local Archives - Community Food Co-op

Valentine’s Gifts for You and Yours

A bottle of rose sits next to a heart shaped candle, two bottles of nail polish, and two mineral bath packets.

Show your Valentine, your Galentine, and yourself some love this Valentine’s Day with unique gifts, wine, flowers, chocolate, and more from the Community Food Co-op. We’ve curated some loving inspiration to make your Valentine’s Day special.

Heart Pillar from Big Dipper Wax Works

Bask in the warm glow of this 100% pure beeswax pillar made by hand in Seattle. Beeswax is the purest of all candle waxes with an exceptionally long burning time. This red, heart-shaped pillar will burn bright for an impressive 40 hours.

Someone holds a red mug while wearing pink nail polish outside in front of grass.

Red Mug from Danica Heirloom Mugs

Show your love of coffee with handmade Danica Heirloom mugs. They are sourced with care and are dishwasher and microwave safe. Do good while you enjoy your hot beverages; a percentage of all Danica profits is donated to Education without Borders, a Canadian non-profit organization that provides educational opportunities for disadvantaged and at-risk children in South Africa and Canada.

Classic Red or Fresh Water Pearl Pink Nail Polish from Gabriel Cosmetics

Get ready for your Valentine's Day date with a classic red or pink nail polish. The Co-op has a wide variety of colors if red or pink aren’t in your color palette. All Gabriel Cosmetics products are made from 100% natural ingredients with no synthetic chemicals or animal by-products.

Two bath packets and two nail polish sit on a marble counter.

Pomegranate caramels with hearts on them and a rose raspberry chocolate bar from Tony's Chocolonely.

Valentine’s Day Chocolate

The Co-op has one of the best chocolate selections in Bellingham. Two Valentine’s Day favorites are the ValenTony heart-shaped bar with pieces of rose fudge and raspberry from Tony’s Chocolonely, and the locally-made Pomegranate Caramels from Chocolate Necessities.

Aromatherapy Bath Packets from Aura Cacia

Bathe in luxury with Aura Cacia’s mineral bath and aromatherapy bath packets. Your body and senses will delight in patchouli, sweet orange, geranium, ylang ylang, or relaxing lavender. Aura Cacia bath packets are on sale until February 15. If you buy one, you get one free.

Four bath packets sit on a marble counter. Two foam bath and two mineral bath for aromatherapy.

Rainforest Alliance and Flor Ecuador Certified Roses

Roses are the quintessential symbol of Valentine’s Day. The Co-op has beautiful and fragrant mixed bouquets that are Rainforest Alliance and Flor Ecuador certified. This means they are grown using sustainable practices and the best working conditions.

Local Tulips

Thanks to greenhouse growing, we can gift tulips from Skagit County in February. Sweet, multi-colored bouquets are available in our floral department.

Crème de Framboise from Jahiot

Jahiot's Raspberry Liqueur is made from raspberries picked at the peak of maturity and delicately macerated in the finest alcohol and sugar. It has notes of ripe black cherry and blackberry compote with just enough tartness. Enjoy as a champagne cocktail using the Co-op’s recipe.

Valentine’s Day Raspberry Sparkling Wine Cocktail

2 ounces Crème de Framboise

4 ounces Sparkling Wine

Sparkling wine and raspberry liquor laying on a marble counter, both included in the featured recipe.

Pour 2 ounces of Crème de Framboise into a champagne flute and top with 4 ounces of chilled sparkling wine. Top with two fresh raspberries. Cheers!

Brut Rosé Tentation from Domaine Olivier Morin

This Pinot Noir-based sparkling wine is a nice balance of fruit with mineral. It’s a stimulating mouthful of strawberry, tarragon, cinnamon, and is slightly dry. Its lovely light color makes it a wonderful choice for a romantic dinner featuring seafood or Mediterranean flavors.

A bottle of rose sits next to a candle, some bath packets, and some nail polish on a marble counter.

Wild Miss 55 Sparkling Wine from Henri Champliau Winery

Henri Campliau is a family-owned sparkling wine producer in the heart of the Côte Chalonnaise region of Burgundy. Wild Miss 55 is a not-too-sweet bubbly with zesty acidity. It would compliment your charcuterie board or first course well.

LO-VE Wines Garnacha No. 6

The Co-op has a wonderful full and forward red that pairs well with your Valentine’s dinner and dessert. This Iberian Garnacha is full of mulberry, toasted cocoa, oaky spice, and black raspberry.

The red wine (Granacha) sits on a marble countertop next to both of the previously mentioned chocolates.

No Valentine’s Day is complete without dessert from the Co-op Bakery.

