Hello Wheatsville friends and fans!
I hope that you are having a great week and enjoying our cold snap!
We had an awesome visit from the Minor Mishap Marching Band. People were dancing and having fun and it was great! Check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
It's our last couple of days of January's Owner Appreciation Days. If you haven't already used your one-time 10% discount owner benefit, use it this weekend! (Just so you know, Sunday will be HUGELY busy and Saturday will probably be really busy, too, so if you want to avoid crowds, Friday is your best bet or early on Sat. and Sun or later in the evenings after 8.) Thank you for being owners and your incredible support!
Scroll on down for:
Deli Owner Deals
Local Chicken news and meat and seafood specials
Stock up on beer and wine
New in Grocery
Easy Risotto recipe
Nuts for Zinco Coconut Water
Nuts for local pecans in bulk!
Green Grocer
Co+op Deals and Owner Deals
Seasonal Allergy Relief suggestions plus soup recipe
New chico bags and bento boxes
OWNER APPRECIATION DAYS and Special Owner Deals at the Deli!
On sale for owners right now are all of our per-pound Food Bar items! From filling hot bar foods like Vegan Mac & Broccoli and Creamy Chicken & Biscuits, to our salad bar with a variety of greens and chopped veggies, and even including our Tiny Brinies bar with olives and other pickley goodness, mix-and-match as you wish for just $6.99/lb, reg. $7.99! Keep it fresh every day, and save!!
Also on sale for owners is local bakery Sweetish Hill's Cherry Cheese Danish for $1.99, reg. $2.29! Check the bakery case for all sorts of other sweet treats as well, like our fresh-baked Buttermilk Scones – try the Glazed Cinnamon-Raisin! – and our beloved Caramel Pecan Bars!
And what better to go with your bakery treat than a freshly made coffee drink from our Organic, Fair-Trade Espresso Bar! Try my favorite, the Spicy Mocha, or maybe you're more of an Americano character…anyway, we've got something for everyone! Eschewing the caffeine? Try a Hot Gingerade to alleviate your allergies! Add honey and cayenne for a real fever-reliever!
Our Featured Salsa right now is the mean, green Salsa Verde! This garlicky dip chockfull of poblanos, jalapenos and tomatillos is terrific on chips and adds a definite element of heat to an order of our Deli's famous $1.99 Rice & Beans!
The Deli Counter will school your mouth with our Featured Smoothie, the PB&J! Blending apple juice and soymilk with strawberries, blueberries and organic peanut butter, this veritable sandwich in a cup is just $5.49! And it's awesome!!
Also on sale at the Deli Counter are classic cold cuts: Boar's Head Honey Maple Ham at $8.49/lb, reg. $8.99 and Pepperjack Cheese, $6.19/lb, reg. $7.19! Fire up the griddles!!
Heading back to school, meeting up with old friends or just wanna make new ones? Take a look at our new, affordable Catering Menu, featuring a complete assortment of platters and trays ranging from Popcorn Tofu, Sliced Meats & Cheeses, Raw Veggies, Middle Eastern goodies, Bakery Bars and Cut Fruit, perfect for every occasion, and for any size gathering! Check out our website at http://wheatsville.coop/
From the world of meat
Unfortunately we have not been able to stock one the best products we offer in the meat department, the Dewberry Hills whole chickens, but Jane and Terry have provided us with an explanation for why we can't get their delectable birds right now.
At Dewberry Hills farm, we pride ourselves on raising chickens right and supplying Wheatsville with the very freshest birds available in Central Texas.
However, the hatchery that supplies us with our chicks does not ship to us over the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas or New Years.
This allows them to rest their hens and also prevents the chicks being delayed in shipping by the volume of holiday mail at that time.
As a result, we experience three weeks every year when we do not have chickens for sale.
We also do not keep our birds inside and under artificial lights or use antibiotics so the chickens grow more slowly at this time of year.
Although we hate disappointing our Wheatsville friends, this is part of really being both local and sustainable.
Terry and I thank you for your continued support patience and expect to have birds in the store very soon.
Jane Levan
In the Sea Food case we have Arctic Cod for $13.99 reg. $14.79. We get this cod from Northern Fish. It is sustainable and very versatile in the kitchen. Good for baking, grilling and frying.
Also on special we have Niman Ranch Baby Back Pork Ribs for $7.99 reg. $8.49. Whether you prefer rubs or sauces or both at the same time, these are the ribs to use. Pork Ribs are simple and tasty. Great for the grill or roasted in the oven, baste frequently with your favorite sauce.
