WHAT'S COOKING' - with Chef Choosier   Week of: 5/20/2012 Cosecants-Denver, Inc. (303) 371-3130
	LYCHEE NUTS Juicy Lychees are tropical-tasting fruits that are wonderful out-of-hand treats.  Peel off the red/brown brittle skin, and just pop milky-white fruit into your mouth.  The fruit has a pleasing grape-like consistency.  There is a large seed in the center - to avoid.  Lychees add an exotic twist to smoothies, cocktails, fruit salads (pair with mango, papaya, pineapple, etc.)  And, Lychees pair well with spicy flavors like those used in stir frys dishes.  Stock item.

RHUBARB  Deliciously tart U.S.A. Rhubarb has many, many culinary applications.  Of course Rhubarb is always popular in pies and other baked goods, partnered with berries for added sweetness.  But, also try this wonderful ingredient in glazes, sauces, syrups, chutneys, ice creams and chilled summer soups.  This is a fantastic item to include on your summer menus.  Stock item.

VEGGIE SWEETS   Sweet, colorful Mini Peppers add life to many summer dishes.  Create wonderful bbq skewers, crudite platters, salads, vegetarian meals, salsas & "stuffers" with these adorable little peppers.  They have outstanding flavor - raw, roasted or grilled.  A simple preparation of raw Veggie Sweets, served with cool herb-buttermilk dip, is almost a meal in itself.  And they're a great garnish for pepper-inspired soups & bloody mary drinks.  Stock item.

FRESH-N-WILD REPORT Morel Mushrooms (shown left), available, stock item. Yellowfoot Chanterelle Mushrooms and Hedgehog Mushrooms are done for the season. Golden Chanterelles coming in July. Porcini Mushrooms available, but very ltd. supply.  Pre-order. Fiddlehead Ferns & Ramps coming to an end.   Sea Beans available - pre-order.

ORGANICS - NOW STOCKING MANY NEW ORGANIC ITEMS - CALL FOR AVAILABILITY LIST

Coosemans is here to meet your organic needs. We stock a full line of beautiful organic herbs and other specialties.  We also source additional organic items upon request!  Please call us for more information on specific organic products.  Thank You.  (303) 371-3130.

COMING & GOING... please note: "pre-order" items require 3-5 day lead time, (303) 371-3130

FRUITS

Baby Pineapple available.  Very sweet and tasty.  Remove skin, and then, entirely edible - no need to remove core.  Pre-order.
Blood Oranges - CA product winding down.
Cactus Pear in a gap for 1-2 weeks.  CA done, waiting for MX to start up.
Cara Cara Oranges available out of CA - naval oranges with orange skin & pink flesh - very sweet flavor w/ hint of cranberry - very few seeds.  Pre-order.
Cape Gooseberries out of Columbia available - bright orange/yellow grape-sized "berry" with fabulous sweet/tart flavor - with or without husk - pre-order.
Cherimoya soon moving into a gap until June.
Dragonfruit - available from CA.  Gorgeous hot-pink "scaled" skin with white, black-speckled fruity, slightly sweet flesh.  Pre-Order.
Figs- domestic Black Missions starting up.  Due in week of 5/13/12.
Feijoa (Pineapple Guava) - available - pre-order.
Finger Limes - "Caviar Limes" - done for the season.
Greengage Plums done for the season.
Guava available from CA.  Wonderful tropical fruit for smoothies, frozen cocktails and dessert sauces.  Pre-order.
Gold Kiwi - available.  Yellow flesh, tastes a little like mango.  Pre-order.
Guava available, just started out of CA.  Pre-order.
Kiwano Melon n/a.  Expected in a couple of weeks out of NZ.
Kumquats - available.  Tangy little citrus fruits w/ edible skin.  Stock item.
Lady Apples - tiny, tasty green & red apples, wonderful for caramel-dipping, boxed lunches or fruit baskets.  Stock item.  Many other baby apples available w/ pre-order.
Lychees, out of Mexico - available - stock item.
Maui Onions available - sweet & tasty - pre-order.
Meyer Lemons - winding down.
Mangosteen (Thailand) - supply improving - pre-order.
Oro Blanco Grapefruits available - sweet w/ low acidity.  Pre-order.
Passion Fruit - FL supplies picking up, but still limited.  Pre-order.
Peaches - CA starting up.
Pepino Melons - (Ecuador) available.  Attractive purple & green striped skin.  Soft gold cucumber/melon tasting flesh.  Pre-Order.
Persimmons, Fuyu - from Chile - available - flavors of cinnamon & allspice - sweet & delicious - stock item.
Pineberries available out of Holland - pre-order needed.
Pomegranates - available out of CA.  Big red fruit with juicy, bright red seeds - acidic, tart, sweet flavor.  Stock Item.
Pummelo from CA available - largest of the grapefruits w/ sweeter & less acidic flavor.  Pre-order.
Quince - Chilean, available.  Stock item.
Rambutan - "Hairy Lychee" - available out of Vietnam.  Pre-order.  (stocking Lychee Nuts)
Rhubarb available - very nice pie or glaze ingredient - available.  Stock item.
Raisins on the Vine - you've gotta see these - beautiful item for unique plate presentations.  Pre-order.
Sapote available - round fruit (size & shape of apple) - with creamy white flesh - flavors of banana, coconut & lemon.  Pre-order.
Seedless Lemons winding down.
Seville Oranges, from N. CA, available - too tart too eat, but outstanding fruit for marmalades, sauces and liqueurs.  Pre-order.
Starfruit, "Carambola" - available from FL.  Thailand product (larger size) also starting.  Stock item.
Tamarillos - Red & Gold - out of NZ - expected in next few weeks.
Yellow Watermelon coming week of 5/13/12.  Stock item.

