How to Comment.
To comment on the PRODUCE RULE, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=FDA-2011-N-0921-0199. Type your comments in the space provided. The limit is 5,000 characters. There is a counter to show how much is left. Be personal, explain your investment in locally grown produce as a customer or producer.
To comment on the PREVENTIVE CONTROLS rule, which could impact both producers and the cooperative, go to http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=FDA-2011-N-0920-0188 and type your comments in the space provided. This also has a 5,000 character limit and a counter to show how many are left as you type.
Here are my comments: Produce Rule | Preventive Controls Rule
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance Comment on the Small Farm ExemptionDon't doubt that comments are needed! There are only about 4,200 comments on the Produce Rule, and 2,400 comments on the Preventive Controls rule. That sounds like a lot, but it really isn't, and other than reading all of them, there's no way to know if they are for or against the regulations. The opinion of everyone counts -- but only if you tell the FDA. Complaining at the coffee shop does not count.
December Order Opening Early!
The December order will open at 8 AM sharp on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29th! That's two days early, which will give us 14 full shopping days for the December order. Oklahoma foods and non-food items make great Christmas gifts, so shop early and often for the best selection and deals on Oklahoma foods and goods that you will find anywhere anytime.
Tooth Brushes and Dental Floss
We have found a company in Tulsa that has been making tooth brushes and dental floss for 52 years. The floss is available in 3 thicknesses, waxed and unwaxed, and comes in small metal cannisters, in 75 yard and 100 yard lengths, depending on the thickness of the floss (the thicker floss comes in a 75 yard length). The cannisters would sell for $4.50 each, or $5.00 with the Coop charge added on the ninvoice. We would also sell refills for those cannisters (300 yards for $7.50 which includes the Coop charge.) Tooth brushes would sell for $1.50, inclusive of the Coop charge. The Coop would make a nice profit at these prices and we can use the money.
Would you buy these products at these prices? Email me and let me know so we know how much we should get on our initial order.
Do you know of any other products that are made in Oklahoma that you think the Coop should buy wholesale and sell retail? We're not looking for anything that would compete with our producers. So no salsas, jams, or barbecue sauces. But the Coop does need to increase its revenues, and one way we can do that is by expanding the items that, like the Oklahoma made paper products and these dental products, we can buy wholesale and sell retail. We've done well with the paper products, what else can we add? Email me and let me know.
Savory Bread Pudding
Bread pudding is a popular dessert. But its possibilities as a savory main dish casserole are so much greater than "just dessert". This recipe can really stretch your meat budget and use our fall ingredients to your best advantage. It serves 6 to 8 and thus provides great value. Make it with left over turkey after Thanksgiving. Or some chopped brisket or roast. Or chicken. Or hamburger. Ham would be great. Whatever you have that needs eating! Adapted from a The Kitchn recipe.
- 1 cup whole milk
- 4 cups 1-inch cubes crustless bread (or leave the crust on if you like a bit of crunch)
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 3 large eggs
- 2 garlic cloves, very finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage leaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 8 ounces cooked meat -- any kind, beef, buffalo, pork
- 1 cup cooked fall greens (No greens handy? Not a problem, use any other cooked veggies you have handy.)
- 12 ounces cheese grated -- use 2 or 3 kinds, be sure to use at least one of the hard Lovera cheeses
- Smoky Roasted Red Pepper gravy (recipe below)
Mix the milk and bread and let it stand about ten minutes, until the milk is absorbed. Whisk together the cream, eggs, garlic, salt, pepper, nutmeg, sage, and thyme in a bowl. Put half the bread into a greased 2 1/2-quart casserole dish. Spread half of the meat, greens, and cheeses over the bread. Drizzle half of the cream mixture over the top. Add the rest of the bread and scatter the remaining meats, greens, and cheeses over the bread. Drizzle the rest of the cream mixture over it all. Sprinkle the grated hard Lovera cheese over the top. (I think the Battista would be great, or the smoked Cacciocavera would be great.) Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours. Overnight would be better. You could make this up at breakfast and then cook it for dinner. Bake at 350 degrees until it is firm in the center (a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean). This will be 50-60 minutes. Let it sit for 10 minutes. This will be the Longest Ten Minutes Ever. Serve with the the Smoky Roasted Red Pepper gravy. If you're a vegetarian, simply substitute extra cooked veggies for the meat. Smoky Roasted Red Pepper Gravy
makes about 2 cups
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups chopped yellow onion
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 cups drained and chopped roasted fall peppers, sweet or hot or a mixture, as your taste buds dictate
1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika or other smoked red peppers (High Tides and Green Fields has a line of smoked pepper powders)
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Since your adding tomato, don't use cast iron. Add the onion and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring often, until very soft and golden, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and peppers and cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes. Stir in the paprika, vinegar, tomato paste, and sugar. I left the sugar out and it tasted fine to me. You could also use honey. Make sure it is cane sugar though if you use it! Pur�e and season with salt and pepper. Serve the sauce warm; it will keep about a week in the refrigerator. |