The Holidays
Faith, Food, Family & Friends
What is the best gift you can give? Your love, your time, your talents to enrich someone else's life. Most of us don't need material things -- But who doesn't love to receive a tin of homemade cookies, a desert bread, the summers' kiss of canned apricots, a gift certificate for a picnic lunch and a hike, another Ojai Olive Oil balsamic vinegar (Blackberry-Ginger is my new fave), a colorful basket of Pixie or Kishu tangerines, a fruit tree, pretty new gardening gloves, a gift certificate to Flora Gardens or Ortiz nursery, breakfast in bed, the latest cookbook, a subscription to Eating Well or Cooking Light, a bunch of dried herbs from your garden?? Santa's Workshop is right here, in your Ojai kitchen. And hey, make it a social event, invite friends and cook together as you sip one of Zhena's Gypsy Teas (try Polar Berry, heavenly!)
Whatever your tradition, this is a season to share love and spirit and good food, building memories to last a lifetime. May you be blessed with sweet connections.
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OVGC Fall Community Gathering & Potluck
Friday, November 30 - Chaparral Aud. - 6:30-9:00
(Free event if you bring an organic vegetarian dish to share)The evening's program focused on "How The Ojai Food Co-op Will Benefit Our Community." Engaged community members have come together to begin the process of making the Ojai Food Co-op a reality. This evening will begin with a presentation by the Isla Vista Food Co-op's general manager Melissa Cohen, detailing the role of Isla Vista Food Co-op (a 42 year old natural food store) within its community and the many benefits to local members, local farmers, and local artisanal food producers. Following the presentation about Isla Vista Food Co-op, the Ojai Food Co-op's core organizing group will present about its efforts thus far, answer questions, and discuss next steps.
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Eating Well -
The magazine and the experience. Recipes I tried and would repeat. 
Two-Toned Mashed Potatoes:
Dice, steam and mash together 1-1/2 lb. each of Yukon Gold potatoes & yams. Add a sprinkling of chopped chives. Mix in 2/3 cup of buttermilk. Leave it somewhat chunky for two colors. Garnish with sour cream and a tsp. of onion powder.
Cranberry Cornbread: Try using whole-grain cornmeal (I used Bob's Red Mill) and some whole-wheat flour. Add a cup of fresh cranberries (tossed in a couple of tablespoons of the cornmeal keeps them from sinking to the bottom), a 1/3 cup of dried cranberries. A chewy, stout alternative to the cakelike cornbread you usually get.
Quinoa & Fruit Salad: Use the red quinoa (Trader Joe's) for  color. Make it using vegetable broth for the liquid. Add steamed & sliced beets, tangerine sections, pomegranate seeds and the toasted nuts of your choice. Do a citrus juice & olive oil dressing. The final touch is diced dates. Beautiful & delicious.
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Liquid Chi Kombucha
Local guy makes good
The Food Council's own Peter Donovan started with an idea and has built an artisan beverage business. His Kombucha is available in 4 flavors (Orange Rosemary, Lemon Mint, Ginger Raspberry, Strawberry Elderberry) and one seasonal flavor. It comes in 12 oz or 32 oz. It's sold at Rainbow Bridge & Farmer and the Cook and home delivery is available (and a good deal with quantity orders). Give the gift of Liquid Chi this holiday.
Peter Donovan: 310-625-6439 or liquidchikombucha.com
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Thanks for your continuing interest in making the Ojai Valley a more delicious place to live. Our food system is a vital part of our resilience and strength.
Growing food, growing community!
Dulanie Ellis, Food Council
Ojai Valley Green Coalition
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Upcoming Events
Nov. 30
OVGC Gathering & Potluck
See the article below. This quarter's event is focused on developing an Ojai Food Co-Op.
Chaparral Auditorium
6:30-9:00
PLAN for
JANUARY
Is Your Plate Clean?
Want help to go into the New Year dumping the junk in your pantry & refrigerator. Want to get your body re-tuned and develop a personal exercise program designed just for you?
Call Brooke: 798-4047
brookeatkins@mac.com
Brooke is a Certified Personal Trainer & Nutrition Specialist.
Creating an Urban Food Forest
(cost & date TBD)
Work with certified permaculturist, Devin Slavin (Grow Food Party Crew originator) to transform Dulanie's gardens into a food forest.
This is the first in a series of workshops that will cover concept thru development of critter-proof raised beds, fruit orchard, chicken coop & bird stocking, aquaponics, bamboo pavillion building & more
dulanie@me.com
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Day on the Farm
Christel Rogero is gearing up for Year Two. If you know of a good farm, or want to help her organize it, or want to just volunteer for the day, let her know.
crogero@yahoo.com
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Easy Christmas
Veggie Loaf
4 c. veggie burger crumbles (2 packs Yves 'Ground Round')
1 c. raw rolled or quick oats
1-1/3 c. potato, grated
2 med. onions,minced
1/4 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. ketsup
1/4 c. nutrtional yeast
14 c. grnd. flaxseed
1 tsp salt
1 tsp garlic
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp savory
1/2 tsp dry basil
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp sage
Preheat oven to 400F.
Mix all ingredients in large bowl with hands. Press into 9x5" loaf pan. Cover with thin layer of favorite sauce. Bake 1 hour, covered with foil for first 30 minutes.
Let stand 15 min.
Bon appetit! |
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