ROLLED-OAT GRANOLA RECIPE
With ingredients from Altan Alma Organics
SERVE IT WITH BANANAS AND STRAWBERRIES
Mix it up with your favorite dried fruit from our wall
5 cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
1 cup chopped Almonds
1 cup chopped Walnuts
1 cup chopped Pecans
1 cup Sesame Seeds
1 cup wheat germ (not sold at Altan Alma)
2 cups Shredded Coconut
1 cup Unsalted Sunflower Kernals
1 cup Canola Oil
1 1/2 cups Clarks Wildflower Honey
1 cup Manuka Raisins
1 cup dried Cranberries
Directions
1.Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2.In a large bowl, stir together the oats, almonds, walnuts, pecans, sesame seeds, wheat germ, coconut and sunflower kernels. In a small pan over medium heat, stir together the oil and honey. Cook and stir until blended. You could also do this in a large measuring cup in the microwave, heating for about 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Pour over the oat mixture, and stir to coat evenly. Spread out in an even layer on two cookie sheets.
3.Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until the oats and nuts are toasted. Immediately after it comes out of the oven, stir in the raisins and dried cranberries. Let stand until cooled, and stir again to break up any large clusters. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks, but I guarantee it won't be around that long!

Gluten Free Banana Bread Recipe

I got this recipe from http://www.bookofyum.com/blog/gluten-free-dairy-free-banana-bread-recipe-4022.html and tried it at home with Altan Alma Products. It was to die for! I served it to people and they had no idea it was gluten or dairy free. It's light and moist and delicious!

2 cups White Rice Flour or your favorite simple gluten-free flour blend
1 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
... 1/4 tsp. Fine Sea Salt
1/2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
1/4 tsp. Ground Nutmeg
2 Eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups mashed, ripe Bananas (about 5)
1 cup Vanilla Infused Sugar (leave vanilla bean in sugar overnight and then remove bean)
1/2 cup Canola Oil

Directions
Preheat oven to 350F. Spray medium bread pan with nonstick cooking spray or grease with margarine and reserve. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and then make a well in the center. Add eggs, banana, sugar, and oil to the center and combine them before folding into the rest of the dry ingredients. Pour or spoon batter into your bread pan. Bake for an hour or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for a few minutes before removing from pan, and then cool on a wire rack until you can’t stand it any longer (ideally until bread is entirely cool, but hey, I’m only human.) Slice a piece and enjoy!

SHALLOT ONION BRUSCHETTA

With ingredients from Altan Alma

5 Organic Tomatoes, chopped

1 tablespoon minced Organic Garlic

2 tablespoons Fresh N' Natural Organics minced Shallots

1 cup chopped Fresh Basil Leaves

1 teaspoon Fresh Lemon Juice

Fine Sea Salt to taste

freshly ground Black Pepper to taste

1/3 cup Napa Valley Natural Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil

3 cloves Garlic, cut into slivers

1/4 cup Napa Valley Natural Organic Extra Virgin olive oil

1 loaf Rudis Organic Sourdough Bread, cut into 1/2 inch slices

1. Combine in a large bowl: tomatoes, minced garlic, shallots, basil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and 1/3 cup olive oil.
2. Put in small saucepan over medium heat: slivered garlic and 1/4 cup olive oil . Slowly cook while stirring 2 to 3 minutes. Discard garlic.
3. Toast bread slices, and brush with the olive oil heated with garlic. Top slices with the tomato mixture.

FINALLY WE GOT MILK

Dairy Fresh Milk is back and here to stay, come in and get some today!

THIS JUST IN: Fresh fruits and veggies

THIS JUST IN!

Strawberries!

Colorado Purple Kale

Avocados

Red Bell Peppers

Grapes

Other Assorted Greens

Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe!

Altan Alma Recipe of the day
Chocolate Chip Cookies with ingredients from our store - YUM!

1 cup Horizon Butter, softened

1 cup Raw White Sugar

1 cup packed Brown Bugar

2 Eggs

2 teaspoons Simply Organic Vanilla Extract

3 cups Whole Wheat Flour

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

2 teaspoons Hot Water

1/2 teaspoon Salt

2 cups Semisweet Chocolate Chips

1 cup Chopped Walnuts

Serve it up with some milk or organic coffee!

