Thanksgiving is coming! This is not a drill! We can help!

Hi Wheatsville friends and fans!

We are seriously gearing up to have the best Thanksgiving ever here at the co-op and we want to help you have a great holiday!
But before we get to that, it's TIME to vote! Vote for the board, the Community Action Wednesday groups and on our boycott of products tested on animals. http://wheatsville.coop/election/index.html  TIME is running out, the voting will be CLOSED on Dec. 9th at 6pm, so get your vote in TODAY!!!

Scroll down for:
Thanksgiving, local and what's in season in Produce
Vegan Marshmallows by request!
Thanksgiving in the deli
Super Special Thanksgiving Hot bar!
Turkeys, hams and more
Cheese yums! Lots of new and exciting cheeses.
Super Beer!
Staff Top Ten Picks
Grocery news

Thanksgiving in Produce
We're gearing up for a great Thanksgiving here in your produce department and are hoping to have everything you need for a successful holiday. In order to make your shopping experience as easy as possible, we will be converting our front display into a Thankgiving-centric array of staple items. Look for easily accessible items such as green beans, celery, cranberries and packs of mixed fresh herbs. We'll have lots of the other staples like onions, garlic and potatoes as well. We're ready to make this Thanksgiving a success for you!
 
Local in Produce
This was a pretty devastating summer for local farmers. The drought really impacted our selection of local produce here at the Co-op over the past few months, yet things seem to be coming together for a successful fall season. We still aren't offering too many local options, but here is a short list of local produce we are currently carrying. Green beans from J&B Farms in Hondo, fresh creamer peas from Lightsey Farm in Mexia, fresh sprouts from New World Produce out in by Lake Travis, and bibb lettuce from Amador Farms in Dripping Springs. Wednesday we will have some locally grown kakai pumpkins. These pumpkins have beautifully mottled orange, green and beige skin and have hull-less seeds that can be eaten with the flesh. We will have a limited number of these through the holiday.
 
What's in Season?
Apple season is in full swing right now. If you haven't tasted our new crop organic honey crisps this year, then you are missing out. Organic ambrosia apples have been a big favorite amongst our owners, as well. When it's apple season it is pear season too! Our new crop organic pears are amazing. My personal favorites have been the organic concord pears and the bosc. The concord pears have a sweet candy-like flavor that to me is unparalleled in the pear world. Bosc pears are my favorite pears for cooking, and keep their shape and texture after poaching or baking.
 
Persimmons, kiwi and pineapples are in season as well. These fruits are a little bit more exotic, but we've probably all tasted them at some point. Eat them now while they are in season for peak flavor.
 
On the vegetable front, potatoes, sweet potatoes, hard squashes (kabocha, pumpkin, sweet dumpling, delicatta, spaghetti and butternut), and Brussels sprouts are in season. Leafy greens will start to come into season over the next few weeks.
 
Wow
We have really excellent Fair Trade avocados right now. Come in and get a few of these ethical delights!

By Owner Request
Niki Nash, Wheatsville Merchandising Manager
 
This week I want to feature an item that was brought in several months ago by owner request because I want to make sure that everyone knows we have it. I'm talking about the delightful Dandies Vanilla Vegan Marshmallows! Most marshmallows on the market contain gelatin, which is a animal by-product that vegetarians avoid. Dandies are made without gelatin but even if that's not an issue for you, you can enjoy the fact that they are handcrafted, air-puffed and taste amazing. Most people say 'that's what a marshmallow is supposed to taste like!" Use in any recipe that calls for marshmallows, like rice krispy treats, sweet potato pie, s'mores or just use them on top of hot chocolate! Enjoy!

Thanksgiving 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.  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!
 
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, 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 Bread Stuffing made with our in-house sausage 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!
 
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!
So leave the cooking to us! You can pick up a menu at either the Hospitality Desk or Deli Counter. 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!
 
EXTRA SPECIAL THANKSGIVING HOT BAR ALL NEXT WEEK!
Yep, get your Thanksgiving early and build up your excitement for the big day!
We'll have Boar's Head Oven Gold Roasted Turkey Breast, Tofurky (yep! we're gonna have it!), Vegan Cornbread Stuffing, Bread Stuffing featuring housemade pork sausage, Garlic Mashed Potato and more! So, have Thanksgiving for lunch or dinner nearly every day next week! (Yes, I AM salivating over this!)

From Bryan, the Butcher

We have some great deals on Turkey! Organic Prairie Organic Whole Turkeys are in.  These turkeys are ranging between 10lb to 16ln at the great price of 2.99lb.  Find them in stock at the meat department. These turkeys come from small family farms that are part of the Organic Valley/ Organic Prairie Farm Co-op. Remember, these turkeys will require time to defrost

We also have Niman Ranch center pieces:

Niman Ranch Smoked Spiral cut Hams $6.99 lb
Niman Ranch Boneless Pit Hams $8.49 lb

These would be great for appetizers and sure to please!

Niman Ranch Dry cured Salami. Original $6.99 and Herbed $7.49.
Wild Alaskan cold smoked salmon $31.99 lb

From Greg, on Cheese Island
New for the Holidays!!!