Also on special we have Applegate Farms Uncured Sunday Bacon for $4.99 reg. $5.39 and Applegate Farms Turkey Bacon for $4.99 reg. $5.39. This link will let you take a closer look at Applegate Farms.
http://www.applegatefarms.com/
We brought the Niman Ranch Maple Bacon out of the freezer, so If you like your bacon a little more sweet then this would be the way to go.
On Owner Special we are featuring Wheastville's in House Chorizo Sausage for $6.99/lb. reg. $7.99/lb. Great with eggs or in your favorite queso, this sausage can ride passenger or fly solo.
Stock up on wine during Owner Appreciation! Did you know that when you buy six bottles or more of wine for owner appreciation you get 10% off in addition to the 10% you get off for being an owner! For example that means if you were to buy six bottles of Sangre de Toro for $7.99 each regularly $8.49 you would pay $39.35 instead of $53.49! Now is the time to stock your wine cellar because the more you buy the more you save!
Don't miss these great beer deals! Three great six packs from Victory Brewing Company are on sale now. Victory Prima Pils is just $8.49 regularly $9.49. Heaps of hops give this pale lager a bracing, herbal bite over layers of soft and smooth malt flavor. Victory Hop Wallop $11.49 regularly $12.49. This beer is a vivid, robust ale that serves as Victory's annual homage to the hop harvest; expect loads of aromatic splendor and bitter beauty. Victory Hop Devil six packs are just $8.49 regularly $9.49. Menacingly delicious, with the powerful, aromatic punch of whole flower American hops backed up by rich, German malts. (It's ok to stock up on beer, too.)
New in Grocery!
There are dozens of new items in the Grocery aisles this week! Thank you so much for all of your helpful suggestions, as most of these items were found on the Wheatsville Wish List (found at the Hospitality Desk).
Rice Select is a local company (Alvin, TX 77511) that grows all natural, quality rice. All of the jars they use for packaging are BPA free and are excellent to re-use around the house. I re-use mine for all my bulk grains and baking supplies and their square shape makes them look oh so nice lined up in my pantry. We currently have the following varieties in aisle 2:
Organic White Texmati 36 oz $6.99
Organic Brown Texmati 36 oz $6.99
Rice Medleys in Mushroom, Vegetable and Pilaf varieties $3.79
Pearl Cous cous in Original and Tri-color 11.5 oz $3.79
Arborio 36 oz $6.39 (the perfect rice for risotto, see the recipe below, courtesy of http://www.RiceSelect.com)
Easy Risotto
1 cup uncooked rice
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/2 cup chopped onion
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
salt and pepper (optional)
In large saucepan, sauté onion in oil and butter for 3 minutes. Add rice, stirring for about 2 minutes. Stir in 1 cup of broth; continue cooking and stirring until liquid is absorbed. Gradually stir in remaining broth 1 cup at a time, cooking and stirring until liquid is absorbed before adding the next cup. Serve immediately.
While Risotto does take a bit of time and attention, it is worth every minute! It's warm and hearty and easily customizable! You can add pretty much anything you like to it; my favorites are broccoli and chicken (cooked) or butternut squash, YUM!
During the Holidays, we were asked for a lot of baking items that we didn't have and didn't know we were missing. Now, we have them! Come check them out in aisle 3!
Dr. Oetker's Vanilla cake mix $2.99/box makes a very fine cake.
Arrowhead Mills Gluten Free Millet Flour 32 oz $4.59 and Wheat Free Barley Flour 24 oz $3.89
Bob's Red Mill is an awesome manufacturer of superior grains and baking products. We already offer a huge selection of their products and joining the line-up are:
Potato Flour (gluten free) 24 oz $5.49
Premium Instant Milk Powder 26 oz $8.99
Golden Corn Flour 24 oz $2.99
Artisana Raw Nut Butters in single serving packages are here for just $1.79 each! Now you can sample a variety of these delicious, healthy treats without spending $$ for the larger jars. We have Coconut Butter, Cacao Bliss, Cashew, Almond, Walnut and Pecan. These little packets are great for Lunch boxes or for an on-the-go quick snack. Find them in aisle 3 in our new and improving Raw Foods section.
And finally, we are pleased and proud to sell Thunderbird Energetica Raw Food Bars. These bars are hand-made here in Austin, and just hit our shelves on Tuesday. Already, they are a hit with the staff and customers alike. Thunderbird Energetica bars come in three flavors: Cherry Walnut Crunch, Cacao Hemp Walnut and Cashew Fig Carrot. Each delicious bar is just $2.49 AND the wrapper is compostable! From http://www.
Zico Coconut Water Sale (plus a new flavor!)
