Holiday Gift Idea #9: Honey Lover

The final Holiday Gift Idea - #9 - from City Greens is kind of silly - but also very useful for those who can't get enough local honey!

Let's just dive right in. This package features:

• 1 16oz. Squeeze Bottle of Blackberry Honey from Hilty's ($5.50)
• 1 16oz. Squeeze Bottle of Blueberry Honey ($5.50)
• 1 16oz. Squeeze Bottle of Raspberry Honey ($5.50)
• 1 16oz. Squeeze Bottle of Strawberry Honey ($5.50)
• 1 Gallon of Honey ($36.00)
• 1 16oz. Squeeze Bottle of Wildflower Honey ($5.50)
• 1 Pint Glass Jar of Honey ($5.50)
• 1 16oz. Squeeze Bottle of Basswood Honey ($5.50)

...for a grand total of $74.50. This massive arrangement of honey is sure to keep the honey lover in your life satisfied well into the New Year!

Happy Holidays from City Greens - we hope your family has a wonderful Christmas this season! Come on in to shop for your loved ones - we close for the season tomorrow, December 13 at 5pm and will re-open in January at our new location!!!

Holiday Gift Idea #8: Pampered Loved One

The eighth Holiday Gift Idea from City Greens is for that special person in your life who deserves a lot of love and pampering. You know the type - very giving, caring, and compassionate towards others, and may need to be reminded to take care of themselves (because they spend so much time caring for others!).

This set of gifts includes:

• 1 Set of 2 Hand-Dipped Beeswax Candles from Singing Prairie Farm ($4.00)
• 3 Bars of Handmade Soap from Hanley Fold Farm - assorted scents available ($4.00 each)
• 1 Handmade Lotion Bar from Hanley Fold Farm - assorted scents available ($6.00)
• 3 Handmade Lip Blams from Hanley Fold Farm - assorted flavors available ($2.00 each)
• 1 100% Pine Soap Dish from Hanley Fold Farm - designed to get the most out of your soap! ($2.00)

...and it costs a total of $30.00. If not looking to spend quite so much, try just one of each item (instead of 3 lip balms and 3 soaps), and your total is just $18. Put these items in a nice basket and tie a beautiful bow, and the Pampered Love One is sure to glow!

 

Check back here at the City Greens blog tomorrow for one last Holiday Gift Idea this season!

Holiday Gift Idea #7: The Sandwich Lover

Ham and cheese. BLT. Roast beef. Philly cheese steak. Peanut butter and jelly.

Ever since the Earl of Sandwich created the idea of putting the best ingredients together between two pieces of bread, millions of masterpieces with gourmet ingredients have been enjoyed by people the world over.

This holiday season, prepare to blow the minds of the sandwich connoisseurs in your life. We have some new twists on the old favorite of PB&J.

For this combo, we have:

• 1 16oz. Jar East Wind Peanut Butter - we have salted and unsalted ($3.84)
• 1 16oz. Jar East Wind Almond Butter - choose from smooth or crunchy ($5.18)
• 1 16oz. Jar East Wind Cashew Butter - we have raw and roasted ($5.34)
• 1 16oz. Tub Mound City Peanut Butter - crunchy style ($4.12)
• 2 160z. Jars Hilty's Amish Jam/Jelly - assorted flavors available ($3.75 each)
• 1 16oz. Jar Hilty's Amish No Sugar Added Jam/Jelly - assorted flavors available ($4.75)
• 1 Half-Loaf Companion Sourdough Bread ($2.16) limited quantities available
• 1 Half-Loaf Companion Multigrain Bread ($2.23) limited quantities available

...and it totals $35.12! There are so many sandwich combinations to experiment with using all these City Greens products, the Sandwich Lover in your life is sure to smile from ear to ear!

Stop by here tomorrow to find another Holiday Gift Idea from City Greens!

Holiday Gift Idea #6: For the Entertainer

Everybody has some entertainers in their life - the people who thrive when hosting friends and family. They carefully plan the menu, anticipate the number of loved ones attending, and make sure their guests leave with full bellies and smiling faces.

Well this holiday season, we've come up with a set of gifts that is sure to please those entertainers. Totaling $32.34, this gift package covers the bases for the folks who love to host! Included in Holiday Gift Idea #6 from City Greens is:

• 2 32oz. Jars of Hilty's Amish Pickles - we have Spicy Dill, Sweet Dill, Thick Cut Dill, and Bread and Butter ($4.75 each jar)
• 1 17oz. Bottle City Seeds Urban Farm Herb Vinegar ($6.67)
• 1 12oz. Package of Kaldi's Ground Decaf Terra Linda Coffee ($7.58)
• 1 Package Companion Bakery's Crunchy Bread Sticks ($2.59)
• 1 100% Pine Soap Dish from Hanley Fold Farm - specially designed so you get the most out of your soap! ($2.00)
• 1 Bar of Hanley Fold Farm Handmade Goat's Milk Soap - Various Scents (and Unscented!) Available ($4.00) 

These items will ensure a happy crowd - something the entertainer in your life is sure to enjoy.