Cahill's Irish Porter Cheese- Cahill's Porter is an Irish cheddar flavored with their own, farm-made, Irish Porter (like Guinness Stout). The cheese is made from pasteurized cow's milk (from a Friesian herd). All of their cheeses are hand-crafted and individually blended, with no artificial ingredients. Marion uses vegetable rennet, making Cahill's Porter also a vegetarian choice. The finished cheese is sealed in a brown wax truckle. 
Tasting Notes: A dark brown wax-rind (remove before eating) cheese.
The pate is marbled cubes of light beige/brown in dark brown. The cheese breaks easily and could be melted or grated. Really good on a ploughman's plate or lunch with beer. Would be good paired with ripe pear or cooked apple. It's a semi-hard cheese with a floral cheddary nose of fresh butter. The pate has a meaty texture with caramel and chocolatey, almost malty notes.

Ardagh Wine Cheese- This red waxed gourmet cheese truckle is called after the Smith O'Brien home of Cahermoyle, Ardagh, where this medieval monastic cheese was revived about a hundred years ago. This is an adventurous red waxed cheese, veined with red wine, was revived from an old Limerick Palatine Recipe. It has a sharp taste with a strong presence of dry red wine. Enjoyed best on crackers or crisp-bread with a glass of vintage port

Black Diamond Spreads

Extra Sharp Cheddar-The great taste of sharp Canadian cheddar in a smooth spread
Merlot Cheddar-The great taste of sharp cheddar mixed with the sweetness of Merlot

Super BEER Blowout Sale!
Sessions Black Lager 12 packs, formally $13.99 are now only $10.99 for a limited time. Short, Dark, and Drinkable and a Gold Medal Winner at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival, Session Black, carries the mantra of drinkability into new territory. Most beers this dark are so heavy-duty, you could eat them with a fork. Session Black, on the other hand, lets you have your dark beer and drink it, too.  With just a hint of roasty chocolate character, Session Black is short, dark, and totally drinkable. At long last, a dark beer that doesn't drink like a meal.
The perfect wine for turkey is now only $9.99! Mark west Pinot Noir, brilliant and bright, this wine's garnet color suggests its weighty characteristics. Heady aromas of black raspberry jam, cranberries, dried cherries and dried herbs intermingle with oak notes of nutmeg and a hint of smoke. Expansive and silky with cherry and raspberry suggestions, the wine lingers on the palate. This wine would be an excellent addition to your Thanksgiving Feast!
 
Check out our "Staff Top Ten Picks" posted throughout the store, we work here and shop here!!!
Look for the green signs in front of the products.
 
From Lucio Gamboa, Cashier & Bagger
 
1.   Smoked Gouda from Holland: I want to eat my way out of this.
2.   Niman Ranch Apple Gouda Sausage: Everything about this is delicious.
3.   Helwa Choco Wafers: The perfect treat.
4.   Spaten Optimator : Will keep you warm and buzzin' this winter.
5.   Garden of Eatin' Guac Chips: Add cheese to these and its nachos!
6.   Almond Krinkles (in bulk): Make my mornings so much better.
7.   Sambazon Amazon Cherry Smoothie Packs: Who needs a smoothie when they taste so good?
8.   Bubbie's Sauerkraut: Makes my heart go pitter patter. 
9.   Pureluck Del Cielo: Del Cielo + bread = Heaven
10. Quorn Gruyere Cutlets: They make great sandwiches.
 
From Stacy Lamy, Cashier
 
1. Wheat-free Thai Style Pasta- kinda spicy deliciousness. Peanuts make it crunchy. Best when warmed up.
2. La Croix (lah-qwah) - Lime goes great with Mexican fare, mixed berry with everything else. Great price!
3. The Merry Hempsters Vegan Hemp Lip Balm- Great texture and yummy flavors. From the great land of Oregon!
4. Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread (soy-free variety)- Never thought I'd find a substitute for butter, but...VOILA!
5. Texas Longhorns (dark chocolate)- Oh My! I get some when I've been a good girl :)
6. Pyrenees Cheese with Green Pepper- A little sweet, creamy and peppery...the cheese they eat in heaven.
7. Aura Cacia Essential Oils- Blend equal parts: clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, rosemary and lemon for an immunity boosting bacteria killer. Use topically.
8. Gala Apples- My most "favoritest" apple. Grab some crunchy bulk peanut butter and munch out!
9. Ravenswood Zinfandel- Always pleasant, never rude. My first Zin is my favorite. From California.
10. Adbusters Magazine- This stellar publication makes me think, feel and question.

In The Grocery Aisles
Carter's Select Salsas:
 
I'm happy to report that we now have Carter's Select Salsas in five varieties on our grocery shelves. These excellent salsas are made here in Austin. Carter's uses fresh vegetables and herbs instead of dehydrated, and no water or vinegar is added. The first thing I noticed when I tried a sample of Carter's Select spicy salsa is that it tasted like real vegetables. I'm now a fan, and so is my family. To read more, check out their website http://www.cartersselect.com Justin Merrifield, Grocery Buyer

I hope you have a great weekend and that we can be your Thanksgiving store!

Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy