Celebrating Women... And Cheese.

"A Cheese Friend is a Best Friend"

Meet Holly Aker, restauranteur, good friend, fierce local food advocate, Connaisseur of all things Fromage and the founding force of Local Goods Gathered, the source of this week's cheeses in the shares and the Cheese of the Week. Feta! Cheese Curds! Yes, please.

Local Goods Gathered is a women-owned, small business in Portland, Maine, that was founded in July of 2020 to support Maine cheesemakers during the pandemic.

Holly is an ACS Certified Cheese Professional, Food Safety expert, and the President of the Maine Cheese Guild. With an expertise in small business development, Holly is a champion for local food; she founded LGG during the pandemic with the goal of helping Maine farmers reroute their product from restaurants to homes.

She expanded the LGG team to include Leah, good friend and fellow cheese nerd for the expansion of this mission. Holly and Leah are cheese best friends who bonded over a shared love of Maine cheese and specialty foods. Their combined experience spans 20 years in the food industry, from sourcing, buying and making cheese to recipe development, retail & wholesale kitchen operations, event planning and more.

They believe that everyone should have access to the incredible artisanal products available to them here in Maine. By working directly with their community of makers, you help them build a sustainable supply chain for the Maine Dairy economy, and thus, a model for the food industry at-large.

I subscribe to their monthly cheese box and I LOVE IT. They are offering Family Dinner folks a 5% discount of their first delivery using code FAMILYDINNER.

We hope you love it.

WHAT'S IN THE BAG? (ME/NH)

Delivery date: Saturday, 3/19

Note: If you order a "Meat and Fish Share" you will receive just the meats listed, not the "dairy" items (i.e., eggs, yogurt, etc). If you order a "Fish and Seafood Share" you will receive the fish listed, not the dairy items.

Add-on Bread of the Week - Sourdough Boule from Rosemont Market & Bakery
Add-on Cheese of the Week - Cheddar Curds from Pineland Farms
Add-on Gluten Free Grain of the Week - Seed'nola from 88 Acres
Add-on Grain of the Week - Cornmeal from Tuckaway Farm,
Add-on Pastry of the Week - Almond Croissant from Rosemont Market & Bakery
Add-on Vegetarian Soup of the Week - Chickpea Peanut Stew from Forge Baking Company
Add-on Treat of the Week - Lemon Bars from Two Fat Cats

HALF SHARE

Omnivore Protein & Dairy - Fresh Chorizo form Colvard & Co.; Yogurt from Silvery Moon Creamery
Pescatarian Proteins & Dairy - Monkfish from True Fin; Yogurt from Silvery Moon Creamery
Paleo Proteins - Fresh Chorizo form Colvard & Co.; Eggs from Feather Brook Farm
Vegetarian Proteins & Dairy - Mapo Tofu from Rosemont Market & Bakery; Yogurt from Silvery Moon Creamery
Fruits and Veggies - Bibb Lettuce from Springworks Farm; Yellow Onions from Goranson Farm; Sweet Potatoes from Goranson Farm; Kale from Dandelion Spring Farm; Beans from Baer's Beans**; Carrots from Brookford Farm**
Grains - Crackers from Brewer's Crackers
Special Treats - Lemon Bars from Two Fat Cats

WHOLE SHARE

Omnivore Proteins & Dairy - Fresh Chorizo form Colvard & Co.; Monkfish from True Fin; Yogurt from Silvery Moon Creamery; Eggs from Feather Brook Farm
Pescatarian Proteins & Dairy - Monkfish from True Fin; Grey Sole from Harbor Fish Market; Yogurt from Silvery Moon Creamery; Eggs from Feather Brook Farm
Paleo Proteins - Fresh Chorizo form Colvard & Co.; Monkfish from True Fin; Eggs from Feather Brook Farm
Vegetarian Proteins & Dairy - Mapo Tofu from Rosemont Market & Bakery; Chipotle Black Bean Soup from Forge Baking Co.; Yogurt from Silvery Moon Creamery; Eggs from Feather Brook Farm
Fruits and Veggies - Bibb Lettuce from Springworks Farm; Yellow Onions from Goranson Farm; Sweet Potatoes from Goranson Farm; Kale from Dandelion Spring Farm; Beans from Baer's Beans; Carrots from Brookford Farm; Parsnips from Brookford Farm**; Napa Cabbage from Brookford Farm**
Grains - Crackers from Brewer's Crackers
Special Treats - Lemon Bars from Two Fat Cats; Oatmeal Cookies from Rosemont Market & Bakery

DOUBLE SHARE

Omnivore Proteins & Dairy - Fresh Chorizo form Colvard & Co.; Monkfish from True Fin; Shaved Steak from Cold Spring Ranch; Yogurt from Silvery Moon Creamery; Eggs from Feather Brook Farm; Feta from Pineland Farms
Pescatarian Proteins & Dairy - Monkfish from True Fin; Grey Sole from Harbor Fish Market; Pollock from True Fin*; Yogurt from Silvery Moon Creamery; Eggs from Feather Brook Farm; Feta from Pineland Farms
Paleo Proteins - Fresh Chorizo form Colvard & Co.; Monkfish from True Fin; Shaved Steak from Cold Spring Ranch; Eggs from Feather Brook Farm
Vegetarian Proteins & Dairy - Mapo Tofu from Rosemont Market & Bakery; Chipotle Black Bean Soup from Forge Baking Co.; Veggie Burgers from Blue Mango; Yogurt from Silvery Moon Creamery; Eggs from Feather Brook Farm; Feta from Pineland Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Bibb Lettuce from Springworks Farm; Yellow Onions from Goranson Farm; Sweet Potatoes from Goranson Farm; Kale from Dandelion Spring Farm; Beans from Baer's Beans; Carrots from Brookford Farm; Parsnips from Brookford Farm; Napa Cabbage from Brookford Farm; Pears from Champlain Orchards**; Fingerling Potatoes from Snell Family Farm**
Grains - Crackers from Brewer's Crackers; Sourdough Boule from Rosemont Market & Bakery
Special Treats - Lemon Bars from Two Fat Cats; Oatmeal Cookies from Rosemont Market & Bakery

*Super frozen to -60ºC which means zero ice crystals rupturing cell structure while defrosting which means zero difference from fresh and zero issues searing. ❤️
**Paleo shares only

RECIPES (ME/NH)

(from Joe)

Chorizo Sweet Potato Tacos with Black Beans - Taco night. This calls for a can of black beans but would also work with pinto.

