Mint Tea Bistro Revisited

I told you I was going to Mint Tea Bistro for brunch today and so I did. For those of you who weren't lucky enough to have spent your morning relaxing on a cool patio, sipping mint tea, and enjoying challah french toast served with a cup of yogurt and house made, plum infused syrup...there's always tomorrow.

Mint Bistro
2014 Main Street
Vancouver, WA 98660
(360)699-4991
Serving Breakfast & Lunch
Monday-Saturday 8am to 4pm
Sunday 10am to 3pm
Website
Map to Mint

Grocery Store Baked Bread Sucks - Pt.2

I'm sure that those of who frequent the Vancouver Farmers' Market already knew about Russell's Bread, but it's news to me. I just don't make it down there very often since many of my favorite vendors quit selling there. Today was an exception however and I'm darn glad I hit the VFM this morning. The effervescent Logan of Russell's Bread was offering up the BEST freshly baked bread that I've had on the North Bank. And I'm willing to go out on the limb and say Russell could hold his own in Portland as well.

I wish I had asked Logan more questions. Are you here every weekend? Can I go by Russell's house in the morning and get fresh loaves straight from the wood burning oven on days that your not at the market? Can I mow Russell's lawn, wash his car, or walk his dog to get my bread fix regularly? Russell lives and bakes a short distance from my house. I bet I could sniff him out at 3am some morning...

Unfortunately, since we ate our loaf at dinner tonight, all I have is the memory of wonderful bread and the hope that I'll find Logan or Russell at the market again soon. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Russell's Bread, please let me know. I'm jonesin' for more already...

Hooray! Casa Grande is Dead, Long Live Mint Bistro!

Uptown Vancouver can add another unique and noteworthy place to eat to the list. As if we weren't fortunate enough to have Provecho (who, by the way, just got their liquor license and expanded their tiny cafe into a cozy cafe & cantina), La Botega, and Mon Ami Cafe...now we can also enjoy fresh, simple food at the bravely bohemian and truly tasty Mint Bistro. Mint Bistro is located in the lovely, craftsman home on Main Street that was for far too many years the insipid and gastronomically offensive Casa Grande. The new owners have done a commendable job rehabilitating and redecorating the property. The result is a space that is eye-pleasing and inviting. My two year old daughter and I had lunch there this afternoon and I cannot begin to tell you how much we enjoyed ourselves.

The regular menu was small and uncomplicated. The specials board offered a nice variety of dishes that were carefully crafted using seasonal ingredients. We had a plate of perfectly executed corn fritters (was someone in the kitchen watching OPB's Create channel the same night we were?), a nicely seasoned black bean and corn salad, and a bowl of creamy,spiced winter squash soup. The soup was the only item I thought needed help. It lacked zip. Maybe a swirl of roasted pepper puree or a pesto made with some roasted, salted pumpkin seeds would have lifted the soup above the bar. My daughter predictably chose the natural, all-beef hot dog that was served on what I think was a Surviva bun and came with a small sampling of whole grain chips and crackers.

Everything we ordered was very good and the portions and prices were more than reasonable. But here's is what really made me fall for Mint Bistro. They brought bottles of organic ketchup and mustard to the table for my little girl's hot dog. I was verklempt.

I realize I am obsessing about one minute aspect of the dining experience, but some things about eating out just really get in my head and I can't get them out. For years I've dined at restaurants that proudly and loudly proclaimed they served food that was natural, healthy, organic, local, etc....but inevitably, the same old bottles of Heinz ketchup and French's mustard were on the table and I could see the giant Cisco containers of Kraft Mayonnaise or Wesson Oil in the kitchen. I just couldn't understand why they didn't either make their own condiments or at least serve one of the many, readily available organic products. Well, I am happy to announce that someone else finally groks my thoughts on this subject and I am truly impressed that Mint Bistro obviously cares enough about their customers and pays attention to detail with regards to their food product choices.

The process of getting service was a little confusing at first. There was no one to greet us when we walked in and the bistro shares space with Mint Tea's import craft business. So I'll make it simple for you when you go check it out. Walk in the door and head straight to the counter towards the back of the building. There you will be greeted by one of a number of polite and friendly employees who will take your order. Now mosey on out to the best dining patio on the west side, open your bottle of Sweet Leaf or Orangina and wait for some seriously tasty grub to arrive. If you're not hungry, then just kick back and enjoy the calming fragrance wafting from the pot of loose leaf tea gently steeping at your table. And if people watching is your thing, the vantage point from the patio will be your new favorite place to indulge.

Get on over to Mint Bistro while the weather is still nice enough to enjoy dining al fresco and the tables are still relatively empty. It won't be long before the masses discover this little culinary gem and I predict you will be waiting for a seat before too long.

Did I mention they were open on Sundays? I think I'll be heading there for brunch tomorrow.

