Edition 55

November 20, 2009

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

• New- Lemongrass, locally grown by Millberg farms
• New - Saurkraut, from Straight from the Vine
• New - Gluten Free Miles of Chocolate
• Lotsa - Party Foods, for your holiday feasts - Brazos Valley spreads, Full Quiver cheese balls, Fischer & Weiser sauces over cream cheese, tofu dips & more
• New - Local Broccoli Raab
• New - Nature's Path Variety Pack Instant Oatmeal
• New -Tangerines & Cameo Apples, from local sources
• Coming Soon -Blueberries and Blackberries, from non-local sources for those who can't wait til summer
• Coming Soon - Look for more citrus and apple varieties.

Bird Is The Word

Ok, so we've only got a few really big birds left. If you've waited to the last minute you can either get a big bird (22-26lb) and have left overs or get one of the last half-turkeys that we had them make out of some huge birds (these run 12-14lb). Remember to get your order in early next year.

Website Tip - Have you tried our Live Chat yet? It's a great way to ask us a quick question or just chat with your favorite food fairies

Click here to try it

Get Connected with Your Food

Get on your bike and tour urban farms (some of our vendors) school gardens & more on December 5th. Sample some local goodies & win prizes from Bicycle Sports Shop. It's the kick-off to Eat Local Week (we'll feature more about this next week). Read more about it here.

Thanksgiving Delivery Schedule

We won't be delivering on Thanksgiving day or Friday, Nov 27th. For next week, here's the schedule:

• If you normally receive your order on Tuesday or Wednesday, expect it on Monday (have orders in by Sunday)
• If you normally receive it on Thursday, expect it on Tuesday (have orders in by Sunday)
• If you normally receive it on Friday, expect it on Wednesday (have orders in by Monday)

This is for the week of Thanksgiving, Nov 23-27, only. Thanks for understanding and for getting your changes in a day early.

Think 'Sustainability' This Holiday Season

Does anyone really need more STUFF? I'm sure a few people do, but behavioral psychologists say we're moving to an 'experiential' economy and that with every thing available to us we seek out experiences instead. So, this holiday season give an experience that is also good for the planet! A Greenling Gift Basket! Check out these cool compilations and feel good knowing they're the most environmentally friendly holiday gifts you'll give this year. The baskets are hand-made from sustainable forests in Georgia (the closest we could find), the packing paper is recycled office paper and Chronicles, and many of these baskets have completely local contents:

Rise & Shine Basket

Put a smile on their face and a spring in their step with enough local breakfast items for the whole family with extra to share! Or send to your favorite business contacts to brighten their workday.

Chocolate Overload

How many ways can you enjoy it? With the famous Miles of Chocolate, Fat Turkey, and other local treats with some Dagoba (not local) hot cocoa you'll put someone into chocolate bliss for the whole season.

Wine & Cheese

Already an instant favorite, the Sustainable wine & local, artisan cheese basket will wow anyone.

Beer & Snacks

This all-local basket will get you straight to the heart of any sports fan or beer-drinker. Throw in some spiced nuts and jerky to make it a memorable holiday.

Hot & Spicy

Perfect for anyone who thinks the holiday season is bland. Spice up their day with local sauces, dips & chips.

Italian Dinner

Fresh, local pasta & local sauces with everything you need for dinner? What's not to love. Unique gifts are always the most memorable.

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 (November 23-25):

• Red bok choy - Acadian
• Corn - Home Sweet Farm
• Mixed Beans - Animal Farm
• Shallot Scallions - Lundgren
• Gala Apples - Apple Country
• Lettuce - Acadian Family
• White Mushrooms - Kitchen Pride
• Mixed Greens - Hands of the Earth
• Sweet Potatoes - Naegelin
• Sweet Bell Peppers - My Father's/Yellow Prairie
• Yellow Onion - Naegelin
• Sage or Thyme - Pure Luck

Last Week's (Nov 16-20) Local Box Video:

In Farmstead & Local Produce Boxes ($49.99) this week (November 23-25):

• Cranberry Walnut Bread - Texas French Bread
• Specialty-Spiced Peanuts or Pecans - Austinuts
• 1/4 lb Artisan Cheese - Brazos Valley
• Chocolate-covered Crackers - Dr. Kracker

Gluten-free Farmstead Box:

• Artisan Aged Cheese - Brazos Valley
• Specialty Spiced Peanuts or Pecans - Austinuts
• Breakfast Bread - Wildwood

Order Here

Fresh, Prepared Meal Selection for this week:

*No fresh offerings this week, Sorry

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
• Habanero - Arnold Organics
• Gala Apples - Top of Texas
• Lettuce, Baby - Animal Farm
• Lettuce, Bibb - Bella Verdi
• Green Beans - Animal Farm/Lightsey
• Tangerines - Orange Blossom
• Meyer Lemons - G&S Groves
• Okra - Bradshaw Farms
• Mars Orange - G&S Grove
• Persimmons - Indian Hill Farm
• Corn - HomeSweetFarm
• Grapefruit - G&S Grove
• Pea Shoots - Bluebonnet
• Watercress - Bluebonnet
• Butternut and Acorn Squash - Massey Farm
• Red and Green Bell Peppers - My Father's Farm/Walnut Creek

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, Red - Naegelin
• Potatoes, Sweet -Naegelin
• Onion, Yellow - Naegelin
• Potatoes, Red - Naegelin
• Shallots - Lundgren Farm
• Jalapeno - Lundgren
• Serrano - Lundgren
• Eggplant - Naegelin
• Pickling Cucumbers - Naegelin
• Red Radish - My Father's Farm
• Collard Greens - Naegelin
• Purple Plum Radish - Millberg
• Lemongrass - Millberg
• Watermelon Radish - Ringger
• Mustard Greens - Naegelin

Holiday Soiree Scheduled

Mark your calendars for December 11th. That Friday is when you'll bring your best holiday dishes & get into the Greenling seasonal cookbook. Venue TBD - know a place or want to host? Give us a rin.

Last Week to Donate to Operation Turkey

We were touched, and a little surprised at how quickly you responded to the call for donations. The newsletter announcing it went out last Friday around 10:30am and our delivery drivers started finding things in the bins around 1pm. They didn't know about the program yet, so if your donations got left back on your porch, that's why. We'll get them this week. Here's what they need donated (used clothes is fine, but new toiletries, please):

• Clothing for men
• Clothing for women
• Clothing for kids
• Blankets
• Jackets
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrushes
• Deodorant
• Soap
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Razors and shaving cream

We're up to some other really cool things with Operation Turkey. Come out for the Turkey Tailgate on Wednesday, Nov 25th from 3pm on to help smoke turkeys for the next day, drop off donations, & hangout with Greenling & the OT gang. Then volunteer in the morning on Thanksgiving and help feed over 4000ppl.

Sponsor a bird! You can also feed people directly by sponsoring one of our birds to give to Operation Turkey. Spend an extra $100 sponsoring a large pastured turkey and feed up to 50 people! Just email Jessica to let her know you're interested.

Join Greenling's Kiva Team

Our team is off to a great start! We've had 8ppl join and 9 loans so far. Remember that every loan should come back to you and you can re-loan it out. The benefit of the team is that we can join in on loans, making an impact together, and we can find loans specifically related to sustainable agriculture. If one person finds an agriculture loan we can all jump in and make it happen quicker. Join our team here.

Thanks Austin for Voting Greenling 'Best Place to Buy Fresh Fruits & Veggies' for the 2nd year!

The last 2 years we have been honored to win this Statesman reader's poll. Thanks so much for all of your votes! We're happy to be Austin's favorite place to get local and organic goodness. We'll high-five each other and then get back to the business of making sure we always deliver on these awards by bringing you only the best of the best. See Michael Barnes' commentary on the poll here. Austin Farmer's Market came in a fairly close second, but we completely blew away every grocery store in town.

Recipe Corner

Rice Stuffing

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sausage or bacon drippings
• 1/2 pound chicken or turkey gizzards, skins removed, ground
• 1/2 pound bulk-style Richardson pork sausage
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 shallot scallions (including tops), chopped
• 2 tablespoons minced parsley, preferably flat leaf
• 1 large bay leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon Kala's Curry Hot sauce
• Salt, to taste
• 1 1/2 cup beef broth
• 2 cups cooked Texmati white rice

Instructions:

Melt drippings in a heavy 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add ground gizzards and sausage.

Cook, stirring often, until meats are lightly browned (about 10 minutes). Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, scallions, parsley, bay leaf, black pepper, Hot sauce and salt. Cook, stirring often, until vegetables are wilted and onion is transparent (about 15 minutes).

Add broth; stir to blend. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat so that liquid barely simmers. Cover and cook until mixture is thick and vegetables are mushy, about 20 minutes.

Stir in rice and combine well. Cook just until rice is heated through; discard bay leaf. Serve hot.

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.