Mozzarella (Motzerella? Mozzerella? Motzer-ell-a? Motorola? Mozzerela? Mozzarella.) is the most popular (official stat) and most misspelled (unofficial stat) around the globe. That being said, there’s a high probability you enjoy it, too. But are you using mozzarella to its full potential? It can be consumed at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and compliment any food group. Read on for inspiration for National Cheese Day (June 4th).

Sandwiches

Cheese is a superstar of flavor, and is more than willing to carry the weight of a recipe if you let it. A perfect example is America’s collective childhood comfort food– grilled cheese. The idea itself has a minimum of two ingredients (cheese, bread) but the range of complexity chefs have developed make it more than the sidekick of tomato soup. Check out this recipe that compliments the mozzarella with a fresh basil pesto.

Salad

What’s red, green, and white and not a holiday? Caprese salad! This is another dish in which mozzarella shines against a relatively short list of ingredients. The key to making this is to make sure you use the freshest ingredients. While most recipes will look the same, this one has the option to substitute arugula for the traditional basil.

Dip

The words “cheese” and “dip” do not just have to mean fondue. The new trend with cheese dip is deconstructing cheesy foods into dip format. Here’s an example: Pizza Dip.  This is a delicious way to enjoy the contents of a whole pizza without the judgement from family and friends.

Sticks

Do you want to eat an entire pound of mozzarella cheese? What if we cut it up, fried it, and served it with marinara sauce? Mozzarella sticks are a classic restaurant appetizer, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be brought home. The beauty of making them at home is that you can make as many as you want (because we know that the amount the restaurant provides is never enough). Enjoy this recipe.

Garnish

Another part of the versatility of mozzarella is that it can be a star or an extra, aka a main ingredient or just a garnish. Since cheese objectively makes everything better, try adding a sprinkle of mozzarella atop your next soup, salad, sandwich, pasta, pizza, etc.

How do you use mozzarella? Share with us your best ideas on Facebook or Instagram! Need more inspiration? National Cheese Day is every day at the specialty cheese department at the Co-op!

Around now is the time when the phrase “new year, new me” becomes omnipresent, each person vowing that this year will be different than the year before and they will stick to their resolutions. Yet, here we are again, with a pile of past resolutions that have been gathering dust since Jan. 15th, 2017. That is where the Littleton Food Co-op comes in. Our vast store has a number of possibility for achievable resolutions. Plus, we’re open seven days a week with a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you stay on track with the goals you set. Incase you’re still in your post-holiday food coma, here are a few resolutions you can consider for 2019:

1. Support the Local Economy

The best resolutions are the ones that don’t require you to change your habits. By shopping at the Littleton Food Co-op you are ensuring that your dollars stay in the local economy. It is easy to see how your money creates numerous jobs for community members. Behind the scenes, your money travels slightly outside the four walls of the store and into the pockets of local growers and producers. The buying power of the Co-op keeps some local businesses in operation and only serves to amplify the growth of others. In 2017 the Co-op purchased $1.8 million worth of products from local producers. Keeping our money local creates a cycle of positive development that uplifts all aspects of our community.

2. Go Green!

It is easy to go through your daily routine without thinking of how much plastic you are using. Only thinking about how much plastic you are using everyday can be overwhelming. There are a couple minor changes to your shopping habits at the Co-op that will reduce your plastic footprint. The first change is to use a reusable shopping bag to bring home your purchases. If your bags from home don’t find their way into the store, we have a wonderful selection of reusable bags available for sale. A second change is to shop in our Bulk department. You can bring your own reusable containers to the Bulk department to fill with whatever your heart desires. This reduces single use plastic from food packaging. Third, you can find a variety of products in store designed to help you on your journey to being plastic-free, such as bee’s wrap, bamboo utensils, and glass water bottles.

