THE
INSIDER CREATED BY THE SWARTHMORE FOOD COOPERATIVE
! e m e tak ! E E R F m I’
December 2014 ISSUE 014
What’s Inside
you said it page 3
upcoming events page 4
december specials page 14
features
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QUICK & EASY SUGAR COOKIES PG 5 THE CO-OP WELCOMES THEIR NEW GENERAL MANAGER PG 6 TIS THE SEASON FOR GIVING PG 7 CABBABE. OH LOWLY CABBAGE PG 9
designed by ROSE MCMANUS
published & printed by SWARTHMORE FOOD COOPERATIVE photography by ANDY SHELTER
(cover, pg 1, 7 &13) JIM MCMANUS (pg 2, 4, 6, 10 &12)
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you said it Do you have a question, comment, or concern? Talk to us! Email operations@swarthmore.coop, or fill out a comment card in store.
Always enjoy shopping here. How about getting the terrific hotdogs the sell at KATZ in New York? We looked into the hot dogs they sell at KATZ and it is not feasible for us to carry the hot dogs at this time. However, looking at the KATZ website, they do deliver to customer’s doors, that could be an option. Thanks for your comment. Sincerely, Swarthmore Co-op
I continue noticing that Brooke is a super employee and I think he would be excellent in any roll the Co-op has to offer.-Adrienne Thank you for your comment. We too have seen Brooke’s excellence and as a result, the managers have voted him employee of the month for October. We are proud of all that Brooke has done for the store and we appreciate him greatly. Sincerely, Swarthmore Co-op
looking to advertise?
contact ROSE MCMANUS for a rate schedule insider@swarthmore.coop
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UPCOMING EVENTS first friday quizzo-Friday, december 5 @ 8 pm board meeting-Monday, december 15 @ 7 pm
Quick & Easy Sugar Cookies
It isn’t the holidays without the smell of baking cookies in the air. For fun, easy baking this holiday season pick up an All Natural Cookie Kit by Scratch & Grain baking! They have a gluten free Chocolate Truffle option as well as a Classic Sugar cookie; and just for the holidays there will be a holiday cookie box so keep your eyes open in the baking aisle this season! The All Natural Cookie Kits are individually packaged ingredients that are mixed together to make delicious cookies; all you need is to add butter and an egg. To make the holidays even brighter, 5% of Scratch & Grain’s profits go to charity! To make the Classic Sugar cookie, you need:
-Start by preheating the oven to 375 degrees.
-1 large egg
-Grease the bottom of a cookie sheet or line it with a
-4 tablespoons of Unsalted butter (1/4 cup)
non-stick baking mat.
-A bowl and spoon (or fork)
-Then melt the butter.
-A cookie sheet
-In a medium sized bowl mix the melted butter,
-A box of Scratch & Grain Classic Sugar cookie kit
baking soda, vanilla powder, salt, and baking powder until smooth (those ingredients found in box). -Add the egg, cane sugar and flax (also found in box). -Stir the flour in and mix well until the dough is smooth. -Then, scoop out about 1 tablespoon of dough at a time onto the cookie sheet, making about 9-12 cookies. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Let the cookies sit for 2-3 minutes before transferring for cooling. -Enjoy!
Ingredients for both of types of cookies, and the steps on how to make them, can be found on the back of their box, along with baking tips, suggestions, and ideas!
THE CO-OP WELCOMES THEIR NEW GENERAL MANAGER The Swarthmore Co-op’s Board of Directors has searched far and wide for a new general manager, with the perfect skill set and background needed to run a store as unique as ours, and have found Cheston Lawrence of Wallingford. Cheston has background in both grocery retail, and restaurant management, as well as an interest in local foods. He is a lieutenant in the United States Army National Guard, in which he has been serving since 2008. Cheston comes to us with both experience as well as passion. Cheston was the Store Director at the Lawrence Park ACME, as well as the Assistant Store Director at the Whole Foods in Philadelphia. He has also managed restaurants in Philadelphia and earned his degree in Culinary Arts from the Resturant School. This, combined with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, makes us all confident and excited about what Cheston will bring to the Swarthmore community.
