Edition 60

December 24, 2009

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

• New- Sea Salt & Soy Sauce, from non-local sources
• Going, going - Pumpkin Tortillas, from Paqui - it's their last week. They've been such a treat
• Not Producing - Goats! turns out they don't like cold. Milk in short supply and Chevre gone for winter
• New - Gluten Free Flours, Brown Rice & Quinoa
• New - Chestnuts & Macadamia Nuts
• New - Non-local Cherries, only for the cherry fanatic. They come from Chile so we say only get em if you can't wait til summer

Volunteer More This Year

Be the hero of your community by actually volunteering to ORGANIZE volunteers. And you're not obligated to tell people how easy it is with www.volunteerspot.com. This awesome website handles all organizing elements of pulling of a professional volunteer event. Tens of thousands of volunteers have already improved their activities & events.

Check out Volunteerspot here

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

Happy Holidays from  Greenling

From Everyone here at Greenling, we wish you a very merry holiday season!

Be Happy, Eat Well, & Change the World

Mason & the Greenling Team

The Forgiveness Basket

Did you forget someone this year? Just didn't have time to get them something nice? Order a gift basket to arrive next week! As it turns out, the local, Italian dinner basket was our biggest hit and is getting rave reviews. Order it here.

Holiday Schedule

Still on an adjusted schedule this week. Everyone's order is being moved up a day and there will be no deliveries on New Year's Day.

Holiday Hams & Roasts

Were a huge hit. We had a prime rib roast that we smoked with One Light Charcoal and it was incredible. Most tender and flavorful prime rib I've ever had. We quickly decided to make this a holiday tradition. We've received feedback that the hams have already blown away some audiences as well and it's still just Christmas Eve. Mark your calendar to get in on these treats next year.

This Week's Box Contents & Local Items

Here's what will be 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 (Dec 28-31):

• Louisiana Scallions - Acadian
• Arugula - Acadian
• Red Radish - My Father's Farm
• Black-eyed Peas, Oak Hill
• Gala Apples - Apple Country
• Collards or Kale - Naegelin
• White Radish - My Father's Farm
• Dill or Curly Parsley - My Father's Farm
• Broccoli or Carrots - Naegelin
• Yellow Onion - Naegelin
• Meyer Lemons - G&S Groves

Last Week's (Dec 21-24) Local Box Video:

In Farmstead & Local Produce Boxes ($49.99) this week (Dec 28-31):

• Moist German Chocolate Cake Muffins - Little Bluestem Bakery
• Restful Blend Tea - Zhi Tea
• World-Famous Grandma's Hummus - The Medit. Chef
• Hand-crafted Potato Chips - Brazos Valley

Gluten-free Farmstead Box:

• No GF farmstead this week

Order Here

Fresh, Prepared Meal Selection for this week:

Dish #1 - Surprise! Apparently they're out for Christmas...(1 pint - serves 1 for lunch) - see website for ingredients this weekend

Dish #2 - Surprise! Apparently they're out for Christmas... (1 pint) - see website for full ingredients this weekend

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
• Red Bok Choy - Acadian
• Gala and Fuji Apples - Top of Texas
• Lettuce, Baby - Animal Farm and My Father's Farm
• Lettuce, Bibb - Bella Verdi
• Tangerines - Orange Blossom
• Meyer Lemons - G&S Groves
• Kale - Naegelin
• Mars Orange - G&S Grove
• Persimmons - Indian Hill Farm
• Cherry Tomatoes - Naegelin
• Grapefruit - G&S Grove
• Green Garlic - Green Gate
• Scallions - Lundgren and Acadian
• Pea Shoots - Bluebonnet
• Watercress - Bluebonnet
• Ayote - Finca Pura
• Red and Green Bell Peppers - My Father's Farm/Walnut Creek

Produce from Local Farms

• Yams - Naegelin
• 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
• Chard - Naegelin
• Tomatoes - Engel Farm
• Red Radish - My Father's Farm
• Collard Greens - Naegelin
• Purple Plum Radish - Millberg
• Watermelon Radish - Ringger
• Mustard Greens - Naegelin

Turkey Raffle Winner

Thanks to everyone who participated. I'm sad we can't give everyone a turkey, but there was only 1. And the winner is..............Sarah Mitchell! She'll have trouble fitting the bird in her oven, but they'll eat well for many meals. Turns out it's a great fit cause Sarah is one of 6 children in her family and they're all in town for the holidays. So she has to prepare a huge feast anyway and Greenling just made it a whole lot easier. Congratulations Sarah! We'll also sponsor a family through Foundation Communities in her name.

Sign The Petition

Back in 2007 the Austin City Council unanimously signed a resolution that Austin would be a leader in Greenhouse Gas reduction and clean energy. There was a big press release, some great speeches, and everyone felt good. At the moment it's looking like it was all just a publicity stunt. I saw Austin Energy COO Cheryl Mele talk about their plans. No mention of the resolution or of how they would decommission Fayetteville Coal Power Plant, the 5th worst polluter in Texas and the source of 70% of Austin's CO2 emissions and over 50% of our power. There's a group of dedicated citizens fighting to hold the City, and Austin Energy (the City owns the utility), to honor their 2007 commitment. Sign the petition asking them to do just that here:

Sign Petition

Recipe Corner

Spicy Lucky Greens

Collard greens & black-eyed peas are considered lucky because of a tradition dating back to the civil war. When the Northern army came pillaging the south they would destroy crops and fields. They didn't know you could eat collard greens or black-eyed peas, though, so they didn't burn these fields. These two crops helped people survive the winter in the south.

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
  
• 1 to 2-pound smoked salt pork (thickly sliced)
  
• 1 onion, halved
  
• 1 quart chicken broth
  
• 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
  
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
  
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  
• 2 pounds fresh collard greens, washed, stems removed and roughly chopped
  
• 6 cloves garlic

Instructions:

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the pork pieces and brown on both sides, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add the onion, cut sides down, and brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the chicken broth. Season with chili flakes, salt, vinegar and garlic powder. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to a simmer. Adjust seasoning, if desired. Add the collard greens and garlic cloves, stir to combine and cover. Cook until greens are tender, approximately 35 to 45 minutes. Remove the onion halves, garlic cloves, pork pieces, for better presentation. Transfer the greens to a serving bowl.
.

Sweet Maple Cornbread

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray
  
• 1 cup cornmeal
  
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
  
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
  
• 4 tablespoons maple syrup
  
• 2 teaspoons salt
  
• 1/4 cup oil
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1 cup milk
  
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened

Instructions:

Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat an 8 by 8-inch baking pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together all the ingredients except the butter and pour into the pan. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the cornbread is lightly golden brown.

Once baked, remove from the oven and brush with butter. Serve immediately.

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.