700 Main Street West, Ashland, WI 54806. | Open Daily - 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.

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Simple Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

Our mother’s have given us so much, it’s nice to give back to them especially on special occasions like Mother’s Day. But finding the right gift can be tricky and downright overwhelming. Chequamegon Food Co-op to the rescue! Here are some simple Mother’s Day gift ideas to help you treat Mom on her special day.

 

  • An owner share – Give the gift of ownership in the Co-op. You can purchase an owner share with an initial payment of just $25.
    • Books – Whether your mother likes to cook or garden, we have a number of helpful books.

    Bubble baths and soap – Help mom relax with a mildly scented bubble bath and luxurious, locally made soaps. Lavender in particular helps promote relaxation, but we have a variety of scents to choose from.

  • Chocolates – Whether she likes straight up chocolate or loves to mix it up with berries, nuts, or even caramel, fair trade, organic chocolate is a sweet treat for your mom. Look for tasty flavors from Equal Exchange, Endangered Species, Divine, Green & Black’s, and Chocolove.
  • Fair trade & local flowers – A beautiful bouquet will brighten Mom’s day. Help them stay fresher for longer by adding 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of bleach to one quart of water. Change water daily. If she likes to garden, grab some heirloom flower seeds from Seed Savers Exchange.
    • Gardening Gear – If mom likes to putter in the garden, grab her some gloves or a wide-brim hat.
    • Gift Basket – We have a large selection of fair trade African market baskets that you can load up with all sorts of other goodies. Tie on a nice bow and you’re set.
    • Gift cards – Buy a gift card for any dollar amount and your mom can pick her own gift. Bonus: They are always the right size!
    • Hot/Cold Therapy Bags – Therapy bags can be put into the freezer or microwave. Available in a variety of fun fabrics, they make a great gift to ease aches and pains.
    • Mugs – Whether Mom likes coffee or tea, we have a variety of ceramic and travel mugs to hold the beverage of her choice.
    • Skin Care Products – We carry a wide variety of natural lotions and lip balms. Put together a small bag of skin care products to help Mom pamper her skin.

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Slàinte! Healthy Eats for St. Patrick’s Day

Whether you’re Irish or not, it’s always fun to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Traditional Irish foods can be heavy and laden with fat, so it can be hard to eat lighter and still celebrate this holiday. To help you plan your menu, here are a selection of healthy eats with Irish staples that include cabbage, corned beef, and potatoes, along with a fine selection of delicious green dishes.

 

Irish-ish Dishes

Not necessarily traditionally, these recipes still give a nod to the classics with a bit of a modern flare.

Stuffed Cabbage Rolls with Beef – You can make these filling rolls ahead of time and freeze some for later.

Reuben Sandwich with Russian Dressing – If you love a classic reuben, you’ll be happy to know we have corned beef in stock.

Irish Bangers and Mash – Sausage (bangers) and mashed potatoes make a heart, simple meal.

Irish Soda Bread – This quick bread marries savory (caraway) with sweet (raisins). Simple and delicious!

Shepherd’s Pie, Lightened Up – This dish is usually heavy and calorie-filled, but here’s a recipe that lighten’s it up without sacrificing flavor.

Colcannon – Ditch the dairy in this lighter version of the cabbage and potatoes dish.

 

Green Goodness

If you’d simply like to eat something green to commemorate the holiday, these recipes are for you.

Creamy Kale and Pea Soup – Sweep peas lend their creaminess to this fresh-flavored soup.

Green Pizza – Skip the tomato sauce and pour on the green with this veggie-topped pizza.

Orange Glazed Brussels Sprouts – These little cabbage balls are a fun way to acknowledge the Irish history of St. Patrick’s Day and the citrusy glaze adds a nice light flavor.

Spinach and Almond-Stuff Portobello Mushrooms – Serve these cute portobellos with a simple salad for a light, but filling meal.

Avocado Smoothie – Start your day with a bit o’ green by whipping up this rich, sweet drink.

