more new frozen stuff.

Sometimes I feel it's best to start a meal with dessert. That way it can not be withheld should I decide to leave some or all of my vegetables untouched. It is for this reason that I begin this post by telling you all about the new ice cream. I was able to add a bunch of new products to this freezer because Ben or Jerry (I'm not sure who's really in charge over there) decided to get rid of their organic line.

Haagen Daz has come out with a new line called "5". It is called "5" because that's how many ingredients are used. I started simple with Milk Chocolate, Vanilla, and Coffee.

If your not into lactose and you've had your fill of rice, soy, or coconut ice cream, hemp might be worth investigating. Living Harvest has been making hemp milk for a while and has decided to give ice cream a shot. We currently have Coffee Biscotti and Coconut Lime.


<--This lady Gaga is back. Not this Lady Gaga.-->
Gaga's Lemon Sherbetter took off for a while cause there were some problems getting it. Then we got it buy accident one day and I remembered how great it was. Eric, one of the produce guys, actually went gaga over this stuff and had to take a couple days off.

Enough with dessert. A coop member has teemed up with Blue Ribbon to make Naked Nuggets. Naked Nuggets are gluten free, grilled chicken nuggets.

GF PIE SHELLS!!!

So I don 't have tons of time because I have to go back to the freezer (it's the Summer and I get overheated if I'm out of the freezer for too long) and there are oodles of new products to write about but I needed to let some of you know about the new gluten free pie shells from Gillian's Food. The rhubarb and strawberries have been here and the blueberries are commin. Just think of all those potential contestants that could have been kickin butt in pie eating contests for all these years.

Gotta go.

In the News.....

Wall Street Journal has an interesting article on fortified foods--also known as "functional" food. Manufacturers are increasingly pushing this concept. Classic example of overkill: Tropicana orange juice "fortified" with Omega oils. Do you really need fish oil in your O.J? While the taste is being processed out of that fish oil, what is happening to the Omega 3's? Bottom line seems to be: eat whole foods, take a multivitamin if you must. You'll save a lot of money.

And speaking of fish, last Wednesday, the NY Times hosted a discussion on the choices (or lack thereof) facing fish eaters who want to be environmentally correct.

On a happier note, last week Martha Rose Shulman presented a series of recipes focusing on one of my favorite foods: polenta. Interestingly, she led off the series by recommending cooking polenta in the oven. I like to make polenta using DeLaEstancia polenta, sold in Aisle 2A. This polenta only needs to cook for about a minute on the stove and is delicious. Bob's Red Mill polenta needs to cook longer. The corn meal sold in the bulk bins also works and is the cheapest. Sixty of our members opted for the super fast method--buy the cooked polenta in the plastic tube sold in Aisle 6A. We were sold out on Monday. If you are a tube purchaser, make the leap and try the DeLaEstancia. Just bring it to boil and let it cook one minute. You'll never look back.

Christian Science Monitor profiled the CONACADO cocoa cooperative in the Dominican Republic. Equal Exchange purchases cocoa from this cooperative. The Fair Trade premium helps pay for basic needs in their community, including schools and plumbing. We sell lots of Equal Exchange Fair Trade organic chocolate bars in Aisle 7A.

West River Creamery

So, I'm starting a new program. Bringing in a new cheese producer each month (or as I remember) and highlighting all the cheeses they have to offer.

This month I'm featuring West River Creamery in Londonderry, Vermont.

I've brought in five cheeses from them:
Cambridge Classic - A traditional clothbound version of English style farmhouse Cheddar. Aged for a minimum of one year to develop full complex cheddar flavors.
Londonderry Classic - English style farmhouse Cheshire. Dry in texture, peachy in color. Mild and lightly salty when
young. Mature cheese acquire more piquancy with age.
Middletown Tomme - A brushed natural rind cheese. The texture is firm and smooth. Savory, complex with grassy undertones.
Three Mountain - A washed rind cheese. Semi-soft, bold and smooth, velvety, finishing with a salty tang. Aged for 60-80 days.
Equinox - Oil rubbed with a deep orange colored rind. Texture is hard and smooth. Flavor is complex with a strong herbal undertones.

Try all 5!

It's All Good...with Gardein

If you want a quick vegetarian meal and you're not opposed to a food in a pouch, try these products (in our egg/tofu case) from a company called Gardein which makes "it's all good foods":

Veggie Pulled Chick'n and
Veggie Chick'n Good Stuff

If you're wondering what Gardein is, so was I. Here's how the company describes it:

"Gardein is a savory blend of nutritious vegetable and grain ingredients, including soy, wheat, peas, beets and carrots, slow-cooked to have the authentic taste, texture and nutrition of premium, lean meat."

Products being discontinued by manufacturers

Some very popular products are being discontinued by their manufacturers including:

• Vitasoy soy milk
• Good Health Guppies
• Natures Path Heritage O's
• Beth's cookies