What's a pluot?

Pluots (ploo-ahts), a relatively recent addition to the stone fruit family, are an intentional hybrid created by naturally crossing a plum with an apricot using hand pollination. Pluots display more characteristics of plums than apricots, unlike other crosses that exhibit more apricot than plum, such as plumcots or apriums. Pluots are very sweet and intensely flavorful, with the juicy texture and tangy skin of a plum and the floral flavors of an apricot. The fruit is a very good source of vitamins A and C, dietary fiber, protein, potassium, and antioxidants.

A pluot is a semi-freestone fruit, which means it has a pit, but the flesh comes away from it fairly easily in most varieties. Available from late May through September, choose fruit that's firm, plump and fragrant. Fruits should be firm yet yield to slight pressure; a very hard pluot won't ripen well.

There are plenty of varieties, in colors ranging from black to green to red. Black pluots are magenta and pale yellow inside and taste the most like plums. Green pluots are green with a red tinge and/or yellowish with pink to pale yellow flesh. Green pluots are very juicy and have a tropical fruit flavor. Red pluots  range from dark red to magenta inside and red on the outside. These are strong and often tangy sweet. Plus there is the speckled variety, which is very sweet and juicy, featuring white/pink to dark magenta flesh.

The best way to enjoy a pluot may be the simplest—out of hand. Its juicy sweet taste is also perfect served sliced over breakfast cereal or in fruit or grain salads (like couscous). Blend it in smoothies, sauces for pancakes or barbecue sauces, or through it on the grill with meats and poultry. It also makes terrific ice cream, frozen yogurt and fruit popsicles.

Pluots are delectable in any recipe calling for plums or apricots, too. This rustic Cranberry Upside-Down Cake, for example, would be scrumptious made with pluots, as would any crisps, tarts or pies.

To ripen, store pluots in a paper bag at room temperature, or place them upside down on the counter, out of the sun, until ripe. Handle ripe pluots very delicately as they bruise easily. For best flavor, enjoy them as soon as they're ripe. Otherwise, you can store the ripe fruit in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Introducing Just Coffee

We are proud to introduce our new coffee vendor, Just Coffee from Madison, WI.

Just Coffee, voted Madison’s favorite coffee roaster since 2010, works with a number of coffee cooperatives throughout the world. The self proclaimed “reluctant entrepreneurs” provide full transparency around their contracts with farmers, the prices they pay them, their profit and loss statements, and more.

“If we want global economic democracy we have to work for economic transparency,” says Just Coffee.

Read more about Just Coffee below and make sure to check out their beautiful photos.

News Roundup July 1, 2016

What locations need more bike racks? Help UCD bring additional bike parking

University City District (UCD) is planning to install more bike racks in the area and needs help identifying places that need bike parking or additional bike racks. Currently, UCD is accepting photos showing overcrowded or out-of-repair bike parking or bikes locked to trees, railings, etc. along commercial corridors and at other neighborhood destinations in University City. Read more.

SEPTA Trolley tunnel to close for 9-day maintenance in July

The annual trolley tunnel maintenance project, SEPTA Trolley Tunnel Blitz, is scheduled for next month and will take nine days to complete. The tunnel will close at 10 p.m. on Friday, July 8 and will re-open for trolley service at 4 a.m. on Monday, July 18, 2016. Read more.

20,000 Domestic Workers Are About to Get Fair Wages. How’d They Do That?

Myrla Baldonado left the Philippines and settled in the suburbs of Chicago in 2006. She found work caring for the elderly and ill, whom she fed, bathed, clothed, and gave medication. Working in the privacy of her patients’ homes, Baldonado sometimes experienced verbal abuse from their families. Her occasional 90-hour workweeks meant starting at dawn and arriving home late at night. Baldonado’s employer, an elder care agency, also misdeclared her as an independent contractor, forcing her to pay additional taxes. Read more.

Smooth jazz the soundtrack of fundraising in Cobbs Creek

The Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Community Education Center, 63rd and Catharine streets in West Philadelphia, held its first Jazz on the Creek fundraiser where local residents enjoyed the sounds of smooth jazz performed by the Sonny Keaton Quartet last Saturday. Read more.

