Wednesday, May 02, 2012

The Secret Letter is 'M'

 

If you have problems viewing this message, visit here for the web version.

Facebook

Twitter

Myspace

LinkedIn

Digg It!

Del.ico.us

Newsvine

Reddit

StumbleUpon

 

Wheatsville Logo

Hello Wheatsville friends and fans!

M is for:

May Flowers
Lots of great local organic grower bunches in store from our friend Flower Farmer Scott out in Cedar Creek. Right now he's got brilliantly colored zinnias. He says, "The flowers are absolutely HUGE and the colors are lovely. There are two beautiful yellows and a very nice coral, too.  But the big news in zinnias is one that our friend Jenny bought for us to grow.  It's called "Zowie" and it looks like a flower on fire!" We'll have lots on hand for Mom's Day on May 13th too!

Mom
We've got loads of beautiful (and locally made) cards for Mom! Ron Dessain of Blue Heron Photos has a dazzling selection of gorgeous flower and nature photograph cards, Flat Flower Botanicals offer colorful heirloom flower pressings and designer Chriss Blagrave's one of a kind, hand-stamped paper collage cards have just the right touch of handmade sweetness for mom.

We also have loads of fair trade bags, bodycare, teas and treats!

Cinco de Mayo
Come in on Saturday for some South of the Border flavors! Our Hot bar will be featuring all your Tex-Mex favorites plus Mexican Wedding Cookies and Mexican Chocolate Cake for dessert! If you're thinking of cooking up your own fiesta feast Homesick Texan throws down with some amazing ideas and recipes. Happy Cinco de Mayo!


Minor Mishap & My Co-op Rocks
Jose Lozano from Magic Spoon Productions paired up with our friends from the Minor Mishap Marching Band and entered a video about Wheatsville in the My Co-op Rocks contest. Make sure you log in and vote! And thanks guys for making such a great video! We love it!!!


Scroll on down for:

This week's One Big Thing

·         Summer Previews

·         Sweet Mini

·         Housemade Links

·         Bohemia Cerveza

·         Cupcake Sauvingon Blanc

·         GIfts for Mom

·         Urgent, Urgent, Emergen-C

·         New at Wheatsville

·         Owner Deals

·         Co+op Deals

·         Yellow Bike

·         Farm to Plate

WHEATSVILLE'S ONE BIG THING

Every week, Wheatsville staff picks the product we're most excited about right now!

 This week it's Mother's Day Cards!


Why do we love them?

  • Mom's love seeing your thoughts and words on a card. It's been that way ever since you were little.
  • It's a sweet surprise in the mailbox for mom's that live far away. (And remember, if you're mailing, you gotta do it soon to make sure it arrives on time.)
  • Your words of love and appreciation are always 'just the right present'.

Summer Previews

The seasons are changing and we are excited to see new things coming through our receiving doors.  This weekend, we saw the first offering of local peaches from Lightsey Farms in Mexia and Rhew Orchards in Florseville. I'm often a little wary of first of the season fruit, I guess I'm afraid it won't live up to my expectations. Not so with these peaches! Juicy, flavorful, and with a nice texture, they're everything you could ask for in a peach. They'll get even better as the season progresses, so we know good things are in store just around the corner.

We've been munching on award-winning locally grown strawberries from Oak Hill Farms in Poteet for a few weeks now and we're psyched to see blackberries from Wheeler Farms, also in Poteet (What is it about Poteet that makes such amazing berries?). To compliment all those great berries, we've got a springtime treat: Organic Rhubarb!

Is it a fruit, or is it a vegetable? In 1947, a New York court ruled that since it is used as a fruit, it will be counted as a fruit for tax purposes. Whether or not you buy that, I'm sure you can agree that whatever its classification, rhubarb is delicious! Try it with some local berries and goat cheese!