Be sure to check back here at the City Greens blog for three more Holiday Gift Ideas!  

Holiday Gift Idea #5: Cozy Time

The 5th City Greens Holiday Gift Idea, we're thinking of how to stay warm during the cold winter months. When the wind blows at what seems like sub-zero temps, it's always comforting to stay inside all bundled up. City Greens has the ultimate gifts to help with the wintertime chill - it's the Cozy Time mix of gifts.

Here's your shopping list for cozy shopping at City Greens:

• 2 Fair Trade, Organic, Loose Leaf Teas from Kaldi's - we have Jade Cloud, Green Tea Mint, Masala Chai, Earl Grey, and Tangerine Ginger ($4.57 for each 2oz. package) 
• Tea Ball for steeping loose leaf tea ($2.00 each)
• Set of 2 Hand-Dipped, Beeswax Candles from Singing Prairie Farm ($4.00)
• 12oz. Package of Fair Trade, Organic, Ground Coffee from Kaldi's ($7.26)
• 1 Pint Glass of Honey from Hilty's Bee Yard ($5.50)
• 1 Pint Glass of Sorghum Molasses from Amish farmers ($5.75)

The entire combination for your City Greens Cozy Time gift totals an affordable $33.65!

Check back for four more Holiday Gift Ideas from City Greens!

Holiday Gift Idea #4: The Master Chef

This fourth Holiday Gift Idea is coming in anticipation of everyone's Master Chef in their family or group of friends. You know that person - always trying new recipes, getting their hands dirty in the kitchen, and making delicious, creative dishes out of otherwise bland food.

For the Master Chef in your life, here's what we recommend from City Greens:

• 1/4 lb. Certified Organic Black Beans ($0.46)
• 1/4 lb. Martin White Rice ($0.18)
• 1/4 lb. Martin Brown Rice ($0.18)
• Saint Louis Days, Saint Louis Nights Cookbook from our friends at Junior League of St. Louis ($10.00)
• City Greens Happy Chef Apron ($10.00)

You can certainly purchase larger quantities of rice and beans, but for the display shown, this gift package totals $20.82 - perfect for your Master Chef!

Keep checking in here for 5 more Holiday Gift Ideas from City Greens!

Holiday Gift Idea #3: For the Nutty Nut

For the third Holiday Gift Idea from City Greens, we recommend gifts for the Nutty Nut. Whether the favorite is cashews, almonds, pecans, or other nuts, the nut lover in your life will be thrilled to receive this gift set.

 

The gift for the Nutty Nut features:

• 1/4 lb. Missouri Black Walnuts ($3.60)
• 1/4 lb. Certified Organic Missouri Pecans ($2.64)
• 1 East Wind Almond Butter (we have crunchy and smooth!) ($5.18)
• 1 East Wind Certified Organic Peanut Butter (we have unsalted and with sea salt) ($3.84)
• 1 East Wind Cashew Butter (we have raw and roasted) ($5.34)

The Nutty Nut will be crossed off your Christmas shopping list, and for only $20.60 at City Greens - what a bargain!

Be sure to check back for even more City Greens Holiday Gift Ideas!

Holiday Gift Idea #2: BBQ Boss

As the City Greens Holiday Gift Ideas continue on, now we're thinking of that person in your life who loves to cook outside, whether it be on the gas grill, with charcoal, or in the smoker. This combo of City Greens delights is sure to be a big hit with the BBQ Boss!

This arrangement features the following:
2 Jars of Freddie Lee's Gourmet Ghetto Sauce (1 Spicy, 1 Mild) ($2.20 each)
3 Jars of Hilty's BBQ Sauce (1 Honey, 1 Spicy Honey, 1 Hickory Honey) ($3.75 each)
1 City Greens Happy Chef Apron ($10.00)
1 Pork Spare Ribs (this one is 3.37lb., each pound costs $2.99, for a total of $10.08)

The total for all these goodies is $35.73, and are sure to put a huge smile on the face of the BBQ Boss in your life. Stop on in to City Greens to buy these items soon!

...And don't forget to check back for more Holiday Gift Ideas!

Holiday Gift Idea #1: The Sweet Tooth

The first City Greens Holiday Gift Idea is for the sweet tooth. At City Greens, we avoid selling items with artificial sweeteners in them, so rest assured that our value-added products have sugar, brown sugar, honey, molasses, and/or stevia, and not an added sweetener you can't pronounce.

For the lover of sweets in your life, we've come up with the perfect combination of affordable drops of Heaven. And this medley only totals in at $17.40.

