Friday Finds: December 8, 2017

Take a look at what's new at the Co-op. 

Treeline Dairy Free Cheese

Treeline Cheese is totally dairy-free. It is made of pure, wholesome cashew nuts, acidophilus culture, salt and pepper. No animals are harmed, or even touched in its production.

Blackbird Seitan

Created by award winning chef Mark Mebus of Philadelphia based Blackbird Pizzeria,  Blackbird Foods seitan is a plant based, high protein, low fat and cholesterol-free alternative to meat. 

Primo Naturale

Just in time for the holidays, create the perfect charcuterie plate with cured Italian and Spanish meats. 

Philly Co-op Coffee

Philly Fair Trade Roasters roasted this special coffee blend just for Philly co-ops! $1 of every pound will be donated to the Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance. Find Philly Co-op coffee in our bulk aisle. 

Really Reel Ginger Drinks

Locally made and delicious! Really Reel Ginger drinks are gluten-free and vegan. 

Apple Raspberry Nachos

Whip up these fun apple nachos for dessert or a sweet afternoon snack and don't be afraid to get creative. Toast the nuts and coconut, replace the nuts with granola or crushed graham crackers, drizzle the apples with honey or caramel sauce, top with ice cream, sprinkle with cinnamon. If you have extra raspberry sauce, swirl it into the yogurt dip.

Ingredients

• 1 cup frozen or fresh raspberries

• 1 tablespoon maple syrup

• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

• 2 large Honeycrisp apples, halved, cored and sliced thin

• 1/4 cup pecans, chopped

• 2 tablespoons shredded coconut

• 2 tablespoons plain or vanilla yogurt

Preparation

In a small pot, simmer the raspberries and maple syrup for 5 to 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove the raspberry sauce from the heat and pour into a small container through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds. (Tip: Use the back of a heavy spoon to push the raspberry sauce through the strainer.) Set aside the finished sauce. Melt the chocolate chips either in a double boiler or by microwaving for about 3 minutes on low, in a microwave-safe bowl. To build the nachos, spread out or overlap the apple slices on a platter or large plate. Lightly drizzle the apple slices with the melted chocolate and raspberry sauce, sprinkle pecans and coconut over the top, and serve with yogurt as a dipping sauce.

Friday Finds: August 18, 2017

Take a look at what's new at Mariposa Food Co-op.

Philly Bread loose Philly Muffins and hoagie rolls

Philly Bread is focused on sourcing the highest caliber grains directly from the farmer and milling them in-house just prior to mixing the dough to unlock maximum flavor. Loose hoagie rolls and Philly Muffins can be found in our bakery department. 

Alaffia Coconut Reishi Purifying Facial Cleanser

Alaffia's facial cleanser contains soothing coconut, nourishing reishi, and detoxifying charcoal. It gently cleanses the skin, removes impurities, and is non-stripping. Plus, all Alaffia products are fair trade! 

Life-Flo 100% Pure Magnesium Oil

Good for muscular repair and nerve transmission. Easily absorbed through the skin. 

Castello Havarti

Creamy, buttery and mild. Pairs will with crackers, vegetables, and shellfish. 

Conebella Farms Cheddar

Conebella Farm is an award-winning 100% Ayrshire dairy farm located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Conebella Farm cheese is made from all natural ingredients with the milk from our own cows, which is both antibiotic-free and hormone free. 

Roasted Sweet Corn Bread

The perfect slightly sweet addition to a main course. Use fresh, non GMO corn for that local flavor or substitute frozen corn in the off season.  

Ingredients

• 1 ear sweet corn (2 if small)
• 1 cup unbleached flour
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1 cup plain nonfat yogurt
• 2 large eggs

Preparation

1. To roast the corn, heat the oven to 400°F., and place the husked corn on an oiled sheet pan. Roast, turning every 5 minutes until the corn is browned and soft. Let cool and then cut the kernels from the cob. You should get about 1 cup.
2. For the cornbread, heat the oven to 400°F. Butter or grease an 8-inch square metal pan. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder and salt, and whisk to combine. Place the yogurt, melted butter and eggs in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Pour the yogurt mixture over the cornmeal mixture and stir until almost mixed, then add the roasted corn and stir just until the ingredients are combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the pan comes out with no wet batter attached. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes before serving. Cut 3 by 3 to make 9 squares.  

Serving Suggestion

Cornbread is always a treat, but when you have some leftover grilled corn, you have a fantastic addition to a pan of golden goodness. The one makes a great side for beans, soups and greens.

Mixed Berry Crumble

This crumble is very versatile. Choose your filling based on the current season's fresh fruits.  

Via Creative Commons

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 4 cups fresh strawberries, stems removed
• 2 cups fresh raspberries
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon arrowroot or cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation

Heat the oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, flour, salt and zest. Add the melted butter and stir to mix. Reserve. Place the berries in a 2-quart baking dish, and sprinkle with sugar, arrowroot or cornstarch, and vanilla. Toss gently to coat, until well combined. Crumble the oat mixture over the berries in the dish. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the juices are thick and bubbly all the way around the dish. Let cool on a rack for 5 minutes before serving.

