[Wheatsville] Thanksgiving Sampler and so much more!

Dan gillotte dangillotte at gmail.com
Thu Nov 12 13:42:09 EST 2009


Hi Wheatsville friends!

We're packing a lot into this communication this week, so get a snack and a
drink, pace yourself and we'll get through it together! (There's quite a bit
of pie talk, so be prepared!)

Here's what you get when you scroll on down!

Coffee with the board
Thanksgiving sampler
Donate to the Capital Area Food Bank
Thanksgiving hours
Thanksgiving Valet parking
Delicious Thanksgiving food from the deli
Message in a bottle from Cheese Island with a green bean and gruyere recipe!
Meat news
Grocery news including a SKATEBOARD GIVEAWAY!
Save the date! Wheatsville Artsfest
Black Star Co-op has site!
Fair Trade arts and crafts fair

Coffee with the board is this Saturday from 9am-11am. Join board member
Aditya and others for some fair trade organic coffee and some other treats
and talk to your board about your co-op!
VOTE! HERE! NOW! http://wheatsville.coop/election/index.html

*Taste the Thanksgiving!*
We're super excited about our BIG Thanksgiving sampler this year. *It will
be this Saturday from 1-5pm*. You can try a taste of a wide assortment of
our yummy Thanksgiving food from our deli such as cornbread stuffing,
cranberry relish, garlic mashed potatoes, our new sausage bread stuffing,
lots of pies and more. AND, get a taste of a Tofurkey slathered in our
deli's Mushroom gravy and have a taste of Luna and Larry's Coconut Bliss Ice
cream, too! We're making a lot, but supply is not unlimited, so come early
to get the full tasting experience!

*Give a little, if you can*
We've got bins ready to *collect food for the Capital Area Food bank *up at
the front of the store. Times are tough and demand is up. Can you help by
donating non-perishable food items to those in need? We hope to load them up
with food this year and you can help!

*Thanksgiving hours*
*We're open all day long on the day before Thanksgiving. *
*We're closed on Thanksgiving day *to give our staff a well-deserved day off
to enjoy with their friends and family.
*Friday hours are DIFFERENT this year.* We will be open from 10am-10pm on
Friday after Thanksgiving. The deli will be offering Tacos until noon. Let
us know how this works for you. It's an experiment for us since it is
historically THE slowest sales day of the year for us.

*Can we park that for you?*
Since we are anticipating (and striving for) a HUGE Thanksgiving in our new
digs, we want to do all we can to continue to provide a relatively easy
breezy shopping time for you. SO, we will be providing complementary valet
parking on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving from 10am-9pm. PUll into the
lot and if you like, a professional valet will park your car for you so you
don;t have to. Then you can slide right into the co-op, do your shopping and
get on out! Fast and easy! We're hoping that people, especially those with
big shopping trips consider using this service so that we can have enough
parking for this busy day.

*From the Deli*
It’s that time again! Your newly expanded Wheatsville Deli is now more than
ever ready to make your Thanksgiving a roaring success with a complete,
delicious meal for you and yours! With our new, larger space, we have the
opportunity to cook up even more goodies for your holiday table this year,
including fully-cooked Organic Turkeys available by pre-order, and a brand
new Sausage Bread Stuffing, made with our in-house sausage, lots of herbs
and fresh-baked bread! So go ahead and start your T-Day countdown! By
letting the Wheatsville Deli do all the cooking, you can have a full meal
that is honestly homemade without spending hours in the kitchen!

First off, to start your party in the proper holiday spirit, we’ll be making
appetizers! Our creamy Garlic Chive Cheddar Cheese Balls and savory, vegan
Walnut Pecan Pâté are both delicious spread on crackers. With a pre-order,
the Deli can also make a lovely Fruit & Cheese Tray for your party, as well
as a colorful Crudite Tray, providing a fresh assortment of raw veggies for
your table plus a pint of our famous, garlicky Cashew-Tamari Dressing for
dipping. Or if you prefer to make your own veggie platters, we will have on
hand bottles of Cashew-Tamari Dressing to accompany those, too!