In addition to edibles, we're happy to celebrate the return of Flower Farmer Scott's amazing fresh cut flower bouquets.  Scott is back in a BIG way this year, and we are primed to have plenty of mother's day bouquets for you next week.  In addition to the fabulous zinnia bouquets that Scott made for us last year, he's got some gorgeous snapdragon bunches and some simply breathtaking cornflower bouquets in a range of blues and purples.  At $7.99, they are an incredible deal!  A bunch of fresh flowers really brightens up a room and is sure to make a happy Mom on the 13th.

Sweet Mini

Just when you thought life couldn't get any sweeter, our wonderful bakers have whipped up some beautiful new mini-loaves for your breakfast table! Our classic Pumpkin Apple Bread, vegan Banana Pecan Bread, and wheat-free Morning Glory Bread are now available in individual loaves, just right for two to four people as a brunchy treat or late-night snack!

Slice 'em in thick slabs or slender slivers – either way, you will be scooping up the last, tasty crumbs in no time because these irresistibly moist sweet breads will keep you coming back for more – and more! – and more! Grab one for the trip to Grandma's and another for your picnic at the lake. C'mon in and see what we've got cookin'!

Click here to read about all of our Deli's new items, deals & specials!

Housemade Links

We have some new sausages in the Meat department. Wheatsville's own Bratwurst is made of half beef, half pork, fresh breadcrumbs, Texas Daily Harvest milk and a blend of white pepper, allspice, and marjoram with some Good Flow Honey for a touch of sweetness. Poach these in beer and butter and finish them on the grill for a little touch of carbon.

We also have Housemade Chorizo Verde. Popular in interior Mexico, this green pork sausage is made with roasted poblanos and serranos with fresh cilantro and spinach powder. 

Lastly we have Spicy Bacon Cheddar Beef Sausage. This all beef sausage has Niman Ranch Applewood Smoked Bacon and Cabot Vermont Habenaro Cheddar Cheese. The great spiciness of the Cabot Cheese is slightly mellowed by the bacon but still packs a nice punch. It makes a great burger as well as a great sausage.

Check out the Freezer for our new Co+op Deals. We have a couple of fish burgers from MSC Certified Blue Horizon. The Teriyaki Tuna Burger and the Blue Cheese Salmon Burger are great ways to keep seafood in the diet in the familiar form of the burger. Great on the grill as well as the skillet, these sustainable options are $4.29 reg. $4.99.

Also on Co+op Deals we have Organic Prairie Sliced Smoked Turkey for $6.49 reg. $6.99 and Sliced Roasted Turkey for $5.99 reg. $6.99.

With Mother's Day around the corner it's time to start planning that special meal. Breakfast in bed is always a good choice. Choose things that are simple but still pretty exciting to get kids involved. Children love to eat and make pancakes and sliced bananas and chocolate chips make them extra special. If your Mom likes to sleep in, maybe a brunch menu is what you are looking for. Bagels and Lox with Full Quiver Neufchatel Cheese and some capers and red onion are always a good choice. Maybe you could try a Chorizo Verde and cheese omelet. If it's dinner you are looking to impress with, play to your strengths and bring out the grill. All manner of seafood is grillable. Mussels and clams, shrimp of course. Scallops would pair up nicely with a Hanger Steak or Ribeye Steak. Grill some chicken to put into salad with some grilled grape or cherry tomatoes. Keep it simple and fun and mom will love it!

Bohemia Cerveza

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Bohemia Cerveza! Bohemia is a Mexican beer named after the Czech region of Bohemia, one of the world's most recognized brewing areas. Bohemia is a full, rich beer with an earthy complexity. The deep but subtle aromas of fruit, roasted barley and minerals give way to flavors that have almost a cocoa-like bitterness paired with sweet hints of vanilla. Its lively carbonation is perfectly balanced with its overall richness.  This is the perfect beer for Mexican cuisine!

Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc

Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc! This Sauvignon Blanc is reminiscent of a lemon chiffon cupcake. It's made up of integrated flavors of Meyer lemons, Key limes and a finish that awakens the appetite. There are hints of grapefruit, gooseberry and citrus,  coming together with a long, creamy finish.