We're happy to have a nice sale on 14 oz. bottles of Zico Coconut Water reg:$2.69, sale:$1.99 each or get a case of 12 reg:$31.99, sale:$23.79! Also, Zico has a new flavor: Piña Tropicale that blends citrus and pineapple flavors to create what some people are saying is the best one yet! While you may not think of stocking up on coconut water in the middle of the winter (many people appreciate its rehydrating effects in the hot Austin summer); it also be used to rehydrate during cold & flu season and at the gym. The sale is good through January 31st, enjoy!
Local Pecans in Bulk
I'm very excited to announce the addition of a tasty new product in the Bulk department. We now have Local Organic Pecans! These pecans come from a small farm called Whispering Hills Organic Pecan Orchard located in Hunt, TX. We've carried these pecans in the bulk department before and they were a big hit so I am very pleased to have them back. These are very high quality and very tasty pecans grown on a small farm, so stop on by the Bulk department and give them a try!
From your Green Grocer
This week, we're highlighting a local product that's returned to our shelves after a few months' absence: Austin Sea Veggies Ogonori Seaweed. Ogonori is a light, delicate seaweed that's usually eaten raw and cold. It can also be added to soups, but should be treated delicately to preserve its texture: use it as a garnish, don't cook it. Ogonori has a great crunchy texture that is especially nice on salads. Check out their website for more info: http://austinseaveggies.com/
Our favorite seasonal produce item this week is the organic meyer lemon. Meyers came from China originally, and were grown as ornamental trees until their culinary characteristics were discovered in the early 1900s. Meyer lemons are thought to be a cross between a normal lemon and a mandarin or orange, though no one knows for sure. They have a thinner, edible skin than a normal lemon and people sometimes pass them up, thinking they are over-ripe or bad. Meyers are aromatic and have a sweeter flavor and are less sour than a normal lemon. They are much less acidic, too. They can be used in place of a lemon in any dish. The Meyers we're carrying now are grown right here in Texas! People in other parts of the country can't get them as easily as we can, and the price is usually prohibitive. Give one a shot!
Co+op Deals & Owner Appreciation Are the Perfect Pairing! – Brooks Wood, Wheatsville Co+op Deals Assistant
Seventh Generation Bath Tissue 12 pack is now $7.99 reg. $10.99, Biokleen Liquid Laundry Detergent now $7.99 reg. $11.99, Food Should Taste Good Tortilla Chips now $1.79 reg. $2.89, Organic Rolled Oats now $0.79/LB reg. $0.99/LB, Organic Walnuts now $7.99/LB reg. $9.99/LB, Whole Sweeteners Organic Blue Agave now $4.99 reg. $6.89, Eco Teas Organic Yerba Mate now $5.79 reg. $7.79, Lundberg Family Farms Organic Rice Cakes now $1.99 reg. $3.39, Glutino Gluten Free Pretzels now $2.99 reg. $4.39, French Meadow Organic Bread now $4.99 reg. $6.79, PopChips Potato Chips now $1.69 reg. $2.39, BioNaturae Organic Fruit Nectar now $2.79 reg. $3.89, Zevia Natural Diet Soda now $4.29 reg. $5.89, Pirate Brand Snacks now $1.79 reg. $2.59, Green Mountain Gringo Salsa now $2.99 reg. $4.39 and LaraBar Nutritional Bar now $0.99 reg. $1.59.
We're excited to introduce a new line of delicious pasta sides and meals from Back To Nature! Stroganoff Pasta Skillet Dinner & Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet Dinner both now $2.49 reg. $2.99, Crazy Bugs Macaroni & Cheese & Harvest Wheat Macaroni & Cheese are both $1.29 reg. $1.69.
Co+op Owner Deals Are Stacked With Savings! – Brooks Wood, Wheatsville Co+op Deals Assistant
Wheatsville Seafood Arctic Cod is now on Deal for $13.99/LB reg. $14.79/LB, Wheatsville Meat House Made Chorizo now $6.99/LB reg. $7.99/LB, Earth's Best Organic Whole Grain Rice Cereal now $2.99 reg. $3.39, Nancy's Organic Sour Cream now $1.49 reg. $1.79, Ginger People Ginger Juice now $2.89 reg. $3.59, Sweetish Hill Bakery Cherry Cheese Danish now $1.99 reg. $2.29, Little Bear Low Fat Refried, Spicy Refried & Black Bean Refried Beans now $1.89 reg. $2.19, Justin's Nut Better Maple Almond Butter & Classic Almond Butter Squeeze Pack now $0.79 reg. $0.99, If You Care Parchment Paper now $4.29 reg. $4.99 and Twist Naked Sponge Medium 2-Pack now $2.49 reg. $2.99.
