Fall is the easiest time of year to write about eating the season, especially in our neck of the woods. Read on for highlights on a few varieties of fresh foods found plentifully in our area and seize the day by trying one of the suggested recipes below. Here we go! Apples Okay,
Whether you’re cutting back on beef burgers for health, cost, ethics, or just plain boredom, diving into the world of veggie burgers can be a total adventure. New flavors! Different textures! Veggie burgers offer so much room to experiment and explore. Below are our top five favorite vegetable-based burgers. Jamaican Bean Burgers A
We are so ready for grilling season, how ’bout you? If you’re ready to cook and relax outside, here are some of our summer favorite recipes to help you grill and chill!
A mushroom is a perfect food for smoking, since it is porous and spongy by nature. The meaty portobello will shrink and become intensely concentrated as it cooks. Just be careful that you don’t overcook.
Slightly spicy, slightly sweet blueberry barbecue sauce is a surprising but delicious complement to pork chops!
Add eye appeal to your salad with a colorful mix of red, blue and white new potatoes, drizzled with a light vinaigrette. Meat, fish or tofu done with a white or red balsamic marinade or glaze will bring a sweeter contrast to your meal.
Tangy and sweet, this festive salad is great for potlucks, picnics or dinner anytime.
Blanching the broccoli and carrots preserves the flavors and health benefits in this bright and tasty salad.
It’s amazing how delicious seasonal, organic vegetables can be with a splash of olive oil and a dash of sea salt when they are caramelized over a bed of bright red coals (or your glistening gas grill!).
Grilled and slightly caramelized marinated vegetables and nutty couscous combine in this delicious Mediterranean salad.
Tofu is like a sponge, soaking up smoke and getting firmer and denser as it sits on the grill. Just keep it on the cool side of the grill and give it plenty of time to get nice and smoky.
Crunchy cornmeal on the outside and Southwestern flavors on the inside, these bean burgers please all kinds of eaters.
Topped with a basil, mint mayonnaise, this is flavorful recipe is a great way to change up your burger.
Mother’s Day is coming right up…have you found the perfect gift for Mom yet? If not, here are some quick and easy Mother’s Day gift ideas you can snag right here at the Co-op. Pampering Products – Bubble baths, soaps, and lotions make perfect pampering presents. Gather a few different kinds together and put them
Got errands to run and want to skip grocery shopping? Spend a few minutes picking you products and we’ll take care of the rest! Online ordering is now available at Chequamegon Food Co-op. Orders will be available for pickup Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. Simply head over to shop.chequamegonfoodcoop.com to get started. SPECIAL OFFER:
If your menu seems to always have the same rotating list of meal options, maybe it’s time to expand your palate. But how? Here are some more unusual foods that maybe haven’t made it to your grocery list yet and some suggestions on how to prepare them. Quinoa – Quinoa is a seed although it is
Looking for local, unique, and flavorful gifts that will delight, inspire, and nourish body and soul? Create a special gift basket for friends, family, and co-workers by choosing a selection of items that they will enjoy. Customization is key The key to creating a thoughtful gift that will truly be appreciated is understanding your recipient.
No matter what holiday you’re celebrating, ’tis the season of giving. And when you buy gifts that have been made locally, you give not only to your loved one, but also to your community. That’s because for every $100 spent locally, an additional $45 of secondary spending is generated. Compare this to only $14 in secondary spending when you buy from non-local businesses and you can see just how huge buying local can be! But enough of the serious stuff, let’s get down to the business of giving. Here are 10 ideas from local artisans and food businesses that would make perfect gifts to give this season.
Jams & Jellies – We offer an assortment of locally made jams and jellies from Bayfield Apple Company and Northwind Organic Farm, both in Bayfield, Wisconsin. Whether you choose traditional raspberry or the more unusual aronia berry or find some other flavor, local jams and jellies make sweet gifts.
