My adventures in Blush: GoGo Quinoa Cookies

I asked Matt yesterday if there was anything I should be blogging about before I leave for my trip and he said, "Try the GoGo Quinoa cookies". I replied that the blog is turning into Teri's adventures in Blush! Nothing wrong with that I suppose, so long as anyone reading it doesn't mind.

Before I talk about these cookies, I must update my Zico coconut water post. I purchased a case yesterday, as Derek and I are on our way to Moab, Utah tomorrow for a mountain biking trip. The stuff has actually grown on me. I have this intense distaste for water (I know, I know!) and wander around most days in a completely dehydrated stupor, (plus the three dehydrating cups of coffee I drink first thing in the morning). Usually, later in the afternoon I get headaches. Knowing the cause, I started grabbing a coconut water. I guess it's easy to like anything that makes you feel better!

So, on to the GoGo Quinoa cookies. Having already tried their Quinoa-Amaranth burgers, I knew that it was a good line of products. I picked up the chocolate chip cookies yesterday, and was quite impressed. From my completely non-vegan, non-celiac point of view, they are delicious-- crunchy and light tasting. But from the other perspective-- knowing how hard it is to avoid gluten after attempting to do it for a week and failing miserably, and imagining that being vegan would be a similar hurdle-- they are fantastic!

I personally love quinoa, Derek and I eat it at least twice a week, so cookies made out of quinoa equals awesome! Another great thing about them is that they are individually wrapped. I am going to bring the rest of the box on our roap trip, they will make for handy grab-and-go snacks. It's also good that they are individually wrapped because it stops one from eating the whole box at once (if one were so inclined!). Finally, though they don't say anything about it on the website, I couldn't find a tree nut warning on the box, so I fed one to Derek and he appeared to still be breathing when I left for work this morning. So, don't quote me on them being tree nut-free, but based on my experiment they seem to be!

Forget everything you thought you knew about mangoes...

Seriously. Forget every mediocre mango you've ever eaten.... Even forget the mangoes you've had that you thought were good.

THESE ARE RIDICULOUS!

They don't make enough bold and italics to describe to you, so you're just going to have to get your butt down here and try some. I'll be here all day tomorrow sampling them, only because I really and truly believe that they will blow you away. So, if nothing else, stop by and at least give them a try!
These mangoes are the sweet start of what promises to be a fantastic mango season. We have more to come, but none will ever touch this deal of a whole 7-count case for $6.00. That's not a typo, folks!
I am super excited about these mangoes (in case you couldn't tell!), and it's the kind of excitement that can only come from eating something that is just so perfectly delicious that it kinda blows your mind a little bit. It's like eating a pea straight out of the garden in the peak of the season; it's like the juiciest tree-ripened peach; they might as well be straight off the tree, they're literally glowing with tasty aliveness and begging to be eaten.

That's 7 organic Peruvian mangoes for $6.00!

Tomatoes, in general

Look at these luscious beauties. Perfect even in the middle of winter!

$4.99/lb

I'm not the greatest at blogging about grocery items, we all know my passion is for produce. So, today I am blogging generally about tomatoes and specifically about some great products I love that have tomatoes in them! Let's face it, if it's good for you, it likely grew in the dirt.

"Tomatoes are one of the most tasty and nutritious fruits available for our everyday diets. Extensive research around the world has shown the benefits of eating tomato based foods on a regular basis. Tomatoes are a major and one of the only dietary sources of the anti-oxidant lycopene, an agent that amongst other things has been found to reduce the risk of a number of cancers. Tomatoes are an excellent source of, vitamin A, vitamin C, beta-carotene, potassium, folic acid and other B vitamins, iron and fiber. Interestingly enough, the lycopene in cooked and processed tomatoes is more readily available and absorbed by our bodies than in raw tomatoes. "

From Thomas Canning WebsiteLycopene, who knew. You can buy a can chock-full-o-lycopene of your own for the low low price of $3.99. I especially get a kick out of the fact that this company's website is ThomasCanning.com... Because we sometimes forget that all it is is a tomato in a can. You can even do it yourself, in season. (But we have these for those who didn't!)

Tomatoes really aren't in season right now. But you know what is? Soup!

$5.49 each.

This Happy Planet Organic soup-in-a-bag is one of my favourites. The Tuscan Tomato is delicious and creamy, with the perfect amount of zest. It's great for work lunches; there's about enough for two lunches and the bag is resealable. Nothing better than a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter day (is it Spring yet?!). Available in our newly renovated Deli section!

$10.99 each

Also available in our newly-renovated Deli section is something that may not be a tomato, but I sure wouldn't want to have a fresh tomato withoout it! Buffalo Mozzarella, and Buffalo Bocconcini from Natural Pastures. Did you know that real mozzarella, authentic mozzarella, is made from water buffalo milk? I didn't, until the Food Network taught me. Then I found this product, and now I can't be without it. Slice some tomatoes and mozzarella, drizzle a little olive oil and balsamic... What could be better (NOTHING!).
P.S. Here is a picture of a water buffalo, one of the ones who gets milked to make the cheese. (She's licking her lips, thinking about tomatoes, I bet!)
http://www.fairburnwaterbuffalo.com/

Mangoes!

In our flyer this month:

Organic Kent Mangoes

3 for $5.97

$1.99 each

Sunworks Farm: 15% off Pork Sausages

This week at Blush Lane, a special on Sunworks Farm Pork Sausages- 15% off!

Here is a note about the pigs from Sheila, farmer and owner of Sunworks Farm:

"We want to let everyone know that our production of our Certified Organic Free Range pork is back into full swing. We were so thankful to have our sister Dorothy and her family raising our pigs for many years. Now that Dorothy is concentrating on her Certified Organic lamb flock we have taken over the pig part of the project. Our pigs live outside year round. Right now they have lots of straw for bedding and great shelter from the cold winds and snow. The only time they are inside is when they farrow (have their piglets) as it is too cold right now for the little ones to be outside. Once they are ready to leave the sows side everyone goes back outside again. They receive their certified organic feed (which we make ourselves) free choice – this feed includes alfalfa so that they continue to get the greens they need year round. We continue to sell our Certified Organic Free Range pork by the cut as well as our specialty meats e.g. ham, bacon and a variety of sausages. As usual everything is certified organic – the specialty products only contain our own Certified Organic Free Range pork and certified organic spices – NO gluten or other fillers – NO chemicals (nitrates, sulphites,MSG) – this meat is safe for everyone including Celiacs! See the right side of our front page for savings on our Certified Organic Free Range Pork and our Certified Organic Free Range Chicken. We look forward to seeing you at our market locations!"

Sheila Hamilton
Farmer/Owner
Sunworks Farm
Armena, Alberta

*pssstt!* Try the Pork Italian, they're my favourite! Just the right amount of spice and great flavour!

Blush Lane March Flyer

Check out our March Flyer for great deals!



(Click on the images to zoom in)

The Deli Renovation

I had intended on doing a day-by-day update on the deli renovation progress, but it happened so fast all I have time for is the finished product. So, here it is, in all it's glory!

We've been getting lots of positive feedback from customers, and it's so nice to have a big welcoming space in the front of the store. Come by and check it out today!