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Tis the Season for Giving written by Megan Lieberman
One of the top selling handmade soaps in the Coop is Zum. Hopefully after reading this article you will know why. Zum is based in Kansas City with a grassroots start. Zum is a made up word and the font on the labels was designed on a cocktail napkin. All of the employees embrace the holistic approach that company embodies. The work is scheduled so the whole company can eat lunch together. They also love dogs even allowing them to come to work! All the bars are cut and hand labeled. The soap itself is incredible. It is all vegetarian and some are gluten free. Zum never tests on animals and the soaps are gentle enough to use on the whole body. One of the main reasons it’s so gentle is because they use goat’s milk. Goat’s milk is high in naturally occurring triglycerides which results in a PH level close to that of human skin. Not to mention it’s ultra moisturizing. Another reason is Zum uses naturally sourced essential oils. The amount they use is so high that soap bars can be considered therapeutic. Soy wax, jojoba oil, shea butter, and argan oil are the few other ingredients they use.
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Finally, their soap is cold processed. By not added any heat it retains all the vitamins and minerals. Zum also gives back. One dollar of every Yum bar goes to Kansas City Sheltie Rescue. Yum is a line just for pets. They also have a Betsy line. Betsy is an employee of Zum that beat breast cancer. One dollar of every Betsy bar is donated to Turning Point: The Center for Hope and Healing. Twenty five percent of Betsy Body sales go to Back in the Swing of Things. Both charities focus on wellness and healthy living beyond breast cancer. If all of the above wasn’t enough to make you want to purchase a bar here are a few fun facts. Frankincense and Myrrh is the top seller. Their Rosemary Mint mist is good for hangover headaches. Their packaging is bright and festive. All of Zum’s products, including fun Holiday gifts, are located on the health and beauty rack in the front of the store.
Oh Cabbage. Oh Lowly written by Brooke Porch
Cabbage.
Oh cabbage. Oh lowly cabbage. How I love thee... I’m not even joking! Cabbage is fantastic and with a little kitchen wizardry it can be be transformed and elevated to an almost divine substance. (Perhaps that’s the real reason that the commonly eaten cultivars of the Brassicaceae family are also called “cruciferous” (or “cross-bearing” vegetables). But I digress. Although it is often overlooked by its fancier cousins broccoli and Brussels sprouts (not to mention its much fancier cousin kale), cabbage has a lot to offer. Like other members of its cultivar family, cabbage is a nutritional powerhouse, high in fiber, vitamin K and vitamin C. It is also a good source of folate and B-6. There are many ways to prepare this burly Belgium blossom, but the following method is my favorite. I typically make a large amount. Partly because even “small” cabbages are pretty big but mostly because I like to have the leftovers. I eat it with anything, but I think it is especially good with roasted chicken and roasted potatoes (my alltime favorite fall/winter meal). Because I make so much, I use my largest stock pot to cook this.
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You will need: • Cabbage (I like two use one head each of red and green cabbage) • Onions, etc. Any kind will do. I like to use a large yellow onion, a big red onion and a few shallots. • Celery (2-3 stalks). • Carrots (2-3) • Garlic (one entire head—its good for ya!) • Ginger (optional, I guess, but I like it) • Apple (just one. Adds a little sweetness) • Apple cider (if you like a bit more sweetness) • Vinegar (1-2 T) • Oil • Salt & Pepper • Herbs
1. Chop onions, celery, carrots. Mince ginger and onion. 2. Cut cabbage heads into quarters. Cut out the core. Chop FINELY. No thicker than ¼ inch. In my experience, the thinner you chop it, the better. 3. Cook onions, etc over medium heat (covered) in plenty of olive oil with a good amount of salt until the onions begin to become translucent (about 5 min)., stirring occasionally. Add garlic, apple and onion, and stir. Cook 1-2 more minutes. 4. Splash in some vinegar (apple cider, white wine— avoid balsamic and other vinegars with sugar) 5. Reduce heat to medium-low and add the cabbage in batches, stirring it so that everything is mixed together and the cabbage gets a bit of oil on it. 6. Cover and begin the waiting game. All that cabbage (probably several pounds) is going take a while to get hot. Be patient and just let the stove do its work. Eventually, it will get hot and the water will be released by the cabbage. Keep it covered so it can cook in its own broth. 7. I typically cook my cabbage for at least an hour (sometimes longer) at a medium-low heat. When it is about 20 minutes from being done, I might add some apple cider for the sweetness. Remove cover to let some of the water evaporate, which will concentrate the flavors. 8. Enjoy!