Gifts for Mom

Mother's Day is right around the corner and what better way to show Mom your love than with a lovely all-natural gift bag!

From South Austin People we have:

Body lotion
Bar soap
Fragrance spray

$17.99 each

Foaming Hand Soap
Bar soap
Fragrance spray

$13.99 each

Or our own Wheatsville gift set which includes:
Zhi Lady Lavender Tea
10 Rain Lily bulbs
a packet of flower seeds forom Seed Savers Exchange

$12.99 each

Quantities are limited so stop by and pick up one today!

Urgent, Urgent, Emergen-C

Couldn't resist throwing in a little Foreigner...

This week Emergen'C is on sale. Keep yourself hydrated, and happy with just one little packet! Easy to take with you on long bike rides, jogging around (or even paddling around - they're waterproof) Lady Bird Lake this weekend.

Box of 30 Packets Classic Flavors:  SALE $8.99 reg. $9.99

New at Wheatsville

New gluten-free pizzas, far out-flavored kale chips, kits to get your chili on this summer, and more… We 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 Deals

Exclusively for our Owners, we've lowered to price of one of our favorite olive oils, Lucini Italia. Aided by sun, soil and the Italian climate, this extra virgin olive oil is produced from 100% hand-picked Italian olives pressed within 24 hours. These olives are harvested to produce a traditional Tuscan tasting profile that is green and full, with a peppery finish. This savory oil is on Deal now for $12.99 reg. $15.99.

Click here for more Owner Deals valid Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 – Tuesday, May 15th, 2012. —Brooks Wood, Co+op Deals Coordinator

Co+op Deals

Our top selling Back To Nature crackers are on Deal beginning today! We're featuring your favorites which include Organic Stoneground Wheat, Crispy Wheat and Harvest Whole Wheat. These are all on sale now for $2.79 reg. $3.69.

Click here for more Co+op Deals valid Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 – Tuesday, May 15th, 2012. —Brooks Wood, Co+op Deals Coordinator

Yellow Bike

Ride Your Bike to Community Action Wednesday in May!

Just in time for National Bike Month, we will be supporting Austin's Yellow Bike Project as our new Community Action Group!  The YBP is an all-volunteer initiative to put bicycles on the streets of Austin and Central Texas by operating community bike shops, teaching bike mechanics and maintenance, and acting as a local bike advocacy group. The origin of their name comes from the project that got the group started in which recycled bikes destined for the landfill were redirected, painted yellow, and released as free community bikes. To date, the Yellow Bike Project has released hundreds (maybe thousands) of free community bikes.

The Yellow Bike Project also teaches valuable bike maintenance skills.  At their Webberville Shop, the YBP volunteers don't fix your bike for you…they teach you how to fix it!  In order to keep this community resource alive, patrons volunteer time back equal to what was used for personal projects or make cash donations.  Their shop is truly a remarkable sight to see, especially since all bikes and parts are donated by members of the community.  Visit their website to learn more about their special projects, kid's programming, adult classes and bike advocacy.

One percent of May's Wednesday sales (May 2, 9, 16 & 23) will be donated to Yellow Bike Project, so feel free to re-schedule your major shopping trips (or bike ride) to show your support.  You can also contribute extra cash donations or your reusable bag & container credits at the register.  Thanks for helping Yellow Bike Project put bicycles on the streets of Austin and we look forward to seeing you on Community Action Wednesday!

Farm to Plate

Our friends at Sustainable Food Center are busy planning a night to remember and you're invited!

On May 10th they will host over 25 local chefs, brewers and mixologists at Barr Mansion for their annual Farm to Plate Fundraiser.  They have only a few tickets left so make sure you reserve yours today!

And make sure you stop by the Wheatsville table this year and say hi! We're once again a proud sponsor and will have lots of tasty tidbits for you to enjoy!

I hope you have a most excellent week!

Dan Gillotte

Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy

Fresh in the Deli


Take & Bake Pizzas are Now In the Deli’s Grab’n’Go Case!