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Brie Mine: 5 Delicious Ideas for Your Valentine

Chocolate usually gets all the glory when it comes to Valentine’s Day, so we thought it would be fun to look at other ways to share your love. Here are five delicious ideas for treating your sweetie that also happen to be natural aphrodisiacs: Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies – Cranberries offer high levels of vitamins A and

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Simple Holiday Appetizers – Local-Style!

Appetizers, Local-Style While most fresh fruits and veggies come from outside the area as winter settles in, we still get to enjoy an abundance of local foods. With holiday gatherings bringing us together around our shared love of food, here are some ideas for appetizers made using local ingredients. Many of these recipes require five

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Tasteful Homemade Gifts

Sure, there are lots of cool electronic gadgets and swanky thingamabobs you could give your loved ones. But if you’re looking for something a little different to show you care this holiday season, try making these tasteful (and tasty) homemade gifts. Warm their hearts and fill their bellies with something from your kitchen. Gifts in

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A Very Local Holiday: Open House & Bazaar

We’re making it easy to shop local for the holidays! Stop in to find gifts made by local artisans and food businesses. We’ll be joined by: Wild Hollow Farm Party in my Pants Lake Superior CSA The Garlic Man Hermit Creek Farm Big Water Coffee SoleKicks And more local businesses! Plus, shop that day and

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Give Your Holiday Meal a Makeover

A celebratory dinner should be exactly that: a time to share delicious food with family and friends. While many people wish to serve traditional family favorites, for most, there’s still plenty of room to liven up your holidays with a few new flavors, local foods, and even nutritional boosters. Here are some ideas for making your holiday meals fresh, easy, and fun.

Try something different with your turkey this year. Add citrus (lemon, lime, or orange) to your rub. Spice things up with hot pepper flakes or cayenne. If you need some pointers for cooking your bird, check out these turkey roasting tips.

  • Give that classic green bean casserole a makeover with fresh green beans, a spritz of lemon, and a topping of toasted pine nuts. Boost the cranberry sauce with a handful of fresh or dried fruit and a dash of cayenne. Use brown rice or quinoa as the basis for your turkey-day stuffing this year, and toss in some walnuts and chopped local apples.
  • Instantly transform the typical fare with seasonings: spice your eggnog with cardamom instead of (or as well as) cinnamon this year, and sprinkle tarragon on plain mashed potatoes. Or add some festive flavors to an otherwise ordinary recipe, like theseEggnog Spiced Sugar Cookies.
  • Make gravy like Grandma (or your favorite cooking show chef) if you like, but don’t feel obligated! There are some top-notch, healthful cooking mixes available that are especially helpful this time of year. You’ll find delicious, organic gravy mixes, dessert mixes, and seasoning blends for salad dressings and dips at your co-op.
  • Bring the unexpected to the table by adding an entirely new recipe or two to this year’s menu. Sweet Potato, Red Onion & Fontina Tart or a Winter Squash Risotto are two great options that use seasonal vegetables in new combinations. Focus on just one or two “special” dishes to complement your main course—especially if you’re serving appetizers, a couple delicious sides are all you really need and will allow you to spend more time with your guests.
  • Great dishes needn’t be complicated made-from-scratch recipes, either. Purchase some strikingly flavorful, easy-to-prepare foods to serve alongside the usual. A plate of Brie with Orange Preserves and Almonds would be a memorable addition to any menu.
  • Unless you adore kitchen duty, never refuse a guest’s offer to bring food — and remember you can count on your grocery store for prepared foods, too.  Visit the bakery department for lovely desserts (you may want to order pies, cheesecakes, and other specific favorites ahead of time). While you’re there, choose some cranberry date scones or pumpkin pecan muffins to treat family and/or guests to special breakfast fare. You may even consider picking up a couple of extra quick breads to give as gifts!
  • If you’ll be hosting guests for more than just the main meal, look to the deli for speedy main course items and sides (like lasagna, smoked salmon, wheatberry salad, golden beet and kale salad, or roasted root vegetables).
  • Don’t forget to stock up on some local wine and beer, too. Pair a good beverage with an array of cheeses or cookies for an instant party when unexpected guests arrive!

It takes just a little planning and a good source for great food to pull off a wonderful holiday meal—something full of tradition, genuine nourishment, and good will.

 

Republished with permission from strongertogether.coop.

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