LexTalk: Holidays 2017

LexTalk

Holidays 2017

News from Lexington Co-op Markets

cheers to the holidays!

Letter from Board President, Alison Wilcox- Lanfear

A

s we near the Thanksgiving season, it is fitting to consider gratitude as an important part of our cooperative values. As health-conscious and community-minded owners of our cooperative, did you know that cultivating an “Attitude of Gratitude” brings many health and social benefits? The positive traits are too numerous to list here, but include higher degrees of happiness, optimism, better sleep, more energy, stronger relationships, and increased productivity, just to name a few.

already happened, and sometimes you can even practice gratitude for what you are hopeful for.

My list is as follows: I am so thankful to our member-owners for your support of our co-op. Because of you, we continue to have a strong store on Elmwood, and we have now achieved

Thank you to our member-owners who invested in our co-op, in earlier initiatives, or recently by buying preferred shares for our expansion. We were able to keep our loans low, and keep as much money as possible in our own community – your decision to put your money into our co-op made opening our second store on Hertel possible.

Gratitude can come in many forms.

Robert Emmons, leading researcher on gratitude, says that there are two ways it manifests - affirming thanks for the good in our lives, and recognizing that this good often comes from outside ourselves, being grateful to those who have bestowed this goodness on us.

As a member-owner of the Lexington Coop, this seems very much in line with the Ends that we strive towards at our co-op and our shared goal of strengthening coops in our community. We work together to achieve goals, and by connecting with others, we are able to create more good than we could achieve on our own.

To cultivate a higher amount of gratitude, it is recommended to keep a journal, or write down a list of what you are grateful for. Sometimes this is for things that have

I give thanks for our amazing management team and staff at Lexington Co-op. I hear it from many member-owners and shoppers, and I have also experienced the high degree of care, dedication, and customer service that our staff show every day when we walk through those doors. A store is only as good as its staff, and we have an amazing team who works tirelessly to make our coop as great as possible.

Board of Directors, Elizabeth Robinson, Alison WilcoxLanfear & Matt Caldiero. Tim Bartlett, GM and Dami Odetola, NCB Bank

our goal to open a new store on Hertel, with strong sales that have surpassed our expectations. You have so many stores you could choose to shop at, and I am grateful that you choose to put your purchasing power towards shopping at Lexington.

And finally, thank you to all of our local farmers and vendors. We have put $1.9 million back into our local economy just last year alone. It is amazing to walk into our co-op and see the fresh produce, delicious baked goods and other products that we can choose from.

This has been an amazing year! I am also optimistic, excited and grateful for all of the good things that the next year will bring.

Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving, Alison

Board Election Results Thank you to the 2,054 owners who participated in the annual Board of Directors election.

This year we implemented a new online voting system, which is how 75% of you voted! It was great to see more people than ever get involved and help choose the future of the Co-op.

After third party voting company, Simply Voting, tabulated the votes we are excited to announce that Martin Knauss, Heather Lazickas, and Peter Cimino have all been elected to serve 3-year terms on the Lexington Co-op Board of Directors.

Heather Lazickas

Peter Cimino

Martin Knauss

Fall at the Co-op

Crack. That. Parm.

Annual Meeting 2017

y a d i l o h

OWNER APPRECIATION DAYS december 7-10

celebrate community, great food, and holiday cheer... plus, owners save

10% on one BIG Shop*!

Co-op Trick-Or-Treat

*excludes special orders, BIG Friendly Deals and beer

Get Stuffed Spiral Cut Ham

Sausage

Garret Valley all natural with no additives. One of the easiest center table meats you can add. Just heat and serve.

So many families have a style of sausage for their holiday. We love Mineo & Sapio Italian, chicken or pork Sausage, Wardynski’s classic Polish, D’artagnan andouille and chorizio or T- Meadow Italian or Sicilian. We’re stuffed with sausage.

Turkey Plainville Farms, Wendel’s Farm. All Natural, never frozen. Our turkeys have been the talk of the town for years!

Seafood

Celebrate the Feast of the Seven Fishes with scallops, shrimp, salmon, cod, perch, crab legs and more... All wild caught or sustainably raised, Need a larger cut of fish? Just ask!

