Tea Time!

Right after the delights of Thanksgiving--the carb loading, the football, the snoring dads, and the naps--comes Black Friday. The "Only in America" Hellscape that turns normal people into mouth-breathing zombies fueled by capitalist mind games who are drunk on coupons.

As a small business owner, the scenes of crowds clamoring to get into a Best Buy at 1 am on a Friday makes my heart hurt. It makes me think of all the employees who had to be there at midnight, leaving unwashed dishes and sleeping kiddos to open up, flip on the fluorescents, and get ready for the masses.

As the hurricane of the season whips into a frenzy, over the next few weeks we want to focus our attention on small businesses: woman-owned and POC-owned businesses who are fighting the damn good fight against the tide of madness.

This week we have Kristini’s Teas, owned and operated by the wonderful Kristina DeMichele - long time friend, supporter, and customer of Family Dinner. Kristina started her tea company in 2020 and we are happy to now have it on our store for you to enjoy. We asked her what brought her to tea and into the art of healing:

I worked at America's Test Kitchen for five years—three years on the email marketing team managing the company's newsletter program, and two years on the Cook's Illustrated team as both a print and digital editor. While my full-time career has shifted into digital strategy at Harvard, I still do freelance food writing.

Once the pandemic hit in 2020, I witnessed within myself and others the desperate need to protect ourselves from this mysterious virus in any way we could. A voice inside whispered, "Make your own herbal tea!"

I walked a few blocks down the street to Cambridge Naturals and bought little bags of herbs from their bulk herb wall. While working from home, I researched which herbs had antiviral properties and studied the herbal tea boxes I had that said things like “throat coat” and “tension tamer.” I developed blends with herbs that could relieve anxiety and insomnia; fever and cough; headache and heartache. I tested these blends for myself, and then I asked friends if they’d like to try. I distinctly remember one of my friends calling me and blurting out, “You NEED to sell these teas.”

The name of my company—Kristini’s Teas—pays homage to my childhood nickname and the representation of my fearless inner child who saw from a young age how tea can bring people together. Drinking tea can be a holistic experience, healing the physical, emotional, and spiritual aspects of ourselves. My hope is that my tea blends will act as tools to help others along their healing journeys and along their paths towards emotional and spiritual fulfillment.

We are including a sample in our double shares this week, but you can also find her teas on Etsy and in the Family Dinner store.

And! Kristina will be in person at the Melrose Harvest Market on Sunday, November 21 from 11am-3pm. This woman is a damn delight and her products are incredible. Go check them out. May the tea be with you.

WHAT'S IN THE BAG? (MA)

Delivery dates: Saturday, 11/20 and Tuesday, 11/23

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 Grain of the Week - Pizza Shells from Iggy's
Add-on Bread of the Week - Rye from Iggy's
Add-on Pastry of the Week - Maple Oat Scone from Forge
Add-on Fresh Pasta of the Week - Spinach Fettuccine
Add-on Cheese of the Week - Queso Fresco from Champlain Valley Creamery
Add-on Mezze of the Week - Basil Hummus from Magic Bites
Add-on Gluten Free Grain of the Week - Tortillas and Tortilla Chips from Mi Nina

HALF SHARE

Omnivore Protein - Pork Chops form Broad Arrow Farm; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Pescatarian Protein - Mackerel from Red's; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Vegetarian Proteins - Bean Salad from Forge; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Paleo Proteins - Pork Chops form Broad Arrow Farm; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Greens Mix from Generation Farm and Queen's Geens; Parsnips from Harlow Farm; Apples from Kimball Fruit Farm; Squash from Brookford Farm and Atlas Farm
Grain - Pita Chips from Brewer's Crackers
Special Treat - Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Forge