FOOD AS MEDICINE/THE SCIENCE OF FOOD

Today's entry begins a regular column for the Altan Alma blog, and todays article is the first in a series which will examine the varied and numerous phytochemicals or phytonutrients found in our every day food. Phyto is another word for plant and a single food item we may consume contains as many as 217 of these plant nutrients. This information marks the newest research into food nutrition. We know how to get the vitamins and minerals in our diet which lead to abundant health, and now we are learning more and more about the fascinating world of beneficial chemicals in fruits and vegetables. In this research it has been discovered that in eating a colorful diet we receive the bounty of what nature has to offer us. It is the pigments themselves in our plant food which offer an amazing amount of protection and vitality for the body. And, the fruits and vegetables that we eat also use these chemicals to nourish and protect themselves while they are growing. Plants use their phytonutrients in a very similar way that our bodies do!

The way all this works is in a simple and visible code. It's all about the rainbow of color in the fruit and vegetables on our dinner table. We can learn which plants offer the most protection and health. Eating can become a more engaging and interesting affair when we understand what these gifts in our produce are about.

The pigments in our food fall into two main categories: the carotenoids and the anthocyanins. The carotenoids include the yellow, orange and red end of the color spectrum. Corn, carrots, yams, tomatoes, red bell peppers, and leafy green vegetables all contain carotenoids. The chlorophyll in greens masks the yellow of the carotenoids, which are just below the surface. The second group of plants contain anthocyanins. These plants are deep blue, purple, magenta and crimson. You will find a hefty dose of anthocyanins in blueberries, blackberries, elderberries, plums, grapes, cherries, purple cabbage, beets and eggplant.

The family of carotenoids are most specifically beneficial to the eyes, skin and lungs. Carotenoids are oil soluble, so, it is best to include some type of oil with them to absorb their goodness. The carotenoids are antioxidant, but, not to the extent of the anthocyanin group. The blue and purple end of the color palate is much richer in antioxidant activity as well as being very anticancer. Heart health is also a contribution of the anthocyanin group through a substance known as resveratrol.

In next week's column, I will continue this discussion, going into more detail with specific plant foods. If you would like to do some research on your own, you can refer to the book "The Color Code A Revolutionary Eating Plan for Optimum Health." It is written by James A. Joseph, Daniel A. Nadeau and Anne Underwood. I have used this book as my resource. My personal experience is 30 years of committed exploration and use of natural foods and specifically adding fresh vegetables and fruit as a major part of my diet. I hope you enjoy the column!
Claire Meadows, Altan Alma employee

RECIPE CONTESTS

Have a great organic recipe you want to share with the world?
Do you like discounts on groceries?
For a short time, we will have weekly recipe contests on this blog. If you want to participate, send your recipe to Altanalma@gmail.com. We will post the recipes on this blog and people can vote for the one they like best. Recipes must have some ingredients you can purchase at Altan Alma Organics. If you want to vote, please post a comment on the blog to let us know which you are voting for. I will post the results each Saturday. The winner each week will recieve 20% off their next purchase. Happy Cookin!
-Sara

A message from the Owner: growing your own microgreens

Check out this video, where Karim Amirfathi, Altan Alma's Owner, will teach you how to grow your own microgreens!

SPECIALS THIS WEEK

Our SPECIALS THIS WEEK:

Champagne grapes from our farm in Boulder - 10% off
Bagged grapes from California - 10% off
Bhakti Chai - 10% off
1/2 gallons of Noble Organic Orange Juice and Orange Tangerine Juice - 10% off
Organic Valley Half-and-Half - 10% off
Eggs - $.50 off the dozen

THIS JUST IN: Brocolli, Beets, Kale, Nectarines, and Grapes

AN INTRODUCTION

HI! And welcome to Altan Alma Louisville's Blog. Here is where employees share great information and thoughts about the food we proudly sell. Here you can find interesting insights and stories, information about medicinal uses of plants, how to grow microgreens, advice on planting, and much much more. We will also feature our weekly specials and what is fresh.

Let me introduce myself.
My name is Sara Ford. I just began working with Altan Alma about a month ago. In the last year, I have been increasingly eager to learn more about organic food and how to grow my own. The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know about how food affects our bodies and our lives. It has been an incredible month of learning for me and I hope to share my thoughts, insights and new knowledge with you as I learn.

For example:
We sell a grain called "Canahua." I had never heard of it and when a customer asked me for information on it, I looked it up out of curiousity. It turns out it's a grain, usually grown in the Andes. It does not have gluten and it can be used for all kinds of baking. It bakes similarly to Quinoa, and has a high amount of protein. Great news for vegetarians and people with Celiac or gluten-intolerance.

See? You learn something new everyday...or at least I have been. Come and see us. We carry everyday organic groceries like milk, cheese, bread, meat, and butter as well some more hard-to-find products like Canahua. If you are looking for organic cleaning products or dog food, we sell those too!