Thursday, November 26, 2009

Gratitude Day

Not an original idea but one that is worthwhile repeating and passing on.

Dateline, November 26th, 2009, 7:00am EST
At this moment all across the U.S. people are in various stages of preparation for a holiday feast. Chefs and their kitchen staff, mothers, fathers, grandparents, children too......wake with great excitement and anticipation.

There is another story that seldom gets told, or only as an after thought -- mothers, fathers, grandparents, children too..........waking homeless, hungry and will not be part of a joyous feast, elders in a nursing home may not have any visitors, soldiers overseas everywhere not with family........maybe you can add people you know in your own community -- that homeless person that helps people carry their groceries to their car at the market for spare change, the pan handler who is there everyday when you get off the highway returning from work, the man with the sign "Will Work For Food". The list of those less fortunate for whatever reason is endless, and in these times is growing faster than those wishing to live some "American Dream."

Not being part of this other group the images may be fuzzy for the rest of us to imagine what that might be like. Most of the time we here at Berkshire Grain are concocting new product ideas, creating interesting new ways to add more Organic Whole Grains to your daily diet.

This morning we just want to spread the thought of "BE IN GRATITUDE"...........What are you grateful for?

Several years ago when our children were younger a group of us went to a local church in our community that had a food pantry that prepared Thanksgiving meals for those less fortunate. It was a great experience for our children at 6 and 8 years old -- it was quite the contrast from a life with X-Boxes and iPods. When we called to inquire this year if we could help -- we found the Soup Kitchen Closed due to lack of funds.

Here at Berkshire Grain, in the next few days we will be announcing our plans to offer our GRATITUDE in our own communities.

Have a Happy, Healthy, Safe Holiday and mix in a big spoon of GRATITUDE somewhere between those mashed potatoes, yams, stuffing, asparagus..........think about what you can do as an individual to give something back and make a difference. You may find yourself with a smaller bulge in your waistline, and a warm-swelling near your heart :)

Here's something interesting to share with all of you -- Heard on NPR,11/25/2009 -- share this with others -- again it's a perspective some of us can't imagine -- National Day of Listening

Peace Everywhere

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Get Stuffed -- Organic Granola Whole Wheat Bread Stuffing

What is Thanksgiving without a nice big Turkey, and what is Thanksgiving Turkey Feast without some delicious stuffing?

You'll be glad to know the Berkshire Grain Test Kitchen crew agrees, and has been thinking about this very thing. The staff has been having a yummy time researching and testing various recipes in search of our very own stuffing recipe.

This one is bursting with apple cinnamon toast flavor that will be the perfect side to your turkey this Thanksgiving.......... of course if you're a practicing Vegetarian, then skip the Turkey and head right to the stuffing -- just remember to share with the "omnivores."

Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 min

Ingredients:
  • 2 apples, peeled,cored and chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups Berkshire Grain Cinnamon Toast or Cranberry Pumpkin Seed Granola
  • 3/4 cup chopped onions
  • 3/4 cup chopped celery
  • 3 tablespoon Earth Balance spread or butter
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 cup whole wheat bread, cubed
  • 1 cup raisins or dried cranberries
  • 1/3-1/2 cup apple cider or apple juice
Instructions:

  1. Saute apples,granola, onion and celery in Earth Balance or butter for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in spices and seasonings.
  2. Toss with bread cubes and raisins or cranberries.. Stir egg in 1/3 cup apple cider; toss into bread/granola mixture.
  3. The stuffing is now ready to placed directly into the open cavity of the turkey.
  4. For Vegetarian Stuffing -- Add more cider if needed. Bake in lightly greased baking dish covered, for 30- 40 minutes.
Best of all each Berkshire Grain Organic Granola contains over 15g of Organic Whole Grains in every serving. So if your guests are normally reluctant to try stuffing -- let them know this recipe is a little different than the rest :) Bon Appetit!

Enjoy Your Feast, and Look For More Recipes and Ideas at www.berkshiregrain.com
Healthy is the New Delicious™

Friday, November 13, 2009

Local Foods Make Thanksgiving Special

All over the world people are adopting a custom that was part of the original tradition of Thanksgiving. The TV Food Network has a "100 mile challenge" -- more and more citings all over the internet advocating the same thing. Whether your focus is a sustainable local economy, or supporting local quality foods from your own region, or that it's your assumed responsible to reduce your carbon food print -- in essence it's all the same.

In New England and other parts of the country as well, we've seen our local farms disappear through land grabs and overzealous building. Climate issues, a downward spiraling economy, rising fuel costs, health care and other labor costs, are only some of the other issues that affect small businesses, especially food producers whose margins are slim, and not to forget "real food" is perishable.

This Thanksgiving we should all do whatever we can to think about our local/regional food growers and manufacturers. One doesn't have to go to an extreme to make a positive impact. It's more important to take the first step this year, and use this year's celebration as a time to plan to do more come this time next year.

