Warm Fuzzies.
In case you hadn't noticed, the Holiday season is upon us with all the subtlety of a bulldozer on a quiet night. There are a thousand frantic voices "cheerfully" clamoring for your attention and you haven't even finished your Thanksgiving leftovers yet.
At Family Dinner, we don't want to wave shiny objects in front of your face or, God help us, make you listen to the Chipmunks Christmas song (I'd like to have a few words with the sadist who wrote that). Instead we just want to say thank you. And at Family Dinner, we say "thank you" by nose-diving into a quick lesson micro economic theory.
In between the roar of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday was nuzzled, patiently waving its "Buy Local" flag. And from what I can see on Instagram, which is iron-clad evidence, so many of you took up the call.
Buying local is important, not just because it gives you the warm fuzzies (which is for sure does, almost as much as biting into a cookie from A&J King, or snuggling a baby sloth), but because it bolsters the local economy in enduring ways.
Hold please, while I pass the mic to Shannon for more details:
"One bonus of purchasing local is in strengthening the economic resilience of that community. Through the local multiplier effect, a mathematical formula, one can trace the length of time money stays in an economy. When you spend $100 at a local business vs a large corporate entity, $45 of the $100 stays in the local economy as opposed to the $15 that stays from the large corporations, which is usually in the form of low wage hourly employment. With 3 times the amount of money being re-invested in the economy and if it is repeatedly spent at local businesses for say 5 times, that original $100 turns into $180.31 invested in the local economy, if it keeps being reinvested over and over again it can bolster the economy even further."
Shannon even made you an infographic, below, to visualize this theory. Is there anything that woman can't do?!
Your dollars have power.
When you support a company like Family Dinner, we in turn are supporting our huge network of local farmers; growers, makers and producers. Your dollars stretch from that network, to paying our staff a respectful wage, and to the growing network of local charities and non-profits that we contribute to.* To date we have been able to put over $1.8M back into the local economy. The half life of your dollars is long and enduring - they become like that zombie in the horror movie that just won't die.
So, at the mention of zombies, I think it's time to wrap this thing up. Thank you for supporting Local Business and for buying local all year long.
With Gratitude,
The Family Dinner Team
*An additional HUGE thanks to all who donated to the Elevate Youth Thanksgiving initiative. We were able to raise over $1500 and provide beautiful bounties of produce for 130 local families to enjoy with their chickens from Tad at Feather Brook Farms!
WHAT'S IN THE BAG?
Note: If you order a "Meat and Fish Share" you will just receive the meats listed, not the "dairy" items (eggs, yogurt etc). If you order a "Fish and Seafood Share" you will receive the fish listed, and not the dairy items.
Add-on Grain of the Week - Farro from Maine Grains
Add-on Bread of the Week - Focaccia from Forge
Add-on Pastry of the Week - Sticky Buns from A&J King
HALF SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Haddock from Red's Best; Ricotta from Mozzarella House;
Pescatarian Protein - Haddock from Red's Best; Ricotta from Mozzarella House
Vegetarian Proteins - Menemen from Littleburg; Ricotta from Mozzarella House
Paleo Proteins - Haddock from Red's Best; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms;
Fruits and Veggies - Greens from LEF and Generation Greens; Spinach from Queen's Greens; Tomatoes from Long Wind Farm; Apples from Carlson Orchard
Grain - Bread from A&J King
Special Treat - Cookies from A&J King Bakery
WHOLE SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Steak and Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Ricotta from Mozzarella House; Haddock from Red's Best
Pescatarian Protein - Haddock, Salmon from Red's Best; Ricotta from Mozzarella House; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms;
Vegetarian Proteins - Menemen from Littleburg; Ricotta from Mozzarella House; Empanadas from Buenas; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms
Paleo Proteins - Steak and Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Haddock from Red's Best
Fruits and Veggies - Greens from LEF and Generation Greens; Spinach from Queen's Greens; Tomatoes from Long Wind Farm; Apples from Carlson Orchard; Leeks from Brookford Farm; Watermelon Radish and from Clark Farm
Grain - Bread from A&J King
Special Treat - Cookies and Scone from A&J King Bakery
DOUBLE SHARE
Omnivore Protein - Steak and Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Ricotta from Mozzarella House; Haddock from Red's Best; Sausage from Brookford Farm; Butter
Pescatarian Protein - Haddock, Salmon, Bonita from Red's Best; Ricotta from Mozzarella House; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Butter
Vegetarian Proteins - Menemen from Littleburg; Ricotta from Mozzarella House; Empanadas from Buenas; Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Ravioli from Deano's Pasta; Butter
Paleo Proteins - Steak and Eggs from Feather Brook Farms; Haddock from Red's Best; Sausage from Brookford Farm
Fruits and Veggies - Greens from LEF and Generation Greens; Spinach from Queen's Greens; Tomatoes from Long Wind Farm; Apples from Carlson Orchard; Leeks from Brookford Farm; Watermelon Radish and Acorn Squash from Clark Farm; Tatsoi from Pete's Greens
Grain - Bread from A&J King; Pasta from Valicenti
Special Treat - Cookies and Scone from A&J King Bakery
RECIPES
Haddock with Spinach - Whats not to love? Spinach, butter, a little cheese on fish, yum!
Watermelon Radish Chips: I am now convinced my goal this winter is to make chips or fries with every root veg and rank my top favorites (so far they are all my favorites). Who's with me?
Baked Acorn Squash: Another great recipe to throw your leftovers or quickly ripening veg into!
Warm Farro Salad: A great make ahead meal.
Spinach + Ricotta everything!!! - Check whats in your pantry, freezer - make it with pasta, pie, dips, sauces, sides, you name it theres a recipe for those two incredible beauties to go together!