 

The Sweet Tooth package includes:

• 1 Quart-Sized Jar of Amish Canned Peaches from Eicker Farm ($5.50)
• 3 Angel Baked Cookies (one sugar, one oatmeal raisin, one chocolate chip) ($0.80 each)
• 1 Dr. Joyce Honey Wellness Granola Package ($0.65)
• 1 Dr. Joyce Honey Wellness Cookies 12-Pack ($3.35)
• 1 16-oz. Squeeze Bottle of Hilty's Bee Yard Blackberry Honey ($5.50) 

So come on in, purchase some goodies (free of sales tax!), and wrap them up for a great gift!

...And don't forget to check back here later this week for more City Greens Holiday Gift Ideas!

Local Gifts this Holiday Season

It's that time of year! The weather forecast predicts snow, trees are decorated, and hearts are glowing. ...And gifts are being purchased! When thinking about the names to cross off your Christmas list, try to remember this statistic, as reported by the American Independent Business Alliance: for every dollar you spend locally, 68 cents stays in the local economy. That is, "independent retailers return more than three times as much money per dollar of sales than chain competitors."1

So... shopping a City Greens should be a top choice for fulfilling your holiday gift needs!

If you're stumped about what you can find at CG to gift to your loved ones, HAVE NO FEAR! The next handful of blog posts will feature plenty of ideas for you this holiday season.

Check back in the coming days and weeks to get some stellar shopping ideas from your favorite affordable, local food market - City Greens!




1 Retrieved from: American Independent Business Alliance at  http://www.amiba.net/resources/multiplier-effect
Image: office.microsoft.com clipart

Holiday Hours Coming!

As the weather cools down and the leaves fall from the trees, folks are thinking about the holiday season! To make sure our shoppers are prepared for the holidays, we want to give a heads up on how our hours will differ from our now usual 10-6 Tuesday-Thursday and 10-5 Friday schedule.

Here's the scoop:
For Thanksgiving, we will be closed Wednesday, Nov. 27 thru Friday, Nov. 29.
For Christmas and New Year's, we will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 24 thru Friday, Jan. 3.

Be sure that you stock up for your holiday meals in time!

P.S. Stay tuned for posts on holiday gift ideas!

Mac and Cheese + Squash

A favorite dish in many households is the classic macaroni and cheese. Whether it's quick and easy from the box, or Granny's old fashioned baked-in-the-oven, this comfort food is perfect for a cool weather pick-me-up.

The recipe geniuses over at Cooking Light have crafted a recipe to add a healthy twist to the old favorite. To start off, here's a comparison between the classic dish, and the healthy twist:

Classic                                           Healthy Twist
908 calories per serving                390 calories per serving
963 milligrams sodium                 589 milligrams sodium
36 grams saturated fat                   6.1 grams saturated fat

Wow!

What makes their recipe for Creamy, Light Macaroni and Cheese so healthy? Butternut Squash! If you haven't gotten a chance to try butternut squash mac and cheese yet in your life, you HAVE to try this.

It's a must.

The squash is pureed and adds a super-creamy texture to the pasta, plus there's still enough cheese added where it masks any sort of lingering squash flavor. This recipe calls for a few different types of cheeses, but feel free to substitute for what is available. At City Greens, we have white cheddar cheese (melts great and is SO good in mac and cheese!), smoked gouda (adds an awesome smoky flavor), and creamy Havarti (pairs perfectly in recipes with the cheddar). These cheeses will alter Cooking Light's nutrition facts a little bit, but overall the dish will still be way healthier than the classic version.

Seriously - you have to try this!

Creamy, Light Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients

• 3 cups cubed peeled butternut squash (about 1 [1-pound] squash) from Dry Dock Farm
• 1 1/4 cups fat-free, lower-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• 1 1/2 cups fat-free milk from Ozark Mountain Creamery
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 2 tablespoons plain fat-free Greek yogurt from Windcrest Dairy
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black kpepper
• 1 1/4 cup (5 oz.) shredded Gruyere cheese (or other cheese from Marcoot Jersey Creamery)
• 1 cup (4 oz.) grated pecorino Romano cheese
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce) finely grated fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, divided
• 1 pound uncooked pasta from Midwest Pasta Co.
• Cooking spray
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1/2 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Combine squash, broth, milk, and garlic in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium, and simmer until squash is tender when pierced with a fork, about 25 minutes. remove from heat.
3. Place the hot squash mixture in a blender. Add salt, pepper, and Greek yogurt. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over opening in blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Place blended squash mixture in a bowl; stir in Gruyere, pecorino Romano, and 2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano. Stir until combined.
4. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat; drain well. Add pasta to squash mixture, and stir until combined. Spread mixture evenly onto a 13 x 9-inch glass or ceramic baking dish coated with cooking spray.
5. Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add panko, and cook for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from heat; stir in remaining 2 tablespoons Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Sprinkle evenly over the hot pasta mixture. Lightly coat topping with cooking spray.
6. Bake at 375 degrees F for 25 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with parsley, and serve immediately.