Mint Bistro
2014 Main Street
Vancouver, WA 98660
(360)699-4991
Serving Breakfast & Lunch
Monday-Saturday 8am to 4pm
Sunday 10am to 3pm
Website
Map to Mint

Grocery Store Baked Bread Sucks

It really does. And pastries should not have ingredient lists like this:

Apple Danish:
Enriched flour (wheat and malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin), apples, sugar, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (soybean and cottonseed oils), corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup, eggs, modified corn starch, water. Following ingredients 2% or less: mono- and diglycerides, yeast, salt, cellulose gum, brown sugar, cinnamon, dextrin, lemon juice, lecithin, beta carotene, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate (preservatives), dried apples, glyceryl lactoesters of fatty acids, propylene glycol monoesters, polysorbate 60, yeast, dextrose, nonfat dry milk, soy flour, apple juice concentrate, pineapple juice concentrate, propylene glycol alginate, agar, xanthan gum, gelatin, natural and artificial flavors, calcium sulfate, wheat gluten, sodium stearoyl lactylate, citric acid, annato extract (color), l-cysteine, ascorbic acid, corn flour, calcium carbonate, tapioca dextrin, carob bean gum, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, maltodextrin, mono-calcium phosphate, sodium caseinate, carrageenan, spice, gum tragacanth, corn starch.

Cinnamon Roll:
Enriched wheat flour [with malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B1), riboflavin (vitamin B2)], partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (soybean and/or cottonseed), nonfat milk, sugar, corn syrup, brown sugar, egg whites, whole eggs, dextrose, cinnamon, yeast, salt, water, soy flour mono- and diglycerides, tapioca dextrin, corn flour, dextrin, natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, cellulose gum, succinylated monoglycerides, maltodextrin, lecithin, sodium stearoyl lactylate, calcium sulfate, wheat gluten, sodium acid, pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, modified corn starch, monocalcium phosphate, potassium sorbate (preservative), spice, ammonium sulfate, citric acid, ascorbic acid, azodicarbonamide, 1-cysteine, annatto extract (color).

FYI, these are McDonald's pastries, but the list reads similar to what you'll find from most commercial and grocery store bakeries.

Clark County is a wasteland if you're looking for good, fresh, honest bread and pastries. BUT there IS one little bakery on the inner east side of Vancouver that offers the real deal. Julia Bakery.

For a little over a year now, the folks at Julia have been quietly turning out wonderful fresh baked goods and luckily for me they're within walking distance of my house. I was a little embarassed this morning when I realized that I've been posting to this blog for over a year and I've never really talked about Julia bakery. Julia Bakery is (to the best of my knowledge) the only organic bakery in Clark County and they make wonderful rustic breads as well an ecclectic assortment of sweet and savory treats. The owner is from Croatia and worked at New Seasons in Raleigh Hills as the bakery manager for 6 years. He is passionate about organic food and is a wonderful baker. He also sells at the Vancouver Farmers Market every Saturday and Sunday.

Did I also mention they have good coffee, a little loft area where you can put your feet up, and free wifi? Well they do.

They open a little later than I would like (I'm one of those people who would love to swing by the bakery at 5am on my way to work) and you'd best get there early in the day for the best selection. Julia is not exactly a secret anymore and they do tend to sell out of many items by lunchtime. So if you think that grocery store baked bread sucks (it really does) or if you're still in a funk from the closing of Main Street bakery (Julia Bakery is much better), you know where you need to go.

Julia Bakery
2614 Ft. Vancouver Way
360-993-0505, right behind the St. Johns Grocery store and about 2 blocks from the corner of 4th Plain and Ft. Vancouver Way.
Open Monday-Thursday 7:30am-5:30pm, Friday 7:30am-6pm, and Saturdays 9am-3pm
LINK TO MAP

This Week's Farm Connect/Locavore Delivery - 9/25/2008

Here's the latest Farm Connect/Locavore delivery list from Summer @ Dee Creek Farm.
What?! You've never heard of Farm Connect??? Well when the farmers' market is closed, it's the BEST way to get the freshest, tastiest locally grown/raised food in Clark County! I am one of the most particular individuals you will ever meet with regards to the quality of the food I buy...especially produce. You will not be disappointed with the quality of your order from Farm Connect. Now go give the folks at Dee Creek Farm a holler, place your order, support local agriculture, and treat your family to some of the best food that money can buy.

Here's a link to more info.

I want to start this out by saying that anyone and everyone can order from our deliveries, not just "subscribers"! I also wanted to address the fact that it's getting dark much earlier, leaving us in the dim by the end of deliveries. We may need to make some time adjustments soon... Please be on the watch! Also rest assured that all farms contributing to our deliveries all meet our standards: chemical-free, sustainable, natural, family farming... If you have questions about any of them, don't hesitate to ask, or to seek them out! ~S

We'll be at the Vancouver Farmers Market on Saturday with cheese only!

To order, click here and specify what you would like.
All checks go to "Dee Creek Farm", or bring cash.

**BRING YOUR OWN BAG**

We fill pre-orders first, then it’s first come, first served!
We do mostly pre-orders at deliveries, rather than Farmers Market style.
Please help us in this by pre-ordering what you can!