How to Cook Dried Beans - I'm firmly in the "beans are magic" camp. You get the thing itself, the opportunity to add myriad flavors to it, a finished product that is insanely versatile and then the insanely delicious liquid.

Black Bean Burgers - Bean versatility on display. These are super tasty that defy the usual results of a crumbly, mushy, meh black bean burger. We make a big batch so we can have some frozen patties on hand. (Or do a sweet potato black bean version here and steal some of the techniques.)

Kimchi - Magchi! Making kimchi at home is super easy and super rewarding. You can do a quick one or let it ferment and get tastier and tastier.

Monkfish "Lobster" Roll - Not the biggest fan of calling this a "lobster" roll for a few reasons but, the point is that monkfish has a similar taste and texture to lobster and works super well here.

Tips and Tricks for storing your food and getting the most from your shares can be found here.

WHAT'S IN THE BAG? (MA)

Delivery dates: Saturday, 3/19 and Tuesday, 3/22

Add-on Bread of the Week - Sourdough from Forge
Add-on Cheese of the Week - Cheddar Curds from Pineland Farms
Add-on Fresh Pasta of the Week - Garlic Scape Linguine from Valicenti
Add-on Gluten Free Grain of the Week - Crackers from ME Crisps
Add-on Mezze of the Week - Onion Dip from Magic Bites
Add-on Pastry of the Week - Blueberry Ginger Brumbles from Do Good Kitchen
Add-on Vegetarian Soup of the Week - Chickpea Peanut Stew from Forge

HALF SHARE

Omnivore Protein - Stew Meat from Feather Brook Farms; Feta from Pineland Farms
Pescatarian Protein - Fluke from Red's; Feta from Pineland Farms
Vegetarian Proteins - Loukaniko Sausage from Littleburg; Feta from Pineland Farms
Paleo Proteins - Stew Meat from Feather Brook Farms; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Spinach from Queen's Greens; Blueberries from Burke Hill Farm; Onions from Brookford Farm; Sweet Potatoes from Heron Pond Farm
Grain - Popcorn from Popzup
Special Treat - Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Forge

WHOLE SHARE

Omnivore Protein - Stew Meat from Feather Brook Farms; Fluke from Red's; Feta from Pineland Farms; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Pescatarian Protein - Fluke, Salmon from Red's; Feta from Pineland Farms; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Vegetarian Proteins - Loukaniko Sausage from Littleburg; Lentil Fingers from Magic Bites; Feta from Pineland Farms; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Paleo Proteins - Stew Meat from Feather Brook Farms; Fluke from Red's; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Spinach from Queen's Greens; Blueberries from Burke Hill Farm; Onions from Brookford Farm; Sweet Potatoes from Heron Pond Farm; Micro greens from Generation Farm; Cabbage from Brookford Farm
Grain - Popcorn from Popzup
Special Treat - Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies and Brownies from Forge

DOUBLE SHARE

Omnivore Protein - Stew Meat from Feather Brook Farms; Fluke from Red's; Sausage from Broad Arrow Farm; Feta from Pineland Farms; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Hummus from Magic Bites
Pescatarian Protein - Fluke, Salmon, Soft Shell Crab from Red's; Feta from Pineland Farms; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Hummus from Magic Bites
Vegetarian Proteins - Loukaniko Sausage from Littleburg; Lentil Fingers from Magic Bites; Tempeh from Rhapsody Foods; Feta from Pineland Farms; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Hummus from Magic Bites
Paleo Proteins - Stew Meat from Feather Brook Farms; Fluke from Red's; Sausage from Broad Arrow Farm; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Spinach from Queen's Greens; Blueberries from Burke Hill Farm; Onions from Brookford Farm; Sweet Potatoes from Heron Pond Farm; Micro greens from Generation Farm; Cabbage from Brookford Farm; Carrots from Juniper Hill Farm; Pears from Champlain Orchards
Grain - Popcorn from Popzup; Focaccia from Forge
Special Treat - Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies and Brownies from Forge

RECIPES (MA)

(from Shannon)

Blueberry, Feta, and Caramelized Onion Pizza - Oh.My.Lord. did my mouth drop and salivate when I saw this recipe! I can't wait to try it!

Spinach and Feta Quiche - Simple and easy quiche to enjoy the dynamic duo of spinach and feta!

Sauteed Sweet Potatoes and Spinach - Easy curry dish that you could have as your main dish if you so wish!

Fluke with Spinach - Okay, two pan dish but let's just say it's one?

Crispy Salmon with Braised Cabbage - Easy week night dinner!

Garlic Roasted Rainbow Carrots - I mean, can you go wrong?

Greek Beef and Onion Stew - Although today is supposed to be really warm and I am so excited for spring, I am still also excited to have at least one more wintery stew to feel like you're curled up in a blanket while enjoying!

Tips and Tricks for storing your food and getting the most from your shares can be found here.

Posted on March 18, 2022

Erin Baumgartner

Older Post

Back to This Week's Food

Newer Post