Serving Suggestion

Vary the flavors by adding a teaspoon of cinnamon to the topping, or change the balance of berries in the mix. Substitute a gluten-free flour blend if you prefer. Serve this warm with a scoop of ice cream and you can't miss.

Authored by Robin Asbell. Reprinted by permission from StrongerTogether.coop. Find articles about your food and where it comes from, recipes and a whole lot more at www.strongertogether.coop. 

Local Foraging in the Kitchen: Morels, Ramps, Nettles and Dandelion Greens

The sun is out and the temperatures are high! Let’s get wild. Try this morel dish recipe or read on for more tips about cooking these foraged plants.

Mette Nielsen

Sauteed Morel Mushrooms

Morels are distinctly delicious and super easy to prepare, be sure to cook them long enough. The season is very short and they can be pricy so I often add a few cultivated mushrooms into the mix – crimini, oyster, shiitake.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 8 ounces mixed mushrooms, cleaned and dried
• 2 shallots, minced
• ¼ cup dry white wine
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

To prepare morels, trim, split in half and dip quickly in salted water and then pat thoroughly dry with clean dish cloth or paper towels. Melt the butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat until it begins to foam. Add the mushrooms and shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, until well-browned, about 4 to 6 minutes. Then stir in the wine and the herbs. Continue cooking until the liquid becomes a glaze.

Ramps

These wild leeks are fragrant members of the lily family. Foragers swear you can smell leeks when you step on them, so that they announce themselves, and easy to find. Use ramps as you would leeks and shallots. They’re great in sautés, soups, stir-fries, scrambled eggs.

Nettles

My grandmother would laugh at the very idea I might actually pay money for stinging nettles. They grew wild on the border of the field near her house and she needed gloves to harvest them. But once they were blanched in salted water, she used them just like spinach. Her favorite technique was to simply sauté them in lots of butter and season with salt and pepper and served as a side dish. Try them in a quiche or sautéed in with the morel mushrooms (above).

Dandelion Greens

Yes, these are the same greens I don’t want in my backyard. But they’re delicious, slightly bitter, and loaded with vitamin A and calcium. They pair nicely with lush eggs, bacon, potatoes. Try tossing them onto a simple pizza with mild cheeses and sautéed mushrooms; chop and add them to creamy soups right before serving for zest; chop and add them to scrambled eggs. Toss them with roast new potatoes as they come from the oven.

Authored by Beth Dooley. Reprinted with permission from Lakewinds Food Co-op. 

Asparagus and Bell Pepper Quiche

The fresh taste of local asparagus shines in this irresistible quiche.

Ingredients

Filling

• 1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1/3 cup red pepper, diced
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 pre-made 9-inch pie crust

Quiche

• 6 eggs
• 2 cups half and half
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
2. Bring a small pot of salted water to a boil, and gently steam or blanch the peppers and asparagus until al dente, roughly 3 minutes. Drain and cool.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, combine the cooked vegetables and cheese. Mix well and scoop the filling into the pie shell.
4. Crack the eggs and add them to the bowl. Beat them slightly, then whisk in the half and half and spices. Pour the mixture into the pie shell, over the vegetable filling.
5. Bake on a center rack in the preheated oven until completely set.

Authored by Renee Russel. Reprinted by permission from StrongerTogether.coop. Find articles about your food and where it comes from, recipes and a whole lot more at www.strongertogether.coop

Rhubarb Snacking Cake

It's rhubarb season! Whole wheat flour, rolled oats and tangy rhubarb combine for a scrumptious, snack-worthy cake.

Via Vegan Fest Catering

Ingredients

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 1/4 cup brown sugar, divided
• 6 tablespoons butter, divided
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup unbleached flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup thinly sliced rhubarb

Preparation

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil or butter a 9-inch square baking pan. Melt the butter. In a medium bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of the melted butter with the oats and brown sugar. Mix well and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix the flours, brown sugar, soda and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the yogurt and egg; slowly add the remaining 4 tablespoons melted butter, while whisking the mixture. Pour the yogurt mixture over the dry ingredients and stir just to combine. Quickly stir in the rhubarb. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with the topping, then bake for 30 to 35 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center of the cake should come out with no wet batter sticking to it. Cool the cake on a rack. Serve warm, or wrap tightly and refrigerate for up to a week.

Serving Suggestion

When rhubarb is in season, make the most of its tangy, pink stalks in this quick cake. You can even make this with frozen rhubarb in the middle of winter, if you like; just bake it 5 or 10 minutes longer. Top with a dollop of whipped cream or coconut sorbet for special occasions, or just slice and enjoy!

Reprinted by permission from StrongerTogether.coop. Find articles about your food and where it comes from, recipes and a whole lot more at www.strongertogether.coop