Cheeses,
Aged Feta, $5.50/container retail, $5.00/container CSA
Creamy crumbles of unpasteurized aged feta from DCF to top your salad, pasta, or olive ciabatta from Julia Bakery (yum!). The perfect treat for a warm summer day!
Eggs,
$4/dozen retail, $3.75/dozen CSA
We will fill DCF egg CSA's first. We will have extra for Canyon Ridge Farm in Vancouver! Also recycle your DCF egg cartons with us!

Raw Honey,
Out this week!

Produce,
Heirloom Tomatoes, $3.00/lb
Canning Heirloom Tomatoes, $2/lb (not as 'perfect')
Peppers (spicy and sweet), $
Summer Squash, $.65/each
All of these fruits & veggies comes from Red Basket Farm in Battle Ground!

Potatoes, $4/four-pound-bag
Multi-colored potatoes from the gardens of Dee Creek Farm.
Apples, $5/five-pound-bag
Picked from Dee Creek Farm apple trees, these apples are yummy!
Blackberries, $3/pint
Freshly picked from the wilds of Dee Creek Farm. They're plump and sweet right now! These are picked by the DCF kids, who are saving up to go roller skating - their idea! Seemed like a good plan, so here's to good eats!
Fresh Mixed Herb Bundle,
Chives, Oregano, and Parsley from Dee Creek Farm, $3

Wild & Dried Eats,
Fresh Picked Wild Mountain Huckleberries - ONE MORE WEEK!
$4.50/half-pint, $25/for 6 half pints (a half flat), $45/12 half-pints (a full flat)
Mushrooms, Fresh -
Organic Shitake, $3/bag
Yellow Chanterelles, $4.00/bag

Dried Snack and Meal Helpers -
(Already chopped, diced, sliced, portioned, and packaged just right for 1-2 meals)
Org. Walla Walla Onions (great for snacks, sandwiches, salad toppings...) $1.25
Org Red Onions (great for stir-fry, burgers, sandwiches, macaroni & potato salads...) $1.25
Org. Green Garlic (a spring culinary treat - more delicate mild flavor than raw garlic...) $2.00
Org. Heirloom Tomatoes (snacks, great for pasta or rice dishes, saute` w/vegs...) $2.00
The above comes from Nature's Choice, a Vancouver business, operated by a couple who collects & sells wild eats, and prepares naturally preserved (dried) foods. The mushrooms come in white paper bags, weighing 1/4# each.

All-Natural Soap,
ALMOST OUT! $4/bar
Garden Guardian from DCF is full of wonderful essential oils that are beneficial for hard-working hands, and is a great exfoliant for those dirty finger nails. Go and dig in, you can still look nice for dinner guests! Friendly to sensitive skin, as it's all-natural.

Nourishing Traditions Cookbook, $15
These came in last week, and so we will have them available for those who pre-ordered, with few extra as well. Half off retail price with our bulk order - thanks everyone for joining in!

TO ORDER FOR LATER:

Pastured Poultry
Turkey - $25/bird deposit to order for Fall, $3.50/lb at harvest (minus deposit)
Chicken - $3.50/lb

We ONLY have available chickens for 10/31. Pre-order with a $5 deposit per bird. Remember we will have NO chickens again until May! Not a lot of room left!

Summer
Email: summer@deecreekfarm.com
Farm Phone: 360-225-9711
Cell Phone: 360-903-6956 (no service at the Farm)

Harvest Fun Day at the Clark County Historical Museum

Harvest Fun Day at the Clark County Historical Museum

Join CCHM for the 5th annual FREE Harvest Fun Day 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. Register now to compete in the pie-eating and corn-shucking contests.

The free family program features pie-eating and corn-shucking contests, the Fort Vancouver Antique Farm Equipment Association exhibition, craft demonstrations, scarecrow making and live music, blacksmithing, spinning, quilting, wood carving and pumpkin decorating. Chickens, rabbits and sheep will be on exhibit. The pie-eating contests, for adults and children, start at 11:30 a.m.

Also, pick up a map and vote for your favorite scarecrow in the annual Extreme Scarecrow Makeover competition, which runs through Oct. 19.
Contact the museum for more information on the Extreme Scarecrow Makeover competition.

When entered in the free Harvest Fun Day Pie-Eating Contest at the Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM), apply these winning tips:

Maximize your pie intake. Don’t eat before the contest
Minimize pie-plate table slide. Grip the edge of the pie tin with your teeth and flip the pie onto the table top for more “eating traction”.
Eat to win. Move your head up and down and side to side as you take bites. This method will smear pie on your face. But the more pie on your face, the less you have to actually ingest.

CCHM is located in Vancouver’s 1909 Carnegie Library, 1511 Main St., Vancouver.
Regular museum hours are: Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The museum also is open evenings the first Thursday of the month from 5 to 9 p.m. for First Thursday Museum After Hours.
A wheelchair accessible entrance to the museum is located on the east side of the museum building accessed from 16th street.
Call CCHM, (360) 993-5679, or visit the Web site, at http://www.cchmusem.org/, for more information.

SABOTAGE!

