WHAT'S COOKIN' - with Chef Coosie   Week of: 2/19/2012 Coosemans-Denver, Inc. (303) 371-3130
	Mardi Gras - February 21st   OKRA - IT'S GUMBO TIME Okra is a great-tasting vegetable with a flavor of eggplant/asparagus.  Popular in African and Cajun cooking, versatile okra may be stewed, fried, roasted, steamed or satueéd.  Okra is a delicious side dish - fried with aioli; stewed with peppers and tomatoes; or simply seasoned with a salt & pepper.  Okra is also a natural thickener for soups, and is especially important for seafood gumbo.  Try okra in your recipes today, and you'll enjoy it's texture, taste and color.  15# case.  Stocking in limited quantities.  Pre order if possible.

BLOOD ORANGES - FOR JUICES, GLAZES, SORBETS AND SALADS Blood Oranges, also called Moro oranges, are famous for their beautiful crimson flesh, and wonderful orange/raspberry flavor.  Blood Oranges are a little smaller than a navel oranges.  They have an orange & red skin, and a segmented, deep red pulp.  Blood Oranges can replace standard oranges in recipes like juices, glazes, sorbets, fruit relishes, tarts and salads.  10# case.  Stock item.

St. Patrick's Day - March 17th   SHAMROCK-CUT POTATOES (1-week lead time, please pre-order) Hand-carved by real leprechauns, these festive shamrock potatoes are just the thing those "same-ole" St. Pat's dishes need.  These are the perfect complement for corned beef, or any beef for that matter.  Simply steam or roast with fresh herbs, butter and/or olive oil for a fun & tasty potato treat.  Use these edible shamrocks to garnish Irish stews and soups too.  White and Yukon Gold potatoes available.  Please pre-order, Monday for Monday, or Thursday for Thursday.

Fresh-N-Wild Report  HEDGEHOG MUSHROOMS (SHOWN LEFT),  YELLOWFOOT CHANTERELLE & BLACK TRUMPET MUSHROOMS AVAILABLE, 1# OR 5# CASES.  STOCK ITEMS! Golden Chanterelles n/a (order "Yellowfoots").  Fresh Truffles available in limited quantities - pre-order. We also stock Fresh White Beech, Hon Shimeji, Maitake, Woodard, Portobello, Criminal, Enoki and Tree Oyster Mushrooms.  Wild Mushrooms are ultra-flavorful in sauces, soups, strudels, egg dishes, risottos, stir frys and pastas.  Or as a side dish, or main dish topping.  All wild mushrooms should be cooked before consumption.  Use single varieties, or combine your favorites.  Wide selection of dried mushrooms also in stock.  Sea Beans available - salty green-colored bean - pre-order.

ORGANICS

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 Kiwi (NZ & Chile) - "Kiwi Berries" - small grape-sized kiwi w/ edible skin - available.  Pre-order.
Baby Pineapple available.  Very sweet and tasty.  Remove skin, and then, entirely edible - no need to remove core.  Pre-order.
Buddha Hands from CA - limited supply, season is ending.  Pre-order.
Blood Oranges, our of CA, available - yummy citrus fruit  w/ orange/raspberry taste - for drinks, marinades and desserts.  Stock item.
Cactus Pear, "Prickly Pear" - available, CA. Bright pink, sweet flesh with many edible crunchy seeds. Pre-Order.
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 - Custard Apple - creamy, white flesh, with tropical vanilla-custard taste - CA crop now available.  Pre-Order.
Cocktail Grapefruits winding down.
Currents (Red) from Chile, available.  Tasty tart/sweet berry to add to desserts or salads.  Pre-order.
Dragonfruit - available from CA.  Gorgeous hot-pink "scaled" skin with white, black-speckled fruity, slightly sweet flesh.  Pre-Order.
Figs- CA season is done.  NZ to start in March.
Feijoa (Pineapple Guava) - CA season is done; NZ starting in a couple of months.
Finger Limes - "Caviar Limes" - done for the season.
Greengage Plums expected at the end of the month.
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.
Gooseberries have just started out of New Zealand - good for baking (pies), and sauces.  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.
Meyer Lemons - new CA crop starting.  Sweet w/ low acidity.  Wonderful for lemonades, sauces and desserts.  Stock Item.
Mangosteen (Thailand) - in a gap due to heavy rains.
Oro Blanco Grapefruits available - sweet w/ low acidity.  Pre-order.
Passion Fruit - FL supplies picking up.  Pre-order.
Pepino Melons - (Ecuador) available.  Attractive purple & green striped skin.  Soft gold cucumber/melon tasting flesh.  Pre-Order.
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.
Rambutan - Hairy Lychee - available out of Vietnam.  Pre-order.
Rhubarb available from WA - 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 (yes, seedless) available - fabulous taste w/out the seeds -  pre-order.
Seville Oranges, from N. CA, available - too tart too eat, but outstanding fruit for marmalades, sauces and liqueurs.  Pre-order.
Sharon Fruit - Fuyu Persimmon variety - low supply.
Starfruit, "Carambola" - available from FL.  Thailand product (larger size) also starting.  Stock item.

VEGETABLES & MORE

Baby Brussels Sprouts available through February - Green, Purple or Mixed.  Pre-order.
Baby Romanesco available - great-tasting green cauliflower-like veg - pre-order.
Baby Yams (CA) - "Finger Yams" available.  Pre-Order.
Coconuts available - in stock.
Edible Flowers, "Mixed" - available - wide array of colors and tastes.  Stock Item.
English Peas - low supply.
Fava Beans - improved quantity - in stock.
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 - now unavailable - dried available, stock item.
Green Garlic (Mexico & U.S.) starting, and available for a few months.
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 - Holland crop now available - 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 - available out of CA.  Attractive pink flesh, lovely radish flavor.  Stock Item.
Young Ginger - available from Hawaii.  Mild flavor, thin skin.  Pre-order.

HOLIDAY PLANNING GUIDE...

Mardi Gras Day - February 21st - get your Okra here for gumbo and cajun side dishes!

St. Patrick's Day - March 17th - set yourself apart with Shamrock-Shaped potatoes this year (see photo, page 1)
 

 BLOOD ORANGE & PUMMELO MARMALADE

4 blood oranges, peeled, peels cut into 1/3-inch pieces, flesh seeded & coarsely chopped
1 lemon, quartered, thinly sliced, and seeded
1 pummelo, peeled, peel cut into 1/3-inch pieces, flesh seeded & coarsely chopped
1 1/2 quarts cold water

Bring fruit, peels, and water to a boil in a large saucepan.  Cook for 5 minutes.  Turn off heat, cover, and let cool.  Refrigerate for 8 hours (or up to 1 day).
Freeze a plate.  Uncover citrus mixture, and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.  Cook until thickest peel is tender, about 20 minutes.  Measure mixture, and return to pan.  For each cup of mixture, add 3/4 cup sugar.
Bring mixture to a boil, stirring often.  Cook until mixture registers 220 degrees to 222 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 20 minutes.  To test for doneness of marmalade: drop a spoonful on frozen plate.  If marmalade had a slight film when pushed with a finger, it's done.  If it spreads out and thins immediately, continue cooking, and test again after a few minutes.  Transfer marmalade to airtight containers, cover, and let cool at room temperature.  Refrigerate overnight before serving.  Marmalade will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 1 month.
* photo and recipe by marthastewart.com

  Bon Appétit!
~ Chef Coosie & Friends

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