Brisket A Hanukkah tradition, but great cut for any occasion.

Standfast Farm Dunkirk, NY

Tenderloin

the anatomy of a So ft & Bl o o m y

Traditional and keeps the pickiest of pallets gathered around the board

We love...

LOCAL

Cheese Board

Ch a-Ch a Ch e ddars

Delicate and spreadable, needed to put your crackers to use!

Casatica di Bufala Italy Lively Run Sheldrake Moon New York St Andre France La Tur Italy

Eat local with this classic and fool-proof holiday cut.

Finger Lakes Farm, Ithaca, NY

LOCAL

Cabot Clothbound Cheddar Vermont Prairie Breeze Iowa MontAmore Wisconsin McAdam Adirondack Cheddar New York

Sin g in ’ the Blu e s

Th e Wow F a ct or

Fan favorites:

Can’t go wrong...

The Blue Jay Blue Cheese Wisconsin Lively Run Cayuga Blue New York St Agur Bleu France

Merlot Bellavitano Wisconsin Mimolette Vieille France Drunken Goat Spain Maple Bourbon Fromage E. B

Sharp and unmistakable a blue adds a definitive bite to the board

Try any of these...

LOCAL

Build a board easily by grabbing four or five styles of cheeses ...it’s that easy!

LOCAL

An unexpected &uniq cheese brings the fun and leaves guests tal

LOCAL

Bo nu s G r ab One cannot live on cheese alone... make sure to try some accompaniments:

La Quercia Prosciutto, Marcona Almonds, Volpi Salame, or Barrel and Brine Pickles

d!

to eat as e m ti st e b e th re a s y a d li Ho you can! much of your favorites as

No-Bake Bark

From their family to yours...

Local, family-owned businesses bring a little of their own holiday tradition to your table! Who doesn’t like a great Pierogi or Ravioli?

STEP

1Start

by melting 1 lb. semisweet chocolate and 1 T shortening. Spread on a baking sheet.

Ru’s Pierogi

Lexi’s Kitchen Bonus: Add matzah to the sheet before pouring chocolate for an extra crunch!

Ru’s Pierogi provides a twist on the classic pierogi. Look for exciting flavors like Roast Beef, Goat Cheese, and Banana Pepper. We love cooking these up for outof-town guests- you can only get them in Buffalo!

Choose a flavor profile.

STEP

2

Get creative! Toss your toppings on the melted chocolate.

Sweet shortbread cookies & dates hazelnut, vanilla, & cinnamon graham crackers & marshmallows

Keeping Tra

ditions

Keeping Tradition s does exactly what their name implies! Perfectin g the art of pierog i, while keeping all those flavors you know and lo ve intact. Skip mak ing pieorgi yourse lf and give these gu ys a spot at the table!

Savory sea salt & caramel dried cherries & orange zest coconut & pistachios Simple mixed nuts peanut butter candy canes STEP

3

r

unique e fun s talking

onsin

e

ge E. Bethany, NY

Gondola Ravioli Gondola Ravioli celebrates Italian family tradition in the best possible way- with pasta!

Great as a main dish, we also love frying up ravioli as a quick appetizer.

Refrigerate the baking

sheet. Once hardened, break apart.

enjoy! try

Lexi’s Matzah Bark

Thanks to you we have paid more than

$976,000

to our LOCAL vendors since July!

s p p A y Eas

Lexi’s Kitchen

Buffalo Cauliflower Dip

NEW Co-op Favorite

1 head cauliflower, cut into flourets, steamed 1 cup cashews 1-15oz can chickpeas, drained and rinsed 1/2 cup Frank’s Hot Sauce

3/4 cup water 1/2 T lemon juice 2 T nutritional yeast 1/2 tsp onion powder 1/2 tsp garlic powder

Soak cashews in a bowl of warm water for at least 30 minutes or overnight, drain.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray an 8x8 in baking dish with cooking spray.

Lexi’s Herbed Olive Oil 2 cups olive oil 1 T basil 1 T parsley 1 T garlic powder 1 tsp thyme 1 tsp oregano 1 tsp pepper 1/2 tsp rosemary 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper 2 T grated Parmesan

Bread Dip Hostess Gift Shrimp Sauce Veggie Drizzle

Combine all ingredients in a food processor, process until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Layer up dips!

