Ah, the fresh fruits of Summer…but they’re not necessarily fruitsMay 05, 2012
Filed under: Organic, Recipes - greenacres @ 1:43 PM
Stroll by our produce aisle and you’ll see an abundance of the earth’s first harvest. In the organic sections, there are collard greens, red cabbage, red and golden beets, red chard and carrots. Conventional produce, such as curly parsley, watercress and green beans are beautiful and bursting with flavor. It was the late, great Katharine Hepburn who loved just-picked, raw produce. In her autobiography she bragged how she’d sit in a corn field and chomp into a fresh ear of corn. No cooking or steaming needed for her favorite vegetable!
Of course, we’ve made a study at GreenAcres of the good and the not-so-good ways to coach the best nutrients out of food. While raw is great, there are enzyme reactions when produce is blanched, steamed or sautéed that makes cooking a vegetable often more healthy and advantageous to our complex digestive systems. When undecided which veggies to cook and which are better eaten right off the vine or pulled from the earth, ask our knowledgeable produce staff to steer you in the right direction.
Here are two recipes using the same ingredients—one raw, one cooked--to give you a visual and tempt your palate to try both!
Kale and Carrot Slaw
Ingredients
- 1 head kale, stems removed and thinly sliced
- 1 large carrot, grated
- 1/2 an orange, juiced
- 1/2 a lemon, juiced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 red onion, sliced very thinly
- 1 slice bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
- 1 rounded tablespoon mayonnaise (we at GreenAcres prefer Vegenaise)
Directions: Place the kale into a salad bowl. Toss with the carrot, orange juice, lemon juice ,and salt, and using your hands, rub the acid into the kale. Let the kale sit a few minutes while you shock the onion. Prepare a large bowl of ice water and a saucepan with boiling water. Place the thinly sliced onion into the boiling water for 15 to 30 seconds, and then shock in cold water, stopping the cooking immediately. Drain the water and blot the onions with a paper towel. Add the onion, bacon, olive oil, salt and pepper and toss well. Add the mayonnaise and mix the slaw well. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Kale Chips for dipping
Ingredients
- 1 head kale, washed and thoroughly dried
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Sea salt, for sprinkling
Directions: Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Remove the ribs from the kale and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Lay on a baking sheet and toss with the olive oil and salt. Bake until crisp, turning the leaves halfway through, about 20 minutes. Serve as finger food.
Recipes courtesy Melissa d’Arabian, host of $10 Dinners on the Food Network
Lemon Snap PeasMay 05, 2012
Filed under: Recipes - greenacres @ 12:24 PM
Ingredients:
- 1 -2 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ lemon cut into thin slices
- 2 1/2 cups sugar snap peas
- 1 leek, sliced
- 1 tablespoon snipped fresh dill (optional)
- salt & fresh ground pepper
Directions:
In a large skillet heat oil over medium-high heat add lemon slices; cook 4 minutes, turning once. Remove lemons; set aside. Add pea pods and leek to skillet; stir-fry 3 to 4 minutes or until pea pods are crisp tender. Stir in dill (if using) and reserved lemon slices. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Recipe courtesy Food.com
Besides the Tuna, what makes tuna salad so tasty?!May 05, 2012
Filed under: Deli, Organic - greenacres @ 2:28 PM
If you’re watching calories, please note Canola oil is the lowest of the saturated fats of all the edible vegetable oils and has a neutral taste, which means it can bind together tuna, salmon or chicken and not influence the flavor negatively. Grapeseed oil is a premium oil with a much more distinctive taste and is known for its uniquely healthful properties. Grape seeds contain powerful antioxidants which some naturopathic doctors believe help treat any number of conditions from cancer to aging skin.
But where food is involved, it’s always a matter of taste, so we invite you to ask our deli cooks which Vegenaise flavor they use in the salads you like, then take home a bottle to use in salads of your own. GreenAcres uses Vegenaise in its chicken, tuna, salmon, broccoli and cold slaw salads. Our cooks swear by the product, and recommend, since there are no preservatives in Vegenaise, you put it directly into your refrigerator so that it stays fresh for weeks.
While you’re perusing the dairy case, check out the Vegenaise tartar and horseradish sauces. Yummy as well and a staple for any grilling you might do over a weekend. Memorial Day is upon us, but GreenAcres will be open its usual hours to serve you!
Larabar Uber Bars—“uber good!”May 05, 2012
Filed under: - greenacres @ 12:43 PM
Have you tried the Larabar Uber Bar yet? It’s a textury combination of salty and sweet, chock full of moist, dried fruit and nuts, and gives you quite an energy rush when you’re on the go and trying NOT to put your hands on no-food-value sugary snacks.