VEGETABLES & MORE

Baby Cauliflower available - multi-colored - green, white &orange.  Pre-order.
Baby Romanesco available - great-tasting green cauliflower-like veg - pre-order.
Coconuts available - in stock.
Edible Flowers, "Mixed" - available - wide array of colors and tastes.  Stock Item.
Fava Beans - available - stock item.
Fiddlehead Ferns ending.
Fingerling Potatoes - Local Colorado Product has started up - available.  Red, White and Purple.  Stock Item.
Garbanzo Beans (Fresh) - available out of MX.  Pre-order.
Ghost Peppers - Bhut Jolokia - fresh coming from Holland at end of May - pre-order.  Dried available, stock item.
Graffiti and White Eggplant available - pre-order.
Green Garlic (Mexico & U.S.) starting, and available for a few months.
Hawaiian Ginger back in stock.
Hawaiian Purple Sweet Potatoes available - delicious earthy, sweet taste - white skin & purple flesh.  Sub for orange sweet potatoes.  Stock item.
Micro Greens - Rainbow Mix, Assorted & Single Varieties - available.  Stock Item.
Red Fresno Chiles - available.  Bright red color, nice hot chile pepper taste for salsas and more.  Stock Item.
Rhubarb - low supply.
Ramps ending.
Spring Onions - Red and White - available out of CA.  Pre-order.
Sugar Cane "Swizzle Sticks" - available.  Ideal for skewering shrimp & chicken, or garnishing tropical cocktails.  Stock Item.
Sunchokes - available - sweet, artichoke/nutty flavored root vegetable - stock item.
Teardrop Tomatoes - Red & Yellow - supply has improved.  Stock items.
Veggie Sweets - Mini multi-colored sweet peppers - available.  Beautiful colors.  Stock Item.
Watermelon Radish - low supply.

HOLIDAY PLANNING GUIDE...

Memorial Day - May 28th - Colorado Fingerling Potato Salad will be the perfect side dish for your BBQ

Flag Day - June 14th - great day to serve juicy Starfruit with your salads,  desserts and drinks

Food & Wine Classic in Aspen - June 15-17 - get up there and enjoy fabulous specialty produce from Coosemans (and a little wine too)

Father's Day - June 17th - don't forget crimini mushrooms, cipollini onions and baby squash for your grilling skewers

 HERB-ROASTED CHICKEN WITH MOREL MUSHROOMS & WATERCRESS SALAD

one 3 1/2 pound chicken
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup chopped mixed herbs, such as thyme, rosemary, oregano and parsley
2 heads of garlic, separated into unpeeled cloves
1 cup dry white wine
1 pound fresh morel mushrooms, cut into 2" pieces
butter & olive oil (for sauteeing morels)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
1/2 pound watercress, thick stems discarded

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.  Rub the chicken all over with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil.  Season the chicken inside and out with salt and pepper and set it in a roasting pan, breast side up.  Rub all but 1 tablespoon of the herbs over the chicken, covering it well.  Scatter the garlic cloves in the pan and roast for 15 minutes.
Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.  Slowly pour 1/2 cup of the white wine over the top of the chicken, being careful not to disturb the herb crust and roast for 15 minutes longer.  Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F. and roast for 30 minutes.  Pour the remaining 1/2 cup of white wine over the chicken and roast for about 40 minutes longer, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the bird's inner thigh registers 165 degrees F.
Meanwhile, cook mushrooms in a saute pan with a little butter and olive oil, covered for 5 minutes, then uncovered for 3 minutes.  Add remaining herbs.
Tilt the chicken to drain the cavity juices into the roasting pan and transfer the chicken to a large carving board.  Peel the roasted garlic cloves and transfer to a small plate.  Pour the juices from the roasting pan into a small saucepan and skim off the fat.  Transfer 1/4 cup of the juices to a large bowl.  Stir in the sherry vinegar and season with salt and pepper.  Add the watercress and toss well.  add the remaining juices and the roasted garlic to the sauteed morels.  Reheat and season with salt and pepper.
Carve the chicken and serve with the watercress salad and morels.
* photo & recipe by Kevin O'Connor & foodandwine.com

Bon Appétit!
~ Chef Coosie & Friends

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www.coosemansdenver.com

AND

CALL US FOR MORE INFO RE:

PRE-ORDERING, AVAILABILITY & USAGE IDEAS

(303) 371-3130