News Roundup: April 22, 2016

Stay updated about what’s happening in our community. Have something to share? Please contact marketing@mariposa.coop

Bridging the Art Gap

It’s a typical Saturday night on south 52nd Street. Neighbors spill out onto the sidewalk from delis and barbecue restaurants and barbers and sneaker stores that line the commercial corridor, once called the “Main Street” of West Philadelphia. Read more.

SEPTA Will Soon Be Looking for Early Key Card Adopters

SEPTA will soon be looking for 10,000 people to test out their new fare payment system – SEPTA Key Card – starting in June. We know what you’re thinking … you’ve heard this before. But this time SEPTA appears to be almost ready to go. Read more.

Philadelphia Awarded $3.5 Million to Reduce Prison Population

Philadelphia received a $3.5 million MacArthur Foundation grant to fund a plan to reduce the city’s prison population by 34 percent over three years by keeping appropriate non-violent offenders out of prison, more quickly moving those already incarcerated back out into the community, and seeking alternatives to prison for other offenders, reports Philly.com. Read more.

Philadelphia Makes Another Prime Showing in Latest Knight Cities Challenge

After nabbing more project grants than any other U.S. city in the Knight Foundation's inaugural 2015 Knight Cities Challenge, Philly has more reasons to be proud. As announced at an April 12 celebration at Reading Terminal Market (RTM), local winners received the largest share of the national grant program’s $5 million pool for 2016: over $873,000 for four local initiatives. Read more.

Balsamic-Glazed Strawberries

Nothing says spring more than fresh produce, like strawberries. With the weather heating up, cool off with something new like these Balsamic-Glazed Strawberries  

Ingredients:

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons honey 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 pound fresh strawberries, halved 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint 2 cups vanilla yogurt or vanilla ice cream

Preparation:

In a small saucepan, mix together the balsamic vinegar and honey. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes, until the mixture has slightly thickened. Remove from heat and add the vanilla. Toss the strawberries with the balsamic glaze and stir in the mint. Once the sauce has cooled, drizzle over scoops of yogurt or ice cream in individual serving dishes.

Serving Suggestion:

The tangy sweet sauce showcases fresh-picked strawberries at the height of the season. Spoon some over sliced pound cake or angel food cake for a special dessert.

See more at: http://strongertogether.coop/recipes/

Maple Mustard Brisket

Take advantage of Mariposa Deals, like Happy Valley Meat Co. brisket, on sale this week. Relatively new to Mariposa, Happy Valley Meat Co. is an all natural beef provider that connects small family farms in Centre and Lancaster County with dining and retail locations like us! Happy Valley Meat Co. beef can also be found in popular Philadelphia restaurants like, Fork Restaurant, High Street on Market, Talula’s Garden and more. Try their brisket using this savory, simple Maple Mustard Brisket recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 4-pound beef brisket
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder (find me in bulk!)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika (find me in bulk!)
• 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and black pepper (find me in bulk!)
• 4 tablespoons
• Dijon or stone ground mustard, divided
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 1 celery stalk, sliced crosswise
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

Preparation:

1. Season the brisket with the garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons of mustard. Wrap the brisket in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours (or overnight).
2. Preheat the oven to 300°F.
3. Heat a large oven-proof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil and brown the brisket for 5 minutes on each side. Remove the brisket from the pan and set aside.
4. In the same skillet, sauté the onion, carrots, celery and garlic for a few minutes in the brisket juices, then add the red wine and water. Place the brisket back in the pan on top of the veggies and cover the pan tightly with an oven-proof lid or aluminum foil. Place the pan in the oven and cook the brisket, covered, for 3 hours until very tender. Remove from oven.
5. To prepare the maple sauce, carefully remove 1 cup of the juices from the brisket pan and put into a small skillet or saucepan. Add the maple syrup and remaining mustard and bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes. Slice the warm brisket across the grain and serve with sauce.

Serving Suggestion:

Potatoes, root vegetables, green beans or roasted winter squash (such as Hubbard or kabocha tossed with garlic and parsley) are all delicious accompaniments to this delightful holiday entrée.

See more at: http://strongertogether.coop/recipes/

Spring cleaning? We're here to help!

Shop during Earth Day weekend (Friday, April 22 - Sunday, April 24) to enter to win our Spring Cleaning Giveaway*! The more you shop, the better your chances. Remember to grab your raffle ticket from your cashier when you check out.

While we sell a number of natural cleaning products in store for your convenience, consider making your own cleaning solutions with common household items.

The basic supplies you’ll need to make your own green cleaners include:

• Distilled white vinegar
• Baking soda
• Water
• Essential oils - we have a wide variety in our Health & Beauty section (optional)

Use the recipes below as an alternative to what is sold on the shelves.

Glass: Mix 1/4 cup vinegar with 1 quart of water in a spray bottle. Spray on glass and wipe clean with old newspaper or a lint-free cloth.

