March 19, 2012 – Noteworthy Items and Upcoming Events
March 19, 2012
(Compiled by Shannon Maris/Garden E-News, Jeff Westcott, and Arthur Tenebrae)
The Incredible Edible Eragrotis tef
By Arthur Tenebrae
If you’re a frequent visitor of the Bellingham Farmers’ Market, you may be familiar with the Ambo Ethiopian Cuisine booth. Perhaps you’ve ordered the chicken stew or the lentil vegetable combo piled onto a tangy, spongy crepe. That sour “crepe” in question is called injera, an Ethiopian flatbread where teff flour is soaked and fermented before frying. If this was your first taste of teff, then read on!
Teff (Eragrotis tef) is an edible lovegrass native to northwest Ethiopia. It was first cultivated 6,000 years ago along the Blue Nile River (Ettinger 30). Being no bigger than poppy seeds has earned its Amharic moniker “teffa,” meaning “lost” (Ettinger 31). The miniscule size of the grains also discourages the separation of the bran and germ from the endosperm during the milling process. Therefore, teff flour will always be whole grain. This gluten free grain provides high doses of iron, fiber, and lysine, and is a good source of protein, calcium, potassium, and some B vitamins like thiamine (“Teff” 528 – 529).
There are two different types of teff: ivory and brown. Brown teff has a mild malty taste and sepia tone that compliments dark rich flavors like chocolate, molasses, and maple syrup (as well as warm sweet spices like cinnamon and ginger). The ivory variety is off-white, slightly sweet, and less expensive. Both are available at the Community Food Co-op and Terra Organica.
Ivory teff flour is often mixed with whole spelt flour and whole kamut flour in many of my muffin recipes, like lemon poppy seed, chocolate chip banana, and cinnamon maple pecan. One relevant recipe I would like to present is for almond chai spice muffins. These wholesome vegan delights are seasoned with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, and fennel seed with light notes of lemon and vanilla, and the sumptuously savory crunch of roasted almonds.
Almond Chai Spice Muffins
Makes 12 muffins
* 1 cup whole spelt flour
* 1 cup ivory teff flour
* ½ cup whole kamut flour
* 1 ½ tsps. Ground cinnamon
* 1 tsp. ground cardamom
* ¾ tsp. ground ginger
* ½ tsp. ground fennel seed
* ¼ tsp. ground cloves
* 1 Tbsp. baking powder
* ½ tsp. baking soda
* 1 ½ cup plain soy milk
* ½ cup agave nectar
* ¼ cup plus 2 Tbsps. Fresh-squeezed lemon juice
* 1 Tbsp. dry roasted flaxseeds, ground
* 2 tsps. Lemon zest, peeled and minced
* 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
* 1 cup dry-roasted almonds, roughly chopped
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly oil the rims of the muffin tins and place a baking cup into each tin. Sift and whisk the flours, spices, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl. Add the chopped almonds and toss to coat. In another medium bowl, whisk the soymilk, agave nectar, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. Stir the ground flaxseed with 3 Tbsps. Of water in with the wet ingredients. Pour the wet mixture into the flour mixture. Gently stir until thoroughly moistened. Avoid over mixing to prevent a tough texture. Spoon the batter into each baking cup, filling each one nearly to the top. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Cool the muffins for 3 – 5 minutes before carefully removing them from their tins.
Sources:
Ettinger, John, and the Bob’s Red Mill Family. Bob’s Red Mill Baking Book. Philadelphia, PA: Running Press, 2006. Print.
“Teff.” The King Arthur Flour Baker’s Companion: The All-Purpose Baking Cookbook. Woodstock, VT: The Countryman Press, 2003. Print.
Cascade Community Wind Company Open House
Friday, March 23rd, 4:00pm – 6:00pm, 314 East Holly Street #202
Cascade Community Wind Company is having an open house reception to celebrate our new office space. Join us for refreshments and hear what’s happening with our first Whatcom County Project. RSVP: info@cascadecommunitywind.com or 360-306-5331
NOTE CORRECTED DATE!!!
The Master Gardener Foundation HANDS-ON Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop
NEXT Saturday, March 24th, 9:00am – 12:00pm
WCD Native Plant Sale & Expo
Saturday, March 24th, 9:00am – 2:00pm
Whatcom Community College
Celebrate spring by purchasing low cost native plants, seedlings, & shrubs at Whatcom
Conservation District’s (WCD) Annual Plant Sale & Expo!
Free Workshop from Cloud Mountain Farm: Sustainable Gardening
Saturday, March 24th 10:30am-12:00pm
Whatcom Community College
In this workshop, we will discuss ways to have a beautiful and productive food and/or ornamental garden while being sensitive to the environment.
