Dog Day & Dog Show - Time to enter your dog!

by millvalley, July 20, 2009 | Permalink

Whole Foods Market invites you & your canine friend!

Sunday, August 2 from 11-2pm at the new Whole Foods Market in the plaza at the corner of Blithedale & Lomita.

Please join us for a dog day afternon. We will have special treats for dogs and humans. There will be a dog show from noon to 1pm. Enter your canine friend now! To enter, drop off a picture at Customer Service at Whole Foods Market Mill Valley at 414 Miller Ave in Mill Valley or email it to susan.grelock@wholefoods.com. Entries due July 26. Shoppers will vote on the entries. Finalists will be judged by our panel at the August 2 dog show. Dog finalists must be present to win. 

Dog Day & Dog Show

by millvalley, July 20, 2009 | Permalink

Cherry Crisp - Wholesome Enough for Breakfast

by millvalley, July 10, 2009 | Permalink

Some desserts are wholesome enough to make a nutritious, satisfying breakfast - like this cherry crisp. This whole grain treat is sweetened only with agave syrup and is loaded with fresh cherries. This recipe calls for oat flour; you can purchase it or make your own by grinding oats in a  blender or coffee grinder. This is a fairly rustic recipe - if you prefer something a bit more sophisticated, try this Apple-Cherry Crisp Recipe:  http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=892

Simple Cherry Crisp

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a heavy saucepan, combine the following & bring to a boil:

• 2 cups fresh cherries, pitted
• 1 1/4 cups water
• 2 tablespoons agave syrup

Stir 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder in 1/4 cup water. Stir into cherries and simmer, covered, for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in juice of 1/2 lemon and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract.  In a mixing bowl, combine:

• 4 cups oat flour
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 2/3 cup almond oil
• 1/3 cup agave syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine with a fork. Add a few teaspoons of water, if necessary, to make mixture come together. Bake in oven on a baking sheet for about 5 minutes, stirring once during baking.

Pour cherries into a rectangular oiled baking dish. Cover with crumb topping. Bake, covered, about 20 minutes; uncover and continue baking for about 5 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Cherries, cherries, cherries…!

by millvalley, July 10, 2009 | Permalink

Today is the day - cherries will be on sale at Whole Foods in Mill Valley for just $1.88 / lb. If you’re tempted to pick up a whole case, you may have a few extras for the freezer. The best way I’ve found to freeze cherries is to pit them and then place them on a cookie sheet in a single layer - put the sheet in the freezer (uncovered) just until the cherries are frozen on the outside (don’t forget about them & over-freeze!). Place them in freezer bags or containers and store in freezer to use as needed - they’ll be separate and easy to remove in whatever quantity you need!

A great use for frozen cherries? They can be thawed and used in all your favorite baking recipes - they can also be used to make jam later in the year when you have more time. For an easy, wholesome breakfast, try this great cherry-almond smoothie:

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=292

When life hands you cherries…

by millvalley, July 8, 2009 | Permalink

…enjoy them with everything! This Friday Whole Foods Market in Mill Valley will have cherries on sale (1 day only!) for just $1.88 a pound. Wow! We have never offered cherries at such a low price and we’re all excited about having more cherries than we know what to do with. Here are my top 12 ways to enjoy cherries…

1. Give a bag to your friends
2. Take a bag on your next hike up Tam- cherries hold up great in a  backpack
3. Make homemade maraschino cherries (see previous post for recipe)
4. Make a cherry pie - ever done it with fresh cherries? You’ll be blown away. (If crusts aren’t your thing, consider a frozen one)
5. Cherry smoothies are extra-special. Try pairing them with coconut milk and banana
6. Make a cherry crisp (watch for recipe to be posted on this blog this week)
7. Give a bag to your neighbor
8. Add cherries to savory dishes, like green salads and picnic salads
9. Add to homemade muffins and scones (see previous blog posts for recipes)
10. Cherry salsa? Yes! Follow this link for the recipe: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/recipe.php?recipeId=102
11. Pit and freeze them - they will be great in baked goods and smoothies later in summer
12. Looking for something to pair with chocolate for a simple dessert? Just set out a bowl of cherries and some of your favorite chocolate (like Green & Black’s 85% dark)

maraschino cherry - take two!

by millvalley, July 5, 2009 | Permalink

The maraschino cherry is a quirky, yet emblematic food. What would a Shirley Temple or a pineapple upside down cake be without these ultra-red jewels? But they’re not exactly a pantry staple…unless you’ve had homemade ones.

One summer a few years back I had the pleasure of having a neighbor with a cherry orchard and I was gifted with many brown paper grocery bags full of cherries. I ate all I could of the fresh cherries, but still there were  more. So, I started playing in the kitchen and discovered this excellent recipe for homemade maraschino cherries. Without the candy coating and FD&C red dye, these are a far cry from conventional ones. They are not super-sweet or amazingly red - they are a treat for your mouth and a really special jar to pull out of the fridge when company comes over. A simple glass of sparkling water on ice is made sublime with one of these fruits added. My favorite way to enjoy these is as an extra-special addition to iced drinks all summer long - but they will also be the crown jewel on an upside down cake.

The good news is that they are actually quite simple to make. And if you don’t have a neighbor with a cherry tree, the other good news is that this year’s cherry crop is excellent - the price is low and the quality is excellent - a perfect season to indulge.

Maraschino Cherries

Since grapes are also coming into in season right now, I make fresh grape juice in my juicer with organic red grapes. If you’re a little short on time, buy a bottle of a high-quality juice, like Santa Cruz Concord Grape. I use Rapadura granulated sugar because it contains all the molasses, making it richer in flavor and minerals. You can substitute your favorite granulated sugar.

In a saucepan combine:

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup Rapadura sweetener
• 1/2 cup red grape juice
• 1 star anise

Bring to a boil, then simmer on low, stirring constantly until Rapadura dissolves. Add:

• 1 lb cherries with stems
• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon top-quality almond extract.

Simmer just until cherries are tender, about 5 minutes. (Better to undercook then overcook - to avoid soft cherries.) Remove from heat & cool in the syrup. Place in a covered jar and store in fridge.