I would like to preface the forthcoming rant by stating that I am a self-admitted malcontent. However, I prefer to express my dissatisfaction via non-destructive courses of action...like writing this blog. Today I'm straying from my usual path. I've got a problem with a guy who's been pissing in my backyard. Figuratively speaking, of course, but nonetheless he is bent on destroying an idea that I am very passionate about...the Vancouver Food Co-op. See, there's this guy who, until recently, was a member of the Vancouver Food Co-op. The events leading up to yesterday's announcement of the lawsuit are stright from the script of a daytime soap opera. Here's the abbreviated version:

He devotes a great deal of time and energy towards helping co-op.
He has disagreements about what and how things are being done and develops a particular (obsessive) dislike towards a specific board member .
He does not get elected as board member during formal board election (but his significant other is elected).
He begins a campaign of negative propaganda about the newly elected co-op board which culminates with his unethical use of the co-op mailing list to send unsolicited e-mails and letters to co-op members.
His significant other is dismissed from the board.
The board moves to revoke his co-op membership and refer the issue to the co-op membership for a vote of approval.
He decides that if things can't be his way, then he'll sue a co-op board member.
Co-op board attempts to settle with him for the cost of his membership plus court and service costs.
He refuses and proceeds with frivolous litigation.

So here's my two cents. This guy is a egotistical, self-centered, obsessive creep. I think his motivation comes from the need for attention and the need to be in control. But he can't have that now. So now he's willing sacrifice the entire co-op just so he can experience a fleeting moment of feeling victorious, or right, or justified, or whatever the heck it is that fuels his actions. Not that I believe that people who behave like he does can ever truly be fulfilled or satisfied. I imagine after crushing their most recent adversary, they move quickly to find another unsuspecting opponent.

I honestly don't expect someone with a personality such as his to care about anyone but himself. I am convinced that in some twisted, delusional way, he actually views himself as some sort of martyr without whom this co-op has little to no chance of success.

If he could possibly separate his world from reality for a moment, perhaps he might consider that are 167 other people out there who also have a personal and a financial interest in this co-op too. I for one would appreciate if he doesn't screw things up for the rest of us.

So, now that you've been updated on the drama of opening a co-op, I'll make my pitch. If you would like to be involved with the many positive aspects of the Vancouver Food Co-op and could offer your assistance towards making the co-op dream come true, then please purchase a share in the co-op. I know, it's $180.00. BUT you can purchase your share in several installments AND it's a one-time only purchase. Yep. You'll be a member for life. There are also ample opportunities to volunteer your time (a little or a lot) and skills (whether you're a butcher, a baker, or a candlestick make...the co-op wants you).

Clark County is desperately in need of a community owned grocery store where we can be assured that our money is being put right back into the local economy, or at least into the purses of people who believe in food that is fair, safe, and good. Just follow the links below to make it happen:


What the heck is the Vancouver Food Co-op?
Buy a Share
Volunteer
Co-op Wish List (put that old card table in your garage to good use or maybe your philanthropic Uncle Bob owns a sign shop?)
Attend a Meeting or an Event

FREE Organic Garden Space!

I can't believe no one has taken this guy up on his offer....

Free organic garden (Amboy)

Reply to: sale-844206469@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-09-17, 8:14AM PDT

Organic farm/garden on 3 level irrigated acres.
Must operate natural/organic gardens and maintain acreage.
Across the road from the Amboy Farmer's Market. Produce stand included. Water and irrigation drip system included. Small orchard. Formal tiered flower/herb gardens and patios. Excellent location in center of historic Amboy village. Part of 4 acre complex including winery/distillery operation, tasting room, art gallery and crafts and local products market. Overall complex includes two historic homes, outbuildings, a winery/distillery building and barn/warehouse. Owner operates distillery, gallery and event/music venue. Retail space also available for lease. Excellent for wellness center, day spa, artist studios and gallery, etc. Use your imagination. However, you are not required to rent any of the commercial spaces to qualify to run the garden. So here's the deal. You provide a pleasing farm garden atmosphere and maintain the acreage; I get the ambiance I want for my rural craft distillery and gallery; You get a free garden space, water, produce stand, moral support and the garden profits.

Call 360-686-3342 so we can discuss and plan for 2009. David

Farm Connect Order List - 9/18/2008

Here's a link to more information for those of you not familiar with the Farm Connect/Locavore delivery service:

Farm Connect/Locavore Deliveries

And now, on to this week's delivery info. from Summer @ Dee Creek Farms!

I want to start this out by saying that anyone and everyone can order from our deliveries! Some folks have asked in the past couple of weeks if it was only for people with a CSA, and it's not! CSA's have prior commitment to our veggie boxes, pre-ordered eggs and cheese, and weekly chicken. You still can order produce, eggs, and chicken when available (and anything else!), so please don't hesitate to join in on our community-focused deliveries!

The "CSA" discount pricing options are for people who pre-pay at the first of each month, and pick up weekly. Ask for details! You’ll find us this week in our brown/grey minivan. ~S

We'll be at the Vancouver Farmers Market on Saturday with cheese only!
To order, click here and specify what you would like. All checks go to "Dee Creek Farm", or bring cash.

