Saturday, February 19, 2011

Local Business Receives Good Food Award!

Come One, Come All!
MONTANA COFFEE TRADERS HONORED
AS GOOD FOOD AWARDS WINNER AT INAUGURAL CEREMONY
Saturday, February 19th from 10:00-2:00
Berry Bliss will be there to celebrate along with Pam from purple Frog is doing a sauerkraut tasting, Justin is
premiering his new Beet relish, other local fodies will be there too! Please come and support our wonderful community!

Press Release:
San Francisco, CA (January 25, 2011) – Montana Coffee Traders today announced that its Organic Ethiopian Yrgacheffe Peaberry coffee has been selected as one of the Good Food Awards 71 winning products from across the nation—representing American craft food producers who excel in superior taste and sustainability. Over 160 coffee roasters submitted their best coffees that were cupped and judged by a panel of tasters from throughout the United States. Montana Coffee Traders was one of nine coffee roasters awarded a Good Food Awards Seal in front of a crowded house of over 450 attendees on January 14, 2011 at the historic San Francisco Ferry Building. Of the winning producers, 47 flew in from out of state, many with their farmers and partners, representing every major region of the United States—a true testament to a not-so-quiet artisan foods renaissance happening nationwide. The Good Food Awards Seal recognizes their contributions toward creating a more tasty, authentic, and responsible food system in urban and rural communities throughout the nation.
“By publicly celebrating the achievements of artisans across the country we are sharing the good news about food,” said Alice Waters. “The Good Food Awards are the County Fair of our times and, like those fairs that brought our communities together in a positive way, these new awards have the potential to strengthen our communities and rebuild our food culture.”
Honors were presented in seven food categories--coffee, chocolate, beer, charcuterie (meats), relishes, pickles, and cheese--by Alice Waters of Chez Panisse, a world-renowned restaurant in the Bay Area that has championed the awareness and development of the local food movement for 40 years.

On Saturday the winners had the opportunity to sell their products at the San Francisco Farmers Market at the Ferry Building. The market was packed with thousands of enthusiastic foodies. Coffee Traders served our sweet floral, chocolatey Eithiopian coffee brewed in Hario drip brewers to an appreciative audience.
Scott Brant, coffee buyer for Montana Coffee Traders, said the Good Food Award and the Marketplace was an “exhilarating opportunity to connect people with the wonderful coffee being produced by hard working farmers from around the world.  The sense of community, that we are familiar with in Montana, was in full force at the Marketplace. We are grateful to showcase our commitment to offering quality, sustainable coffee and Montana-sourced food products.”
The Good Food Awards go beyond tasty food by asking the winners to nominate three partners who contribute to their local food systems’ success stories.  Montana Coffee Traders is supported by a large community of committed local businesses and farmers. Our awards are given to Farm Hands, AERO, and the downtown Whitefish Farmers Market. Please stop by our downtown  Whitefish store on February 19 for our Celebrating Community event and  meet all of our partners and supporters and share in the bounty.
ABOUT MONTANA COFFEE TRADERS
Montana Coffee Traders has been roasting fine coffees in Whitefish, Montana for 30 years.  As the premier coffee roaster in Montana, they have played a pivotal role in bringing excellent sustainably grown coffees to every community in Montana.  Montana Coffee Traders strives to be part of your everyday life offering coffee enthusiasts the opportunity to connect to coffee farmers and their communities from around the world.  
ABOUT GOOD FOOD AWARDS 
The Good Food Awards celebrate the kind of food we all want to eat: tasty, authentic, and responsible. In its inaugural year, awards were given to winners in seven categories: beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, coffee, pickles, and preserves. The Good Food Awards Seal, found on winning products, assures consumers they have found something exceptionally delicious that also supports sustainability and social good. Find more information at: 

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

White Balsamic Pear Dressing

In ancient Greece, pears were used to treat nausea.
Today, pears can be useful in treating inflammation and lowering high blood pressure.
Pears are a good source of fiber and a good source of vitamin C.

White Balsamic-Pear Dressing
1/2 Pear -- seeds removed -- skin left on
1/2 cup white balsamic dressing
1/3 cup Hemp oil or Flax oil (or any oil that can go into the fridge without hardening)
1/4 cup organic apple juice
2 Tbs apple cider vinegar
1 tsp sole or a dash himalayan or celtic salt to taste

Blend together and enjoy on to of your favorite bed of greens! I like to add a dash of cayenne for some extra warmth.

Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons. Love yourself, trust your choices, and everything is possible. 
~Cherie-Carter Scotts

Have a beautiful day!
Love,
Michelle

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Spirulina Lime Ice Cream

Its so good for you!
Spirulina is an amazing superfood and a complete protein containing, that's between 55% and 70% protein! Wow! It is rich in all essential amino acids like gamma-liolenic acid (GLA) which is known to help treat inflammation and auto-immune diseases, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) a polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid that partially converts to DHA and EPA, linoleic acid (LA) is an unsaturated omega 6 fatty acid. The word "linoleic" comes from the Greek word linon (flax). Oleic means "of, relating to, or derived from oil or olive." Stearidonic acid (SDA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is involved in lowering inflammation and may help mental conditions and help depression and more importantly suicidal behavior, helps chemotherapy patients and reduces risk of developing certain types of cancer. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) helps with brian function and depression as well as inhibiting certain cancers, it has also been found to help brain function, learning, and memory in adults. Arachidonic acid (AA) helps muscle growth, brain function and is often used as a body building supplement.
They are called essential amino acids because these acids cannot be produced in our body and must be acquired through diet. These acids are needed for good health because the body requires them for various biological processes.
Its so good for you!

Spirulina Lime Ice Cream
Thai coconut (meat and water)
Irish Moss (soaked overnight)
Honey (local)
Lime
Spirulina
Dash of Vanilla

Freeze for a couple of hours and voila! Delicious ice cream! 
Top with raspberries, huckleberries or even some cacao nibs! Woot Woot!

We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Love you!
Michelle