Photo and recipe courtesy of  Cooking Light

New Hours!

We reminded all our City Greeners last week, but we just want to make sure that everybody knows - we have new hours at the market starting this week!

Now, instead of our staggered schedule, we have easy-to-remember hours starting up. Here they are:
          Tuesday 10-6
          Wednesday 10-6
          Thursday 10-6
           Friday 10-5

(Or, simply stated, we're open 10-6 Tuesday through Thursday, 10-5 Friday!)

See you at the market!

CHEESE at City Greens!

City Greeners know that for a long time now we've carried a selection of Marcoot Jersey Creamery's cheeses. The market has been stocked with Creamy Havarti, Gouda, White Cheddar, Habanero Jack and Smoked Gouda since Marcoot hit our shelves well over a year ago. Recently the farmers started making a Tipsy Cheddar, featuring St. Louis' own Schlafly Pale Ale.

We've branched out.

Recently we added on a few more regulars to the Marcoot lineup.

First up is farm-fresh mozzarella cheese. As many know, mozzarella is a semi-soft cheese and with a higher moisture content than aged cheeses. To help extend its shelf life, it is packaged in brine (salted water). This cheese pairs so well with basil and tomatoes, which are abundant in the summer, but scarce in the off-season. Try using this fresh cheese on homemade pizza (made with whole wheat flour from City Greens), mixed in with fresh pasta (like that from Midwest Pasta Co.) with HOSCO sunflower sprouts, OR baked into a casserole along with Dry Dock Farm's eggs and Patchwork Family Farms' sausage.

Next on the bill are Marcoot's fresh cheese curds. They have a mild flavor and are somewhat salty. City Greens carries both Plain Curds as well as Herb Curds (made with garlic, dill, and chives). Cheese curds may be served as a snack all by themselves, add them to a tortilla for a quick quesadilla, or try frying them (not the healthiest, but delicious for sure!). 


The last newbies at the market are Marcoot's selection of quark. Quark is a fresh, soft, spreadable cheese. It is one of the only cheeses that you can freeze. It has the thickness of sour cream but is slightly dryer, which makes for a slightly crumbly texture similar to ricotta cheese. (The texture is comparable to that of goat cheese.) The farmers at Marcoot make three flavors of this cheese - plain, herb (with garlic, dill, and chives), and strawberry. Enjoy quark spread on a Companion Bakery bagel (or cornbread, or crostini!), add it to homemade salad dressing to add creaminess, or head over to QuarkMaker.com to find loads of dessert recipes featuring quark!

...So that's the lowdown on all the latest Marcoot Jersey Creamery products on the shelves at City Greens Market. Next time you come shopping, don't forget to say "CHEESE!"

Winter Hours are Coming!

Many City Greeners have come shopping and asking what our schedule will  be like come the winter months. In past years, we have been open on just one day per week during the chilly season. While our all-natural, all-local produce selection drop significantly (although we still have products like lettuce, spinach, kale, and other greens; as well as produce that stores well like winter squash, sweet potatoes, and white potatoes; plus Ozark Forest Musrhooms), we'll still have a great selection of other products.

 

As City Greens continues to grow our membership and shoppers, we've tried to diversify our products as much as possible. During wintertime we'll have the shelves stocked with our Amish farmers' local honey, jams, pickles, and other preserved goods. Plus we'll have all the meats, dairy, fresh pasta, eggs, beans, and cheeses in addition to the dry goods we have every week during the summer - flour, rice, nuts, wheatberries. (And of course fresh breads, too!)



So, because we'll have all these delicious goods all year long, even through the darkest of the winter days, City Greens will be open from 10-6 Tuesday through Thursday, 10-5 Friday. These hours will take affect next week - starting Tuesday, November 12.

We realize that some folks take advantage of our hours that extend in the summer to 7pm two days per week. Well, as soon as we're settled into our new space on Manchester we'll be able to have some hours on Saturdays! (YAY!)

So we invite shoppers to the market this week during our regular season hours:
Tuesday 1-7
Wednesday 10-5
Thursday 1-7
Friday 10-5

...and then 10-6 Tues-Thurs, 10-5 Friday after that!

See you at the market!

del Carmen's Super Delicious Super Foods

Regular City Greens shoppers know that we've been getting in new products left and right lately. One new favorite is del Carmen - authentic, Cuban-style black beans. Our market sells the original style, gluten free, and gluten free hummus.

Owner of del Carmen, Estie Cruz-Curoe, was born in Cuba and moved to the United States as a child. Her beans are made in the traditional Cuban method, only in small batches, which means they are hand-made with the slow cooked method and fresh, quality ingredients.

These delicious del Carmen beans are sold at City Greens in 16 oz. containers (8 oz. for the hummus). There are no preservatives in these products, so they're found in our freezer section.