**BRING YOUR OWN BAG**

We fill pre-orders first, then it’s first come, first served! We do mostly pre-orders at deliveries, rather than Farmers Market style. Please help us in this by pre-ordering what you can!

Vancouver Food Co-op Harvest Dinner Tickets, $50/each
With lots of information on Dee Creek Farms "Calendar" page, you'll find out quickly that you want to be here! The dinner is made with 98% locally produced foods (think Clark County). There will be a silent auction, wine, and a lovely slideshow presentation of contributing farms, and of course great company! I will have some on Thursday evening, but few!

Cheeses,
Aged Feta, $5.50/container retail, $5.00/container
CSACreamy crumbles of unpasteurized aged feta from DCF to top your salad, pasta, or olive ciabatta from Julia Bakery (yum!). The perfect treat for a warm summer day!

Eggs, $4/dozen retail, $3.75/dozen CSA
We will fill DCF egg CSA's first. We may have more Greyfield Farm eggs with us, too, so should have plenty to go around! Also recycle your DCF egg cartons with us! If you are hoping to sign up for the egg CSA in September, be sure to let me know! If you're hoping to start a new egg commitment this week, could you email me to refresh my memory?

Raw Honey, Out this week!

Produce & Rarities,
Heirloom Tomatoes, $3.50/lb
Canning Heirloom Tomatoes, $2/lb (not as 'perfect')
Walla Walla Onions, $1.50/lb
Red Torpedo Onions, $2.10/lb
Garlic, $3/lb., small heads
Jalepeno's, $2.25/lb
Fresh Basil, $1/bag
All of these fruits & veggies comes from NW Organic in Ridgefield, and are certified organic!

Fresh Feta & Tomato Salad, 12 ounces, $5.50
Raw aged Feta cheese from Dee Creek Farm, made by Sparky (aka "Mom" or Anita), the cheesemaker!Certified organic multi-colored heirloom tomatoes from NW Organic Farm in Ridgefield, as well as Red Torpedo onions. Fresh herbs from DCF & kombucha vinegar!

Wild & Dried Eats,
Fresh Picked Wild Mountain Huckleberries - LAST CHANCE THIS SEASON!$4.50/half-pint, $25/for 6 half pints (a half flat), $45/12 half-pints (a full flat)
Mushrooms,
Fresh Organic Shitake, $3/bag
Yellow Chanterelles, $4.00/bag
Dried Snack and Meal Helpers -(Already chopped, diced, sliced, portioned, and packaged just right for 1-2 meals)
Org. Walla Walla Onions (great for snacks, sandwiches, salad toppings...) $1.25
Org Red Onions (great for stir-fry, burgers, sandwiches, macaroni & potato salads...) $1.25
Org. Green Garlic (a spring culinary treat - more delicate mild flavor than raw garlic...) $2.00
Org. Heirloom Tomatoes (snacks, great for pasta or rice dishes, saute` w/vegs...) $2.00
The above comes from Nature's Choice, a Vancouver business, operated by a couple who collects & sells wild eats, and prepares naturally preserved (dried) foods. The mushrooms come in white paper bags, weighing 1/4# each.

Blackberries, $3/pint
Freshly picked from the wilds of Dee Creek Farm. They're plump and sweet right now! These are picked by the DCF kids, who are saving up to go roller skating - their idea! Seemed like a good plan, so here's to good eats!

All-Natural Soap, ALMOST OUT! $4/bar
Garden Guardian from DCF is full of wonderful essential oils that are beneficial for hard-working hands, and is a great exfoliant for those dirty finger nails. Go and dig in, you can still look nice for dinner guests! Friendly to sensitive skin, as it's all-natural.

Nourishing Traditions Cookbook, $15

I will head to the Post Office tomorrow to see if the Nourishing Traditions are in, and let you know in tomorrows email!

TO ORDER FOR LATER:
Pastured PoultryTurkey - $25/bird deposit to order for Fall, $3.50/lb at harvest (minus deposit)
Chicken - $3.50/lb
We ONLY have available chickens for 10/31. Pre-order with a $5 deposit per bird. Remember we will have NO chickens again until May! Not a lot of room left!

ENTIRELY Grass-Fed Beef, $2/lb hanging weight + butcher fees
A farmer here in Woodland has some Limousin cows that have been raised on chemical-free pastures, who have never received grain, but have loaded up on the pastures orchard ground-fall. You can order by half or whole (or split with a friend), anticipating them to be 500# each. There is a very limited supply. They will go to Wards in Battle Ground for processing.

To place an order:
Summer's Email: summer@deecreekfarm.com
Farm Phone: 360-225-9711
Cell Phone: 360-903-6956 (no service at the Farm)

Autumn Food Preservation Class

Storytree Farm is hosting an Autumn Food Preservation Class
Saturday, October 4, 2008
1:00pm - 3:00pm

To register for the class, please contact Summer Michaelson at 360-882-4568. The class is $25 for early registration and $30 at the door. The class will cover many techniques for preserving food including fermentation, canning, freezing, using oils and vinegars, dry salting and drying.