Uber doesn’t contain any refined sugar, and gets its sweetness from non-sucrose sweeteners in brown rice syrup, honey and fruit. Brown rice syrup is what’s left over after the rice is cooked and the starch separated out. Combined with natural enzymes, the process produces a sweetened liquid which is then filtered, reduced to thicken, then used as the sticking agent in a whole bar full of pecans, raisins, cashews dates and honey. In a phrase, “Uber is super uber sweet and chewy.”
Is it dairy free or vegan, you might ask? The answer is “no.” The honey component inhibits the Larabar company from labeling it “vegan,” and while Uber contains no soy or dairy, the bar is produced in a facility that makes other products that do contain soy and dairy, thus it cannot be labeled “soy free” or “dairy free.”
Uber bars have a nine-month shelf life and are the perfect snack to toss in your back pack when hiking, bike-riding, climbing Mt. McKinley…or even if you’re sitting at your computer, typing away and you feel the need for energy coming on.
Next time the “sweet craving” sweeps over you, try a Larabar Uber Bar. Four flavors. Most popular: Bananas Foster. It’s certified Kosher. And, best of all, it tastes great!
Green Cleaning!May 05, 2012
Filed under: Natural Living - greenacres @ 4:52 PM
Since we’re all striving these days to leave a much smaller carbon footprint, taking notice of the little ways we can preserve this great planet we live on and trying to eliminate those things that cause havoc with our health, now’s the time to look at natural laundry soaps and bath and kitchen cleaners. The big question, of course, is: Do the low-phosphate cleaners actually clean?
Jeff, one of our GreenAcres Market team members, gives a resounding “YES!” Jeff has three active boys in his home, and he can attest to the strength of the products he researches and buys. “You know America’s founding settlers actually used soap berries to make soap in the early years when animal fat wasn’t available,” says Jeff. “There’s a tree in Africa that supplies the La Vie on Vert company which packages the soap nuts in a bag. Four nuts to a laundry load, and you can use them as compost later.” Who knew?!
It’s a whole new world out there since many have decided to “go green” and “save the planet.” Little did we know just 25 years ago the havoc chemicals and fragrances in our cleaning products were causing to our health and to the earth. Phorphorus in the form of phosphates in cleaning powders and liquids end up polluting our waterways as well as our respiratory airwaves. Allergy sufferers know only too well what even a little bit of unwanted skin irritation can do to the system. And those who have used common dishwashing detergents in their dishwashers—especially those with lemon scents—have discovered too late how citrus reacts to the lead in crystal and fine glassware and can permanently cloud and mar.
But don’t despair, says our man, Jeff. He recommends a whole array of Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Aromatherapeutic Household Cleaners if you want to get your air fresh, your clothes clean, your dishes washed and your hands silky smooth. All of the Meyer’s products are biodegradable and do not contain ammonia, chlorine, glycol solvents, formaldehyde or artificial colorants. And, music to the ears of all, they are never tested on animals, nor are they made with animal-derived ingredients.
We encourage you to stop in and visit with Jeff or any of our knowledgeable Market team to discuss the benefits of low-phosphate cleaners and see what might work best for you.
Go Green!May 05, 2012
Filed under: Deli, Natural Living, Organic - greenacres @ 4:02 PM
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What’s the secret behind the Green Smoothie Revolution?
It’s becoming the rage, and the perfect way to get your daily dose of greens when you’re on the go and just can’t take time to grab a salad. Think kale, cuke, parsley, cilantro—all blended with ice to become a salad you can drink through a straw.
Now, we won’t kid you, it’s an acquired taste. If at first it’s too tart, or just not sweet enough for palates that have grown too used to sugar, you can blend peaches, apricots or bananas into your smoothie. You may have tried our fruit smoothies--and we have an excellent mocha energy drink that was invented by one of our owners--but here at GreenAcres, we sell the “Green Smoothie” more than any other drink. It has apple, avocado, spinach, cucumber and a healthy dose of fresh lime juice. Men seem to be our biggest customers.
Victoria Boutenko, author of 12 Steps to Raw Foods and her updated Green for Life, has made a life-long study of the effects of raw foods and the abundance of protein in greens. Her research shows there is a tremendous correlation between stomach acid and disease. The body that is more alkaline than acid resists disease. “There is a healing power in Chlorophyll,” says Boutenko, “It’s more important than sunlight! People are finding after a month of salad smoothies, they feel more energetic, more restored, more alive.”