Storm Cloud Cake

The chocolate and raspberry version of the Co-op Bakery’s famous cloud cake is available for a short period each year, just for Valentine’s Day. This light, gluten-free chocolate cake has a whipped cream and raspberry filling and is topped with a tart raspberry sauce.

A strawberry cream roll sits on a white platter with a single piece on a plate, both sitting on a pink tablecloth.

Strawberries and Cream Roll

This gluten-free delicacy is the perfect end to your Valentine’s Day meal. It is a light sponge cake rolled with sweet cream and strawberries. It is as beautiful as it is delicious!

Learning to Make Mocktails

Three Glasses of Mocktails (Raspberry, Peach and Pineapple) standing on the Bar, Horizontal Wallpaper

With fewer people drinking alcohol and dry January around the corner, it’s time to freshen up your mocktail skills! The Community Food Co-op has some recipes, tips, and tricks for even the most novel of mocktail creators.

Mocktails Made from Scratch

1. We’re celebrating citrus season with this grapefruit and lime refresher! First, you’ll need 2.5 ounces of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. Add this juice and 1 ounce of lime juice to your glass. Then fill your glass with ice and sugar-free lemon-lime soda. Top this drink with a grapefruit slice.

2. For a take on a margarita, you’ll need cucumber, jalapeño, sugar, and some spices. Combine one cup of sugar and one cup of water then bring to a boil and cook until the sugar dissolves. Add chopped cucumber and a jalapeño, halved and seeded. Boil for three more minutes, then set aside to cool.

A jalapeno, cucumber, lime, and club soda sit on a countertop, four of the ingredients for this second mocktail.

A grapefruit and a lime sit on a countertop, two of the ingredients for this first mocktail.

In a separate bowl mix 1 tablespoon of lime zest, 2 tablespoons of coarse salt, and 2 teaspoons of red chili flakes. Cut a slit in a lime wedge then run the lime along each glass rim. Dip the glass rims in the salt mixture to coat. Remove the cucumber and jalapeño from the syrup you made. To each glass add 2 tablespoons of lime juice and 2 tablespoons of syrup. Stir, then fill with club soda. Top each mocktail with a slice of jalapeño.

Using Pre-Made Ingredients

1. To make an orange dream, start by muddling 1 tablespoon orange marmalade, 2 large orange slices, and 3 mint leaves. Add in 2 ounces of fresh squeezed orange juice, then fill with ice and club soda. Top with more orange slices.

2. For a drink that screams cozy, combine 1 tablespoon of apple ginger shrub, 2 ounces of apple cider, 3 ounces of sparkling water, and a sprinkle of Chinese 5 spice. Top with apple or lemon slices.

Sparkling water, apple shrub, and apple cider sit on a counter, three ingredients for this mocktail.

The Trick to a Sensational Mocktail

Quality is important when picking your mocktail ingredients. When you choose higher-quality juices or fresh herbs over dried, you’re introducing a more mature flavor profile. This more mature flavor profile lends itself to complexity, the key to separating mocktails and plain juice.

Complexity can be achieved by including different but complementary ingredients. For example, red chili flakes will bring a warming effect to a mocktail and honey will bring sweetness. These ingredients work together to create a complex flavor profile.

If you prefer your mocktails to imitate the flavors of alcohol, try spicy ingredients for the warming effect and bitter ingredients such as over-steeped tea or citrus pith for bitterness. If you prefer more sour alcohol, try an apple cider vinegar mocktail such as the citrus delight.

To make a citrus delight, muddle 4 slices of blood orange with 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar. Add some ice then half of a can of grapefruit sparkling water. Stir it all together then top it off with some fresh mint. The result is a mocktail reminiscent of a sour orange cocktail. Too sour for you? Add a teaspoon of maple syrup.

Grapefruit sparkling water, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, a blood orange, and mint sit on a counter, the ingredients for a citrus delight.

How to Create Your Own

Creating your own mocktail recipe is simple and fun! Pick a shrub, sparkling water, and a garnish.

For example, we love to pair pineapple and sage shrub with coconut sparkling water, then top it off with some fresh sage or mint.

This basic, three-ingredient recipe allows you to play around with flavors and discover the ratio of tartness to sweetness you enjoy.

Once you have the hang of it, explore with syrups, fruit juices, and more. Our selection of cocktail mixes and syrups allows for plenty of combinations. Have fun!

Apple mocktails sit surrounded by cinnamon and apples.

The Perfect Gifts from the Body Care Sale

A myriad of body care items sit on a wooden table with a red and white stocking waiting to be gifted.

