Hello Wheatsville friends and fans!If you've been in our store lately you will have noticed that we are feeling pretty happy about Valentine's Day around here. It's just a nice way to set some time aside and tell the important people in your life how much you love and appreciate them.
Take a moment to appreciate your sweetie at our Hospitality Desk and write them a Valentine! Drop it in our mailbox and we'll display your note in our front window. We've had a lot of fun reading all the sweet notes you've written and drawn. So much love out there!
Of course we have lots of wonderful gifts and foods to share: vegan vanilla marshmallows from Sweet & Sara, locally made Sticky Toffee Pudding, heart-shaped locally made cherry Tiny Pies, fair trade roses, locally made heart shaped pasta from Pasta & Co., lots of tiny bubbles, and our own Wheatsville Valentine's Blend Tea are all sure to put a smile on your sweetie's face.
Have a sweet weekend! Scroll on down for:WHEATSVILLE'S ONE BIG THINGEvery week, Wheatsville staff picks the product we're most excited about right now! This week's One Big Thing is Wheatsville's Valentine's Tea!
We love it for so many reasons! - Made specifically for Wheatsville by Carla our Bulk Herbs Buyer.
- It's a lovely blend of organic cinnamon, organic orange peel, organic hibiscus, damiana, rose buds and petals, organic chamomile.
- This tea will inspire love in your sweetheart so check it out!
Love & RosesHappy Valentine's Day!
This is our second year selling Fair Trade Roses from our friends at One World Flowers and we are doing it in a big way this year! We've got beautiful, single stem fair trade roses (red and pink) for $2.99 and more of the great 3-rose bouquets. The bouquets contain three roses, baby's breath, spray roses, and greens and are a simple and easy way show love and appreciation.
This might sound like a broken record, but we really recommend our Texas-Grown Organic Red Grapefruit. They're at their peak of freshness and flavor right now, so get some while they're still so incredibly good! Merilee Kuchon, our kitchen manager, recommended a great recipe from The Homesick Texan, a food blog by a Texan living in New York. A sour cream poundcake with ruby red grapefruit is sure to please and easy to make, too. I'm going to make one this weekend.
Our favorite meteoric Austin farm, Johnson's Backyard Garden, has been running on all cylinders these days and thanks to a mild winter we have enjoyed so much great locally grown, organic produce. I talked to Brenton Johnson a couple weeks ago to get the skinny on the goings-on at JBG. Look for an article with juicy details in the upcoming issue of the Wheatsville Breeze. Right now, our favorite item from JBG is hands down their organic loose carrots. These things are so fresh, so crisp, and so sweet, you'll think you'd never eaten a carrot before. No lie. SweetnessLooking to impress your Valentine this year? Come on down to the Wheatsville Bakery for lots of tasty and beautiful Valentine treats! Wheatsville's bakers have gone above and beyond to create a tantalizing array of homemade sweets this Valentine's Day for you to share with your loved ones! Our holiday-inspired, vegan Chocolate-Raspberry Heart Cakes are so adorable they'd make Cupid proud. And our Linzer Heart Cookies really take the cake! These classic sandwich cookies are made from organic flour, sugar and pecans, cut into cute heart shapes, filled with organic raspberry jam and sprinkled with powdered sugar, making one beautiful Valentine treat!
Our homemade vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, available in three-packs and singles, and locally produced Tom's Fudge, in six-packs and singles, are an easy way to show your love with chocolate! Any one of these would surely make a delicious and thoughtful Valentine for better halves, friends and family, but don't forget to grab a sweet treat for your favorite professor, thoughtful bus driver, or last-minute babysitter, too!
Click here to read about all of our Deli deals & specials!
