Edition 43

August 28, 2009

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

• New -Kolaches, Peaches & Cream by Little Bluestem Bakery
• New -Cold Toddy, Ready To Drink, from Summermoon
• New -Sirloin Steaks, from Betsy Ross
• New -Multigrain Bagels, from Little Bluestem Bakery
• New -Tabuleh, the Mediterranean Chef
• New - Mango Kombucha - from GT's, highly requested
• New -Lentil Sprouts - from Groovy Greens
• Gone - Pluots - will substitute with plums
• Gone -Local Blueberries - will substitute with non-local blueberries

Field Trip to a Farm!

Would you like to teach your kid more about where their food comes from? Do you participate in your school's PTA? Why not pitch a farm field trip for your kid's class?

Greenling can help make all the arrangements with the farm. Kids can see their food growing and hear about farming from actual farmers. Just call or email if you think your school would be interested.

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

Shortbread & Flapjacks Rock

"I recieved a box today and had 2 items that I had a chance to try. These were both new to me, and seemed intriguing on the website. Full English Flapjacks, and Full English Wholegrain Shortbread. Both were very good, great taste, and fantastic texture. I will order the items again. I fully endorse both. I think either would be a great accompaniment to a cup of hot tea or coffee if that is your pleasure. They would also make a great breakfast or dessert with a bowl of berries.

Thanks for the great, fresh food items!

Susan D. "

Add Flapjacks or Shortbread to your order here.

Meet Your Greenling Farmer-Heros

Meet the real, hard-working people behind every single piece of yummy local goodness that comes in your basket each week. Ever wonder how they harvest and shell the purple-hull peas? Or when they know a watermelon is ripe and ready to eat? Well, you can contact them directly through Greenling's website. Check out our Meet the Farmers page to get info on many of the farms we work with. At a recent Local Box Workshop Thomas Terry put together this great video on a farmer we've worked with since we started Greenling - Green Gate Farms (opens in a new window):

Chat Us Up!

Now you can reach us even easier with our new Online Chat! Just go to our Contact Us page or visit our Facebook Page and if you see this icon it means we're available to chat with you via IM:

So go ahead, we dare you. You can send us a quick note about a change to your order or if you cut into your melon to find some bad spots. Even if you're just bored at work and feel like chatting with your good friends at Greenling, we're here for you.

Awesome Website Taking Over

For reals. I've announced this I think 3 times now but this time it's true. We have worked out all of the bugs that you found so far in the new site. So....hopefully....this weekend the new site will take over www.greenling.com. Please let us know what you think. You are still free to use the old site, as well, for a limited time, if the new site gives you anymore problems.

This Week's Box Contents & Local Items

More scattered showers this week unevenly give bounty to farmers. Some have received not a drop while some got more than an inch. The record-breaking heat is causing most produce to mature much smaller than usual. Unfortunately, the farmers have to put the same amount of work into a harvest that is sometimes half as big. Show your support for the farmers braving this heat by adding some local produce to your basket or getting a Local Box.

Local blueberries are finally gone. It was a great, long season this year. I guess they liked the heat. We'll miss you blueberries - see you next time.

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 31-Sept 4):

• Okra - Bradshaw Farm
• Yellow Onion - Naegelin
• Crimini Mushrooms - Kitchen Pride
• Red Potatoes - Naegelin
• Long Beans - Animal Farm
• Yellow Squash - Naegelin
• Jalapenos & Serranos - Lundgren Farm
• Lettuce - Bluebonnet
• Microgrens - Bella Verdi
• Basil or Herb - Pure Luck
• Melons - Tecolote

Last Week's (August 21-28) Local Box Video

In Farmstead & Local Produce Boxes ($49.99) this week (August 31-Sept 4):

• Seasoned Nuts - Austin Nuts
• Snack Crackers x2 - Dr. Kracker
• Mozzarella - Brazos Valley
• Trail Mix - Daily Juice

Gluten Free Farmstead

• Seasoned Nuts - Austin Nuts
• Mozzarella - Brazos Valley
• Cookies x3 - Wildwood Bakery
• Trail Mix - Daily Juice