DNC volunteers sow garden in West Philly with hopes of lasting bounty

A new community garden is growing on a former parking lot in West Philadelphia, thanks to a generous donation and a whole lot of sweat equity.

The 1-acre plot sits behind the Karabots Pediatric Care Center at 48th and Market streets, footsteps from the subway. It's considered the centerpiece volunteer project for the Democratic National Convention, which will be in town July 25-28. Read more.

Scholarship for the common good: Professor Gordon-Nembhard inducted into Co-op Hall of Fame

Professor Jessica Gordon-Nembhard has been a scholar of cooperative economics for some time, but she was nonetheless surprised when the National Cooperative Business Association made the decision to induct her into its prestigious Co-op Hall of Fame. Read more.

Berry Yogurt Ice Pops

A tasty and healthy way to beat the heat and extend the berry season (if you can stand not eating them right away)! 

Ingredients

• 2 cups fresh berries, washed and chopped (use a single kind or a variety)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 1/2 cups plain, nonfat Greek yogurt

Preparation

In a saucepan, bring the berries, sugar, honey and water to a boil. Simmer for a few minutes to dissolve the sugar, remove from heat, and pulse in a food processor until just chunky. Place the mixture into a small bowl and cool it in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes. Whisk or fold the yogurt and lemon juice into the berry mixture until thoroughly combined. Pour the mixture into molds (see Tips & Notes) and freeze for at least 5 hours. Run molds under hot water to release the ice pops.

Tips & Notes

If you can’t find molds, use paper cups and wooden paddles or sticks.

Serving Suggestion

Freeze the ice pop mixture in ice cube trays, and serve two or three in a tall glass of ginger ale for a fun summer cooler. For a non-dairy version, substitute soy yogurt or coconut milk yogurt for the Greek yogurt.

How to use Halloumi

If you haven't yet tried this unusual cheese, you're in for a treat—and a fun, delicious new addition to your grilling repertoire. Halloumi has been made in Cyprus, Greece for centuries. Traditionally made from unpasteurized sheep and goat's milk, Halloumi was often wrapped with mint leaves, which was used as a preservative, and, even now the cheese is often sold with mint as a garnish. The Halloumi from Cyprus has a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), but "Halloumi-style" cheese is now made throughout the world.

While you can eat Halloumi raw, it's usually enjoyed cooked—not just because you can, but also because cooking improves the taste and texture. Some of the saltiness (from brining) fades as it cooks. If you find Halloumi a bit too salty for your taste, simply simmer it in water for five minutes. Then refrigerate until firm again before cooking. The texture, which starts out a bit like mozzarella, becomes a bit creamier with cooking.

Halloumi will keep in the refrigerator unopened for as long as a year. Once opened, store it in the refrigerator in salt water in an airtight container for up to two weeks, or wrap it tightly in waxed paper, parchment paper or cheese wrap. Rewrap in fresh paper whenever you unwrap it. The cheese can also be frozen for a few months. Thaw it in the refrigerator a day before you want to use it.

Find some of our favorite Halloumi serving styles below.

Grilled Halloumi

To make grilled Halloumi, simply slide the cheese onto wooden skewers that have been soaked in water first. Drizzle the cheese with olive oil and sprinkle with spices, if you like. Cook the skewered cheese just two to three minutes on each side, until it's warmed through. Large pieces of Halloumi can simply be placed directly on the grill, or you can also fry Halloumi in a skillet.

Marinated Halloumi

Marinate the cheese before cooking—in olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, red pepper, oregano or combinations of other spices, such as cumin, chili powder, ground ginger or fresh herbs like thyme, mint, basil or rosemary for extra flavor.

Cypriot-style

Cypriot-style pairs Halloumi with watermelon, or with smoked pork or lamb sausage. Use it on sandwiches (it's delicious in pita with cucumbers and tomatoes), to stuff ravioli, and over pasta, potatoes, or salads (toss the grilled cheese with any greens, and try it in place of mozzarella in a Caprese salad). Place Halloumi on kebabs with veggies. Serve it with eggs for breakfast, and on grilled burgers (meat or veggie) and eggplant. Here's a tasty recipe for Grilled Eggplant Napoleon.