 

That’s right, not only are we now selling hot slices of fresh-baked pizza at the Deli Counter, in flavors like Bacon Jalapeno, Vegan Popcorn, and plain ol’ Cheese, but we now have whole, take’n’bake pizzas ready to go from our Deli’s grab’n’go case in those same flavors! Our fresh, homemade dough is par-baked, topped with organic Muir Glen pizza sauce and either Organic Valley or Vegan Daiya mozzarella, topped as needed, then wrapped up for you to take home and finish off in your oven for a delicious, hot and tasty meal in minutes flat! Don’t wanna turn on the oven? You can even cook it on your hot BBQ grill, just be sure to put the cover on!

And right now, owners save $1.00 on any of our whole Take & Bake Pizzas! Try the Bacon Jalapeno for $8.99, reg. $9.99, the Popcorn Tofu & Vegan Cheese for $8.99, reg. $9.99, and classic Cheese for $7.99, reg. $8.99!

And if you’re the do-it-yourself type, our bakers are now making fresh pizza dough for you for you to make your own pie! Look for raw dough balls in our grab’n’go cooler, just $2.99 each! Our vegan dough is made with organic unbleached white and bread flours and will roll out to a beautiful 10 to 14 inch pie, depending on how thick you like your crust! Just roll or stretch the dough, add sauce, cheese and your favorite toppings, and pop it in a hot oven for an amazing meal in minutes! Speaking of toppings, an easy solution is to graze our salad and olive bars, gathering already-prepped peppers, onions, olives, pepperoncini, mushrooms and more, and allowing each of your dinner guests to top their pizza with their favorite items! Along with your dough and veggie toppings, grab a can of Muir Glen Organic Pizza Sauce from the grocery aisle (one can has enough sauce for four pizzas!), your favorite shredded cheeses, and some sausage or bacon from our meat department, and you’ve got a personalizable pizza party to be reckoned with!

Also on sale for owners are all varieties of our organic, fair-trade 16oz Mochas, made with organic Dagoba chocolate syrup, just $3.50 each, reg. $4.00! Combining espresso with chocolate syrup, this coffee drink is amazing! Try our Spicy Mocha, with a kick from cayenne, add one of our yummy syrups, or just get a plain, simple chocolate Mocha with your choice of organic cow, soy, almond or coconut milk!

Our first new Fresh in the Deli dish is our very own Wheatsville Bakery’s wonderful Oatmeal Cream Pies! Sweet tooth? This will satisfy it! Vegan? Absolutely! A filling of creamy, sweet vegan cream cheese frosting is sandwiched between two tender cookies made with organic rolled oats and brown sugar to create a most divine dessert. Come try one today!

Our second Fresh in the Deli dish this round is a delicious Mango Salsa from our friends at River Valley Market in Northampton, Massachusetts. Ripe, juicy mango, jalapeño pepper, fresh cilantro and a splash of lime juice make this Caribbean-inspired fruit salsa sing. Try it on grilled burgers, fish or poultry!

Our featured salsa is the beautiful, veggie-laden Tomatillo Fire, boasting a trio of roasted peppers blended with tomatillos, tomatoes, onions, garlic, cilantro and cumin! Try some on your taco or order of $1.99 Brown Rice and Black Beans today!

Our all-fruit, no-filler featured smoothie right now is the beloved Blueberry Banana Dream, which is delightfully creamy and the most amazing shade of purple! Try adding peanut butter for a meal in a cup!

Also on sale at the Deli Counter through May are tasty cold cuts, sliced to order: Boar’s Head Oven Roasted Chicken at $8.99/lb, reg. $9.49 and spicy Pepperjack Cheese, $6.19/lb, reg. $7.19! C’mon in and stock up on your lunchbox staples – these two make great pizza toppings, too!