Be Cheesy!Valentine's Day is next week and I have some cheesy (in the best way possible!) Valentine's Day ideas. Our ever-popular, locally made Pasta & Co. Heart Shaped Pasta with four cheese filling is back! It's delicious and makes a perfect dinner. Here are a couple of easy to make sauce recipes that will pair perfectly:
Vodka Sauce for Heart Shaped Ravioli
Emeril Lagasse's Puttenesca Sauce. Use with Heart Shaped Pasta
Are you thinking about serving the object of your affection breakfast in bed? May I suggest a warm crusty baguette served with some Fromager de Affinois and a strawberry fruit spread? How about a toasted bagel and locally made Full Quiver Farms Strawberry Neufchatel, or crepes with ricotta and or chevre? I also included a recipe for baked brie and an alternative to the pear chutney.
Chicken Cordon Bleu
Emeril's Baked Brie with Pear Chutney You can replace the chutney with honey and chopped walnuts.
Ricotta Suffed Crepe With Chocolate and Strawberries Romantic DinnersSkip the packed restaurants and make a romantic meal at home for your sweetie this year. The Wheatsville Meat Dept. has got just what you need to create that special meal, or meals, for your valentine.
Scallops are a great romantic center piece. They are easy to cook, because you barely do so. They have a great texture and sweet taste. You could go simple and just sear them in a citrus juice, or go complex and make a deep flavorful sauce. Continuing with the Seafood, Prince Edward Island Mussels or Littleneck Clams are a great mood setter. There is something to be said for a shellfish simmered in a great sauce until they open and then eaten with the fingers.
For the guys…play to your strengths. If you feel you're great with the grill then just go with it. Mussels and clams can be cooked on the grill along with Shrimp and Halibut. Halibut is a great flat fish, and I mean great. Some of them can get well over 6 ft. long. Grill your filet for several minutes on each side and flake into a creamy pasta dish or top with some pesto.
Wheatsville will also have Sweetheart Steaks. These are butterflied Ribeyes that fold out into the shape of a heart. Hanger Steaks make great toppers for just about any kind of salad. Another possibility with the Hanger Steak is our recipe for Smoked Blue Cheese & Mushroom Steak Alfredo.
Duck can be kept simple or made very complex. Duck Confit takes a lot of time and effort, but is totally worth it. On the other hand a simple grilled or baked breast will take you far as well. Remember to put something under the breast to keep it from flaring up on the grill.
Another great way to impress is brunch on the weekend. Cold Smoked Salmon Lox are great on bagels with capers and cream cheese. That would also make a great omelet stuffing. Choose any one of our great bacons and wrap something in it, like some dates and goat cheese with a balsamic vinegar drizzle.
Check out our great new lower prices on the Mary's Organic Chicken line in the Self Serve case and the new lower prices on the Boer Goat Ground and Stew Meat. Herbs for RomanceHerbs for Romance: Damiana and Rose for a limited time in Bulk Herbs!
With Valentine's Day on the horizon, we're all about omance. Herbs have always held a distinguished role in the long history of love and seduction. Wheatsville has two of the most popular herbs for romance, Damiana Leaf ($12.79lb/$.79oz) and Rose Petals ($13.69lb/$.85oz ) in bulk herbs for a limited time. Both herbs have been used traditionally for their gentle aphrodisiac effects, and can be taken as a tea or a bath!
Also check out our custom Wheatsville Valentine's Tea, mixed in house – an intoxicating blend of cinnamon, rose, hibiscus, damiana, orange peel, and chamomile to get your mojo running this Valentine's day. It too can be taken as a tea or a bath – OR infuse it into your favorite wine!
(As with ANY herbs or teas, remember that if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or currently on other medications to check with a trusted health practitioner before consuming. Please always use herbs responsibly. This information is for education purposes only and is not intended to treat or prevent any health conditions.) Valentine's Day SupportSupplement your endeavors this Valentine's Day!
