by Theis Bergstrom, Admin, Data and Personnel Manager
As the weather gets cold there’s only one thing we could possibly be spending our time thinking about: food. Sometimes it’s nice to regress our brains into the safety of what is, essentially, a dog’s value system. It’s not just a way of avoiding the horrors of the world, it’s also a time-honored way of finding some safe, common ground with one’s extended family and in-laws that doesn’t involve any yelling or the use of language that’s been socially unacceptable since before Reagan deregulated the banks. Family can be complicated.
Each of us celebrates the denuding of trees and the drop in temperature differently, but everyone can agree that cooking all day is much more comfortable when it’s a little chilly out. The pull toward involved and elaborate cooking this time of year is, like any truly powerful force, a mix between benign and dangerous elements. Ambition must be mixed with humility lest you lose track of things for a moment too long and the beautiful roux you’re toasting up gets too hot and burns. You had too many burners going at once didn’t you? Now look what your hubris has wrought!
You burn the roux and it sets off an inevitable cascade of events: your Brussels begin to sprout, your beans turn green, your potatoes turn sweet, your berries… cran. Produce is in an uproar all around. At this point you must ask yourself, why were you making a roux instead of using cornstarch and broth to make the gravy; and furthermore, why can’t you just use some good, packaged gravy? That’s an excellent point, you tell yourself. This situation is completely salvageable though, all thanks to your comprehensive shopping trip to the Co-op.
The focused and curated selection of produce, groceries, bulk goods and more that you can find at the Co-op will help navigate any situation. Whether you need canned pumpkin, wild rice, nuts, oils, herbs, stuffing, broth, semi-soft cheese, or sparkling juice from Val de France, you’ll find it at the Co-op.
I was making a little joke earlier about the produce, but the Co-op has Brussel sprouts without the word play, potatoes in both classic and intentionally sweet variety, beans that are meant to be green, cranberries, and more!
With a fully stocked pantry you’ll be ready for whatever happens next, be it an invasion of in-laws or an excuse to stay off the internet for the day. Make some Chantilly potatoes. It’s probably been a while; give them another try. Or duchess potatoes, those are nice. Or Alsatian Potato Pie; I’ve never tried it, why am I waiting? And now that I think about it, what really is the difference between scalloped potatoes and Pommes Anna? (I just asked my sister who says: “Pommes Anna are cooked in even layers in a circle. They don’t have a cream base but are usually just potatoes, herbs, and butter with cheese sometimes.”) Family isn’t always complicated. Sometimes it’s nice.