Moving on to the main course, we will be roasting Organic Turkeys in-house
for the first time ever! These plump turkeys are being cooked to order, so
if you’re interested in picking one up and saving yourself hours at the
oven, basting and maneuvering that big turkey, just let us know and we’ll
take care of it for you! Leek-Roasted Carrots and Tempeh makes a hearty
vegan main course unto itself, or can simply be a delicious side dish for
your table. On the side, as always, we will have a bountiful selection of
seasonal dishes for you: hand-creamed vegan Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Green
Beans with sautéed mushrooms and toasted walnuts, the hearty Roasted Fall
Root Veggies, Vegan Mac’n’Cheese with Broccoli, fruit and honey-baked
Festive Sweet Potatoes and our best-selling vegan Cornbread Dressing. In
addition to all of our classics, this year we’ll have a traditional, savory
Sausage Bread Stuffing and even more tasty treats for your family and
friends to enjoy! We’ll also be featuring six-packs of flaky vegan Rosemary
Biscuits, as well as our fresh-baked La Brea Bakery whole wheat dinner
rolls. Our ever-popular, veggie-packed vegan Mushroom Gravy will also be on
the menu alongside tart, gingery Cranberry Orange Relish – my favorite! – to
go with your turkey or Tofurkey! We will be putting together sides for a
family of four as well, available in our self-serve area. Just swing by,
grab a bag of goodies and go!

And of course everyone knows what comes next – dessert! Your Wheatsville
Bakery will be whipping up a delectable assortment of seasonal pies for your
holiday dessert table: Pumpkin, Pecan, Coconut Cream and more, all homemade
and fresh for you! With some organic vanilla ice cream, or vegan whipped
cream, your meal will be complete!

Interested in more than words when planning your holiday fare? You’re in
luck! Come on in to Wheatsville Co-op on Saturday, November 14th between
1:00 and 5:00 PM to sample some of the items from our tasty holiday menu.
This will be an all-store sampling event, so be prepared to try lots of
tasty treats to help you plan your holiday feast!

November 15th is the deadline for all holiday food pre-orders from the
Wheatsville Deli! During the weeks before Thanksgiving, we will be offering
plenty of uncooked turkeys, pies and side dishes for you to purchase, but if
you have your heart set on a particular item, you might want to order ahead
of time. The Hospitality Desk, located at the entrance to Wheatsville, will
be handling all Deli pre-orders this year, and it will also be the central
pickup point for your orders when T-Day arrives! We know how important
dessert is and would hate for you to miss out on your favorites, so pies are
definitely a wise thing to order in advance! Raw turkeys can be pre-ordered
ahead of time, but plenty will be available in the meat department in the
weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, and this year they’ll all be organic!
Whole roasted Organic Turkeys – $39.99 each and large enough to feed a
family of four with ample leftovers! – are only being cooked to order, so a
pre-order and pre-payment is essential to making sure you get what you need.
If you’re interested in a fully-cooked bird be sure to let us know by
November 15th!

So leave the cooking to us! Pick up a menu at either the Hospitality Desk or
Deli Counter, and then place your order with the folks at the Hospitality
Desk. You can also give our Hospitality clerks a call with orders or
questions at 512-478-2667. We look forward to cooking for you and yours!
Happy Holidays!

*From Greg, on cheese island*

Brie is a soft cow milk cheese that originated in the Brie region of France.
It has a buttery texture and nutty flavor. Brie is traditionally made with
raw milk and aged for a period of four to five weeks. Unfortunately,
government regulation requires any cheeses made with raw milk, to be aged at
least 60 days. So, that means you have to go to France if you want to eat
true Brie. The outside of the Brie is covered with a white mold (penicillium
candidum) and is meant to be eaten. Brie tends to have butterfat content
around 45%. Then you have double cream bries like Fromage D' Affinios that
have a butterfat content around 60% and triple cream bries such as Saint
Andres with a butterfat content of 75%. Brie can be eaten with crackers, or
crusty bread. Fruits and nuts, like pistachios and pears, would make a great
accompaniment. A subtle red wine, like a Pinot Noir or a dry and lively
white wine like a nice Champagne. Quince paste or fruit preserves could be
served along with the Brie.