The Co-op’s December body care sale is the perfect way to purchase your holiday gifts and stocking stuffers, and save money. We’ve selected some of our most popular items to help you get started.

Elevate Your Bath

Love Bath Salt Remedy

The Love epsom salt bath is naturally made with organic essential oils created to tantalize your senses and lift your spirit. It is a cheerful bath remedy and one of Shepard Moon Concoctions’ top selling blends. Shepard Moon Concoctions uses only the highest-quality, therapeutic-grade, natural ingredients in all their products. They are handmade, paraben-free, petroleum-free, gluten-free, and vegan.

Bath bombs and salts with stocking on a wooden table

Ginger and Mint Invigorating Aromatherapy Foam Bath

Aura Cacia’s Invigorating Ginger and Mint awakens the senses with the zesty combination of revitalizing ginger and refreshing peppermint essential oils. Aura Cacia’s foam baths are crafted with jojoba oil and gentle coconut-derived surfactants to leave the skin soft and smooth.

Serenity Bath Bomb

The Soul Spring Calming + Centering Serenity Bath Bomb is made with the perfect balance of lavender, sandalwood, and Hemp CBD. All Soul Spring products are made without any parabens, phenoxyethanol, sulfates, PEGs, propylene glycol, petroleum products, artificial colors, or synthetic fragrances.

Plastic-Free Sustainable Shampoo and Condition Bars That Are TSA Approved!

Brixy Coconut Vanilla Shampoo and Conditioner Bars

Brixy bars are made for hair care enthusiasts seeking plastic-free alternatives. The shampoo and conditioner bars are solid, making them perfect for air travel. The coconut vanilla offers a luxuriously sudsy experience formulated with coconut oil, argan oil, and provitamin B5 for strong and healthy looking hair.

Winter Hand Relief

Lime Blossom Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter Hand Cream

Andalou Naturals hand cream uses organic coconut water, fair trade shea and cocoa butter that absorb quickly, leaving your hands nourished and protected. Andalou Naturals is a woman-owned business that donates proceeds from product sales to support non-profit organizations centered on women and girls’ empowerment.

Gardener’s Hand Lotion

Hand screams sit in an out of a stocking on a wooden table

Cold weather, travel, and frequent hand washing can leave your hands dry and in need of extra attention. Island Thyme Botanicals Gardener’s Hand Lotion is a special floral skin soother for your hard working hands. Island Thyme products are botanically-based, made in small batches on their farm and apothecary on San Juan Island.

Booda Butter All-In-One Daily Moisturizer

A Co-op staple, Booda Butter is a blend of gentle yet powerful natural ingredients for deep, long-lasting moisture. The cocoa aroma is sure to please. Booda Butter products are organic, vegan, hypo-allergenic, wax-free, and have no added fragrance.

Gift Ready, No Wrapping Required

Samish Bay Soaps Trio

Samish Bay Soaps has packaged three of their popular body soaps together for easy gifting. Lemongrass and oats, lemon zip, and their cheerful blend are all made in Bellingham using only plant-derived, pure essential oils and herbs.

Moon Valley Organics Skin Essentials Collection

An Orange Spice Cleansing Body Bar, Moon Melt Lotion Bar, and Herbal Lip Balm festively wrapped up and ready to gift from Whatcom County’s Moon Valley Organics. These three products were developed to nourish your body and be positive for the environment.

Beard Grooming Kit

Badger’s Beard Grooming Kit contains an organic beard balm and organic beard oil for a healthy, well-groomed beard. Beard oil nourished the beard and skin with jojoba and babassu oils. Follow the Beard Oil with the Beard Balm, a daily, leave-in conditioner and styling aid that moisturizes with a light, non-greasy feel.

Everything You Need For Traveling

The Co-op has travel sizes of many of our most popular products to help get you through the airport in a flash. Our recommendations to cover your basic needs include:

EO Organic French Lavender Hand Sanitizer

Keep hands clean and refreshed with a 2 oz travel size hand sanitizer spray. The soothing lavender scent helps create a sense of calm to help make your travels safe and relaxing. It is 99.9% effective against most common germs.

Airplane essentials sit in a travel bag.

Himalaya Botanique Toothpaste

Neem and Pomegranate help fight plaque, brighten your teeth, and leave your mouth feeling clean and freshed. Himalaya Botanique offers a rich, foamy texture and great taste without compromising on cleaning or health. The travel size is less than an ounce, free from fluoride, triclosan, SLS, and gluten.

Everyone Coconut + Lemon 3in1 Soap

The 2 oz, travel size is a do-it-all cleanser for your bath, body, and hair. The brightness of lemon and the calming sweetness of coconut combine for a lovely all-over balance.

