Guest User
Strawberry Salsa

Try this sweet and spicy salsa at your next backyard BBQ.

Strawberry Salsa
Blog
Guest User
Grilling Guide: Pork Chops

Our Meat Department has a case full of chops and this recipe for Grilled Lemon Rosemary Pork Chops is delicious!

Grilling Guide: Pork Chops
Guest User
Balsamic Glazed Strawberries

Strawberries are one of the tell-tale signs of early summer. They're plentiful at the farmers market, and they're plentiful in the Produce Department. If you haven't tasted the flavor of strawberry with reduced balsamic vinegar, prepare for a party for your taste buds. This dish is delicious served over vanilla ice cream or yogurt.

Balsamic Glazed Strawberries
Blog
Guest User
Toffee Matzo Brittle

Whether or not you celebrate the Jewish holiday, Passover, we dare you to only eat one of these sweet and salty treats!

Toffee Matzo Brittle
Guest User
Natural Easter Egg Dyes

If you look forward to dyeing eggs every Easter, but like to avoid chemicals too, try these simple dyes made from food items. We used white eggs, but you can use brown, too. Just keep in mind that the colors will be darker and perhaps brighter.

Natural Easter Egg Dyes

Board Update: Holiday Shopping at Your Co-op

Laurene Sorensen, Board Member

Laurene Sorensen, Board Member

The Moscow Food Co-op has gifts for everyone on your list! 

A Co-op membership is lovely for someone who’s just moved here.

Gift cards, wine, and beer are the defaults: fine presents, but not especially intimate ones unless you employ some creativity.

Context is important. Although I’d love to receive a jar of Schmidt’s deodorant, you might see it as a judgment on your hygiene. Soap is innocuous—a cousin to scented candles—but shampoo might cause a rift. (Hint: Orchard Farm’s coal soap smells delicious, and is only available at the holidays.)

And presentation is, well, everything when you’re talking about presents. When I lived in Boston, I had to work late one December 24th, and by the time I was free, most of the stores were closed. Only the local grocery was open, so I bought a bunch of stinky cheese, (not stinky) chocolate, fancy teas, and a couple of kitchen implements that I wrapped up nicely. Christmas alchemy transformed them into elegant gifts. So even if it’s the last minute, remember: You can do this. Don’t turn up empty-handed.

WineNOOS-5.jpg

So why not wrap up--

  • A mixed case of wine, with a different bottle to suit each month’s harvest and tradition.

  • Something to roast (duck, beef, chicken) and “all the fixings”: veggies, dessert, and a perfectly paired beverage.

  • A special mug for a young person. The MIIR Co-op logo mugs have a cover, which prevents many spills. Teach a kid about insulation by serving hot cocoa in their mug today and ice water tomorrow.

  • A colorful calendar or planner. Even if you keep your appointments on your smartphone, a paper calendar can help you track accomplishments, log time, or keep your work and personal lives separate. (The cat just asked me for nine calendars. I said no.)

  • Reusable drinking straws and lunch containers make great gifts for both kids and adults alike.

  • A 7-year ballpoint pen and a Decomposition Book—perfect for notetaking or doodling.

CheeseBoard.png

  • A piece each of Emmenthaler and Gruyere cheeses and a baguette (for fondue).

  • A ChicoBags water bag sling.

  • Cocktail fixings: Fevertree tonic water and fresh lime for G&Ts, or coconut cream and pineapple juice for piña coladas, a Christmas morning tradition of mine.

  • A kit for making cheese or sauerkraut.

  • A case of organic canned tomatoes or pasta sauce and another case of imported pasta. The Co-op has lots of beautiful varieties to choose from.

ChocolateCoffee.jpg

  • An entire spectrum of chocolate bars, arranged in order of cacao content.

  • Liberty Lotion. (It really works.)

  • Bulk goods in beautiful repurposed containers.

  • Homemade vinaigrette (extra virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard) in beautiful repurposed containers.

I’d like to hear about your creative Co-op presents. Write to me at lsorensen@moscowfood.coop. And have a holly jolly December!

Buddha's Hand Citron - Yes! You should eat this thing.

Unlike lemons, Buddha's hand's pith is not bitter, and so can be used raw or cooked in baked goods, salads, alcoholic infusions, and preserves!

Unlike lemons, Buddha's hand's pith is not bitter, and so can be used raw or cooked in baked goods, salads, alcoholic infusions, and preserves!

Buddha’s Hand, likely originating in India more than 2,000 years ago, is considered a religious offering in Buddhist temples. The fruit acts as a symbol for happiness, longevity and good fortune, and is typically given as a New Year's gift.

Buddah-2.jpg

Buddha's Hand is a citron, an ancestor of lemons and oranges, and is made of only sweet rind: no fruit, no pulp, no seeds, and no juice. It peaks in the winter months, and lucky for the Palouse, is available at the Moscow Food Co-op right now!

Here are a few ways to use this unusual and aromatic fruit:

  1. Eat it raw: The fruit works the same as anything you'd use lemon rind for: Thin slices or zested Buddha's hand are great for use atop salads or in vinaigrette, or to garnish dishes with an additional fragrant flavor.

  2. Candy it: Buddha's hand lacks the bitter rind flavor of oranges and lemons, and is perfect for use in fruitcakes or unique cocktails. The candied citron pieces can be stored in a jar at room temperature for a few weeks, but can be refrigerated for up to six months. One 8 oz. fresh citron will yield about one cup of candied pieces. Follow this recipe by David Lebovitz to learn more!

  3. Refresh your home: The Buddha's fruit is extremely fragrant. Slice pieces off to impart a lemony, fresh scent in different rooms. A few swipes with a Microplane or cheese grater will release a potent perfume.

  4. Make a liqueur: Buddhacello? Buddha's Hand is an ultra-aromatic alternative to the traditional Italian lemon infusion. We found this recipe from Theresa Blackburn that includes a recipe for Buddha's hand liqueur and an aromatic simple syrup recipe for use in subsequent cocktails!