ALTERNATE STORE HOURS THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS HERE, AND WITH THAT COMES A SERIES OF ALTERNATE STORE HOURS. SO KEEP YOUR EYE OUT FOR CHANGES AND ENJOY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!
CHRISTMAS EVE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24 STORE HOURS: 8AM-5PM CHRISTMAS DAY THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25 STORE IS CLOSED DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26 STORE HOURS: 10AM-6PM NEW YEARS EVE WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31 STORE HOURS: 8AM-6PM NEW YEARS DAY THURSDAY, JANUARY 1 STORE HOURS: 9AM-2PM
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Home Heating Oil Pricing and Tips For Winter written by: Aleta Rogers That winter chill is in the air again. Maybe you haven’t thought about it all summer but now you’re remembering those high heating bills from last winter. Whether you like it or not, it’s time to start making decisions about how you will keep your home warm this winter. This past winter was about 11% colder than average, this year the EIA predicts normal, average temperatures. But as we learned last year, Mother Nature does what she wants. Is it too soon to utter the word “polar vortex” again? Heating oil users were hit hard during the polar vortex due to a spike in price spurred by high demand and depleted inventories. Well, this year there is finally some good new s for heating oil users. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) released its Short Term Energy and Winter Fuels Outlook report and projects that households using heating oil will spend an average of 15% less than last winter, which equals about $362 in decreased heating costs. This is due to a predicted warmer winter, accounting for 10% less consumption, and a 5% decrease in prices. Let’s cross our fingers that the EIA’s prediction is right. Although the EIA is predicting a milder winter, the farmer’s almanac (that boasts an 80% rate of accurate forecasts since 1792) is saying to expect a colder and snowier winter than normal in Philadelphia. Even if the weather does get cold, things are still looking up for heating oil users mainly because of the low price of crude oil right now. In fact, it is at its lowest price since 2012! The reason for this is mainly due to increased domestic production of oil. So if you haven’t already, get your tank filled while prices are low! Total heating costs for heating oil users this season are estimated to be around $1,992 on average. See the chart below for how this compares with other fuels:
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Since heating oil is an “off-grid” fuel unlike natural gas and electricity, it is more susceptible to market swings due to the weather and other factors. There are a number of other factors that affect the price of heating oil besides weather including inventories, crude oil price volatility, and changes in fuel specifications. Right now inventories are slightly below what they were last year around this time but should be more than adequate to meet demand barring any extreme instances of severe weather. Last winter showed us that weather can be completely unpredictable but experts still like to make their best guess! The EIA says that even if the weather is 10% colder than they are predicting, expenditures will still be lower than last winter by about $124 (or $.16 less per gallon), mainly attributed to lower prices in crude oil. In order to get an even better price on oil consider joining a buying group, like The Energy Co-op. The last two winters we helped our members save an average of $.21 per gallon compared to the average retail rate for heating oil in PA. Here are some other handy tips to reduce your heating costs this winter: • Get your heating system checked by a professional at least once a year and change the filters regularly. Many suppliers offer an annual tune up as part of their service plan. Getting an annual tune up will keep your system running more efficiently ensuring you get the most out of every gallon of heating oil burned. Just like getting the oil changed in your car, keeping your system running smoothly and at maximum performance will save you money in the end! • Consider replacing your heating system if it is more than 20 years old. Doing this could cut your heating costs by up to 25 percent. • Replace old thermostats with programmable thermostats, it will pay for itself in a year. This keeps you from having to worry about lowering the temperature every time you leave the house. A good rule of thumb is to keep it at 65 degrees during the day and 55 degrees when you are asleep or away from home. • If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, manually turn down the temperature at night time or when the house is unoccupied. Even slightly lowering the thermostat during the day while you are at work can help you save money! • On sunny days, keep the curtains and blinds open on south facing windows to let the sunlight warm your home. On cloudy days or in the evening, close them to keep the heat in and reduce drafts. • Keep your home properly insulated! It’s a good idea to insulate your water heater and to seal cracks around windows and doors. You can even make your own draft dodger as an easy way to prevent air leaks. • Make sure nothing (especially furniture) is blocking your vents or radiator as this will keep heat from properly circulating. • Lastly, if you’d like to spread out your payments over the year so you aren’t hit hard during the heating season, consider signing up for a budget plan. Have other successful efficiency tips? Email them to heatingoil@TheEnergy.Coop and we will share them with our members.