The focus is on the autumn harvest...the last of the tomatoes, mushrooms and peppers, winter squashes, grapes, apples and pears, onions, fall greens, garlic, etc.

Vancouver Food Co-op 2nd Annual Harvest Dinner

Please join the good folks from the Vancouver Food Co-op for their 2nd Annual Harvest Dinner & Auction fundraiser. Tickets are only available through Monday, Sept. 15th. and can be purchased this week at the Farm Connect delivery sites or through Brown Paper Tickets. Tickets are only $50 per person and the money raised will be going to a GREAT cause.

Here's the scoop:

Red Cross/E.B. Hamilton Hall Building
605 E. Barnes St.
Vancouver, WA 98661
Friday, September 19th, doors open at 5pm

The entire meal will be prepared with locally produced foods (think 100 mile radius, most less!), with appetizers of:

Vegetable skewers
Duxelle stuffed mushroom caps
Devilled eggs with smoked salmon
Crostini with fresh pesto
Cracker bread with chevre (DCF!) and fig
Fruit waldorf
And a salad full of greens and wild eats, fresh tomato & raw aged feta (DCF), with a berry vinaigrette!

The main entree's will be pasture-raised smoked chicken from Dee Creek Farm, a vegetarian (with vegan options) dish of Ratatouille, or individually wrapped Tamales!

Dessert will include wine-poached pears with creamy filling, topped with local berries!

There will be a cash bar with local wines, a coffee bar with free trade coffee's, and a silent auction full of wonderful things like:

2008 Tax filing
Computer consulting
Massages & therapy
1 year of organic milk
Hand-blown glass vases
Painting & afghan
Gift certificate to tire company
Tickets to SalmonPeople
Dessert basket
Basket of heirloom apples
Mosiac artwork
A basket from Dee Creek Farm, filled with *surprise*
A bottle of 1999 Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon from Sandhill Winery
...And much more!

Summer @ Dee Creek Farm has been volunteering her time to gather foodstuffs for the event, as well as auction items. She is planning to create a photo presentation of the local farmers involved (so you can see where your dinner has come from!). Many of the farmers' foods that you'll be eating at the dinner are farms where you can purchase from through the Farm Connect Deliveries!

There will be a local band to keep us entertained, as well as lots of great company to mingle with. The Red Cross building where it will be hosted (moments away from Fort Vancouver Library) is a lovely venue, swanky and comfortable.

Tickets are on sale through September 15th online at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/42103, or you can purchase them at our Thursday Locavore deliveries in Salmon Creek or uptown Vancouver.
Tickets are $50/person. Well worth the value of quality food that is all local and organic in method, great entertainment, and fabulous company.

Farm Connect Order List - 9/11/08

The "CSA" discount pricing options are for people who pre-pay at the first of each month, and pick up weekly. Ask for details!
You’ll find us this week in our brown/grey minivan. ~S

We'll be at the Vancouver Farmers Market on Saturday with cheese only!

To order, click here and specify what you would like.All checks go to "Dee Creek Farm", or bring cash.

**BRING YOUR OWN BAG**

We fill pre-orders first, then it’s first come, first served! We do mostly pre-orders at deliveries, rather than Farmers Market style.Please help us in this by pre-ordering what you can!

Vancouver Food Co-op Harvest Dinner Tickets, $50/each
I'll have tickets with me to pass out for anyone interested in joining us at the Harvest Dinner on September 19th. I just sent out a separate email with more the details!

Cheeses,
Aged Feta, $5.50/container retail, $5.00/container CSA
Creamy crumbles of unpasteurized aged feta from DCF to top your salad, pasta, or olive ciabatta from Julia Bakery (yum!). The perfect treat for a warm summer day!

Eggs, $4/dozen retail, $3.75/dozen CSA
We will fill DCF egg CSA's first, but this week we have extra from our farm. Also recycle your DCF egg cartons with us! If you are hoping to sign up for the egg CSA in September, be sure to let me know!Did I tell you that we have a young flock of chickens that will begin laying in the winter, and will carry us through Spring?!

Raw Honey, Quart $12Honey in Comb, $12 per package
Packaged in glass or plastic jars, this delicious raw honey comes from Honey House Farm in Brush Prairie.

Produce & Rarities,
Heirloom Tomatoes, $3.50/lb
Canning Heirloom Tomatoes, $2/lb (not as 'perfect')
Walla Walla Onions, $1.50/lb
Red Torpedo Onions, $2.10/lb
Garlic, $3/lb., small heads
Jalepeno's, $2.25/lb
Patty Pan Squash, $2.25/lb
Fresh Basil, $ price pending
Cucumbers, $ price pending
All of these fruits & veggies comes from NW Organic in Ridgefield, and are certified organic!

Hops, dried, $4/bag
From Storytree Farm. These are the folks that came to the uptown delivery last week with brocolli, squash, cukes, kale, and FIGS! Here's wishing for more of that! Available at the downtown delivery only.

Grapes, $ price pending
Candice and Interlacken grapes - small, seedless and sweet, these come the same gal that brings the fresh cut herbs (below). She brings these to the downtown delivery only.