Remember, our Co+op Deals and Owner Deals are easy to reference. Check them out on our web site @ http://www.wheatsville.coop and click on the Owners link.
Seasonal Allergy Relief
Cedar is on the rise again. Local Allergy forecast have Cedar reaching high levels again during the next couple of days. Because we care about your allergy suffering AND we're suffering through it, too, we've prepared a short list of thing syou might consider to help give you some allergy relief.
Firstly, you might want to try one of our allergy relief products that are on special! This time it's on the Garden of Life Immune Balance Sinus formula. Normally $14.99, we are taking 25% off and offering it for $11.24 from 1/20 through 1/26.
Immune Balance Sinus from Garden of Life is a dynamic, broad-spectrum immunity formula that provides multidimensional support for seasonal sinus and respiratory health and wellness. Immune Balance Sinus works naturally to support a balanced immune system response for seasonal protection of sinus and respiratory health.
Add Nettles to Your Anti-Allergy Arsenal!
(ON SALE THIS WEEK in bulk herbs!)
Allergy season ain't over yet (is it ever?) and if you're still suffering from the symptoms, it may be time to spruce up your regiment. Nettles $1.03/oz is a known natural antihistamine, and is great for relieving allergy symptoms because it reduces inflammation in the nasal cavities. Nettles boosts immunity as a free radical fighting antioxidant and is a delicious weapon against allergy attacks as a tea or as an addition to culinary dishes. Try adding it to miso soup like I do when I'm feeling under the weather – you can be as creative as you like and still reap the great benefits! High in calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and lots MORE – nutrient rich nettles packs a punch and is 25% off this week at your co-op!
GOT ALLERGIES? TRY A NETI POT!!
The neti pot is fast becoming the hottest allergy relief solution in the country during an exceptionally severe allergy season. How does it work? Basically, using a neti pot allows allergy sufferers to thin mucus and flushes out nasal passages thereby removing bacteria, allergens, and other irritants that can cause sinus problems—just mix ¼ teaspoon of non-iodized sea salt in 8 ounces of warm water in your neti pot until dissolved and flush away! Wheatsville carries several varieties of neti pots—from ceramic and bioplastic (great for travelling) to the Nasaline which is a nasal irrigator. All are around $15.00 bucks, which when considering the cost of a visit to the ol' allergy Doctor seems pretty reasonable. We also carry several varieties of nasal cleaning salts and solutions to support healthy nasal passages. So the next time the sneezing, watery eyes, and sinus headaches start coming on consider trying a neti pot-- it may provide immediate relief and help keep those annoying
How about some soup to fix what ails you? (Thanks to Rosie Weaver, Wheatsville Owner and Dan's wife for this recipe.)
Six Wonders Curative Soup
1/2" knob of Fresh Ginger
3 Fresh Shitake (or dried shitake pre-soaked in hot water for 10 minutes)
3 cups water
1 Tablespoon Miso (or to taste)
3 cloves Garlic, minced
1 cup chopped fresh Parsley
Cayenne to taste
Slice the ginger and shitakes and bring to a boil in the water. Simmer for 5 - 10 minutes. Turn off the heat.
Blend a quarter cup of the broth with the miso to make a paste. Stir the paste into the main soup.
Add the parsley, garlic, and cayenne. Taste and add more miso and cayenne as needed. It should be spicy enough to make your nose run!
Return to flame only until warm - do not cook.
New Designs From ChicoBag!
We have 3 new styles by ChicoBag, all made from their innovative rePETe material. First we have the Original rePETe, a long-time best seller now made from 73% post-consumer content. Another update on a style that's been popular in the past is the Vita rePETe. This bag is similar to the Original, with a more stylish shoulder bag shape. Finally we have the DayPack20 rePETe. Perfect for bicycle commuters, this super light-weight back pack has plenty of room for groceries and essentials but folds neatly into a pouch that you can stash in your saddle bag or jacket pocket.
Fun New Products from Laptop Lunch!
The Laptop Lunch Bento System has been so popular we've decided to bring in a new style! The Bento Kit features the 2.0 Bento Box Set plus a heavy-duty insulated carrying case, available in plaid and confetti. Also new from Laptop Lunch: Insulated Stainless Steel Lunch Jars. These are perfect for keeping your soup, chili, or pasta nice and hot (or cold) til lunch time.
Have a great weekend!
Dan Gillotte
Wheatsville GM and e-mail guy. (Go Pack Go!)