Everyone Coconut + Lemon Nourishing Lotion

Pair your 3in1 Soap with the Coconut + Lemon 2in1 travel size lotion for complete body care. This bright and uplifting lotion is light, moisturizing and perfect for your hands and body. Fewer bottles means easier routines and more time for life’s little pleasures no matter where you’re headed.

Historical Remedies Homeopathic Stress Mints

Homeopathic lozenges help to relieve physical and mental tension, settle digestion, and restore energy during travel or the hectic moments of the holidays. These peppermint lozenges from Historial Remedies are vegan and gluten-free.

Shop Small: A Gift Guide

Support the Co-op on Small Business Saturday and buy some fun items for your holiday gifts. The Co-op has unique items for gifts, stocking stuffers, and for yourself. Supporting the only locally-owned grocery store in Bellingham helps strengthen our community, local food network, and local producers.

We’ve selected some of our favorite gift items for everyone on your list.

For the Home Decorator

Holiday Wreaths

Wreaths make a welcoming statement to any entry. Skyflower Botanicals’ flowers and foliage are grown on a small, organic, and woman-owned farm along the South Fork of the Nooksack River. Their conifer greenery is responsibly harvested or purchased locally.

A holiday wreath with some blue and green foliage hangs on a wooden fixture.

Darling Orchids in a Ceramic Pot

An elegant, 2-inch orchid in a stylish white ceramic pot makes a lovely addition to any home. The Co-op sells both white and colorful orchids, all potted, for easy gift giving.

Danica Heirloom Mugs

Hot chocolate and eggnog tastes better out of one of the delightful patterns adorning Danica Heirloom mugs.

A pinecone candle and a tree candle sit in a holiday pine gift bag. A red mug sits on the table with a white orchid. Pine needles are tossed around as decoration.

They are handmade, sourced with care, and dishwasher and microwave safe. A percentage of all Danica profits is donated to Education without Borders, a Canadian non-profit organization that provides educational opportunities for disadvantaged and at-risk children in South Africa and Canada.

Holiday Candles from Sunbeam Candles

Sunbeam candles come in a variety of festive, decorative shapes with a focus on sustainability. All Sunbeam candles are hand-crafted, incorporate natural and wholesome ingredients, are made with 100% renewable energy, and use carbon neutral shipping. Let your holidays burn bright with their pine cones, trees, and seasonal designs.

For the Foodie

San Juan Island Sea Salt Popcorn Blend

San Juan Island Sea Salt’s Popcorn Blend offers a nutty, cheesy, and delicious accompaniment to more than just popcorn. Some of our favorite uses are on pasta, avocado toast, and eggs. Unique and tasty, San Juan Island Sea Salt is made from solar-evaporated sea salt from the San Juan Islands.

Gilbert Cellars 2018 Left Bank Red Wine

For the wine aficionados in your life, the Yakima-based Gilbert Cellars Left Bank Red Wine scores 90 points and comes gift wrapped. It is a full-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Carménère with notes of black currant and plum. It is a balanced wine for holiday meals, appetizers, and makes a thoughtful gift for your host.

Dark Chocolate Coffee Bark from Chocolate Necessities

The pacific northwest is known for its coffee consumption and what better gift than coffee and chocolate? Local chocolatier, Chocolate Necessities, make a holiday bark with a Northwest twist — coffee! Chocolate Necessities Dark Chocolate Coffee Bark covers the chocolate and coffee loves alike.

A bottle of wine and some chocolate bark sit in a Hanukkah gift bag.

For the Spa Lover

Studio Oh! Cosmetic bag

Studio Oh!’s portable, water-resistant cosmetic bags highlight unique and original artwork with witty, whimsical designs. The Co-op sells bags in a variety of shapes and designs that are fully lined with secure metal zippers. These bags are fun for all ages and while technically a cosmetic bag, work well for many purposes.

Samish Bay Soaps

Locally made Samish Bay Soaps are individually gift-wrapped in winter flannel or shaped as snowflakes without the wrapping. They come in a variety of seasonal fragrances; perfect for stocking stuffers. Samish Bay Soaps are made simply, using only pure essential oils and herbs. Their products are environmentally friendly, cruelty free, and free from chemical fragrances and colorants. Every batch is created, cut, and packaged by hand in Bellingham.

Island Thyme Moisturizers

Cold weather, travel, and frequent hand washing can leave your hands dry and your face in need of extra attention. Island Thyme lavender rose cream is a deep moisturizer for both your body and face. The 2 ounce glass jars are TSA compliant and at the top of everyone’s gift list. Island Thyme products are botanically-based, made in small batches on their farm and apothecary on San Juan Island.