The best thing about these products? They're already cooked and seasoned, so all you have to do is heat them up. Pair them with rice (Martin Rice from Bernie, MO is sold at City Greens at $0.70/lb), add some leftover chicken if you like, a size of veggies, a dollop of plain Windcrest Dairy yogurt, and you have a complete, well-balanced meal. (Or you can eat them right out of the container on their own - they're that good!!)

Come on over to City Greens to check out these super delicious super foods from del Carmen!

Closing Early on Thursday

City Greeners, we at the market know that many folks have been taking advantage of our extended hours on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Being open until 7pm allows the working 9-5 crowd to stop by the market without feeling the impending doom of locked doors.

Unfortunately, for this Thursday, October 3rd, that feeling will be surfacing once again.

For this Thursday and this Thursday only, we will be locking the City Greens doors at 4pm. We apologize for any inconvenience, especially to that 9-5 crowd, but will be open again on Friday the normal 10-5 hours, and then we'll be back to the normal schedule next week!

Many thanks to our loyal shoppers for the continued support!

Freddie Lee: Small Business, Big Game

Long-time shoppers of City Greens are well aware of Freddie Lee's Ghetto Sauce (aka Freddie Lee's American Gourmet Sauce). Well Freddie Lee now has a big opportunity with his sauce - but he needs our help! 

Small Business Big Game is a contest going on now, and the small business winner receives a TV commercial during the 2014 Super Bowl! There are various rounds of the contest, but the first round is popular vote. Help Freddie Lee's Sauce advance to the next round - vote every day here! 

Thank you! 

City Greens BBQ

City Greeners, we are hosting a BBQ Fundraiser on Friday. We'll be featuring all locally-sourced foods that you can find right at our market! Stop by between 11am and 4pm for a local food smorgasbord! 

Cheesy News Story

City Greeners, we love taking time to acknowledge our beloved farmers.  As the local food movement progresses, more and more outlets are taking time to acknowledge the folks responsible for growing and raising our food.  

Well, Fox 2 News is at it again - they recently featured our favorite cheese makers over at Marcoot Jersey Creamery in Greenville, Illinois.  In the video they talk about their new Tipsy Cheddar cheese, made with Schlafly Beer's Pale Ale - a cheese coming soon to City Greens! Check out the video featuring Amy and Beth from Marcoot here!

Getting the East Winds at City Greens

This week at City Greens we are featuring a new line of products - East Wind Nut Butters!

We have had East Wind's Smooth Peanut Butter - with Salt, but now we are expanding our lineup.  Starting this week, we'll have in-store:

Organic Smooth Peanut Butter (no salt)

Organic Smooth Peanut Butter with Sea Salt

Organic Tahini

Raw Cashew Butter

Roasted Cashew Butter

Smooth Almond Butter

Crunchy Almond Butter

Of course, our Mound City crunchy peanut butter and crunchy chocolate peanut butter are still available for shoppers as well.  And as always, these nut butters pair exceptionally well with all of Hilty's Amish Jams and Jellies available at the market, and all products are sold at cost! 

See you at the market, City Greeners.

National Blueberry Month

The market has been feeling very fruity lately.  We've had cherries, strawberries, and raspberries, and now are pleased to announce it is finally blueberry season at City Greens! It just so happens that July is National Blueberry Month!  To celebrate, here's a favorite way to use these tiny blue treasures along with a few other in-season City Greens Market items:

Blueberry Zucchini Bread

Ingredients

• 3 eggs, lightly beaten (available at City Greens)
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 1/4 cups white sugar
• 2 cups shredded zucchini (available at City Greens)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour (available at City Greens)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pint fresh blueberries

Preparation 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Lightly grease 4 mini-loaf pans (or one big loaf pan - this will extend baking time).
2. In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar.  Fold in the zucchini.  Beat in the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.  Gently fold in the blueberries.  Transfer to the prepared mini-loaf pans. 
3. Bake 50 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center of a loaf comes out clean (this will be longer with a bigger loaf pan)  Cool 20 minutes in pans, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely. 
4. ENJOY! 

Recipe adapted from AllRecipes.com

Image courtesy of AllRecipesMedia

Bean There, Done That

City Greeners who have been coming to the market regularly know that this week was the first week of green beans!  With such great quantities, we wanted to give you one of the easiest tutorials on how to make pickled green beans - what some affectionately refer to as Dilly Beans.

Crisp Pickled Green Beans

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 pounds fresh green beans (available at City Greens!)
• 2 1/2 cups distilled white vinegar
• 2 cups water
• 1/4 cup salt
• 1 clove garlic, peeled (available at City Greens!)
• 1 bunch fresh dill weed
• 3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Directions

1. Sterilize 6 (1/2 pint) jars with rings and lids and keep hot.  Trim green beans to 1/4 inch shorter than your jars.
2. In a large saucepan, stir together the vinegar, water and salt.  Add garlic and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.  In each jar, place 1 sprig of dill and 1/8 teaspoon of red pepper flakes.  Pack green beans into the jars so they are standing on their ends.
3. Ladle the boiling brine into the jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the tops.  Discard garlic.  Seal jars with lids and rings.  Place in a hot water bath so they are covered by 1 inch of water.  Simmer but do not boil for 10 minutes to process.  Cool to room temperature.  Test jars for a good seal by pressing the center of the lid.  It should not move.  Refrigerate any jars that do not seal properly.  Let pickles ferment for 2 to 3 weeks before eating. 
4. ENJOY! 