Gaia Herbs Libido formulas
Male Libido, regularly $23.69, on sale now for $18.99
Women's Libido, regularly $23.69, on sale now for $18.99
Optimize your mental powers to woo that special someone:
Oregon's Wild Harvest Ginkgo Gotu Kola formula, regularly $14.99, on sale $9.99
Health Force Nutritionals CircuForce Brain Power, 90 capsules, regularly $32.69, on sale now for $26.69
Optimize your body's qi (chi), or vital energy to stay healthy through the cold and flu season, and help your body's healthy response to stress, so you can be at your best:
Orgeon's Wild Harvest Astragalus, regularly $12.99, now on sale for $8.99 Sweet SippingMumm Napa Cuvee M sparkling wine for your valentine! On the palate, full flavors of peach and pear combine with a creamy caramel character, which lingers into a long satisfying finish. This is the perfect sparkling wine to share with the one you love!
Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye IPA 12 packs on sale for $13.99 regularly $14.99! Sierra Nevada's new seasonal beer, Ruthless Rye IPA, is a delicious brew featuring the flavors of rye bread, citrus, and pine. Think Sierra Nevada Torpedo with the addition of rye. Awesome! New at WheatsvilleWe work hard to seek out exciting new products and flavors we think our members will love—here's what's new at Wheatsville this week. Owner DealsAs Valentine's Day approaches, comfort food comes to mind. Specifically, Blake's Farmhouse Macaroni & Cheese. The wonderful folks who make this delicious comfort staple pour their love into every batch they make. They perfectly blend cheddar cheese and organic pasta and finish it off with a crunchy breadcrumb topping. This tasty treat is on sale now for $2.49 reg. $2.89.
Click here for more Owner Deals valid Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 – Tuesday, February 14th, 2012. —Brooks Wood, Co+op Deals Coordinator Co+op DealsValentine's Day is almost here! Every department of Wheatsville has collaborated to ensure you have tasty meal options and decadent desserts to choose from. Stroll through our store and feast your eyes on our delectable array of savory and sweet foods. You'll fall in love all over again!
Speaking of love, nothing says LOVE like our Chocolove bars made of premium Belgian chocolate. They are on sale now for $1.99 reg. $2.59.
Click here for more Co+op Deals valid Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 – Tuesday, February 14th, 2012. —Brooks Wood, Co+op Deals Coordinator Patronage RebatesLast Day for Patronage Rebate Redemption – February 15!
After a highly productive season, our 2011 Patronage Rebate distribution period will end on Wednesday, February 15. As of today, owners have redeemed over $43,600 in rebate dollars, which is about 94% of the rebates issued! If you have not yet picked up and redeemed your rebate, please check in with the Hospitality Clerk at the front of the store. If you are not sure you have a rebate, it only takes a few seconds to check at the Hospitality Desk.
Co-ops receive a very nice tax benefit for the federal government when their Patronage Rebates are redeemed and the staff have been working very diligently to receive the maximum benefit. We can replace lost rebates or designate a friend or family member to pick up and redeem it if you cannot make it in by February 15. You can even donate it to SafePlace, our current Community Action Group! Please contact the Ownership Coordinator if you would like to donate your Patronage Rebate or designate it to another person. SafePlaceSupport Community Action and Help End Domestic Violence with SafePlace
During the month of February, we will be supporting SafePlace with our Community Action Program. Their mission is to end sexual and domestic violence through safety, healing, prevention and social change. Wheatsville and its owners have a long history of supporting this wonderful organization and we are proud to be hosting them during National Teen Dating Violence Awareness & Prevention Month.
SafePlace will receive 1% of February's Wednesday sales as well as additional contributions shoppers make at the cash register. You can even donate your reusable bag and container credits! Wednesday's are an ideal day to do large shops because you will be supporting the co-op, local producers & growers, your well being, and SafePlace!
In addition, we will be hosting a Donation Drive of shelf-stable pantry items for SafePlace's shelter. As you peruse the store, look for the Community Action shelf signs which suggest ideal items for the donations boxes. On your way out, drop your donations in the boxes by the exit doors.
I hope you have a most excellent week! Dan Gillotte Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy |
No comments:
Post a Comment