There are two “bries” that we carry that I would recommend. Brazos Vellay
Cheese Company’s  Brie  and the Saint Andre triple cream. Brazos Valley
Cheese Company is located outside of Waco on the Brazos  River Let this
cheese sit out for an hour, before eating. After a five minutes of sitting,
this cheese starts to change states and from the inside out turns into a
slow river of butterfat. This brie is made from fresh Texas cow’s milk and
made without the use of additives and preservatives. The Saint Andre triple
cream is made using a sour cream, sweet cream and heavy cream. This gives it
its dense body, tangy taste, satin texture and a butterfat content of 75%. I
would absolutely recommend Champagne and strawberries to compliment this
cheese.

The use of brie does not have to be confined to appetizer or on a cheese
plate. It can be used in many different recipes. Use brie in place of butter
for mashed potatoes. If you are daring, use it alongside the butter. It can
be used in mac and cheese or as a filling for tarts.  I had a wonderful
sandwich made up of turkey, brie and fig spread on marbled rye. Once you
start eating this cheese and understanding the nuances of its taste and
texture, you will realize the uses for this cheese are almost limitless.

*Thanksgiving Idea!!*

Green Bean Casserole With Gruyere Cheese

5 tablespoons butter - divided use
1/2 pound sliced mushrooms
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup all-purpose flour - divided use
2 1/4 cups (2-percent reduced fat) milk - divided use
2 cups Gruyère Cheese (Veldhuizen Green’s Creek Gruyere), shredded - divided
use
2 pounds fresh green beans, trimmed, left whole and steamed or precooked for
5 minutes
1 yellow onion, sliced into thin rings
1/4 cup fine dried bread crumbs
1/8 to1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium
saucepan over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, salt and pepper and cook,
stirring occasionally, until liquid is absorbed and mushrooms are golden
brown, 8 to 10 minutes; transfer to a small bowl and return saucepan to
heat.
Melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter in pot over medium heat. Whisk in 1/4
cup flour and cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Whisk in 2 cups milk
until smooth then cook, stirring often, until silky and thickened, about 5
minutes. Remove from heat and add 1 1/2 cups Gruyère a handful at a time,
gently stirring until melted; season generously with salt and pepper and set
aside.
In large bowl, toss together green beans, mushrooms and Gruyère sauce then
transfer to a 9x13-inch casserole dish and sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup
Gruyère Cheese over the top; set aside.
Mix 1/4 cup flour, bread crumbs, cayenne and salt to taste in small bowl.
In large bowl, toss onions with remaining 1/4 cup milk then add bread crumb
mixture. Toss gently to coat. Scatter onions over green beans (along with
any bread crumbs that didn’t stick) and bake until golden brown and
casserole is bubbly, about 40 minutes.
Let casserole stand 10 minutes before serving.
Makes 8 servings.

*From Bryan, the Butcher*

Wheatsville now has amazingly fresh trout sourced by Rushing Waters, located
out of Palmyra Wisconsin www.rushingwaters.net . This is a prime example of
how fish farming can be done correctly and with zero environmental impact.
Please explore their website, it’s full of great info. The main thing I’d
like to point out is they harvest to order. That means when Wheatsville
orders our trout, it’s still swimming. Rushing Waters then hips it to us via
same day delivery.

Hope your getting ready for the holidays. Be sure to come by Saturday for
awesome day of sampling bonanza. While you’re here you can pick some special
deals from the meat market.
Check out these specials for November:
Got turkey? Later this month Organic Prairie certified organic whole turkeys
$2.99 lb. We're proud to offer an Organic Turkey from our friends at the
family farms of Organic Prairie co-op. (An amusing side story from Dan- we
checked prices at Whole Foods last week and their turkeys were going to be
$3.49 a pound. We then had a "Secret" visit from some WHole Foods honchos
and afterward, they lowered their price to match ours!)