Produce from Local Farms

• Arugula, Baby - Animal Farm
• Herb, Asst - Pure Luck
• Herbs, Basil, Live - Bella Verdi
• Lentil Sprouts - Groovy Greens
• Sunflower Sprouts - Groovy Greens
• Anaheim - Arnold Organics/Lundgren
• Elephant Garlic cloves - Green Gate
• Lettuce, Baby - Animal Farm
• Lettuce, Bibb - Bella Verdi
• New Mexican Chilis - Tecolote
• Red Bell peppers - My Father's Farm
• Okra - Bradshaw Farms
• Parsley - Bluebonnet

Produce from Local Farms

• Limes - G&S Grove
• Microgreens, Arugula - Bella Verdi
• Microgreens, Broccoli - Bella Verdi
• Mushroom, Crimini - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, Portabella - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, Shiitake - Kitchen Pride
• Mushroom, White - Kitchen Pride
• Onion, Yellow - Naegelin
• Potatoes, Red - Naegelin
• Shallots - Lundgren Farm
• Jalapeno - Lundgren
• Serrano - Lundgren
• Eggplant - Ringger

News & Events

Local Food Tasting Soiree

-Today! 7pm

-Rockroom Labs (map)

-FREE

This is the 6th in our series of Soirees where we highlight your best in-season cooking recipes along with some chef-created ones and vote on which are good enough to go in the Greenling Cookbook. This month we have a very special venue as Scott Collier invites us into his Rockroom Experimental Labs where he dreams up and plays with different wine-making methods and grapes. He'll feature some of his best wines and Greenling will bring some beverages too. Kid friendly event, we'll mingle in this awesome wine room and make a few local food creations famous!

-UPDATE - Shane Stark, Executive Chef at Paggi House, will prepare some local goodness for us. Also, Cafe Caffeine will bring some beverages and salsas.

Farm & Food Leadership Conference

-Sept 14-15th,

-San Antonio

-$85

Join us at the Farm and Food Leadership Conference on September 14-15 in San Antonio, TX, for an exciting gathering of non-profit leaders, farmers and ranchers, local foods activists, and consumers. This two-day event will feature speakers on issues critical to both farmers and consumers, including the food safety bills in Congress, genetically modified foods, National Animal ID, organic certification, and more. You will get the latest information about these issues, as well as learning the tools you need to take action effectively. For more information and to register, go to
http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/conference-2009 or call the Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance at 512-243-9404

SXSW Panel Picker

-Before Sept 4th

-Your Computer

-FREE

Every year SXSW lets people submit their ideas for panels to include in the interactive portion of the SXSW festival. Ashley Colpaart, a Sustainable Food leader, has created a panel called 'Blogs, Tweets, & Movies: Fueling the Good Food Movement' and it needs your vote to be included in SXSW 2010. Please take a moment to go vote for it here:

http://tinyurl.com/ashleysxsw

Recipe Corner

Stuffed Zucchini with Ham & Mushrooms

Ingredients:

• 4 medium sized zucchini (at least 1/2 pound each) OR 3 large zucchini (3/4 pound each) OR 1 jumbo zucchini (2 pounds)
• 4 Tbsp butter, divided
• 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
• 10 ounces of fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 cup finely chopped ham
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• Salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste
• 1/3 cup bread crumbs
• 1/3 cup grated Gruyere or Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Wash and scrub the zucchini; split each in half lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds and pulp, leaving shells about 1/3-inch to 1/2-inch thick.

Steam the zucchini halves until almost tender, about 8-12 minutes, depending on the size of the zucchini. While the zucchini is steaming, melt 3 Tbsp of butter in a large sauté pan, add the chopped onions and sliced mushrooms, sauté until soft. Stir in the ham, parsley, Worcestershire sauce. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and cayenne. Pile the stuffing into well-drained zucchini shells.

Mix the bread crumbs and grated cheese together and sprinkle over the stuffed zucchini. Melt 1 Tbsp of butter and drip over the bread crumbs. Place the zucchini boats in a greased baking pan; bake at 350°F until toasted on top and heated through, 20-30 minutes.

Also Check out the Chicken & Sausage Squash Boats on Eating Out of the Local Box:

http://greenlinglocal.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/chicken-sausage-squash-boats/

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