Honey & Halloumi

Try drizzling the cheese with honey—which plays off the saltiness—and serving on a cheese tray. A lager makes a perfect accompaniment.

The Fruit and Veggie Grilling Guide

While most people associate outdoor grilling with burgers, hot dogs, and steaks, the grill imparts big flavors to fruits and veggies, too. A wide array of produce paired with spice rubs, marinades and sauces will keep your patio table overflowing with delicious additions to your grilling repertoire. Seasonal summer vegetables are perfect for grilling: zucchini, eggplant and bell peppers are naturally tender and become even sweeter on the grill. Slice these vegetables about 1/4-inch thick and toss them in an easy marinade for 30 minutes (or better yet, overnight) before grilling for a few minutes per side.

A simple combination of wine vinegar, olive oil, chopped garlic and herbs, and salt and pepper are all you need for a tasty marinade. This easy mix will turn grilled vegetables into Italian antipasti to serve with bread, olives, and cheese. Change the blend to vegetable oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chopped garlic and ginger for Asian-flavored vegetables that are delicious with rice. Store-bought dressings with a vinegar base make wonderful marinades as well.

Summertime peaches, apricots, nectarines, and figs are delicious grilled. Cut fruit in half and remove any pits, then coat lightly with oil. For a sweet-savory side dish to grilled pork, chicken, or lamb, sprinkle on a little salt, pepper, and balsamic vinegar, then grill for a few minutes per side. And for dessert, dust with brown sugar, then place the halves on a clean part of the grill for a few minutes per side before serving with ice cream or pound cake (or both).

Some grilling tips:

• Use moderate heat (not high); if it’s a charcoal grill, move the charcoal to one side and grill your fruits and veggies on the other side, over indirect heat.
• Be sure to oil your grill thoroughly—fruits and vegetables are high in natural sugars, which means they can easily burn and stick to the grill. Before you begin cooking, clean the grill well, preheat it, and then use several layers of paper towel dipped in vegetable oil to grease it.
• Cut vegetables into the largest possible pieces to prevent them from falling through the grill grate and avoid extra time spent flipping more pieces. For example, cut zucchini in slices along the length of the vegetable, rather than slicing into small rounds.
• Corn doesn’t always cook through on the grill. Blanch it in boiling water for a few minutes, then grill for 5 to 10 minutes to finish cooking and add smoky flavor.

Photo credit: Mike McCune

Planning a Summer Picnic

There’s no better way to celebrate the beginning of summer than by planning a leisurely outdoor picnic. Here’s how to keep your picnic out of bug-bite and spoiled-food territory to enjoy warm breezes, delicious food and fun.  

Prep everything ahead of time

This may seem like a no-brainer, but putting in the time to chop your veggies, assemble your kebabs, or slice your baguette before leaving the house will keep the fuss—and mess—to a minimum once you get outside.

Stay bug-free

Bring small citronella candles to place along your picnic table. If you’re picnicking on a blanket (where fire isn’t the friendliest option), pack a bottle of chemical-free mosquito repellent from the body care section of your co-op.

Avoid foods that spoil easily

That means mayo, cream-based dips, and fresh cheeses are best left at home—unless you’re planning to transport them a short distance on ice and eat them immediately. Any leftovers should be thrown away (so plan your portions carefully!).

Practice food safety

Take care to make sure all raw meats are wrapped separately, and transport them on ice. Use separate cutting boards and utensils for handling raw meat (bring an extra plastic bag to keep them in), and wash your hands as often as possible. Hand sanitizer is a must.

Cook meat with care

If you’re grilling outdoors, keep raw meats below cooked meats on the grill at all times, and make sure they’re cooked thoroughly before eating (a meat thermometer can confirm doneness). Hamburgers should be cooked to 160 degrees, poultry to 170 degrees, and beef, veal, and lamb cuts to 145 degrees.