It’s been said the body heals itself, but it needs a little help from the endocrine system, countless bodily substances, such as lymph, hormones, blood and more. These have to be maintained within optimal parameters to promote healing by a physiological process called homeostasis. Sounds “science-y,” but the more you know about how the body works, the more you know how to help good health along. We encourage you to check out our books on " going green" the next time you’re in our store.
Eating greens in smoothie form is assimilated so much faster than chewing a salad. We welcome you to GreenAcres to try one of our smoothies. See if it doesn’t make you want to go green!
Nasopure—“The Nicer Neti!”May 05, 2012
Filed under: Natural Living - greenacres @ 1:35 PM
You may have heard of a neti pot, a small ceramic or plastic “pitcher with a spout” that is used with a saline solution to clear nasal passages. Well, Nasopure, a company whose product is carried in our GreenAcres stores in Wichita and Kansas City, has pioneered a most effective way to maintain sinus health. Nasopure offers a nasal wash that when demonstrated and explained promises to become a weekly, if not daily, regimen to personal hygiene and health.
On deck to help explain the benefits of this unique way of irrigating, cleansing and moisturizing the nasal passages is Dr. Hana Solomon, creator of Nasopure and author of Clearing the Air One Nose at a Time. She will discuss the benefits of nasal washes this Saturday, May 19 on the Healthy Half Hour from 9-9:30 a.m. on B98-FM radio. Tune in to hear Dr. Solomon on B98, or “like” us on Facebook (there’s a page for both GreenAcres Market and the Healthy Half Hour) and listen live. She has some interesting things to tell us about relieving sinus infections, nasal dryness and allergies.
Everyone probably knows someone with the “chronic sniffles,” or someone who continually clears his throat, yet apparently doesn’t have a cold or flu. Nasopure might be just the thing the doctor orders. It washes nasal passages, clearing away the tiny cilia irritants that collect in the sinuses from exposure to smoke, pollutants and allergens.
The nice thing about the Nasopure system, with its saline solution and patented apparatus, YOU direct the flow through one nostril, into the sinus cavity and out the other. It might sound difficult, but once you’ve managed the technique, you’ll “go with the flow.”
Athletes, singers, seniors, firefighters, construction workers, farmers—all are big fans of the Nasopure system. We are, too! Join us on the Healthy Half Hour on Saturday, May 19, and let Dr. Solomon and our GreenAcres gurus tell you more.
The “Cliff Notes” on Why our All Natural Local Grass Fed Beef is…The BEST!May 05, 2012
Filed under: Local Vendors, Natural Living - greenacres @ 5:23 PM
Have you noticed GreenAcres meat just tastes better? Ground buffalo, ordered fresh from Yoder meats, is all-natural, grass-fed and promises to be moist and delicious even on the grill. In fact, we serve our famous buffalo burgers every Tuesday and Saturday afternoon right up to the Fall, and anytime we gear up for a celebration—like our Gluten Free Festival or our yearly Anniversary Party. This year, we’ve added two more burgers to our menu: Greek lamb burgers, and for the vegetarian in all of us: Portobello mushroom burgers. You haven’t lived till you’ve tried our burgers!
You don’t have to wait until we fire up the grill to enjoy good, natural, hormone and antibiotic-free meat. Stop by and take home some of our Lucky Star Beef and see if you can taste the difference. It’s kind of like the old adage, “good in, good out.” That’s how we feel about all natural, free-range, grass fed cattle. It’s the purest beef you can get.
But just for a little education, 100% all natural beef means there is nothing in that package of beef--but beef. No additives or other substances. Organic, grass fed means the cattle have never grazed on grasses treated with pesticides from birth to processing. Nor have the cattle been fattened unnaturally through the use of hormones or been treated with harmful antibiotics. No grains ever have been fed to all natural, organic, grass-fed cattle. All natural beef where the cows roam free and feed on grasses grown without dangerous pesticides has less bad fat, more good fat (omega 3s,) and that’s a good thing. The beef’s natural marbling comes from cattle which feed on pure, natural grasses and have not been fed grain during the last few months before processing. It’s the grain that becomes harmful to humans, breaking down the livers in cattle and thus becoming toxic to us.
Certified, Angus beef only has to have 55% Angus genetic material to qualify as certified. Lucky Star has 85% Angus material which defines what is known in the industry as “heritage breed,” kind of like what heirloom tomatoes are to produce. It means the genetic line of beef is purer, bred for domestic purposes and is the best of the best.
So that gives you a capsulated version of what to look for when you’re buying beef or buffalo. Later on, we’ll discuss poultry and what to look for in all natural, free-range chickens who are allowed to feed in their natural environment. Besides being much better for you, free range, organic poultry just tastes better.