Here at Berkshire Grain we have tried to get creative and offer you the following delicious dessert for your Thanksgiving table -- We present.........Easy Apple Crisp, using Berkshire Grain Granola produced right here in Western MA, next we use delicious Apple Pie Filling jarred at the source by Out on A Limb, of Lamoine, ME. Top the whole thing off with fresh made Whipped Cream from High Lawn Farm, Lee, MA

Berkshire Grain, of Lenox, MA - is comprised of a small group of people with a love of Organic Whole Grains, Nuts and Seeds. Some of the ingredients found in Berkshire Grain Granolas are unique and not found in other similar products. Like Organic Chia Seeds which contain 6x more Calcium than milk. Chia Seeds, pure and simple are a Super Food. Organic Okara, comes from Organic (Non-GMO) Soybeans and is a by-product in the production of Soymilk. Both Chia Seeds and Okara are rich sources of protein and fiber. Berkshire Grain granolas are gently roasted at slow temperatures that infuses a delicate taste that is not too sweet, yet full of flavor -- you'll know this is true with the first bite of our Apple Crisp.

Out On A Limb, Lamoine, ME - a home-based company owned by Lori and Tim Jordan, in Lamoine, Maine offers 42 fruit-based products created by Tim that are either low sugar or have no sugar added. The original idea came about because of diabetics in the family who were unable to eat the mass-produced versions of jams / jellies / syrups on the market. Voilá, Out On A Limb was born. Lori and Tim have been creating their special products in their Lamoine kitchen for six and a half years. They grow strawberries, rhubarb, pumpkins, raspberries, crabapples and apples on their property and they do all the jarring, labeling and production in their home.

High Lawn Farm, of Lee, MA -- has been in continuous operation since before 1900. The proprietorship was assumed by Colonel H. G. Wilde and Mrs. Marjorie Field Wilde in 1935 from Mrs. Wilde’s family, and today it continues under the ownership and guidance of the next generation. It is the last remaining, complete dairy farm in the Berkshires - producing, bottling and delivering its own milk - representing over 100 years in the same family. The Jersey herd, for which High Lawn Farm is nationally recognized, dates to at least 1918, with official production records continuous from 1923. Certain cow families in the present herd trace direct lineage across 15 generations to the original herd of 1918.

Click the following link to view the Apple Organic Granola Crisp Recipe

The recipe is wonderful and easy to make -- it was prepared fresh the other day and served as part of a Thursday evening community event at Whole Foods in Hadley, MA. Funny thing happened that the Berkshire Grain associate was in the store serving Apple Crisp to shoppers, when she looked at the time, and dashed off to the in-store kitchen to discover part of the Apple Crisp missing and being enjoyed by the store staff -- so be careful , set your timer and guard your oven.

If you decide to try our recipe please write us a comment, and during your dinner service add conversation about where the various foods came from, sprinkled with interesting information either about the food or the people behind the food. By doing so we can all give thanks.

Healthy is the New Delicious™



Friday, November 6, 2009

Brrrrrr.........Cold Mornings -- Hot Granola Yummm! -- FREE RECIPE & FREE GRANOLA OFFER



Well the last of the leaves have fallen but will not be forgotten -- all the fall cleanup has found it's way to our compost container......more about that in the spring. Now we'd like to share that here in the Berkshires - we finally experienced our first snow fall - and although it was just a "dusting" as we say in these parts -- it is none the less the beginning -- shoveling, plowing, skiing, ice skating, snow shoeing, ice fishing -- and Cold Winter Mornings.

Here at Berkshire Grain we are big advocates of starting the day right -- and that means a nutritious breakfast -- and as much as we love a delicious bowl of granola with milk or yogurt and plenty of fresh fruit -- if you live in a place where the typical temperature this time of year is closer to freezing well we've got a treat for you.

Berkshire Grain Hot Granola

Berkshire Grain Hot Granola is not like other hot cereals -- because our products are not just plain oats. It starts with a complex assortment of different grains, nuts and seeds -- all offering not only a unique taste -- but also the different textures translate into an interesting experience with every spoonful. FREE BERKSHIRE GRAIN HOT GRANOLA RECIPE

Taste the Difference

As part of our manufacturing process the granola mix is evenly coated with a collection of unrefined sugars, nectars and natural flavorings -- then oven roasted at low temperatures. When the granola is cooked as a hot cereal -- the infused flavor bursts -- if you dare to get your nose close enough to the pot you will know what we mean, and if you're anything like us -- you'll have a sampling spoon nearby to test it right from the pot :)

Hot Granola and Fresh Fruit

If you haven't tried this on your own here's a neat trick. Just before your pot of Hot Granola is ready to come off the heat throw in your own assortment of cut up fresh fruit, stir and talk about bursting with flavor...........one of our favorites is adding a mashed banana -- gotta get that potassium hit.

Free Granola Offer

We would like to introduce as many people to Berkshire Grain Granola -- Hot or Cold! So we're giving away 2 ounce samples free, for a small handling fee of $1.00. PROGRAM DETAILS