WHOLE SHARE

Omnivore Protein - Pork Chops form Broad Arrow Farm; Mackerel from Red's; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Cheddar from Pineland Farm
Pescatarian Protein - Mackerel, Smelts from Red's; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Cheddar from Pineland Farm
Vegetarian Proteins - Bean Salad from Forge; Veggie Burgers from Farmhouse Burger Co.; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Cheddar from Pineland Farm
Paleo Proteins - Pork Chops form Broad Arrow Farm; Mackerel from Red's; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Greens Mix from Generation Farm and Queen's Geens; Parsnips from Harlow Farm; Apples from Kimball Fruit Farm; Squash from Brookford Farm and Atlas Farm; Macomber Turnip from Langwater Farm; Greens from Clark Farm and Oasis Spring Farm
Grain - Pita Chips from Brewer's Crackers
Special Treat - Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies and Molasses Cookies from Forge

DOUBLE SHARE

Omnivore Protein - Pork Chops form Broad Arrow Farm; Mackerel from Red's; Shaved Steak from Cold Spring Ranch; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Cheddar from Pineland Farm; Yogurt from Sophia's
Pescatarian Protein - Mackerel, Smelts, Fluke from Red's; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Cheddar from Pineland Farm; Yogurt from Sophia's
Vegetarian Proteins - Bean Salad from Forge; Veggie Burgers from Farmhouse Burger Co.; Tamales from TexMex Eats; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Cheddar from Pineland Farm; Yogurt from Sophia's
Paleo Proteins - Pork Chops form Broad Arrow Farm; Mackerel from Red's; Shaved Steak from Cold Spring Ranch; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Fruits and Veggies - Greens Mix from Generation Farm and Queen's Geens; Parsnips from Harlow Farm; Apples from Kimball Fruit Farm; Squash from Brookford Farm and Atlas Farm; Macomber Turnip from Langwater Farm; Greens from Clark Farm and Oasis Spring Farm; Onions from Brookford Farm; Pan di Zucchero Chicory from Aprilla Farm
Grain - Pita Chips from Brewer's Crackers; Bagels from Iggy's
Special Treat - Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies and Molasses Cookies from Forge

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

Delivery dates: Saturday, 11/13

HALF SHARE

Omnivore Protein - Pork Chops from Broad Arrow; Cheese from Local Goods Gathered
Pescatarian Protein - Scallops from Harbor Fish; Cheese from Local Goods Gathered
Vegetarian Proteins - Sesame Scallion Lemongrass GráKake; Cheese from Local Goods Gathered
Paleo Proteins - Pork Chops from Broad Arrow; Eggs from Nature's Hen House
Fruits and Veggies - Collards from Dandelion Spring; Butternut Squash from Goranson; Beets from Dandelion Spring; Cranberries from Uncle's
Grain - Delicata Squash & Cranberry Sourdough Bread from Rosemont Bakery
Special Treat - Brownies from Big Sky

WHOLE SHARE

Omnivore Protein - Pork Chops from Broad Arrow; Scallops from Harbor Fish; Cheese from Local Goods Gathered; Eggs from Nature's Hen House
Fruits and Veggies - Collards from Dandelion Spring; Butternut Squash from Goranson; Beets from Dandelion Spring; Cranberries from Uncle's; Pears from Uncle's; Leeks from Snell
Grain - Delicata Squash & Cranberry Sourdough Bread from Rosemont Bakery
Special Treat - Brownies from Big Sky; Lemon Bars from Two Fat Cats

RECIPES

(from Shannon)

Holy Mackerel! - Whether you're thinking about a lemony fish or a garlicy dinner, the mackerel in the shares has you covered!

Fried Smelts - Dinner in 5 minutes!

Cheesesteaks! - Shaved beef means we have one thing on our minds, cheese steaks! Griddle them up and enjoy on a good roll. Delish!

Pork Chops with Parsnip and Apple Mash - May I introduce you to one of my FAVORITE dinners. Add some greens, and again, delish!

Scalloped Macomber Turnip - Recipe coming from our friends at Edible Boston! Did you know the Macomber turnip was developed in Westport, MA?!

Chicory Salad - Pan di Zucchero or "Sugar Loaf" is a sweeter chicory than radicchio and goes beautifully with this vinaigrette.

Maine Friends! These ones are for you!

Beet, Butternut, and Pear Salad - Swap the apple for the pears in your share and enjoy!

How-to with Collards - Five ways to cook up collards and enjoy!

Scallops with Leeks - A delicious dinner is awaiting you!

Posted on November 19, 2021

Erin Baumgartner

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