Leather Kids’ Shoes – Are there expectant parents on your gift-giving list? Check out SoleKicks handmade leather shoes for babies and toddlers, made right here in Ashland, Wisconsin. They come in a variety of designs and color combos, from green and blue Lake Superior to red and purple birds.
Towels & Tees – Lake Superior and other peaceful images are printed on a variety of soft, durable fabrics by Three Sisters Studio in Bayfield, Wisconsin. For the cook, grab a tea towel from the household section. For the fashionista, grab a shirt from our clothing rack. Bonus: These images are also printed on leggings, child onesies, and sweatshirts!
Heat Therapy Bags – Anyone would love a CrampAid Cozy heat therapy pack for relief from aching joints or muscle pain. Handmade in Ashland, Wisconsin by Luci Daum Designs, these fabric bags come in lots of fun colors and easily heat up in the microwave.
Soap – You’ll find a wide variety of scents on our Local Soap shelf from Sweet Pea Soapery (Mason, Wisconsin), Maple Hill Farm (Washburn, Wisconsin), Buzz & Suds (Ashland, Wisconsin), Lake Superior Lather (Bayfield, Wisconsin), and Twin Oaks (Bayfield, Wisconsin). The Lake Superior soap from Buzz & Suds makes a great stocking stuffer for someone who loves the lake.
Candles – Local beeswax candles from Northern Nectar in Mason, Wisconsin come in many sizes and colors. You can even buy their local beeswax blocks for your own DIY projects. Speaking of beeswax, we also have Sean’s Bees beeswax candles from Highbridge, Wisconsin in a variety of calming scents. Wickie Candle Company in Bayfield, Wisconsin makes lovely scented candles in tins. Give the scent of Oak Island Trail to a summer visitor now far away!
Dessert Sauces – Lotta’s Small Batch in Bayfield, Wisconsin makes sumptuous sauces (in Bourbon Espresso and Butterscotch flavors). They make awesome sundaes, but take cake to the next level too!
Teething Toys – For the little one on your list, Sogg E. Bear Cub organic cotton teething bears have been a customer favorite for years. Made in Bayfield, Wisconsin, they continue to be the perfect gift for babies cutting teeth.
Dog Treats – Treat your pup to Racey’s Tasty Dog Treats. Made in Bayfield, Wisconsin, these biscuits come in two flavors (one is even gluten-free) and make a great gift for the pet in your family or the dog lover on your list.
Lotions – If you have someone to pamper on your list, try Best Body Butter from So-She Organics in Bayfield, Wisconsin or one of the solid lotion bars from Sweet Pea Soapery or Buzz & Suds. Lea’s Organic Herbal Skin Care in Washburn, Wisconsin makes face products and herbal salve that make wonderful stocking stuffers.
Still stuck for ideas? There’s lots more in the store, so stop in and ask Co-op staff for recommendations for local gifts.
Thanksgiving is coming up faster than you can shake a drumstick, so it’s time to rustle up some menu ideas. Whether you are looking for traditional foods or unique takes on your favorites, you’ll find lots of Thanksgiving dinner inspiration here. Keep it simple, but flavorful, by adding these holiday recipes to your menu.
This week only, it’s our Incredible Bulk Sale, where you can save 15% off your bulk purchase!* If you’ve always skipped the bulk aisle (or just need a refresher), here are 10 foods (and non-foods) you can buy in bulk to save big bucks. Bonus? We’ve included recipes to help get you cooking using bulk
We all want to feel good about our food choices, and buying produce from a local farmer makes it easy. But what about food that comes from afar? In some communities around the world, impoverished workers are paid low wages while their land is depleted by industrial agriculture. Luckily, the Fair Trade Certified label can
Want to enjoy the most healthful food—like local, organic fruits and vegetables—year round? Preserving the bounty you’ve grown yourself or purchased from your local food co-op or farmer’s market makes it possible. And for those who live where the growing season is relatively short, it’s great way to extend the season. Simple food preservation techniques can lock in flavor, help maximize your food dollars, support local agriculture, and give you a chance to really get to know the food you eat and serve to your family.