Recipe courtesy of AllRecipes.com
Images: blog.mainefoodandlifestyle.com

CG Favorite in the News

City Greeners, it's no secret that Windcrest Yogurt is one of our favorite local products.  St. Louis' own Fox 2 News featured these dairy dreamers last Friday on their morning show.  Check it out!



Find more pictures from their feature here!

Preserving the Berry Great Harvest

City Greeners, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. 

Strawberries have arrived.

These juicy jewels are only around for a snippet of the growing season, so get them while you can (but don’t worry if you can’t seem to fill up on these berry tiny treasures– after strawberries come blackberries, then blueberries and raspberries)!! If you’re looking for ways to stock up and extend the strawberry season, look no further.  Here are a few tips:

Tray Freezing: Gently wash your berries, dump them on a cloth towel to slightly dry, cut off the greens and a small bit of the shoulder (which you can compost!), and arrange the berries cut-side-down on a baking sheet.  Set the sheet inside the freezer for 12 to 24 hours, then transfer the frozen berries into freezer bags.  Volia – strawberries ready for winter!

Packed in Sugar: Again, gently wash the berries, then slightly dry them, and cut off the greens and a small bit of the shoulder.  Cut the berries into smaller chunks and put them in a bowl.  Sprinkle a little sugar onto the berries as you go, and mix them until you get a light coating on all the little berry pieces. Use anywhere from 1/4 to 3/4 cup sugar for each quart of berries.  Leave the coated berry chunks to sit in the fridge for about an hour before packing into freezer containers.  Thaw and use in desserts like strawberry shortcake!

Strawberry Sauce:

                Ingredients

                2 quarts strawberries

                1 cup sugar

                1 cup water

                1 medium lemon, juiced

                Preparation

                - Boil sugar and water together for 5 

                minutes; cool.

                - Wash and hull berries, then puree 

                 in a blender.

                - Combine berries with sugar, water, 

                and lemon juice.

                - Pour into a container and freeze. 

               Great stirred into yogurt or as 

               an ice cream topping!

There are certainly other ways to make your strawberries last the longest - like drying and making preserves/jam.  Try them all out to find your favorite, and ENJOY! 

Images:

Strawberry Basket - M. Erhard

Freezing Berries 

Sugar Sprinkled 

Saucy 

Supa' Fresh is Supa' Ready

City Greeners, the Supa’ Fresh Veggie Mobile is gearing up to hit the streets.  As City Greens Market as a whole expands its hours, our mobile market will be going out two days a week. Be sure to follow us on Twitter to get any last-minute updates (or specials!) about the Mobile. If you’re interested in helping out at our morning stops (or at City Greens as a whole!) contact us.  

If you’re unfamiliar with the Supa’ Fresh Veggie Mobile, no worries! Our friends at Cooking Light featured our own mobile market in their August 2012 issue in an article focusing on Healthier Food Trucks.  Check out the Supa’ Fresh Veggie Mobile and the nation’s other most nutritious food on wheels here. 

See you at the market - or on the road!! 

Extended Hours Coming Soon!

"When will City Greens extend its hours?!"

This is the million-dollar question we've been hearing at the market.  Well ask no more, City Greeners - starting the first week in June, we will be open for business Tuesday through Friday!

City Greens will still be at 1202 S Boyle - for now !  We're still working on raising $30,000 for our matching grant and have reached over $15,000 (!!!) thanks to generous donations from our shoppers and supporters. (If you haven't donated, you can do so here or when you're shopping at the market.)  We will be sure to get the word out when we're re-locating so our shoppers can continue to get the highest quality, most affordable food in the city.

Until June 4th City Greens will continue to be open at 1202 S Boyle on Fridays from 10 until 5.

See you at the market! 

KEEP VOTING!

City Greeners we still need your help!!!

Vote for City Greens Market through THIS Sunday (5/19)! Here's how:

Here’s what to do:

Go to the Grow St. Louis Facebook page: http://growstl.pcrea.ch/

“Like” the page

Click where it says “Vote Here” on the right side of the screen

Accept when it asks to learn your likes and friends

Search for City Greens

Vote for us! J

Please share this on your Facebook page and tell your friends and family - we need their votes, too! 