Moon Valley Organics Lip Balms

The Co-op sells Whatcom County-based Moon Valley Organics lip balms in gift ready packs and individually. These balms make great gifts for anyone who spends time outdoors and needs extra lip protection.

Moon Valley Organics follows the highest organic standards with a mission to protect pollinators. Help the bees while treating your friends and family to lip balms in a variety of healing essences.

Badger Aromatherapy Travel Kit

Experience all the necessary aromatherapy balms to get you through the holidays in one convenient travel kit. The travel kit features five essential oil profiles carefully formulated to refresh, de-stress, and inspire. Badger aromatherapy is certified organic and cruelty free.

For Everyone

Co-op Gift Cards

A Co-op gift card is the quintessential gift for the person who has everything. Stop by the service desk at either store and pick out a gift card in any amount. We have a wide selection of cards to drop your gift card into. We can also do large quantities of gift cards to cover your employees, service providers, or any group that you may need to purchase for.

Maggie’s Organics Snuggle Socks

Soft, comfortable, washable organic merino wool. This is a gift for anyone experiencing the Pacific Northwest winters. Help them keep cozy with socks produced by humanely-raised sheep and skilled workers. These comfortable socks are ethical and sustainable, as well as made in the USA.

Watercolor paper, socks, and a puzzle sit by some twinkle lights on a wooden table.

Eeboo Deluxe Watercolor Paper

This high-quality, Italian watercolor paper is the perfect canvas for your watercolor art. The extra thick and absorbent paper has a natural pH, is chlorine-free, and completely recyclable and biodegradable. The paper books are glue bound for easy removal of the pages that makes painting your masterpiece easy and portable.

Puzzles from eeboo

Woman-owned eeboo makes high-quality, beautiful puzzles, games, and activities that reflect family, community, and inclusion. The 36-piece mini puzzle is a favorite for stocking stuffers or traveling. Wanting more of a challenge? We have puzzles with up to 100 pieces that feature equally beautiful scenes.

All of the gifts sit on a table with wrapping paper and pine needles in the sunlight.

Four Approaches to Cooking Your Thanksgiving Turkey

An oven-roasted turkey sits on some lemons ready to be enjoyed for a holiday dinner.

Should I brine my turkey? Should I let my spouse fry the whole bird this year? How do I achieve a quicker cooking time?

We have some turkey-cooking techniques for everyone from the Thanksgiving chef to the person who begrudgingly took on the challenge this year.

Oven Roast

Oven roasting is the most well-known route but there are tips and tricks to make this an even smoother, tastier technique. If you’re looking for a no-fuss, frill-free recipe, try this easy herb-roasted turkey.

Looking for a moist, slightly more complex turkey? Try butter or mayo!

The tried and true method: compound butter.

To make your turkey with compound butter, mix together the ingredients below then rub the butter both on top of and underneath the skin. You want a generous amount of the compound butter on each part of your turkey.

This butter will add moisture and flavor to every bite of your Thanksgiving centerpiece.

Compound Butter for Turkey

1 stick salted butter, room temperature

¼ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. minced fresh thyme

1 tsp. minced fresh sage leaves

3 cloves finely minced garlic

1 Tbsp. minced fresh parsley

2 tsp. minced fresh rosemary leaves

Roasted Cut Up Turkey Platter For Thanksgiving, turkey breast on a platter with sage and oranges

This year’s fad: a mayonnaise base.

Chefs who write for the New York Times, the Huffington Post, and more have declared mayo the prime base for an herb-filled turkey rub this year.

Simply sub in mayonnaise for the butter in our compound butter recipe above to try it out! Home cooks suggest this method is even easier than the butter, because they don’t have to remember to leave the butter out overnight to come to room temperature. With claims of an even more delectable turkey than one made with butter, we’ll be testing this recipe in our homes this year!

A quicker route to oven roasting: spatchcock.

Spatchcocking your turkey is a fancy word for removing some of the bones so it lays flat on a pan, ready to be roasted using any of the three techniques above. Here are the two steps to spatchcocking your bird in detail:

Remove the backbone: Place the turkey, breast-side down, on a cutting board. Use sharp kitchen shears to cut along one side of the backbone. Repeat on the other side. Discard the backbone or reserve it for making stock.
Break the breastbone: Use the palm of your hand to press firmly onto the breastbone until you hear a crack. Flatten the spatchocked turkey as much as possible.

Folks who swear by spatchcocking suggest the turkey cooks more quickly and evenly. Curious? Try out this recipe.

