July Food Co-op & Food Inc

Food, Inc, rated PG, is a eye-opening film-I was able to see it today at the Broadway theaters. Some critics have said, "If you eat food, you should see this film". I agree.

At the end of the film we are given some pro-active answers on ways we, the consumers, can change the big picture through the mediums in which we purchase and eat food by means of simple steps.

One step is to buy local-as through the food co-op.


Harvest share for $14: 1 5-lb bag potatoes, 1 head cauliflower, 6 locally grown zucchini, 3 locally grown bunches of green onions, 1 locally grown bunch of carrots, 6 pears, 18 apricots, 1 2-lb bag cherries, 1 container cherry tomatoes, 1 loaf Stone Ground Artisan Wheat bread, and 1 16 oz. pkg. rice

Farmer's Market share for $13.50 from East Farms (local and organic): 2 cucumbers, 2 yellow squash, 1 bunch beets, bunch of green onions, bag of red potatoes, 1 plant of Tarragon, and 1 bag of yellow beans

The Half share ($14) was: 1 1-lb pkg. lean ground beef, 1 1-lb pkg lean pork cubes, 1 head cauliflower, 3 locally grown zucchini, 3 locally grown bunches of green onions, 5 pears, 8 apricots, 1 2-lb pkg. cherries, 1 pkg. cherry tomatoes, 1 loaf bread and 1 1-lb. pkg. rice

The Standard share ($23) was: 1 1-lb pkg. lean ground beef, 1 2-lb. pkg. split chicken breasts, 1 3-lb. pkg. beef back ribs 1 5-lb. bag potatoes, 1 head cauliflower, 4 locally grown zucchini, 2 locally grown bunches of green onions, 5 pears, 8 apricots, 1 2-lb pkg. cherries, 1 pkg. cherry tomatoes, 1 loaf bread and 1 1-lb. pkg. rice


Orders for August are due by Friday August 7th with pick-up on Saturday August 22nd. For more info, visit www.foodco-op.net

We interrupt the making of Horchata

Food, Inc. is at 97% approval rating on Rottentomatoes.com with 64 fresh reviews and 2 rotten!

Who's still willing to go see it with me when it finally comes to our state?

Please?

Anyone?

Or will I be left with the sound of crickets?

Of course if no one responds then I'll just have to be like the little red hen and see it by myself.

Let's Make Horchata!

Milk and cinnamon sticks simmering in a big pan.

Some of the other ingredients: sugar, rice powder and vanilla.

Pouring in the sugar.

Pouring in the vanilla.

Everything whisked in including the cold water and then the rice powder.

A cool, refreshing glass of horchata-basically slightly sweetened rice milk.

Horchata

1 quart Milk

4 cinnamon sticks

1/3 c. uncooked rice, ground to powder in blender

¾ cup sugar

1 tbsp. Vanilla

2 quarts cold water

Bring milk and cinnamon sticks to a boil. Simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and pour mixture into a large bowl. Whisk in sugar (leave the cinnamon sticks in-it’s okay if they break up some-the mixture will be strained later in the process.) Whisk in the vanilla and cold water. Then gradually pour in the rice powder, stirring vigorously as you add it so that it does not clump into a mass of rice at the bottom. Cover bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

Then strain mixture through a fine cloth ( I use a clean fine mesh dish towel) into a new bowl. Do not use a strainer or cheesecloth or a loose weave towel-these will allow sediment to get into the finished product and gritty rice powdery is not yummy to the palate. If desired, strain mixture again if you wish to get out more sediment. Throw away sediment and used cinnamon sticks. (Don’t try to save them-we’ve done that too-even trying to rinse them thoroughly-they just go moldy-not too appetizing. If anyone knows how to save the used cinnamon sticks I’m open to suggestions.)

Allow to chill thoroughly in a pitcher and enjoy! Makes 3 quarts- which is enough for Jessica for 24 hours or for a few days for the rest of us. We’ve been making this since 2001 and it’s still one of our favorite summer drinks.

Horchata has an interesting history. It’s known as an aguas frescas (Spanish for fresh (cold) waters) according to wikipedia. These drinks are also made with fruit in season and are light, refreshing and not too sweet. They nicely balance out a spicy meal or just provide a cool treat on a hot summer day.