Tropical Magnesium—It’s Essential!May 05, 2012
Filed under: Supplements - greenacres @ 3:29 PM
“Let food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.”–Hippocrates (Father of Modern Medicine 2,500 years ago.)
With the current state of the standard diet, the fact that our food supply travels hundreds of miles from its source, and with busy, working families stressed to the max, it’s no wonder we see a proliferation of junk, processed and refined foods. Combining healthy food choices with dietary supplements makes sense in this day and age. That’s where GreenAcres Market comes in. We make helping you choose the right dietary plan and necessary supplements painless--and we cut straight to the essentials. Magnesium, is a biggie where glucose metabolism is concerned. There’s a huge rise in diabetes in our country, so keeping blood sugars within range helps keep chronic disease at bay. You might be surprised there are several ways to absorb this vital mineral.
- Intravenous drips
- Foot soaks
- Bathtub soak
- Topical applications (on the skin)
- Oral intake (this method takes one-three years to raise Magnesium levels in the cells, and it unfortunately has laxative properties which might result in a life-long dependency on laxatives. We don’t want that.)
Topical Magnesium may seem odd, but it’s actually based on age-old principles, with a little bit of new age science thrown in. Stop by GreenAcres Market and ask our knowledgeable staff about this essential mineral. You might discover it’s as easy as soaking in a hot bath
Listen up!May 05, 2012
Filed under: - greenacres @ 4:22 PM
Back by popular demand, Shannon and Matt have teamed up with Wichita on-air personality, Brett Harris, from B98-FM to bring you the Healthy Half Hour every Saturday morning from 9-9:30. It’s a fast-paced radio show that brings together some amazing, nationally-recognized experts and authors; gives you the skinny on local health news, GreenAcres Market happenings; and it’s a whole lot of fun to boot. Do you like contests? There are special one-day offerings on best-selling products that will knock your socks off! Plus, we have a Facebook community of supporters you can communicate with to share ideas and thoughts. Just type Healthy Half Hour into your Facebook search bar and like us to find out what’s going on with Shannon, Matt, Brett and their special guest of the week. Tune into your local radio station or find the Healthy Half Hour online directly from the B98-FM homepage on Iheart.com. One thing for sure, you will learn something every week, and you will stay in touch with your GreenAcres store in your area. Tune us in. We want to know what you think!
SAY CHEESE (!)May 05, 2012
Filed under: Gluten Free - greenacres @ 2:37 PM
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It's time to haul out the BBQ grill...but have you thought about actually grilling CHEESE? In Greece, restaurants take pride in a goat cheese appetizer that's presented at table on a silver platter, drizzled with absinthe liquor and lighted on fire. Spectacular to see--and to eat! GreenAcres Market--both in KC and Wichita--carries the cheese that stands up to grilling: Halloumi Goat Cheese. Our cooks have cubed and fried it and served it in bowls with our all-natural olives. You might have noticed the abundant selection of mozzarella we have in our cheese bin this spring. One of our favorites is a smooth and mellow buffalo mozzarella from Italy. Sliced, with fresh basil (growing in our herb garden just around the corner from our cheeses), placed in between big, beefy slices of our Cheney Lake tomatoes, sprinkled with EVOO and a little kosher salt and pepper, you've got yourself a feast. You can actually try some of these great cheeses at our Gluten Free Festival tomorrow from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. in both stores. And, need you ask? Our cheese samples will be presented on gluten free crackers. Come celebrate Cinco de Mayor at GreenAcres. We want to introduce you to some fabulous cheeses, and a whole lot more!
Thinking of going Gluten Free? GreenAcres is here to help you.May 05, 2012
Filed under: - greenacres @ 1:08 PM
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Since food allergies and Celiac disease are on the rise, it's not surprising that more and more people are looking for alternative food choices to wheat-based foods and recipes. Not always an easy quest. That's why GreenAcres is hosting a Gluten Free Festival to acquaint our valued customers--and hopefully encourage some new friends--to stop by and learn the benefits of going "wheat-free."
So what can you expect at our festival? Lots of scrumptious samplings for one thing. You might be surprised to learn you have myriad choices in the gluten-free bread and baked goods categories. If you're a cheese lover, you're in for some tasty and tangy alternatives to the gluten cheeses you're accustomed to. If you're wondering how to incorporate all these new ideas into your daily menu planning, we've got our knowledgeable staff on deck to give you the run down.
Come meet some pretty great folks with like-minded determination to live gluten free and love it. Members of local gluten-free support groups will be on hand to share experiences and recommend what's worked for them.
And if all that doesn't tempt the "appetite," come hungry and ready for lunch. We'll be firing up the grill on our patio with some very gluten-free specialties you won't want to miss. See you there!