Wild & Dried Eats,
Fresh Picked Wild Mountain Huckleberries -$4.50/half-pint, $25/for 6 half pints (a half flat), $45/12 half-pints (a full flat)
Mushrooms, Fresh -Cultivated Maitake (Hen of the Woods), $4/bag
Organic Shitake, $3/bag
Yellow Chanterelles, $4.00/bag - NEW DISCOUNTED PRICE
Lobster, $3.50/bag - NEW DISCOUNTED PRICE
Rare Blue Chanterelles, $5/bag
Dried Snack and Meal Helpers -(Already chopped, diced, sliced, portioned, and packaged just right for 1-2 meals)
Org. Walla Walla Onions (great for snacks, sandwiches, salad toppings...) $1.25
Org Red Onions (great for stir-fry, burgers, sandwiches, macaroni & potato salads...) $1.25
Org. Green Garlic (a spring culinary treat - more delicate mild flavor than raw garlic...) $2.00
Org. Heirloom Tomatoes (snacks, great for pasta or rice dishes, saute` w/vegs...) $2.00
The above comes from Nature's Choice, a Vancouver business, operated by a couple who collects & sells wild eats, and prepares naturally preserved (dried) foods. The mushrooms come in white paper bags, weighing 1/4# each.

Fresh Herbs, $2/bundle
3 large sprigs of sage, or 6-8inch sprigs of rosemary.
These are organically grown (no chemicals, sprays, etc). "My pesticide is ladybugs and birds" says this city gardener - with an extra large herb garden! She'll be at the downtown delivery only with these yummy fresh herbs!

All-Natural Soap, $4/bar
Garden Guardian from DCF is full of wonderful essential oils that are beneficial for hard-working hands, and is a great exfoliant for those dirty finger nails. Go and dig in, you can still look nice for dinner guests! Friendly to sensitive skin, as it's all-natural.

Produce & Poultry CSA's Reminder
For those who have signed up a seasonal/weekly CSA with Dee Creek Farm, don't forget to pick up your fresh produce straight from the gardens, and natural, pasture-raised poultry, eggs, and cheese! Any extra will be available for sale at deliveries.

To order for later:

Pastured Poultry
Turkey - $25/bird deposit to order for Fall, $3.50/lb at harvest (minus deposit)
Chicken - $3.50/lb
We ONLY have available chickens for 10/31. Pre-order with a $5 deposit per bird. Remember we will have NO chickens again until May!

Nourishing Traditions Cookbook, $15
Nourishing Traditions "cookbooks" are on the press, and will sent to us 9/13. Since we are buying in bulk, we can get them for 40% off, with no shipping/tax. Great price! If anyone wants to pre-order one, let me know!

SummerEmail: summer@deecreekfarm.com
Farm Phone: 360-225-9711
Cell Phone: 360-903-6956 (no service at the Farm)

Cooking with Mary Catherine

I was reading the FoodDay section in the Oregonian this week and a great article caught my eye.
"Scout wins honor with food-bank recipes"

And it goes on to talk about how an outstanding young lady named Mary Catherine Muniz spent dozens of hours composing and testing recipes that could easily be made with ingredients commonly distributed by food banks....then she compiled them into a booklet...and gave it to the West Linn Food Pantry....and was awarded a Gold Award, the Girl Scouts highest honor.

Now I'm sure some of you foodies will not find the recipes in Mary Catherine's book appetizing and I can only imagine the migraine inducing complaining some folks will do with regards to the origin of particular ingredients, health value, and/or degrees of political correctness...fortunately for me I don't have to listen to any of it. What's important here is that a young American citizen took an interest in their community and devoted over 70 hours of time to a wonderfully altruistic activity. When is the last time you did anything like that? How about your kids? Do you encourage them to devote time to social/community service?

Don't worry. I won't go off on my rant about how our country has managed to produce successive generations of weak-minded, weak-bodied individuals with no schooling or interest in the concepts of nationalism, patriotism, or responsibility...

Well I say Bravo!, Mary Catherine. You are precisely the type of person I want my two year old daughter looking toward for inspiration as she develops into a young lady.

Farm Connect Delivery - 9/4/2008

This cool weather is reminding me of what's coming. The sunshine is expected back for the rest of the week, and through the weekend. Though the summer has been short, I'm looking forward to the season of "slowing down". But it also reminds me of much that needs to be done on the farm to prepare for winter!


The "CSA" discount pricing options are for people who pre-pay at the first of each month, and pick up weekly. Ask for details! You'll find us this week in our brown/grey minivan.

We'll be at the Vancouver Farmers Market on Saturday!

To order,�click here and specify what you would like.
All checks go to "Dee Creek Farm", or bring cash.

**BRING YOUR OWN BAG**

We fill pre-orders first, then it's first come, first served!
We do mostly pre-orders at deliveries, rather than Farmers Market style.
Please help us in this by pre-ordering what you can!

Cheeses,
Aged Feta, $5.50/container retail, $5.00/container CSA
Creamy crumbles of unpasteurized aged feta from DCF to top your salad, pasta, or olive ciabatta from Julia Bakery (yum!). The perfect treat for a warm summer day!

