A Harvest Calendar for You

by sacramento, June 22, 2009 | Permalink

Ever wonder what vegetables and fruits are in season when?  Check out our Harvest Calendar for this information.  Print it, refer to it (plan ahead for jam making and other such items) and enjoy it!

Bolani Sauce Goes Potatoes

by sacramento, June 15, 2009 | Permalink

Recipe Idea:

With a bowl of cooled, sliced baby red potatoes and a can of garbanzo beans, I was trying to figure out what kid of potato salad to create.   Surveying the fridge, I spotted the Bolani Garlic Mint Cheese spread, an Afghani yoghurt cheese with spices, mint and garlic.  Perfect!  Mixed it all together with a sprinkle of sea salt and the resulting potato salad was a hit.   This wonderful sauce is located in the dairy section if I’ve inspired you to try this very quick and easy recipe!   If you have questions about this recipe or spread, contact Lynn at the Sacramento Whole Foods Culinary School.

CHOCOLATE & DESSERT FESTIVAL 6/12 5-8PM

by sacramento, June 12, 2009 | Permalink

It’s all free!  Glorious, yummylicious, velvety, some healthy, some cold, some crunchy and some not chocolate and desserts to sample.  Join us between 5-8pm, Friday June 12th.  It will put a smile on your face and then some!

Wine Sale!!!

by sacramento, June 3, 2009 | Permalink

rudolf müller

“bunny” Riesling  $6.99 per bottle right now!

This floral, fruity and flirtatious wine with crisp peach, pear and light acidity is on sale from 6/3 through 6/10!  A drier-style Riesling, it is a splendid apéritif and the perfect match with lighter seafood and salads, Asian spiced cuisine or full-flavored cheeses.  Don’t miss out on this great summer sipping wine!

Go Balistic for Bolani

by sacramento, June 2, 2009 | Permalink

A new artisan product is on our shelf from East and West Gourmet Afghan Food.   The Afghani stuffed flat breadbreads, known as Bolani, are incredible tasting, along with their spreads and dips.  Bolani come in Spinach, Pumpkin, Lentil and Potato.  Spreads and dips include sundried tomato hummus, garlic mint cheese, Cilantro Pesto, Eggplant Pesto, Sweet Jalapeno Sauce, Babaganoush and a few others. This Concord based company participates in about 70 farmers’ markets in Northern California and is now available at Whole Foods.  We’ve got several sampling demos coming up so check ‘em out!   And the best thing is most are low fat, but you’d never even know.

Cyn Hits the Farmer’s Market

by sacramento, May 7, 2009 | Permalink

If you missed last week’s post on Cyn’s cooking creation, definitely check it out.  However, this one is a big winner and features our own local Bledsoe Pork from the Sunday morning farmer’s market in downtown Sacramento.  Got a BBQ coming up and don’t know what to make??? 

With pork in mind, she wondered the Whole Foods Market produce area and found local mustard greens and peaches (from Mexico and tasting fantastic).  The resulting dinner:

Sauteed Mustard Greens -Saute greens in olive oil in a heavy, hot, cast-iron skillet for a minute.  Turn heat down to low and cook greens for 30 minutes.  Douse with apple cider vinegar and toss, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.

Sprouted Rice Pilaf with Frog Hollow dried peaches- Saute local green garlic and spring onions in olive oil.  Add chopped thyme and flat leaf parsley, chopped Marcona almonds, diced dried peaches and season with salt and pepper.  Mix with the sprouted rice. 

Apple Smoked Bledsoe Pork - Heat up the grill, season the pork with Spanish smoked paprika salt and smoked to desired doness.  Don’t over cook!

Mexican Peaches with Buttermilk Bundt Cake - Chop up peaches and marinate with creme fraiche and chopped mint for about 30 minutes.  Make the bundt cake (any recipe will work).  Top cake with peaches and marinade…yum.

Drop us a comment if you try this one!

Electronic Recycling with E-Cycle Today (4/25)!

by sacramento, April 25, 2009 | Permalink

Bring any electronic item you want (or need to) recyle Saturday.  E-Cycle will take it off your hands for free and properly recycle the item.  Types of items include stereos, CDs, cell phones, wires, computers, monitors, radios, electronic kitchen appliances, TVs, wires, etc.   Also join in our Earth Day Celebration fun!

Cooking With Peppers, Mexican Style

by sacramento, April 22, 2009 | Permalink

Chef Arturo Vargas is teaching here on Thursday, April 23rd at 6pm.   If you’ve wondered about all the varieties of peppers out there, dried or not, this is the class to attend!  He’ll not only discuss pepper varieties but show you how to process them to make wonderful dishes, sauces and salsas.  Includes three dishes, salsa and guacamole for your eating enjoyment!   (This is a demonstration class.)  Has anyone taken Arturo’s classes anywhere?

The Oil of Avocados

by sacramento, April 2, 2009 | Permalink

A good oil indeed!  Avocado Oil has the highest ‘smoke point’ of any oil,  510°F for refined avocado oil.  Refined you say?!  But yes!  Refined oils can actually be better choices for higher cooking temperatures.  Refining does make oils more neutral in flavor and many nutrients are removed during the refining process, however the essential fatty acids do remain. It is also important to note when oil begins to smoke, it releases carcinogens into the air and creates free radicals within the oil. The molecules are highly reactive and can cause cellular damage and breakdown.

A few basic rules you can use to decide whether to use unrefined or refined oil in various cooking applications are as follows.

Use unrefined when preparing dishes needing low to moderate heat (temps below 320°F). This includes steaming, light sautéing and drizzling over cooked grains and vegetables. They are also great for salad dressings, most sauces and baking if baking temperatures are not higher than 350°F.

Refined are better when cooking at medium to high heat temperatures (350° to 425°F) for applications such as stir-frying, sautéing with high heat, grilling and high temperature baking. Remember different refined oils have different smoke points, some higher than others so check them out beforehand!

Greetings!

by sacramento, April 1, 2009 | Permalink

Welcome to Store Blogs, brought to you by the Sacramento store. Each week, we’ll share information with you on a variety of topics so come back often to read, enjoy and learn. And the topic for April Fools Day…???