Edition 212

December 31, 2010

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

• New - Pizza Crust, by Rustic Crust (the best pre-cooked, organic crust available)
• New -Condensed Cream Soups, for quick winter meals, by Pacific Foods
• New -Water Crackers, Nutmeg, Coconut Aminos, by request to complete your recipes from non-local sources
• Gone for a bit -Chevre, from Pure Luck - the girls need to rest for the winter so no milk production
• Gone for the Week -Local Corn Chips, they have been busy bringing a new little chipmaker into the world
• Gone for the week -Full Quiver items, the family stayed home for New Year's instead of coming to Austin
• Did ya notice? -Meat cuts by the pound, we'll be expanding this to more meats so you pay exactly what the cut weighs instead of an estimation. Item unit is listed as lb/package which means it's weighed when packed and price-adjusted

Greenling Recipe Baskets

Wondering what they look like? Want to make sure you get directions with it? Check out this short video featuring our most popular recipe basket, the Asian Lettuce Wraps (15-minute awesome meal with no waste).

Recipe Basket Video

Bin Etiquette

Since you do hold onto our bins between deliveries we get asked occasionally what's ok to do with them. Here's a quick guide:

Ok To Do With Greenling Bin Until You Put it Back Out For Us:

--Make sure we get it back the next delivery (sorry, just had to say it again)

--Use it as a table (keep it clean)

--Take the shredded paper out and play with it

--Show your neighbors how cool it is

--Wine holder

--Centerpiece

--Recycle the ice bottles (but you can also leave them in and we'll use them again)

What Not To Do:

--Litterbox

--Trashcan

--Repurpose as storage bin (we have others we can sell you for that)

--Please don't leave outside uncovered in the elements

--Pet carrier

--Firewood

--Luggage

--Purse

--Stool, chair

--Water pitcher

--Please don't repurpose the silver cooler bags, we need those back too

It's All About The French Paradox, Part 1

Ever heard of the french paradox? According to american doctors and western logic, the french have one of the worst diets in the world. Lots of fats and cream; butter on everything; decadent desserts, oils, and so much wine. Supposedly horrible diet. Yet, by most measurements they're healthier than we Americans.

Now that's what you call a paradox. Maybe we need to forget our low-fat diets this year and reset what 'healthy' means. 30 years of official and professional advice on eating has just made us sicker and fatter. Maybe we should eat high-quality (a.k.a. inherently nutritious) food all the time, in smaller portions, and not worry about much else. Keep your probiotics, but throw away those super-vitamins that will supposedly make you beautiful, live forever and dance better. That's the french secret, I think - high-quality food. The more nutritious the food we eat the less we need to eat and the less food our body craves. So eat whatever you want this year, just not too much and make sure it's the best (local and/or organic). It should be noted the french know it costs more to eat quality food. Even though they eat smaller quantities, they spend 50% more on food relative to Americans (14% of income compared to 9% in US). Enjoy good food, it's good for you! Next week - tips on what high-quality, nutritious food looks like.

Not In The Office Monday Jan 3 until 2pm

Greenling will be having a company-wide meeting to figure out how to serve you better in 2011. We'll respond to emails, calls when we return in the afternoon. Thanks!

This Week's Box Contents & Local Items

Lots of winter variety in the coming weeks. From cabbage and carrots last week to cauliflower & turnips this week, we're seeing some tasty treats coming out of the fields as farmers recover from the frosts.

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 (Jan 3-7):

• Grapefruit - G&S
  
• Green Onions - Naegelin
  
• Oriental Turnips - Acadian
  
• Supergreens (mustard or kale) - Naegelin
  
• Daikon Radish - My Father's Farm
  
• Purple Mizuna - My Father's Farm
  
• Cauliflower - J&B
• Apples - Apple Country
• Cilantro - Acadian
• Crimini Mushrooms - Kitchen Pride

Suggested recipes for all items will be included with the Local Box

Last Week's (Dec 27-31) Local Box Video:

In Farmstead Boxes this week:

• Chimichuri - My Father's Farm
  
• Ciabatta Rolls - Sweetish Hill
• English Flapjacks - Full English

Order Here

Fresh, Prepared Meal Selection for this week:

No Dish this week

Produce from Local Farms

• Arugula- Acadian or Naegelin
  
• Baby Arugula - Animal Farm
  
• Basil, Live- BellaVerdi
  
• Butternut Squash - Gunderman
• Bok Choy - Naegelin
• Cabbage, Green - Naegelin
  
• Herbs- Pure Luck
  
• Green Beans- J&B Farm
• Greens, Collard-Naegelin
  
• Green Garlic - Ringger Family, Green Gate
  
• Kale - Naegelin
• Multi Colored Carrot Bunches-Animal Farm
  
• Meyer Lemons - G&S Grove
  
• Microgreens- BellaVerdi
  
• Mushroom, Crimini- Kitchen Pride
  
• Mushroom, Shiitake- Kitchen Pride
  
• Mushroom, Port caps- Kitchen Pride
  
• Mushroom, White- Kitchen Prid

Produce from Local Farms

• Peppers, Sweet Italian - Lundgren
  
• Lettuce Mixes - Austin Organics
• Onion, Yellow - Naegelin
  
• Peppers, Bell Assorted - Juan
  
• Peppers, Mixed Hot - Lundgren
  
• Peppers, Banana -Rim Rock
  
• Peppers, Serrano - Lungren
  
• Peppers, Cayenne - Lundgren
  
• Sweet Potatoes - Naegelin, Gungerman
  
• Sprouts, All- Groovy Greens
  
• Tomato, Green - Green Gate
  
• Watercress - Bluebonnet
  
• Apples – Apple Country
  
• Grapefruit - G&S Grove
  
• Limes - G&S Grove
  
• Mars Oranges - G&S Grove
  
• Persimmons - Indian Hill

Events & Local Food Happenings Around Town

Looks like January will shape up to start the year right with local food events, but until then enjoy the time with family and friends. Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!

Recipe Corner

Kickin' Collard Greens

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
  
• 3 slices bacon
  
• 1 large onion, chopped
  
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
  
• 1 teaspoon salt
  
• 1 teaspoon pepper
  
• 3 cups chicken broth
  
• 1 pinch red pepper flakes
  
• 1 pound fresh collard greens, cut into 2-inch pieces

Instructions:

Directions:

Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add bacon, and cook until crisp. Remove bacon from pan, crumble and return to the pan. Add onion, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, and cook until just fragrant. Add collard greens, and fry until they start to wilt.

Pour in chicken broth, and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes, or until greens are tender.

Creole Black-eyed Peas

Ingredients:

• 1 pound lean ground beef
  
• 2 small onions, chopped
  
• 1 cup chopped green bell pepper
  
• 1 cup long grain white rice
  
• 2 cups water
  
• 1 tablespoon Creole seasoning
  
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  
• 2 (15.5 ounce) cans black-eyed peas, drained

Instructions:

Directions:

Crumble the ground beef into a deep skillet or large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onions and green pepper. Cook and stir until beef is evenly browned. Drain the grease.

Add the rice and water to the pan, and season with Creole seasoning, pepper, and garlic powder. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 30 minutes, until the water is absorbed. About halfway through cooking the rice, stir in the black-eyed peas.

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 Steph Cooks & The Austin Gastronomist food bloggers.

Psst....Thanks For Telling Your Friends

 

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.