As mentioned above, you may vote by mail if you choose.  The mail-in application is found here -http://www.monsanto.com/stlouis/Documents/GrowSTLVoteForm.pdf.  To fill it out, just write in the following:

Organizatoin: Catholic Charities Midtown Center

Category: Health, Fitness, & Nutrition 

Project Title: City Greens Market

Then just add your name, the date, and your email address, then mail it in to:

Monsanto Grow St. Louis

c/o Paradowski Creative

349 Marshall Ave., Suite 200

St. Louis, MO 63119.

Mail-in entries must be postmarked and received by the end of the contest on Sunday, May 19.  You can mail them in one per day that the contest is going on, but they only accept one vote slip per envelope. 

Thanks for your help in GROWING CITY GREENS!!!!

Mother's Day Merch

City Greeners, Mother's Day is this weekend!

If you're still looking for a way to show some appreciation for your momma this weekend, there are plenty of goodies to purchase at City Greens                            (open Friday 10-5)!  Here are some ideas:

• Singing Prairie Farm's Beeswax Candles - These guys burn slowly and cleanly.  They have a subtly sweet scent reminiscent of bee hives (but not the hairdos of mommas from past generations!).              $4.00 for a pair of candles
• Kaldi's Coffee - If your mom is like so many moms of the world, she is fueled by love, angel kisses, and caffeine. City Greens has ground Fair Trade, Organic Birds and Bees (caffeinated) and Terra Linda (decaf).  We also have whole-bean French Roast (caffeinated) available in bulk.  Coffee is an appreciated gift for moms the world over.             $7.26 for 12oz. bag B&B, $7.58 for 12oz. bag TL, $8.30 per pound of bulk French Roast    
• Kaldi's Tea - Momma not a coffee drinker?  No worries!  We have organic loose leaf teas from Kaldi's as well.  With blends like Orange Blossom, Green Tea Mint, Chai Masala, Earl Grey, and Jade Cloud, you're bound to find one that appeals to your mom's taste.  If she's new to the world of loose leaf, we also have tea strainers!                                                                                                         $4.57 for a one ounce package, $2.00 for a tea ball, but FREE with the purchase of two teas
• Hanley Fold Farm's Handmade Goat's Milk Soap, Lotion Bars, Lip
  
  Balm, and Soap Dishes - Help pamper your momma!  We have an assortment of soaps (in scents like Clove Coffee, Lemongrass, and Lavender Orange) with soap dishes that are designed to help Mom get the most out of her soap. We also have HFF's lotion bars (in unscented, lavender, and orange lavender) to help keep hands silky-smooth, and lip balms (in coffee, coconut, unscented, mint, and huckleberry flavors) for the perfect pucker.                                                  $2 for lip balms and soap dishes, $4 for a bar of soap,                            and $6 for lotion bars
• Tank's Treasures - As usual, Tank will be at the market from 10 until about 2:30 selling 100% recycled, refurbished, and handcrafted jewelry!  Each of Tank's treasures is very affordable, usually under $4 for each piece.  
• LOCAL FOOD DINNER!  One of the best ways to show Momma some appreciation is by letting her take a load off while you cook her dinner.  Here's a recipe for a quick, easy, customizable City Greens dinner that Mom will absolutely love!

              Ingredients

                  1 lb. Werner Farm Ground Beef or Patchwork Family Farms Ground 

                          Pork

                  1 - 9oz. package Midwest Pasta Co. Pasta (your choice on the shape!)

                  2 oz. Marcoot Jersey Creamery Cheese (your choice on the flavor!)

                  1 quart jar Hilty Bee Yards Canned Tomatoes 

                  1 handful HOSCO Sunflower Sprouts

              Preparation 

                  1. Thaw ground beef/pork, then

                      crumble/brown in a skillet over medium 

                      heat.

                  2. While the meat browns, boil water for 

                      pasta in a pot.  Cook pasta according 

                      to package instructions, about 5-6 

                      minutes until desired  texture. 

                  3. Drain pasta.  Add browned meat .

                  4. Crush canned tomatoes in your hands 

                      over the pasta/beef and add them to the pot. 

                  5. Add sunflower sprouts to the pot and mix in. 

                  6. Shred half of the cheese in the pot, saving the other half.

                  7. Dish out the meal, shred the rest of the cheese, and sprinkle on each 

                      dish. 

                  8. Thank the farmers for your food, your mamma for her love, and 

                      enjoy! 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! 

Image: HFF Products, HOSCO Facebook
  

Grow City Greens! VOTE!

City Greeners, we need your help!

City Greens has been accepted into the Grow St. Louis contest, and have the opportunity to win $20,000!  One organization in each of five categories will win by popular vote; City Greens has entered in the "Health, Fitness, & Nutrition" category.

With funding from the Grow St. Louis contest, City Greens will be able to continue serving its misison of making healthy and affordable food available for all by moving out of its current location and into a more permanent space.  Getting food out into the community spreads the growing trend of healthy, local foods to low income families who otherwise could not access or afford such items.  The award money will be used for moving costs, building renovations, and establishing a storefront.  City Greeners, with this money, we will surpass our fundraising goal and will be able to move out of the basement!!! 