Putting up jewel-toned jars of pickled beets and brandied peaches may be what comes to mind when you think “food preservation,” and canning has become popular across generations, with plenty of unique recipes that appeal to a range palettes. But canning isn’t all there is. Other simple ways to preserve local and seasonal foods include drying, freezing, curing, pickling and even cellaring (yes, putting your food in a root cellar; grandma did know best, didn’t she?)
For beginners, dehydrating and freezing foods are a snap—and no special equipment is required.
When it comes to nutritious preserved foods, freezing is second only to fresh foods. While freezing can affect the texture of some foods, most vegetables, fruits, meats, soups, and even herbs can easily be frozen in airtight containers for use all year long. The key is to start with cold foods so that the time it takes for them to freeze is very short. This minimizes ice crystals and preserves the color, texture, and taste of your foods.
Try freezing cold berries or chopped vegetables in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag or Mason jar for storage. You’ll be able to pluck a single berry or measure 2 cups worth from the container without defrosting the entire batch.
Fresh herbs, like basil, thyme, mint, and chives, can be snipped into measured teaspoons or tablespoons and frozen in ice-cube trays topped up with water. Stored in a bag in your freezer, they’re recipe-ready almost instantly.
And remember: a full freezer is an efficient freezer, so don’t be shy about filling it up!
Did you know? Nuts, seeds, and whole grains can be stored in the freezer to extend their shelf life and prevent spoilage.
Dehydrating foods is a simple and easy way to keep vegetables, fruits, and even meats stored away until you are ready to use them. Drying preserves foods by taking all the moisture away; without moisture, bacteria cannot grow and your foods stay delicious for months—even years. While there are plenty of dehydrators available, many recipes are possible using a regular home oven.
Fresh herbs can be dried in a microwave or just hanging from your ceiling! The best thing about drying is that it uses very little energy, and the preserved foods are lightweight—easy to store and transport (perfect for camping!).
Did you know? Dipping fruit slices in pineapple or citrus juice before drying can preserve their color and prevent browning. It’s delicious, too!
Home cooks have been preserving food in jars for centuries, and these days we have plenty of resources to do so safely and with confidence. Canning does require some special equipment, available at many co-ops and hardware stores, and recipes designed and tested for safety. After the initial investment in jars, a canner, and a few accessories, the expenses are minimal and the results can be phenomenal. Canned goods go far beyond the usual tomatoes and green beans. Modern canning recipes allow you to create unique and memorable foods for gifting or for enjoying yourself.
Did you know? Home-canned goods should be used within a year for optimal quality, but are safe for much longer, as long as safe canning methods were used.
Fermentation brings us some of our favorite foods: cheese, yogurt, beer, wine, pickles, and even chocolate. Nearly every culture in the world makes use of the natural preservative effects of fermentation. Fermentation works by transforming the natural sugars in foods into tart and flavorful foods that tend to resist spoilage at cool temperatures.
Fermentation is made possible by the action of beneficial bacteria— the same bacteria that keep our immune and digestive systems healthy. So fermented foods are not only practical, they also deliver a healthy dose of probiotics. Another benefit of fermentation is that no special equipment is required. You can get started with as little as a knife, a cabbage, and some sea salt, and couple of weeks later you’ll be enjoying sauerkraut!
Did you know? Every ferment is unique because of the bacteria and yeasts that are naturally present in the air and foods in that region. The same recipe can taste different across the globe!
Check out these recipes for Freezer Pesto and Oven-Dried Tomatoes from Liz McMann of National Co+op Grocers.
The Canning Across America and National Center for Home Food Preservation websites contain a wealth of information. Also, your local agricultural extension agent and neighborhood co-op are good sources for written information and classes to help you can, cure, freeze, pickle and dry this season’s abundance.
Republished with permission from strongertogether.coop.