1. cheese Brie Feta Chevre

Great dippers!

Issa’s Pita Chips Lexi’s Veggie trays Ciabatta Bread Late July Cantina Dippers 34 Degree Crackers

Transfer dip to baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.

2. layer up spiced mixed nuts roasted red peppers basil pesto

3. top it off local maple syrup chopped olives cranberries & toasted pine nuts

s k c i r T y r t n a P “I like to keep my pantry stocked with all the right salty and sweet snacks in case company comes over. I just make a list of my regulars. Try my favorites, or make your own shopping list and you will be thanking me the next time you hear your doorbell!”

-Kim, Elmwood Grocery Manager Country Honey* Locally sourced by the Brachmann family, I pair it with fresh Parmesan cheese for a simple snack.

Terra Chips Not only are these chips delicious, they are beautiful too! They add a great pop of color to your snack table.

BreadHive Granola* I keep this on hand for a quick flavor add to my oatmeal, yogurt, or salad...who am I kidding? I also eat it by the fistful!

Malted Milk Balls These simple treats are so easy to put out and so satisfying.

*

Divina Spreads Pop the lid on one of these guys and pass the cheese and crackers.

Pair em up!

Fig Spread and Sharp Blue Cheeses Cherry Spread and Plain Mild Cheeses

Gondola Pasta* Made in Buffalo since

1958, I keep Gondola on hand for a quick meal. I also keep a few bags stashed for hostess gifts-just add sauce!

Dried Mango Equal Exchange’s organic

Dried Cranberries Everything that needs

a little holiday love gets a sprinkle of dried cranberries. Salads. Ice Cream. Sugar Cookies, Cheese… EVERYTHING. LaCroix Sparkling Water The flavors are refreshing and perfect for whipping into a cocktail.

3-5 raspberries 2 oz. tart cherry juice Lime LaCroix Sparkling Water 2 oz. vodka

and fair trade mango makes a quick colorful snack during the holidays: Melt some chocolate, dip the mango ( just half of it), and sprinkle with crushed pistachios or almonds.

Muddle raspberries in a tall glass. Add cherry juice and ice. Top with Lime La Croix Sparkling Water and vodka.

Top Seedz Crackers* Amazingly crunchy gluten free crackers locally made in Clarence! I always pair them with a simple cheese, like First Light Chevre; it allows the flavor of these crackers to shine.

Woodstock Kosher Pickles My go to late night snack can be transformed into an app with the help of Field Day Golden Round Crackers and some Red Clay Pimento Cheese.

McDuffie’s Shortbread Cookies* Locally owned by a father/son duo, these shortbread cookies are begging to be dunked in coffee or paired with a dark ale.

Vegan Rob’s Cauliflower Puffs Soy free, gluten free, nut free, kosher, non-GMO, and delicious! Everyone can eat these!

Spontaneous Combustion Mustard* Perfectly sweet with a little kick, makes even simple pretzels seem fancy.

Recipe and photo: lacroixwater.com

Cheers !

Divina Dolmas I set these out with my cheese board, or put together a simple yogurt dip for an easy app.

1 cup plain yogurt 1/4 cup minced fresh mint 1 garlic clove, minced Lemon wedges Recipe: epicurious.com

LOCAL

812-7641

807 Elmwood Ave, Buffalo, NY 14222 716-886-2667

1678 Hertel Ave, Buffalo, NY 14216 716-886-0024

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BUFFALO NY PERMIT #801

Open to Everyone 7 am - 11 pm daily lexington.coop

he holidays!

Cookies

•Lexi’s Kitchen •BreadHive Bakery • Sweet Beginnings

SUGAR SPICE

&

Lexi’s Quickbreads

everything nice Lexi’s Cheesecake

Holiday Panettones from Italy!

Chocolate

• Chocolate Flourless Cake •Peppermint Brownies •Parkside Candies

Pie

•Lexi’s Kitchen •Sweet Pea- GF Bakery

Holiday Hours | Christmas Eve 7a-7p | Christmas Day CLOSED | New Year’s Eve 7a-11p | New Year’s Day 7a-11p