Monthly Specials FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...
MAPLE WHIPPED YAMS
GROCERY BULK REGULAR ROLLED OATS
SALE $9.99 LB
SALE $7.99 LB
SALE $.99 LB
MEAT BEEF BRISKET FIRST CUT
DELI CO-OP CERTIFIED NO-SALT TURKEY
SALE $11.99 lb
SALE $10.59 LB
Prepared Foods
SEAFOOD TILAPIA FILET REG. $10.99 LB
REG. $8.99 LB
REG. $12.99 lb
SPECIALTY ALL LES MOULINS MAHJOUB PRODUCTS REG. PRICES VARY
SALE 10% OFF
REG. $12.59 LB
SANDWICH SPECIAL CHRISTMAS ON KAISER: HOT ROAST BEEF, HAM, SWISS, CARAMELIZED ONIONS, HORSERADISH MUSTARD, AND ROSEMARY AU JUS
BAKERY SPECIAL VEGAN TREATS OATMEAL RAISIN COOKIE REG. $2.99 EA
REG $1.49 LB
FROZEN WOODSTOCK FROZEN VEGETABLES
SALE 15% OFF ALL DAIRY EARTH BALANCE BUTTER SPREADS
SALE 15% OFF ALL
REG. $7.95 EA
SALE $6.95 EACH
SALE $2.49 EACH
Member’s
FOR MEMBERS...FOR MEMBERS...FOR MEMBERS...FOR MEMBERS...FOR MEMBERS...FOR MEMBERS...FOR MEMBERS... PREPARED FOODS
SPECIALTY
PONT L’EVEQUE REG $19.99 LB
MEMBERS $16.99 LB
LARGE AND SMALL SOUPS REG. $5.00(SM) & $10.00(LG)
MEMBERS $3.50(SM) & $8.50(LG)
REG $2.59 EACH
MEMBERS $1.99 EACH MEAT
DELI
CO-OP MADE FIRST-CUT CORNED BEEF REG. 13.99 LB
MEMBERS $10.99 LB
BONE IN RIBEY STEAKS REG. $18.99 LB
MEMBERS $17.99 LB
REG. $3.99 EACH
MEMBERS $3.39 EACH
BAKERY
MY HOUSE SCONES
FROZEN
NATURE’S PATH FROZEN WAFFLES
DAIRY
SILK NOG QUARTS REG. $3.79 EACH
MEMBERS $2.99 EACH
SEAFOOD
GROCERY
SHELL-ON 21/25 CT. MEXICAN WHITE SHRIMP
MEDFORD FARMS STOCKS
REG. $18.99 LB
REG. $3.49 EACH
MEMBERS $17.99 LB
MEMBERS $1.OO OFF
Back to Basics
FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...FOR EVERYONE...
BACK TO BASICS 3 lb bag of apples
PRICE $2.99 EACH
Specials valid DECEMBER 1-30, 2014 except Back to Basics (B2B prices are part of a permanent program).
Tis the Season For Giving Show you care this holiday season by donating to a family in need. Your food donation of $10 or $20 will give a family a bag of assorted holiday items. See registers for more information.