November Newsletter

Message from the team at The OFPC 

Hi Everyone,
We hope you have had a great month and you are enjoying the warmer days...

We make a donation to WSPA for every box we sell and our donations to WSPA continue to increase.  We would like to say thank you for your continued support to us and therefore to this very worthy cause.  If you want to know more about where some of your money is going, please log onto www.wspa.org.au. 

Many of you have written in to us letting us know how much you are enjoying our new kids and baby food products.  Thank you so much for taking the time to do this - it is very much appreciated.  It is due to these comments that we know we continue to give you satisfaction and great service.  Likewise, if there is anything you feel does not live up to your expectations, please do not hesitate to let us know and we will do our best to rectify the situation for you. 

Finally, we would like to add that if there are any products in particular you would like us to source for you, please do let us know. It is fly season again!!!  We have been able to track down a completely chemical free insect repellent that works wonders!!  No more annoying flies or painful mosquito bites - the natural way! 

For more information and to order look under beauty products on our website

Happy shopping all

The Team at OFPC

Ange’s Corner
The sweet, succulent taste of juicy stone peaches are a quintessential summer indulgence!  So now that they are finally here, I thought I'd give you some information on those delicious stone fruits that we all just love.

A bit about Plums:
Plums continue to ripen even after harvest.  It is best to keep plums out at room temperature, out of direct sunlight.  Once they soften, they can be stored in the fridge.

A bit about Cherries: Skin colour varies and is not an indication on flavour.  Cherries are best stored in a plastic container lined with paper towel in the fridge.  Bring to room temperature and wash just before serving.  Because cherry season is so regrettably short, You can extend the cherry season by freezing them. Rinse and drain the cherries thoroughly, then spread them out in a single layer on a cookie sheet and freeze. Once frozen, transfer the cherries to a heavy plastic bag. They'll keep for up to 1 year. When freezing fruits, vegetables or any other food, it's a good idea to label and date the bag, that way you'll know what you have on hand and how long you've had it.

A bit about Apricots: Store out of the fridge, at room temperature and out of direct sunlight.  Eat as soon as the fruit is soft for maximum flavour. Apricots are best ripened at room temperature, in a single layer rather than piled up. If your apricots are not quite ripe, you can also store them in a paper bag at room temperature, away from heat or direct sunlight, for two to three days. When they are ripe, their flesh turns translucent and soft. Ripe apricots should be refrigerated and used as soon as possible. Their juiciness makes them prone to spoilage. They will likely only keep a day or two at the most. Don't wash apricots until you're ready to eat them. A bit about Peaches: Peaches that are rock hard will soften if kept at room temperature for a few days. Store them in a single layer with their stem end down to prevent bruising

For more great nutrition info on a whole range of fruits, check out our Fruit Nutrition Glossary on our website

Until next month, keep well and eat well…
Angela

What’s in season?
Plums
Peaches 
Strawberries
Apricots
Asparagus – Great to char-grill on barbeque
Mangoes
Nectarines
Cherries

Recipe of the month
Pumpkin, Spinach & Tomato Lasagne
Serves: 6
Preparation: 35 mins
Cooking: 1 hour 5 mins

Ingredients
1 tbs Olive Oil
1.25kg Butternut pumpkin, peeled and cut into small pieces
500g full cream ricotta
1 bunch English spinach, shredded
1 cup basil leaves, shredded
6 ripe egg tomatoes
Salt and black ground pepper
250g instant dried lasagne sheets
3 (approx 120g) bocconcini cheese, sliced

Method
Preheat oven to 200‘C.

Grease a 26cm x 16cm x 5cm deep baking dish with oil.

Wash pumpkin, place into a shallow microwave safe bowl, cover and cook on high for 15 minutes or until tender.  Mash pumpkin and set aside.

Wash spinach, place into a freezer bag and microwave on high for 1 ½ minutes Refresh under cold water and squeeze out excess moisture. Place ricotta, spinach, basil and 4 diced tomatoes into a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste and mix well

Spread ¼ cup pumpkin mash over base of baking dish. Cover with a layer of lasagna sheets and spread over ½ cup ricotta mixture. Top with lasagna sheets, remaining pumpkin mash, another layer of lasagna sheets, remaining ricotta mixture and finish with lasagna sheets. Brush with oil. Thinly slice remaining 2 tomatoes and arrange over lasagna. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove foil, arrange bocconcini slices over tomato. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until tender. Slice and serve.

Grocery and products department
We have added to our already wide variety of products!! 

In our beauty products, we have added much needed insect repellent. 

In our “Just for kids” section, we have carrot stix and noughts and crosses. 

For more information and for ordering, simply scroll down to these categories on our website at http://www.organicfood.com.au

Special Offer
Refer a Friend during November or December and receive a Great Free Gift

We are always keen to “spread the gospel” when it comes to organic food…if you have any friends or family members who you think would enjoy a regular supply of delicious, fresh, healthy organic products, we would love to hear from them.

And to thank you for passing on our name, we would like to give you a FREE organic shampoo and conditioner if they come on board and shop with us in 2006. Simply let us know and ask them to mention your name (either by e-mail or in the “special instructions” when they shop on the web) and your free goodies will come with your next order.

Our organic beauty products are all natural and certified organic, so enjoy the peace of mind of washing your hair with no dangerous chemicals! It’s great stuff… Any queries on this offer, please don't hesitate to call us on 9967-9967 and thank you so much in advance for helping our family business.

We'd love to hear from you if you have any comments or questions. Just e-mail us at info@organicfood.com.au or call us on 02 9967-9967
The Organic Food & Produce Company Proud supporters of WSPA ‘The World Society for the Protection of Animals’