Walk for Water, a World Water Day event
Sunday, March 25th, 11:00am: Walk starts at Fairhaven Village Green
12:00pm – 2pm – events at Depot Market Square
Food, water & music * Free water bottles & reusable bags * Learn about local food & water issues * Fun activities for kids & adults.
| REEL Food Film Fest |
| Five organizations involved in promoting local food will host the “Reel Food Film Fest,” an engaging film series on food and farming this winter and spring. The film fest is a free and tasty series of must-see films screening throughout Whatcom County to inspire, educated and nourish. The viewings will be followed by delicious treats and community discussions with farmers, cooks and community groups working on local food projects.
March Films: |
Grow Your Own – the Locavore’s Garden
Saturday, March 31st, 10:30-12:00pm
Cloud Mountain Farm & Nursery
Learn how to successfully grow a wide variety of produce
throughout the year, including how to get started, planning your plantings, managing your soil and fertility inputs, and timing for succession harvests. No registration required. Be prepared to be outside. Donations are welcome.
Everything Chocolate Festival
Saturday, March 31st, 1:00 – 4:00pm
Location: Bellingham Public Market, 1530 Cornwall Ave
Learn about and sample fine chocolate from around the world. Other foods containing chocolate, such as cookies, milk and food bars will also be featured. Exhibitors include Theo Chocolate, Raw Cha Cha, Twin Brook Creamery, Erin Baker Breakfast Cookies, Barlean’s Organic Oils, Fresh Breeze Dairy, Kallari Chocolate, Flora Health, and Nicobella Organics.
Interested in raising bees??
Here’s the March issue of the Mt. Baker Beekeeper’s Association newsletter, “Bee Bits Monthly.”
Employment Opportunity- OREGON
Northwoods Nursery / One Green World is seeking applicants for the following position. If you are interested, please forward your resume and cover letter to sales@northwoodsnursery.com.
Horticulturist/Grower- We are seeking an experienced and passionate professional to help maintain and evaluate our germplasm collection and assist in growing our nursery stock. This is a full time position and includes health insurance, education support, vacation and holiday pay.
Have friends in Whatcom County who want to save $$$ on their home energy bills? Get access great utility rebates? Upgrade their furnace or appliances? Weather seal & insulate? You could benefit, too! Read on…..
| Help the CEC reach our goals, get $20 The Community Energy Challenge has been a big hit in and around Bellingham, but participation rates among homes in the other cities of Whatcom County are lower. We know that our best source of advertising is word of mouth. So for a short period, we are offering an extra incentive to refer your friends and family to the program. New customers can sign up online HERE, or call: 360-676-6099. When they are asked how they heard about the program, they just need to give us your name (and contact information if we don’t have it). It’s as easy as that. |
Community Solar Projects program
Do you own, or work for, a business that could use a fat tax credit? And do you want to support the growth of solar energy? If so, we might be able to help you help the planet. And believe it or not, the government might help too. In 2009, Washington State created something called the “Community Solar Projects” program. A Community Solar Project is where a group of individuals, using private funds, erect a solar energy array on local government property; in other words, a school, a library, a pump station, a fire hall, or virtually any property, owned by a local government that is connected to the energy grid.
These projects are eligible for up to $1.08/kWh in state production incentives, a 30% federal tax credit, and various other incentives as well. The key is the participation of a business that has both the tax appetite to benefit from a tax credit, and the desire to support renewable energy. If your business would rather build a solar array than pay all your taxes, you need to understand this opportunity. Contact Tom Anderson of the Advanced Solar Energy for more details: 739-1968 or Tomxyza@comcast.net
Movement making art and design from trash gains momentum
One small local showcase of recycled art and functional design works has grown into one of the Northwest’s largest exhibitions – The RE Store’s 11th Annual Recycled Arts Show. The month kicks off with the “Litter Becomes Art” beach cleanup at Locust Beach on April 1st. Collected trash will become a temporary art installation on the beach before being properly recycled and disposed of.
“Litter Becomes Art” Beach Cleanup and Art Installation
Sunday, April 1st, 1:00pm-5:00 pm, Locust Beach, Bellingham, WA
A hands-on “Junk Sculpture” workshop, making art from cool junk provided by The RE Store
Tuesday, April 3rd – Sunday, April 29th, Tuesday – Sunday, noon–5pm
Whatcom Museum’s F.I.G. gallery at the Lightcatcher. Price included in Museum admission price, free for Museum members
“The Art of Recycling”
Through–Sunday, May 27th,Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher, 250 Flora Street. Price included in Museum admission price, free for Museum members.