Anyone can vote once per day throughout the voting period, which started yesterday (!) May 6 and runs through Sunday, May 19.  Here's what to do:

• Go to the Grow St. Louis Facebook page
• “Like” the page
• Click where it says “Vote Here” on the right side of the screen
• Accept when it asks to have access to your likes and friends
• Search for City Greens
• Vote for us! J

You can vote by mail if you choose.  The mail-in application is found here. Complete the form as follows:

• Organization: Catholic Charities Midtown Center
  
• Category: Health, Nutrition & Fitness
• Project Title: City Greens Market
• Name: (Your Name)
• Today's Date: (Date)
• Email Address: (Your Email)

After completeing the form, mail it in to:

          Monsanto Grow St. Louis

          c/o Paradowski Creative

          349 Marshall Ave., Suite 200

          St. Louis, MO 63119

Mail-in entries must be postmarked during the voting period, and received by the contest offices by the end of the contest - May 19.  You can mail them in one for each day that the contest is going on (a total of 14 entries), but they only accept one voting ballot per envelope. 

Again,  You can vote once per day, and the organizations with the most votes win.  Be sure to share with your friends and families, especially on Facebook.  

Thanks for helping to Grow City Greens!

Asparagus, Lettuce, and Spinach - OH MY!

CITY GREENERS!

Come on by the market today from 10-5 to sign up for a new membership - good for the entire YEAR!  We'll be at 1202 S. Boyle all day waiting for you. :)  As always, families that earn less than $30,000 receive a free membership; families earning more that that pay a membership donation of $150.  Everybody shops AT COST and enjoys our super-low prices.  Purchasing a tax-deductible membership pays for itself! 

We have a meat freezer stocked full of delicious locally raised meats, plus fresh deliveries of yogurt, cheese, and eggs.  Today the market is featuring ASPARAGUS, lettuce, and spinach, as well as lots of other fresh foods.

See you at the market!

Cuppin' Kaldi's

Our friends at Kaldi's Coffee roast a number of full-flavor coffee varieties.  City Greens proudly sells a few of their rad roasts at the market.  The folks at Feast Magazine featured our favorite coffee roasters in a behind-the-scenes video.  

Check out the video here to explore the precise roasting process (they roast 2,000-3,000 pounds of beans daily!), how "cupping" helps with quality control, and the precision Kaldi's Coffeehouses have in their brewing processes.  

Thanks for supporting City Greens, Kaldi's! 

Images: Kaldi's Logo  Coffee scoop in bag

 

Feeling Lucky?!

City Greens is kicking off a contest!!! 

Windcrest's six Greek Yogurt flavors at City Greens

For almost a year now, the farmers at Windcrest Diary have been supporting City Greens Market by supplying us with fresh, local, and delicious(!) yogurt.  Farmer Kurt Bizenberger and his family hail from Trenton, Illinois, where they have been milking cows for generations.  Many of our shoppers regularly display their love of Windcrest Diary yogurt by purchasing it at our market.  

Well, City Greeners, there's a new way to show off how much you love the best yogurt in the land!  After a visit to the farm in Trenton, the City Greens Team has been inspired to raffle off a Windcrest Dairy t-shirt! The t-shirt image (pictured to the right) is a blown-up image of a 24 ounce yogurt lid - of course with Nestle the cow's picture! 

Here's how to enter: 

Receive one entry for every 5 points you turn in. 

To receive points, bring your Windcrest yogurt lids to City Greens when you come to shop. 

6 ounce lid = 1 point                  24 ounce lid = 5 points

The best part is, if we reach 100 total points, we will repeat this contest in June! 

So get to eating that yogurt, City Greeners!  YUM! 

Dr. Joyce Hits the News!

A favorite supplier for City Greens, Dr. Joyce Johnson of Dr. Joyce's Honey Wellness products, was recently featured on KSDK Channel 5 News! After checking out the video, stop by City Greens to purchase some of her mouth-watering granola, granola bars, rolls, or her delicious COOKIES!

Thanks for supporting our market, Dr. Joyce, and keep up the good work!

See you shoppers today (Friday!) from 10-5 at City Greens!

Shout Out!

St. Louis' own Alive magazine has just hit the shelves with the May 2013 issue.  Flip to page 28 and you'll find an article about the International Institute's Global Farms Initiative.  The article highlights the impact the initiative has on its farmers, who are members of the St. Louis refugee community.  Also mentioned in the article is the partnership the Global Farms Initiative has with your very own City Greens!

Thanks for the shout out, Global Farmers!  We value our partnership we have, and are looking forward to another season of fresh, healthy veggies from your farm to our shoppers.

Check out the article in the May 2013 issue, or online here.

Images: 

International Institute of St. Louis 

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