Fresh Feta & Tomato Salad, $
Made with NW Organic heirloom tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers, and topped with DCF's feta cheese, this salad makes a scrumptious lunch-on-the-go.

Eggs,
$4/dozen retail, $3.75/dozen CSA
$2.75/dozen for the "small and/or stained" eggs - last week!
We will fill DCF egg CSA's first, but this week we have extra from our farm. Also recycle your DCF egg cartons with us! If you are hoping to sign up for the egg CSA in September, be sure to let me know!

Raw Honey,
Quart $12
Honey in Comb, $12 per package
Hoping to have on Thursday: Pint $7, Half Gallon $18, Gallon $32
Packaged in glass or plastic jars, this delicious raw honey comes from Honey House Farm in Brush Prairie.

Produce,
Heirloom Tomatoes, $3.50/lb
Canning Heirloom Tomatoes, $2/lb (not as 'perfect')
Walla Walla Onions, $1.50/lb
Red Torpedo Onions, $2.10/lb
Cipollini Onions, $3/lb
Garlic, $3/lb., small heads
Jalepeno's, $2.75/lb
Patty Pan Squash, $2.25/lb
All of these fruits & veggies comes from NW Organic in Ridgefield, and are certified organic!

Pickling Cucumbers, 5 for $1, or 60 for $10
Slicing Burpless Cucumbers, $.75/each
Zucchini, $0.65/each
These are spray-free (not certified organic) and come from Wiggins Farm in Woodland. The pickling cukes are about 3", the burpless are up to 16"+! Everything will be picked Thursday morning!

Wild & Dried Eats,
Fresh Picked Wild Mountain Huckleberries -
$4.50/half-pint, $25/for 6 half pints (a half flat), $45/12 half-pints (a full flat)
Mushrooms, Fresh -
Cultivated Maitake (Hen of the Woods), $4/bag
Organic Shitake, $3/bag
Yellow Chanterelles, $4.50/bag
Lobster, $4/bag
Dried Snack and Meal Helpers -
(Already chopped, diced, sliced, portioned, and packaged just right for 1-2 meals)
Org. Walla Walla Onions (great for snacks, sandwiches, salad toppings...) $1.25
Org Red Onions (great for stir-fry, burgers, sandwiches, macaroni & potato salads...) $1.25
Org. Green Garlic (a spring culinary treat - more delicate mild flavor than raw garlic...) $2.00
Org. Heirloom Tomatoes (snacks, great for pasta or rice dishes, saute` w/vegs...) $2.00
The above comes from Nature's Choice, a Vancouver business, operated by a couple who collects & sells wild eats, and prepares naturally preserved (dried) foods. The mushrooms come in white paper bags, weighing 1/4# each.

Traditionally-fermented Vegetables, $7/pint (sauerkraut or spicy veg's)
Sauerkraut
Spicy Carrots, Cauliflower & Okra
The sauerkraut is made with cabbage from Martinez Farm - who booth at the VFM
The cauliflower & carrots come from Martinez Farm, jalepeno's from NW Organic, and okra from Millenium Farm in Ridgefield!
Refund of $.50 per jar if returned clean for either.

Fresh Herbs, $2/bundle
3 large sprigs of sage, or 6-8inch sprigs of rosemary.
These are organically grown (no chemicals, sprays, etc). "My pesticide is ladybugs and birds" says this city gardener - with an extra large herb garden! She'll be at the downtown delivery only with these yummy fresh herbs!

All-Natural Soap,$4/bar
Garden Guardian from DCF is full of wonderful essential oils that are beneficial for hard-working hands, and is a great exfoliant for those dirty finger nails. Go and dig in, you can still look nice for dinner guests! Friendly to sensitive skin, as it's all-natural.

Produce & Poultry CSA's Reminder
For those who have signed up for monthly or seasonal CSA's with Dee Creek Farm, don't forget to pick up your fresh produce straight from the gardens, and natural, pasture-raised poultry, eggs, and cheese! Any extra will be available for sale at deliveries.


To order for later:

Grassfed Beef
Taking a waiting list for grassfed beef to be harvested in two weeks, give or take. They are Limousin cows, fed from a pasture and orchard ground fall -no grains ever. Anticipated price is $2/lb hanging weight (approx. 500lbs whole), plus butcher fees (Battle Ground butcher shop). More coming, but you can join the waiting list now for details!

Pastured Poultry
Turkey - $25/bird deposit to order for Fall, $3.50/lb at harvest (minus deposit)
Chicken - $3/lb and up
We ONLY have available chickens for 10/31. Pre-order with a $5 deposit per bird. Remember we will have NO chickens again until May!

Nourishing Traditions Cookbook, $15
Nourishing Traditions "cookbooks" are on the press, and will sent to us 9/13. Since we are buying in bulk, we can get them for 40% off, with no shipping/tax. Great price! If anyone wants to pre-order one, let me know!

Summer
Email: summer@deecreekfarm.com
Farm Phone: 360-225-9711
Cell Phone: 360-903-6956 (no service at the Farm)