Wow, it’s getting hot out there! So come on in, cool off, and hydrate yourself with a cold Deli drink! Our Grab’n’Go Icebox in front of the Deli Counter is filled with our tasty, icy beverages for you to grab-n-gulp with no wait! You will likely find our infamously eye-opening Iced Coffee Toddy, our sweet and fruity Gingerade, our simply sweetened Agave Lemonade and our delightfully pink and refreshing Hibiscus Mint Iced Tea! Also making its seasonal return is our lean, green Cucumber Agua Fresca! The Cuke Fresca is deceptively simple – cucumber, water, fresh lime juice and organic raw agave syrup are blended together into a chilled masterpiece of thirst-quenching bliss, so c’mon in and try this delicious and good-for-you drink!



Have you seen our Dinners For Two? On the bottom shelf of our self service case are large portion meals-to-go: choose from Vegan Mac & “Cheese” with Broccoli, Turkey Florentine Meatballs with Spaghetti Sauce, vegan Tomato Braised Tofu over Brown Rice, Broccoli Cheddar Rice Casserole and Braised Greens with White Beans. These heat’n’eat meals-to-go will help you get a solid dinner on the table in a hurry – just boil some pasta to go with your Meatballs and stretch that dinner to feed four! Tomato Braised Tofu is fine on its own, but if you grab the Greens with Beans as a side to either item, you’ve got a well rounded meal ready in minutes. Also in self-serve you’ll see large portions of Popcorn Tofu, Buffalo Popcorn Tofu, Cashew Linguine, Green Beans Amandine, and our favorite Rosie Jane’s Spaghetti Sauce, so the options continue to grow – just mix and match for a number of great, easy, quick dinners!

And for those of you looking to limit the gluten in your diet, c’mon in for our Bakery’s Wheat-Free Wednesdays and choose from a scrumptious selection of gluten-free baked goods, like muffins, bars and cakes, plus our fabulous Morning Glory Mini Loaves! Also, be sure to check out our new Bakery table every day in front of the Deli Counter, where you’ll find an assortment of wrapped, sweet treats! And don’t forget to try a loaf of our yummy, fresh-baked LaBrea artisan breads – have you tried our wholesome Wholegrain Loaf?

From 7:30 til 11:00 am every day, the Deli is running a breakfast bar of grab’n’go goodness to start your morning right! Come on over to our hot bar, where you’ll find a variety of freshly made Breakfast Tacos wrapped and ready for you! Now, even when you’re running late, you can stop in for a super-quick and super-tasty breakfast with no wait! Grab a vegan Black Bean, Potato & Sausage Taco, a vegetarian Egg, Potato & Cheese Taco, or a meat-lovers mainstay Bacon, Egg & Cheese Taco on a wheat tortilla with a side of Salsa to start your morning right! Or, come up to the Counter and order a custom-made taco! Also, for just $1.99 a cup, our organic, vegan Steel-Cut Oatmeal offers a hearty, nutty bite, and an abundance of toppings are available to make it just how you like it: organic butter, maple syrup, agave nectar, local honey, coconut milk, cow’s milk, brown sugar, raisins, sliced almonds, cinnamon and more! Plus we have our homemade muffins, scones, sweet breads and more ready in the Bakery, so come in and have a delicious breakfast in a flash at the Wheatsville Deli!

We’re already thinking about Mother’s Day, Graduation and all your springtime celebrations! Take a look at our affordable Catering Menu, featuring a complete assortment of platters and trays ranging from Raw Veggies, Sliced Meats & Cheeses, Middle Eastern Spreads, Popcorn Tofu, Bakery Dessert Bars, Cut Fruit, Whole Cakes and fresh Sushi! Check out our website at http://wheatsville.coop/catering.html and call us at the Deli soon to place your order: 512-478-1164!

New at Wheatsville


New gluten-free pizzas, far out-flavored kale chips, kits to get your chili on this summer, and more… We 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. 