Fresh made sausages, link and bulk. $7.49 lb, reg $7.99 lb.
Niman Ranch choice boneless beef chuck roast $8.49 lb, reg $8.79 lb; Niman
Ranch choice boneless pork shoulder roast $4.49 lb, reg $4.99; Niman Ranch
choice boneless Ribeye steak $14.99 lb, reg $16.99 lb.Looking for something
new? Check these new items:
Ready to cook crab cakes in the full service meat counter $14.99 lb.
Niman Ranch dry cured Salami. Two flavors: dry Italian $6.99 and herbed
$7.49.
Niman Ranch BBQ pulled pork. Fully cooked and ready to eat, 1 full pound
$8.49.
Bastrop Cattle Company grass-fed T-bone steaks $18.99 lb.

*In The Grocery Aisle*

Grocery has all your Thanksgiving needs covered and a lot of what you're
looking for is on special this month! Check out our Co-op Advantage flyer on
line here: http://wheatsville.coop/CAP%20flyers/SW1109.pdf

*Have A Corn Chips:*
Tasty. Here’s a simple snack with four ingredients that’s loaded with
flavor. I’m happy to now be able to get “Have A Corn Chips” at Wheatsville.
The difference with these chips is that they are flavored with soy sauce
instead of salt. This gives it a unique taste that is sure to satisfy the
snack attack.

*SKATEBOARD GIVEAWAY!*
Our friends at Odwalla have provided a skateboard to raffle off to one lucky
customer.
The ballots and ballot boxes are at the Hospitality Desk.
No purchase necessary but FYI Odwalla bars are on sale for $1.29!

*By Owner Request *
This week’s focus on a product brought in by owner request is Bob’s Red Mill
Corn Grits. Bob’s Red Mill really uses a stone mill!,offering a wide
diversity of whole grains. Their corn grits, also called polenta, can be
made into a delicious part of any meal as well as a delicious hot cereal in
the morning. Wheatsville also has other yummy hot cereals from Bob’s: Gluten
Free Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal, Gluten Free Steel Cut Oats, Gluten Free Rolled
Oats, Creamy Wheat Farina, and 10 Grain Hot Cereal. (Dan has visited Bob's
Red Mill plant and can attest to the great care they put into their products
and YES I did meet Bob himself!)

*Wheatsville Artsfest back home and spreading out, too!*
The annual Wheatsville Artsfest is happening on Saturday and Sunday December
5th and 6th from 10am-5pm. We'll have about many artists set up in half of
our front parking lot as well as music and other fun stuff! Our neighbors up
and down the street are gettinginvolved this year, too! You'll find arts,
crafts and music at EcoClean, I Love Video and Spider House, at Tom's
Tabooley, and across the street in the 3110 parking lot. Stay tuned for more
detail, but expect a great time! Make sure you don't miss Toni Price's
triumphant return to the Artsfest on Saturday from 2:30-3:30!

*BIG CO-OP NEWS!*
Our friends at BlackStar Co-op, the world's first cooperatively owned brew
pub have a location!!! We're so proud of the hard work and dedication of the
founders of this co-op. They are having a location unveiling event this
Saturday from 1-5. Learn more here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=183173835752&index=1

*Fair Trade arts and crafts!*
Come and enjoy the 6th edition of our Women & Fair Trade – Sale, Culture &
Art.   This year we will have eight cooperatives from various parts of the
world, formed by women adversely affected by global policies. They will tell
their stories and sell beautiful handmade crafts, toys, pottery, jewelry,
clothing and textiles.

Art lovers, and the broader Austin community will learn about fair trade and
shop at the same time. We will offer a workshop on flute making; children
and adults are welcome!  The market festival will also feature a cultural
arts lunch at Karibu Restaurant on Saturday @ 2:00 pm with the theme “Rise
up through fair trade” which will include music, raffles and a discussion on
fair trade. Please refer to our website www.womenandfairtrade.org closer to
date for details on program and schedule.
What:               Women & Fair Trade – Sale, Culture and Art
Where:              1221 East 6th St. (SW corner of 6th & Attayac St.)
When:               Saturday and Sunday, November 21st & 22nd, from 10:00 am
to 6:00 pm
Who:                American Friends Service Committee – Austin office
                  For volunteering please send email to nem at afsc.org

 We hope to see you this weekend and we hope that you are planning on doing
your Thanksgiving purchasing with your co-op. Let us know how we can help
you!

Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy and lover of Thanksgiving!
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