Countertops and bathroom tile: Mix 2 parts vinegar and 1 part baking soda with 4 parts water. Apply with a sponge, scour, and wipe away.

Floors: Mix 4 cups of white distilled vinegar with about a gallon of hot water. If desired, add a few drops of pure peppermint or lemon oil for a pleasant scent. After damp mopping the floors, the smell of vinegar will dissipate quickly, leaving behind only the scent of the oil.

Toilet bowl cleaner: Sprinkle a toilet brush with baking soda and scrub away! Occasionally disinfect your toilet by scrubbing with borax instead. Wipe the outside of the toilet clean with straight vinegar.

Mold and mildew: Wipe with straight vinegar.

*Spring Cleaning Giveaway includes Seventh Generation all purpose cleaner, Seventh Generation trash bags, Seventh Generation natural sponges (4), Seventh Generation chlorine free bleach, Seventh Generation bath tissue (2), Seventh Generation tissues, Seventh Generation disinfecting wipes, Seventh Generation dish liquid

News Roundup: April 15, 2016

Stay updated about what's happening in our community. Have something to share? Please contact marketing@mariposa.coop

Philly Spring Cleanup is Saturday, Apr. 16; Multiple volunteer projects in West Philly

The city will hold its 9th annual Spring Cleanup on Saturday, Apr. 16 (rescheduled from Apr. 9 due to inclement weather forecast). More than 800 cleanup projects have been registered throughout the city, including dozens in West Philadelphia. Community involvement is essential and many projects are still seeking volunteers. Residents are also encouraged to step outside their buildings, pick up trash and remove debris or check out empty lots nearby for litter. Read more.

Find your next job at INTER/VIEW

This April, Generocity wants you to get a job. Not just any job — one that lets you do good and do well at the same time. Philly is seeing investment and social enterprise grow locally, and organizations are starting to take notice that potential employees are looking for more than a way to pay the bills. They’re looking for a way to give back. Read more.

How local artists are communicating hard facts about the ‘new Jim Crow’

Mass incarceration is undeniably real, and the facts are laid out in Michelle Alexander‘s 2010 book “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.” But the book is dense and difficult to digest, drowning out data that should serve as a call to action:

• There are over 2.4 million people imprisoned in the U.S. That’s the most of any country, and has increased over 500 percent since the Nixon administration declared a “war on drugs.”
• Of those 2.4 million, 60 percent are people of color.
• 75 percent of people convicted for drug charges are of color. This has resulted in the disenfranchisement of over 2 million people of color — 7.7 percent of black adults, compared to 1.8 percent of non-people of color.

Read more.

West Philly Porchfest – Info Meeting and Hype Session

Porchfest – a free, one-day, decentralized festival of music-making on porches all over the neighborhood – is coming to West Philly! Porchfest is scheduled for SATURDAY, JUNE 4th – save the date! In the mean time, come to our kick-off meeting/hype session to get pumped up for the big day, learn more about it and get involved in making it happen! Read more.

20 Book Clubs, 20 Cooperative Businesses

We’re thrilled to announce that PACA staff member Caitlin Quigley is a winner of the Knight Cities Challenge with her project “20 Book Clubs, 20 Cooperative Businesses!” Caitlin and PACA were awarded a $146,000 grant by the Knight Foundation to implement this exciting new project. The Knight Cities Challenge named 37 winners out of a pool of over 4,500 applicants. Read more.

The Mariposa Co-okie

Grab the Mariposa Co-okie through the end of March while supplies last! Made by Crust Vegan Bakery specifically for our 45th Anniversary, the Mariposa Co-okie contains Crust's favorite vegan ingredients found at Mariposa. Spot the ingredients below in the book summary.

The adventure continues...

Wait.

What is happening?

You notice your vision bleaching and unbleaching as you stagger through a reality that you no longer recognize. The Earth is coming unbalanced and all around you there are cookies within cookies inside Snackimals meta-reflecting at infinitum like mirrors set to face one another. You are bombarded by an equal exchange of images pretzeling around one another and chipping away at your psyche. Your head feels like it's filled with marshmallows as you stagger forward using the last of your energy, assuming you've reached the end of your existence.

And then you awaken. You shake off the memory of the dream, sweet as agave and still so clear in your brain. You roll out of bed and make a pot of coffee, but every color of life seems to be dulled after dreaming of a snack so vibrant. 

How to cook with cheese

Cheese is good for more than just cheese and crackers. Try some of our favorite recipes below.