In each bag of Alive & Radiant Kale Krunch you'll find full kale leaves that have been dehydrated for a satisfying crunch. Alive & Radiant sprouts, mixes and dehydrates ingredients at low temperatures so that they remain 'raw'.  Never baked or fried, you can rest assured that the fat in these snacks comes from heart-healthy nuts and seeds; the nutrients and great taste stay intact and aren't processed away. While the Chipotle and Chockalet definitely didn't fail to impress, the Spirulina Orange Creamsicle turned out to be the unexpected hit of the bunch for us! 2.2oz, Reg. $5.99








Fans of Udi's gluten-free baked goods take note: Udi's has branched out into frozen ready-to-bake pizzas! The Margherita features vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil; the Pepperoni version adds uncured pepperoni and a sprinkling of fresh basil. Both are notable for an impressively light and crispy crust, considering the lack of gluten. 10oz, Reg. $6.99









 

Sometimes you just can't get that garlic aroma off your hands, days after chopping it. Sometimes you just can't use an entire bunch of basil before it turns black. Dorot offers a simple solution to those who like to have fresh ingredients on hand, whenever they're needed: pre-cleaned, measured, and chopped or crushed herbs and seasonings for your freezer. Each pack resembles a mini ice cube tray, with 20 cubes portioned either in teaspoons or cloves (for garlic). Enjoy rich, tasty, fragrant food, without the effort of washing, chopping and cleaning up. 2.5-2.8oz, Reg. $2.39






TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein) is produced from soy flour after the soybean oil has been extracted, then cooked under pressure, extruded, and dried. It can be added to casseroles to add extra flavor and nutrition, and is also used to replace or extend ground meats. TVP has a long shelf life if stored properly and is an excellent source of protein and fiber. 10oz, Reg. $2.99

Chana Dal are split, polished baby Garbanzo Beans. They have a sweet flavor reminiscent of fresh corn and the cooked bean is about the size and shape of a corn kernel. Chana Dal makes an interesting addition to soups, salads, and rice dishes. 24oz, Reg. $6.99







Pomegranate molasses is made by boiling down the juice of a tart variety of pomegranate. It forms a thick, sweet, dark brown liquid that has its roots in Turkish and in Persian cuisine. Try adding it to homemade barbeque sauce recipes, to sparkling water for a refreshing drink, or drizzled over a hunk of fresh cheese. 10oz, Reg. $3.99








 





Trim Toniq utilizes some of the world's best herbs and natural compounds that have potential for curbing appetite, without the use of stimulants such as caffeine or hoodia. Eight active ingredients aid in appetite suppression: Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA), Inositol, Achyranthes Aspera Seed, L-Carnitine, Ginsenosides/Astragalus, and Coca Leaf Extract (don't worry-- the scary alkaloids in this last ingredient have been removed!). Lightly sweetened with Chokeberry and Monkfruit, each can comes in at only 3 grams of sugar, with fewer than 30 calories. 8.4oz, Reg. $2.49








Refreshment seekers, welcome to where flavor, effervescence, energy and rainforest meet. Bubbling with bright tamarind and lime delights, Guayaki's Sparkling Classic Gold Yerba Mate is the latest small miracle to flow from the yerba mate tree. Available chilled in our beverage cooler. 12oz, Reg. $1.99










 

Frontera’s full-flavored, easy to use Chili Starters will make everyone wish they had just one more bowl. Simply brown 1 pound of ground meat, poultry, or meat alternative, add the Frontera Starter and simmer a few minutes. Then serve a bowl of chili that will taste like you cooked all day. Frontera is produced by Chef Rick Bayless (owner of Frontera and Topolobampo restaurants in Chicago), whose passion lies in regional Mexican cuisine. 24oz, Reg. $5.99









Wick Fowler's 2-Alarm Chili Kit produces a classic chili with just the right amount of heat and balance of seasonings. It's been around for a while, and is so good, it won the World Chili Championships in 1970! The chili kit hasn't changed: the ingredients include a large packet of chili powder, crushed red pepper, paprika, salt, a garlic and onion combo, another combo packet of oregano and cumin and also some masa flour for thickening. All that is needed is 2 lbs. of beef, an 8 oz. can of tomato sauce, and water to make 1 1/2 quarts of chili per package of mix. The individual seasonings are all in separate little pouches so you can season with to your individual tastes. Perfect for your next chili cook-off. 3.6oz, Reg. $2.99