Brine

Many cooks swear by brining a turkey to get the best flavor. Brining is meant to break down the toughness of the meat while also adding flavor. The only drawback? The turkey has to sit in the brine for a minimum of 24 hours. If you have time to plan ahead, we have two brining techniques for you.

Buttermilk Brine

This buttermilk brine adds extra moisture to your turkey. Even the leftovers won’t be dry! To use a wet brine you’ll boil the brine ingredients and let them cool before putting the turkey and the brine in an airtight bag.

This brine only asks that you leave the turkey in the solution for one day, turning occasionally. Then, you rinse the turkey, rub it with butter, and roast it in the oven. Our compound butter above can be used in these final steps.

Dry Brine

This dry brine is easy to do, just season your turkey, cover it in plastic wrap, and let it sit in the fridge for two days. The recipe only calls for salt, pepper, onion, and celery, but we’d recommend a few other seasonings too. Throw in some rosemary, thyme, and honey salt for some classic Thanksgiving flavors. Let the turkey sit in the brine for a third day for a stronger flavor.

Air Fryer

While deep frying a turkey was a trend of the past, air frying some turkey is of current interest!

Air frying your turkey is great if you’re having a smaller crowd and cooking pieces as opposed to a whole bird. Here is a recipe for an air-fried turkey breast. In the air fryer the breast only takes 35 to 40 minutes to cook, and a compound butter can be used to add extra juices to the meat. Make sure to air fry pieces of turkey with the bone still in for more flavor and moisture as frying can dry out meat more quickly than roasting.

Grill

If crispy skin is of the utmost importance to you, try grilling your turkey. This technique, while uncommon, is great for large gatherings — it keeps the oven free for other dishes and spreads out the guests so they don’t all crowd the kitchen!

With crispy skin, you can brush a delicious glaze over the turkey after it’s done to add extra flavor without compromising the texture. Try brushing the turkey with maple syrup, paprika, salt, and pepper.

Grilling a turkey takes about the same time as roasting one, so you aren’t losing any relaxing hours here.

Do you still have questions about your turkey, such as how long to cook it or how many pounds you need? Check out this blog with portion breakdowns and more for your Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving Turkey Alternatives

Not a turkey fan? Accommodating dietary restrictions? We’ve got you covered with nine turkey alternatives — both plant-based and meat-forward!

PLANT-BASED

Plant-Based Holiday Roasts

In-house Vegan Holiday Loaf

This delicious housemade loaf is made with chickpeas, oats, vegetables, and mushrooms then glazed with a sauce full of classic Thanksgiving ingredients! Omnivores and herbivores alike can enjoy this mouthful of cozy, fall flavors. Truly a Co-op staff favorite!

A plate of vegan Thanksgiving food, such as plant-based loaf and cranberry sauce, ready to be enjoyed for Thanksgiving

Field Roast

Beloved plant-based brand Field Roast has two holiday roast options this season!

The first is a rich and fragrant centerpiece, the Hazelnut Cranberry Roast. This sweet yet bold roast is wrapped in flaky puff pastry and is the ideal balance to salty potatoes and stuffing.

This roast serves eight, and is typically $18.99 but you can get it at the Community Food Co-op for $14.99 for a limited time.

The Celebration Roast is an even better deal and features a more savory flavor profile. The roast is enhanced by the rich and earthy porcini mushroom gravy included in this dish. Not only does Field Roast recommend this roast as a Thanksgiving centerpiece, but also for sandwiches! Yum!

This roast serves eight, and is typically $18.99 but is $12.99 for a limited time.

Tofurky

Tofurky — a household, vegan name! Not only do they have a roast for you this season, but they have a whole feast.

A savory blend of wheat and tofu, this roast is filled with a flavorful wild rice and bread crumb stuffing, ready to be basted, roasted, carved and devoured by all. This roast serves five, is usually $17.49 but is $11.99 for a limited time, and has been around since 1995.

The Tofurky feast serves six and includes much more than just one roast! It also includes stuffing, gravy, and a brownie for $34.99. This meal is $24.99 for a limited time.

Gardein

Gardein has a plant-based ‘turk’y’ stuffed with a tart cranberry dressing. This Savory Stuffed Turk’y is served with a warm, savory gravy to balance the tart stuffing.

This vegan option serves five people and is regularly $19.99 but will be $13.99 for a limited time.

Quorn

This roast is for all the vegetarians out there! Quorn’s Turkey-Style Roast is gluten free and has 15 grams of protein. Perfect for a group of four and only $7.99 for a limited time at the Community Food Co-op, this savory-forward roast is great for a meatless Thanksgiving dinner.