3. Learn to Juggle

The new year is the perfect time to pick up a new hobby, and there is no better hobby than juggling. Lucky for you, we’ve removed the obvious biggest barrier to juggling–cost. Our citrus sale is the perfect time to stock up on all your necessary materials. They come in multiple flavors like lemon, lime, grapefruit, orange, and miscellaneous citrus. And after you succeed, your materials are delicious to eat too.

4. Become More Involved in your Community

Your community should feel like more than just the place you picked your plot of land. An easy method to become a greater part of the community is through the Co-op. The simplest option is to become a member of the Co-op. Co-op membership gives you a democratic voice and a network of over 6,000 other community members in exchange for the few seconds it takes to fill out the application. As a member, you can attend Co-op Board Meetings and learn more about the governance of your co-op. Everyone likes to feel like a part of something greater than themselves, and the Co-op is a great way to do that.

5. Eat Healthier

We know, it’s a cliche one. But, we all know someone (maybe ourselves) who made this resolution last year but dropped it by the time the Valentine’s Day candy went on sale. One problem with this typical resolution is that it’s too vague. A modification to this resolution is to try a new eating lifestyle for a week or a month. You can be a vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, heck even a pasta-tarian. Some people find that having a specific set of recommendations helps them make more conscientious choices. The Co-op offers healthy and delicious options to fit multiple types of eating lifestyles. For example, the Bulk department has a delicious organic and paleo granola for those following the Paleo diet (eating food similar to what was consumed back in the Paleolithic era).

6. Practice Self-Care

You live a stressful life; work, school, family, trying to finish your favorite show before your free trial expires. Every person deserves to indulge themselves in something that makes them feel good. It can be as simple as taking a nap, eating a treat, or trying a new relaxation technique. While we do not recommend using our store for a nap (the floors aren’t that comfortable), there are plenty of other forms of self care that can be initiated through the products in our store. For example, stop by the store after work to grab a pint of local ice cream and bottle of wine to unwind after work. Or grab some essential oils to create a peaceful environment. Just don’t mix the ice cream and the oils.

7. Get Out of the House More

This can be a very difficult resolution to keep, especially when it’s zero degrees outside and more than zero degrees in your bed. However, if you can get from your house to your car, and then your car to the Co-op, you will find a number of exciting events taking place in the cafe. The cafe hosts beverage samplings, educational events, food demonstrations, and local non-profit events (just to name a few). You can find your reason to get out of the house today on our Calendar of Events.

8. Get Out of Your Comfort (Food) Zone

Ever wondered what sweet pea smoothies tasted like? Or how spicy cayenne honey peanut butter feels in your mouth? Or what the heck is umeboshi paste? Look no further than your favorite local co-op! With over 9,000 items in store, there is no shortage of new adventures to take in 2019. Pair with tonight’s dinner or stick it with tomorrow’s lunch. If you need food inspiration, check out our weekly newsletter for a recipe of the week.

9. Be More Charitable

I bet that your house is currently littered with pamphlets from different nonprofits asking for donations in your household. We know you’re not actively against charitable giving when those letters end up in the recycling bin;  it is an act that easily slips between the cracks in our minds. Luckily, donating to your favorite local nonprofits is no different than buying your food at the Co-op. Every person has the opportunity to round up their change after a purchase to send it to our nonprofit Partner of the Month. Then, on Friday nights you turn off your oven for charity and purchase a Co-op pizza for Partners and Pizza night. You may feel skeptical of this idea, thinking “It’s only a couple of pennies.” However, every customer’s “couple of pennies” contributed to a total of over $36,000 in 2018 to a dozen good causes. You can use your resolution to help us reach our goal of contributing even more in 2019.

 
10. Learn More About Your Local Co-op

We print more than just your receipt. Signing up for our weekly newsletter will keep you in the know about Co-op sales and events. Our blog recommends our favorite drinks, foods, and recipes. Our biannual Radish Newsletter gives you a glimpse of larger Co-op happenings and a look at where we’re going.

Did you set any similar resolutions already for 2019? Did you break any similar resolutions already for 2019? Whatever your goals may be, we hope they bring you a happy and healthy 2019. This year is your year!