Keep it earth-friendly

Bring reusable napkins (you’ll not only avoid fly-away paper napkins, but cloth napkins can also be used to wrap food and bottles for transport). If you are using disposable products, look for recycled and biodegradable options at the co-op. And make sure your picnic spot’s as pretty as a picture for its next al fresco diners!

News Roundup June 24, 2016

Viewing and funeral for Akyra Murray set for this Friday

A viewing for Akyra Murray, the 18-year-old West Philadelphia woman killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fl. on June 12, will take place Friday, June 24, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Monumental Baptist Church located at 50th and Locust Streets. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. at the church and burial will be at Mount Peace Cemetery. Read more.

ReAnimator Coffee coming to Garden Court Plaza retail space

We are starting to learn a little more about the retail that will be moving into the ground floor of the Garden Court Plaza apartment building at 47th and Pine. An official from Post Brothers, the real estate developer that acquired the building last year and announced their plans to court new retail businesses, said last night that ReAnimator Coffee, which has current locations in Fishtown and Kensington, has agreed to take one of the spots. Read more.

If you’re not engaged with poverty at some level, ‘You’re privileged’

Poverty can’t be solved through charity or policy. It has to be guided by the communities that are impacted by it.

Community organizing was a solution Councilwoman Helen Gym proposed at a recent Young Involved Philadelphia panel on poverty and inequality in the city, where poverty rates are as high as 26.3 percent. Read more.

This activist wants to take an HIV test with you

Philadelphia sees between 600 and 700 new cases of HIV/AIDS per year and is home to over 20,000 people living with the virus. They’re sobering statistics that demand action. Andrea Walker is obliging. Read more.

Want to share a story? Email marketing@mariposa.coop

Father's Day Dinner

Fire up the grill! Check out our favorite Father's Day recipes.  

Chipotle Cherry Barbecue Sauce

Total Time: 70 minutes; 10 minutes active Servings: approximately 12 Why make your own barbecue sauce? This sweet, smoky, spice cherry chipotle barbecue sauce is one mouthwatering reason.

Chipotle_Cherry_Barbecue_Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 cups cherries, washed and pitted
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons stone-ground mustard
• 1 1/2 teaspoon smoked sea salt
• 2/3 cups canned diced tomatoes with chilies
• 1/4 cup canned chipotle sauce
• 1/3 cup turbinado sugar

Preparation

Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend until well combined and transfer to a saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally, on medium heat for about 60 minutes until sauce is reduced by half, or reaches desired thickness.

Serving Suggestion

Take advantage of in-season fresh cherries and make a double batch of this slightly sweet, slightly spicy sauce. Serve with barbecued chicken, pork or burgers, or drizzle over smoky marinated tofu steaks.

German New Potato Salad

Serve this version of southern Germany's popular “Kartoffelsalat" alongside grilled meats or hearty grilled tempeh.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds small red-skinned potatoes
• 1 1/2 cups yellow onion, minced
• 1/4 pound uncooked bacon, diced, or 1/4 cup soy-based vegetarian bac’un bits
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (if using vegetarian bac’un bits)
• 1/2 cup vegetable stock
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
• 1/2 cup freshly chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

In a large pot, boil the potatoes in salted water 14–15 minutes, until just tender. Drain, and when cool enough to handle, cut the potatoes into 1/4-inch slices or 1-inch cubes and place into a mixing bowl. If using bacon, sauté the bacon in a large skillet for 4–5 minutes while the potatoes are cooking,, drain off most of the fat, and return the pan to the stove. Add the onions and sauté another 7–8 minutes. Add the stock, vinegar, and mustard and simmer for a few more minutes. For a vegetarian potato salad, sauté the onions in 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil for 7–8 minutes. Add the stock, vinegar, and mustard and simmer for a few more minutes. Toss the hot dressing with the sliced potatoes. Season with salt and pepper, and stir in the fresh parsley (and vegetarian bac’un bits for the meatless version) just before serving.

Serving Suggestion

This is a version of southern Germany’s popular “Kartoffelsalat.” Serve warm or at room temperature with grilled meats or sausages, or hearty grilled tempeh.