Cheddar, Fig, & Apricot on Sweet Potato Chips

Ingredients

• Cabot Cheddar
• Fig Spread
• Dried apricots
• Honey
• Almonds or pecans for garnish
• Food Should Taste Good Sweet Potato Tortilla Chips

Directions

1. Lay chips on a serving platter, top each one with a slice of Alpine Cheddar, a teaspoon of fig spread, and top with a small piece of dried apricot.
2. Drizzle with honey and garnish with almonds of pecans if desired. Repeat until you have your desired amount. (one 8 ounce bar of cheese will make 16 pairings)

Apple Cheddar Gluten Free Scones

Ingredients

• 1 cup gluten-free oat flour (GF oats blended into flour)
• 1/4 cup coconut flour     
• ¼ cup potato starch (could use tapioca or corn starch)     
• 3 packets Stevia     
• 1 tablespoon psyllium husks (or 1 teaspoon Guar Gum)     
• 1 tablespoon baking powder     
• 6 tablespoons applesauce     
• 2 tablespoons honey     
• 1 egg     
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil, chilled     
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk     
• 1/2 chopped red apple, medium     
• 4 ounces Cabot Sharp Cheddar, shredded (about 1 cup)   
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon     
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt     

Optional: extra coconut oil for brushing on top along with cinnamon and stevia for sprinkling.

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F.     
2. Shred cheese and chop apple.     
3. Combine all dry ingredient in one bowl, and all wet ingredients in another, except for the coconut oil.     
4. Combine wet ingredient into the dry ingredients until thoroughly mixed. "Cut" in chilled coconut oil by teaspoon (think of typical scones where you cut in cubes of chilled butter). Fold in apples and cheese.
5. Form dough into a circular shape on tray sprayed with nonstick spray. Cut into four "scones". Lightly brush extra melted coconut oil on top of dough, and sprinkle with cinnamon and Stevia (or sugar of choice).
6. Bake in oven for 12-15 minutes, or until browned on outside.

Cheesy Mexican Frittata

Ingredients

• 6 eggs 
• 1/4 cup greek yogurt
• 3 ounces Cabot Pepper Jack, crumbled (about 3/4 cup)
• 1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained 
• 1 cup cooked brown rice 
• 1 red pepper, diced 
• 1 white onion, diced 
• 1 clove of garlic, chopped 
• 1/2 cup salsa 
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin 
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder 
• 1/4 cup cilantro  
• Salt and pepper, to taste  
• Oil, for sautéing

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
2. Place a cast iron skillet on medium-low heat.   
3. Once heated, add oil to the skillet. Add garlic, onion, and red pepper. Saute until cooked through. Add spices, salt and pepper, rice, beans, and salsa.  
4. While the vegetable mixture is cooking, in a large bowl, beat eggs and yogurt together. Pour the eggs over the vegetables evenly. Bring the heat up to medium. Let cook until the eggs start to set on the edges, about 6 minutes. In last minute of cooking, sprinkle cheese and cilantro on top. Once the eggs start to set, place the entire skillet in the oven for 10 minutes.
5. Remove from oven, slice, and serve with extra cilantro and salsa for garnish!

Recall: Applegate Chicken Nuggets

It has come to our attention that there has been a recall of Applegate Naturals Chicken Nuggets. The affected product is an 8 oz boxed package that contains approximately 18 pieces of "Applegate Naturals Chicken Nuggets" with a "Best Before 09/27/2016" date. The products subject to recall bear establishment number "P-2617" inside the USDA mark of inspection. 

The product has been pulled from Mariposa shelves and will be restocked when the issue has been addressed. If you have purchased this product, please notify the Manager on Duty the next time you shop and you will be reimbursed for the product. No other dates or lot numbers have been affected at this time.

Please email marketing@mariposa.coop or call 215-729-2121 with any concerns.

Introducing Happy Valley Meat!

Since losing Troutman & Sons all natural beef at the end of 2015, Alex, our Meat & Cheese Buyer, has been searching for an alternative beef provider that meets our quality and value standards. We are happy to announce, we are bringing in fresh beef from Happy Valley Meat Co., an all natural beef provider that connects small family farms in Centre and Lancaster County with dining and retail locations like us! Happy Valley Meat Co. beef can also be found in popular Philadelphia restaurants like, Fork Restaurant, High Street on Market, Talula's Garden and more. Their ground beef and sirloin can be found in our fresh case and beef cubes in our freezer. Looking for a recipe? Check out this beef piccata.

Beef cuts that cannot be fulfilled by Happy Valley Meat Co. will be fulfilled by Styker Farm, a local farm in the Pocono Mountains. In addition to the pork products they supply, Styker Farm will provide us with NY strip steak, Delmonico steak, shank/soup bones, chuck roast, and short ribs.

Enter to win a Dinner for Two - an $80 value!

To enter, shop at Mariposa through February 12 and you will receive a raffle ticket from your cashier. Write your name and contact information on the ticket and place it in one of the mason jars on the table by the exit door. One winner will be announced on February 13. One entry per person please!

Products include:

• Your choice of Martin's chicken sausage or Tofurkey sausage
• Two Co-op Basics traditional marinara sauce
• Two pounds organic spaghetti
• Pint of strawberries
• Organic cherry tomatoes
• Organic spinach/arugula mix
• Fresh tomato
• Fresh mozzarella
• Organic balsamic vinegar
• Metropolitan Bakery baguette
• Organic brownie mix
• 3 Chocolove bars
• Sunbeam beeswax candle