Plant-Based Ham

Tofurky

A plant-based main course perfect for any holiday, this ham has a tender, smoky flavor, complimented by a sweet, tangy glaze. We’ve heard positive reviews from vegans and meat-eaters alike.

This ham serves five people and is regularly $17.49 but is $11.99 at the Community Food Co-op for a limited time only.

ALTERNATIVE MEATS

Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon

Our wild-caught, Alaskan sockeye salmon is previously frozen and sold as a whole filet. Sockeye is rich in texture and high in flavor; a northwest favorite anytime of year. Need some inspiration? Roast your salmon in butter for classic Thanksgiving flavors with an innovative protein.

Steamed salmon with fresh herbs and lemon ready to be enjoyed for Thanksgiving dinner

Our filets are about 1-1.5 pounds each and serve two to four people. Sockeye salmon is $16.99 per pound.

Chicken

Roast chicken is the perfect alternative for a smaller crowd, especially if you want the gorgeous roasting photos without the turkey! You can still enjoy the roasted vegetable bed, basting, and carving experiences of a turkey with this more manageable alternative.

First time roasting a chicken? Here’s a little inspiration.

Choosing Your Coffee Roast During the Annual Coffee Sale

Milk is being poured in a pattern on top of a latte.

How do you take your coffee? We talked with the owner of Hammerhead Coffee Roasters, Mitchell Steed, to learn about the differences between light, medium, and dark roast coffees.

The Community Food Co-op’s annual coffee sale is around the corner, September 17 and 18. Get 20% off all coffee including bulk, prepackaged bags, and coffee drinks. Use this opportunity to stock up on favorites, or to try something new from our community-owned store.

Light Roast

Roasted for a shorter period of time, light roast beans expand less during roasting. Your bag of light roast may seem smaller than a bag of dark roast because of bean size! Some roasters, like Hammerhead, sell their bags by weight not by volume. So, despite the look of the bag, you’re still getting the same amount of coffee beans as someone buying dark roast.

This roast is defined as more acidic, and those who move to light roast from dark roast often notice citrus notes. Defining a coffee's origin and tasting notes is easiest at this stage, so many single-origin brews are light roast.

Some argue light roast has the highest caffeine content because the caffeine dissolves along with the sugars during roasting, but the jury’s still out on that one.

If you like light roast, try…

Tony’s Coffee, Colombia Marco Fidel Lopez. Notes of orange blossom, vanilla, and melon.
Pachamama Coffee Farmers, Ethiopia. Notes of lemon, jasmine, and milk chocolate.
Tony’s Coffee, Ethiopia Bedhatu Jibicho. Notes of orange, pineapple, and grape.

Medium Roast

Roasted longer than a light roast, many say this roast is defined by sweet flavors such as vanilla. Medium roast is also the stage at which chocolate notes begin to shine.

However, "the coffee is only as good as the green." This means the origin of the coffee can determine the flavor and quality just as much as, if not more than, the roast.

Even without a definitive answer on caffeine levels by roast, medium roast is in the middle! If you’re concerned about caffeine level, consider a medium roast.

If you like medium roast, try…

Hammerhead Coffee Roasters, Stout. Lovely, balanced flavor that is perfect for drip coffee or French press.
Bellingham Coffee Roasters, Homebrew. Mellow sweetness accompanied by hints of chocolate.
Equal Exchange Fairly Traded Coffee, Mind, Body, and Soul. Smooth and creamy with chocolate notes.
Café Femenino, Peruvian. Notes of toasted caramel.

Dark Roast

Roasted for a long period of time, the beans expand much more during roasting. This means you’ll need a higher volume of dark roast beans as compared to light in order to drink the same amount of coffee.

This roast is often used for mixed origin coffees because the various flavors meld together as roasting goes on. Because of this, dark roast has a more consistent flavor than the other two.

Dark roast can be defined by a stronger, more bitter, and smoky flavor. This is great for pairing with cream and sugar. If you love diner coffee, this is your pick!

Some people argue dark roast has the highest caffeine to sugar ratio because caffeine does not evaporate as rapidly as the sugar during roasting. As stated previously, this is a heavily debated argument.

If you like dark roast, try…

Hammerhead Coffee Roasters, Velvet Elvis. Full-bodied, well-rounded, and ultra smooth for great drip or cold brew.
Moka Joe, Italiano. Bold, sweet, and intense.
Raven’s Brew Coffee, Double Dead. Double the caffeine with a rich, heavy body.

Not into brewing your own coffee? Head to our deli counters to order a nice latte or to pour yourself a drip — 20% off September 17 and 18!