BBQ Tofu Sandwich

A delicious tofu burger topped with coleslaw and dill pickles.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup thinly sliced onion
• 1 14-ounce package extra-firm or firm water-packed tofu, drained
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1/2 cup prepared barbecue sauce
• 1 1/2 cups coleslaw mix, (see Note) or finely shredded cabbage
• 2 tablespoons low-fat mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons red-wine vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 4 whole-wheat hamburger buns, toasted
• 4 dill pickle sandwich slices

Preparation

Place onion in a small bowl, cover with cold water and set aside. Stand tofu on its long narrow side. Cut lengthwise into 4 rectangular slabs, each about 1/2 inch thick, and pat dry. Sprinkle with salt Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the tofu slabs (depending on the size of your pan, the tofu may slope up the sides a little). Cook until browned on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Reduce heat to low. Add barbecue sauce and carefully turn the tofu to coat with the sauce. Cover and cook for 3 minutes more. Meanwhile, combine coleslaw (or cabbage), mayonnaise, vinegar, garlic powder and pepper in a medium bowl. Drain the onion. To assemble sandwiches, place about 1/3 cup of the coleslaw (or cabbage) mixture on each bun and top with a tofu slab, a pickle slice and a few onion slices. Spread any sauce remaining in the pan on the top buns.

BLT Salad

A salad version of America’s favorite sandwich. Shredded tomato is the base for a creamy tomato-and-chive dressing.

Ingredients

• 1 cup cubed whole-wheat country bread
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 medium tomatoes, divided
• 3 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons minced chives, or scallion greens
• 2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 5 cups chopped hearts of romaine lettuce
• 3 slices center-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Toss bread with oil and spread on a baking sheet. Bake, turning once, until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Cut 1 tomato in half. Working over a large bowl, shred both halves using the large holes on a box grater. Discard the skin. Add mayonnaise, chives (or scallion greens), vinegar, garlic powder and pepper; whisk to combine. Chop the remaining 3 tomatoes. Add the tomatoes, romaine and croutons to the bowl with the dressing; toss to coat. Sprinkle with bacon.

News Roundup June 17, 2016

Soda tax passes; Philadelphia is first big city in nation to enact one

Looking to raise millions for a bold expansion of early childhood education, Philadelphia City Council on Thursday approved a 1.5-cent-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened and diet beverages, the first such tax imposed in a major U.S. city.

The 13-4 vote put to bed months of speculation and at-times-bitter negotiations, but also ensured that the national spotlight will stay turned on Philadelphia for months, if not years. Read more.

Confederate flag taken down at Pa. Capitol

A Confederate flag that had been hanging inside the Capitol as part of a historical exhibit was taken down Wednesday after objections from a state representative from Philadelphia, officials said.

Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown (D., Phila.) initially took the flag down herself late Tuesday and turned it in to House Speaker Mike Turzai (R., Allegheny), who gave it to Capitol police, legislative officials said. Read more.

Cooperation emerges when groups are small and memories are long, study finds

The tragedy of the commons, a concept described by ecologist Garrett Hardin, paints a grim view of human nature. The theory goes that, if a resource is shared, individuals will act in their own self-interest, but against the interest of the group, by depleting that resource.

Yet examples of cooperation and sharing abound in nature, from human societies down to single-celled bacteria. Read more.

The Philadelphia and Knight foundations are funding a youth news team during the DNC

A new partnership between the School District, media partners and some big-name funders will aim to elevate student voices during the Democratic National Convention next month.

Middle and high schoolers will have the opportunity to join a youth news team covering the DNC and develop their own written, audio and visual stories while learning journalism skills from media professionals. Read more.

Tony’s Barber Shop building on Baltimore Ave. for sale

The building at 4529 Baltimore Avenue that used to host Tony’s “Just For Men” Barber Shop has recently been listed for sale for $415,000. The 1,760 square feet property includes a ground-floor commercial space, a partially finished basement, and two apartments (a large two-bedroom with a deck and a studio on the ground floor behind the commercial space). It is zoned CMX-2 (Commercial/Commercial Mixed-Use). Read more.

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