corner
Butternut Squash, Apple, & Onion Gratin
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pinch cinnamon
- 1 butternut squash - peeled, seeded and sliced
- 4 apples - peeled, cored and sliced
- 1/2 sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
- 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350. Spray 9- x 11-inch glass baking pan with cooking spray.
Place flour, salt, and cinnamon into a large plastic bag. Add squash, apples, and onions; shake until lightly dusted.
In glass dish, layer 1/2 of squash, apples, and sweet onion. Pour 1/2 cup chicken stock over the top, then sprinkle 1/2 of cheese. Layer with remaining squash, apple, and onions. Pour remaining chicken stock over the top, and cover with foil.
Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes.
Take out and sprinkle with bacon crumbles and remaining cheese. Return, uncovered, to oven; bake for another 5 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
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.
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.
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