Co-op Welcomes Leif’s Tea: Probiotics Have Never Been So Delicious

Leif’s Tea uses produce and juice from the Co-op to create delightful jun beverages that are now sold in our stores.

About Leif’s Tea

“Bee free, bee strong. Live free, live long.”

That is exactly what Leif’s Tea is promoting in their organic and delicious jun.

All of their teas use local herbs and honey in addition to the use of Co-op products, probiotic jun culture, and organic green tea.

What began in handmade tea bags and individually gathered herbs is still processed by hand to maintain the integrity of the ingredients. You can truly taste the difference.

Six flavors are available in our stores:

Seattle Sky: A sophisticated, classic blend of lavender, vanilla bean, and Earl Grey tea.

Wonderful Watermelon: A summertime splash of watermelon and hibiscus.

Dreamy Bee: A sparkling combination of elderflower, lavender, roses, chamomile, and orange peel.

Pink Lemonade: A stone fruit favorite made with black cherry juice.

Herbal Evermore: Refreshment at its finest with a mix of peppermint, spearmint, and Alaskan Ginseng.

Supernatural Blue: Blue spirulina and alfalfa create a blue sky in a bottle.

The Benefits of Jun

This sparkling beverage is more than just delicious, it’s nutritious. Jun is like kombucha’s cousin, made of green tea and honey as opposed to black tea and sugar. While you may know jun provides the benefits of a probiotic, additional ingredients can add even more benefits. Each herb used at Leif’s Tea has its own purpose.

For example, blue spirulina is a blue-green algae that can aid in lowering cholesterol levels.

“These plants are our allies, our partners in life,” owner Linda Quintana said.

In addition to the probiotic features and use of nutritional plants, green tea provides antimicrobial properties and is rich in vitamins C and B2.

Make a Fruit Punch Mocktail

Ready to try Leif’s Tea? Try this easy mocktail recipe for two!

You’ll need two glasses, one bottle of Supernatural Blue Leif’s Tea, one can of Tropical Punch Olipop, and one kiwi.

Dice half of your kiwi, and slice the other half.
Add the diced kiwi to your glasses and muddle it.
Distribute the Olipop between the two glasses and stir.
Add your Leif’s Tea and stir, don’t shake!
Garnish with the kiwi slices, and enjoy!

This mocktail is both delicious and eye-catching with the blue spirulina from Leif’s Tea’s Supernatural Blue.

There is nothing more exciting than a new vendor! Find your favorite flavor in store now, or find a new favorite at our Leif’s Tea demos on August 11 and 12. On August 11 they’ll be at the Downtown store from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m., and on August 12 they’ll be at the Cordata store from 2 to 4 p.m. We can’t wait to introduce you to this new product.

A Visit To Tortillas Con Madre

We had the chance to celebrate Cinco de Mayo early this year by visiting one of our favorite locally-owned businesses: Tortillas Con Madre!

Just a few years ago, the Community Food Co-op was Lupita Nava's first vendor. After spending many years working for the school district in Lynden, Lupita decided it was time for a change. In 2017, with the encouragement of her family, Lupita created a very small tortilla factory out of her garage in Lynden, Washington.

She took a sample of her product and visited Co-op Grocery Category Manager, Michael Elkins. After trying the tortillas for himself, Michael told Lupita that whenever she had the capacity to sell to the Co-op, we'd welcome her—and her excellent tortillas—gladly.

Now, not only do we sell Tortillas Con Madre tortillas on our shelves, but we exclusively use Tortillas Con Madre in our deli. We're proud to say that your wraps and burritos are made with organic tortillas from a local Mexican-owned, female-owned business.

Although Tortillas Con Madre's reach has extended far beyond Co-op doors, we're glad to say the Co-op will always be home to Lupita.

reusable mesh grocery sack full of local grocery products Tortillas Con Madre Pangea ferments salsa mama

Make Black Bean Quesadillas using local ingredients:

1 pack Tortillas Con Madre tortillas
1 block Greenbank Farms cheddar
1 jar Pangea Ferments jalapeños
16oz can of Field Day organic black beans
2 tbsp Steensma Creamery plain skyr (in place of sour cream)
Optional: Limes, avocado or additional veggies as you see fit.

Make Holiday Cocktails Using Local Ingredients

Follow along with Chuckanut Bay Distillery tasting room manager Kirsten to learn how to make two festive cocktails with some of our favorite local ingredients! Special beverages are an excellent way to elevate your holiday. When you make the cocktails below, you can feel good about supporting the small, local businesses that keep our community unique and thriving. Find everything you need to make these delicious drinks at the Co-op!