Getting your summer garden ready

As warm weather arrives and you begin to clean out those beds and tend your soil, it’s time to consider what to plant in your garden this year.

An herb garden is an easy way to begin, even if you don’t have a lot of space.  Pots or a small plot of soil is sufficient to create a working garden designed to compliment a variety of meals over the summer.  Essential items in my opinion are basil, flat leaf (Italian) parsley and dill.  A quick snip and you can spice up most any meal!

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Organizing the refrigerator

The job that rarely gets done for two reasons.  First, everyone is in there so often the refrigerator gets over looked. The second reason is that one item tucked in the back of the refrigerator. That one you don’t know how long it has been there or what it even is.

Let this note inspire you to get rid of all the old condiments before the new grilling season begins. Purging the old before purchasing from Coborns Delivers those BBQ essentials such as barbeque sauce, ketchup, mustards, dressing and etc.

The project will take about forty five minutes. First step is to empty the entire refrigerator, and then give it a good cleaning with warm soapy water.  Before putting everything back in the fridge, pull it away from the wall and vacuum the compressor, vent and floor.  Then wash the floor and push back into place.

Check every item for freshness tossing the iffy food and placing the items close to expiration in the front to be sure to use them in the next few days.  Jot down all tossed items on your Coborns grocery list and you are done!

Suggested guideline for how long to keep opened condiments:
Ketchup – 6 months
BBQ – 4 months
Dressing – 6 months
Pure Maple Syrup – 12 months
Fresh Salsa – 3 days
Jar Salsa – 1 month
Olives & Pickles – 2 months
Mustard – 12 months
Mayonnaise – 2 months

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Fill those May Day Baskets!

The May Day tradition dates waaaay back. Although not an extremely popular holiday in America, May Day is a principle holiday in many other cultures. May 1^st is related to the Celtic festival of Beltane, and the Germanic festival of Walpurgis Night. In many cultures, May Day is also synonymous with International Workers’ Day.

The Maypole is probably the most recognizable May Day tradition. The May Pole originated in Europe, and began as a tree which was cut down and stripped of its branches (in Europe, trees symbolized vitality and fertility and were often used in Spring festivals), then decorated and carried through town in a parade.

Today, most Americans celebrate May Day not by cutting down a tree and carrying it through town, but by filling small baskets with treats and small gifts. When filling your May Day basket this year, here are some fun and healthy alternatives for you to consider.

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Everyday is Earth Day at CobornsDelivers

Did you know that one CobornsDelivers truckload is equal to 25 individual carloads of groceries? So, by going with CobornsDelivers, far fewer trips are needed to get the groceries to the homes of shoppers. And that saves roughly 300,000 gallons of fuel a year. There are many  more reasons why CobornsDelivers is a green choice for groceries and you can find them all in the video below.

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How do you and your family celebrate Earth Day?

Isn’t it cool that we have one day devoted to our amazing planet and safeguarding its future?  I love Earth Day.  And there are so many fun things that you can do with your family to celebrate, whether you want to plant a tree, pick up trash in your neighborhood, or start composting.

This year, rain or shine, I’m hoping to take my five- and two-year-old children on a nature trek.  Our walks usually entail me sneaking in a quick workout while they kick back in the “baby” jogger—but on Earth Day it’ll be their turn to explore.  I’ll follow their lead, stopping to inspect plants, bugs, birds, and squirrels.  If it’s raining, we’ll don rain coats, splash in puddles, and look at worms.  I loved to explore the woods as a kid and I want to foster in my children that same love of nature.

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Mother’s Day Video Contest Tips

Hi everybody! With the Mother’s Day Video Contest in full swing, we want to be sure everyone is easily able to log in to YouTube and upload their videos. First, for anyone with a Google or Gmail account, getting started on YouTube is easy. Just follow the instructions in this link.

If you don’t have a Google account, creating a YouTube account is still possible and relatively easy. When you log on to YouTube.com, head to the upper right corner of your screen and click “Create Account”. From there, fill in the necessary information and you’re on your way! Of course, problems with this process can pop up. If they do, please let us know. Either send a reply to this blog post or, if you’d rather remain anonymous, go ahead and send me (Justin) your questions. My email is justin@storytellermn.com.

Thanks …and good luck!

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My crisper drawer does not work!

We all know that greens are good for us so we buy them and place them in the “crisper drawer” only to find them a few weeks later all mushy.  What’s up with that? It’s a crisper drawer!

What I’ve experienced with clients of KitchenWerks is that people buy greens and vegetables, stuff them all in the crisper draw without a menu planned. Then as they move through the week they reach for the handy boxed items, pick up carry out, or have a bowl of cereal for dinner, all while the produce in the crisper drawer begins to turn to soup.

So here is the new arrangement!

Plan your weekly menu and purchase your produce for the menu.  Include heartier greens like kale and spinach to be mixed in salads or added to soups. These dark, leafy vegetables are great sources of vitamins and minerals.  Next step, move the yogurt, eggs, and cream cheese to the crisper drawer and place the fresh cut up carrots sticks and celery along with the rest of the produce on the shelf so you see it first.

Stacy Klone
KitchenWerks
KitchenWerks.org

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Bicycle Picnic to Celebrate Spring

Leave it to Twin Cities residents to come up with a great way to get outside and enjoy spring. 30 Days of Biking is an event that encourages people to ride their bikes by asking them to pledge to ride at least once a day, every day during the month of April (thus, the 30 days of biking). The challenge is the brainchild of some very active Twin Cities residents; Patrick Stephenson (@patiomensch on Twitter), Zachariah Schaap (@Zachamon) Ryan Kucera (@Rycera) and Nicole Weiler (@nicycle). So far, with more than 350 signed up to the take the pledge (as of April 7^th), that brainchild is growing up to be a pretty successful kid! (Maybe this is why Minneapolis was ranked the top bike city in the country?)

So why not join the fun and take your bike out for a spin this April? And what better way to get out and enjoy the 30 Days of Biking challenge than by taking your two wheeler out to your favorite picnic spot and dining outdoors? Of course, CobornsDelivers.com has some very portable meal ideas to help you do just that.

Easy Eats

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Mother’s Day Video Contest

If you’re still looking for the perfect gift for mom or grandma, we have an idea for you …how about making them a video? Everybody knows mom loves those creative gifts the most:) Plus, if  your video is the fan favorite, you’ll win a $100 gift card from CobornsDelivers.com and get free delivery on your orders for the rest of 2010! Want to learn more? Check out the details in this video:

Disclaimer:

$100 in free groceries may be redeemed only at CobornsDelivers.com/TwinCities. Not valid at Coborn’s Stores. Customer must open an account or have an existing account and live within our delivery area to redeem. Free delivery applies to next day deliveries only, and orders must be $25 or more to qualify, not including alcohol, stamps, gift certificates or delivery fee. ($4.95 surcharge applies to same day delivery, if available.) Free delivery ends December 31, 2010.

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Favorite Recipe to Release Tax Stress

It’s that dreaded time of year:  tax time.  As many of us hurry to get our taxes filed by their April 15 deadline, we could probably use some stress relief.  And since we need to eat, why not combine the need for stress busters with healthy food?  One of my favorite recipes contains ingredients that will help reduce your stress level while pleasing your taste buds—it’s my “Quinoa Stir-Fry with Peanut Sauce.”

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