Category: Organic

  • RECAP: NEW PRODUCT WEDNESDAY 10/17/18

    RECAP: NEW PRODUCT WEDNESDAY 10/17/18

    Check out our NEW products this week!

    EcoVessel: The Metro, The Boulder, The Perk, & The Port

    EPIC Uncured Bacon Bits: Hickory Smoked

    Laird Superfoods Hydrate: Turmeric, Matcha, Original, and Beet & Creamer: Unsweetened

    Alaffia: Curl Maker, Pumpkin Spice Hand & Body Cream, Finishing Oil Mist, and Texturizing Spray

    Andes Gifts: Leg warmers, Scarves, Hats, & Gloves

    Blue Moose of Boulder Hummus: Lemon Turmeric

    Urban Cheesecraft Dairy Free Mix: Mozzarella & Chevre

    Poofy Organics: Shaving Gel, Bath Bombs, & Creamy Sugar Scrubs

    Pure Indian Foods: Organic Tamarind Paste & Curry in a Hurry

    Siggi’s Triple Cream Yogurt: Chocolate

     

  • It’s Non-GMO Month: Part 1

    It’s Non-GMO Month: Part 1

    October is Non-GMO Month! This event is North America’s largest non-GMO celebration. Every October, Basil Bandwagon collects donations in order to raise customer awareness and support Non-GMO Project Verified products.

    What is the Non-GMO Project you may ask?

    Well, the Non-GMO Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building and protecting a non-GMO food supply. They reach this mission through consumer education and outreach programs; marketing support provided to Non-GMO Project Verified brands; and training resources and merchandising materials that they provide to retailers. Around our Basil Bandwagon locations, you will find posters and butterflies that were supplied from the Non-GMO Project in order to spread more awareness.

    What is a GMO and why are people so cautious about not consuming them?

    Great question! A GMO is a genetically modified living organism whose DNA has been manipulated in a laboratory to create a crossbreed that does not occur naturally. Most GMOs are engineered to resist herbicides and/or produce an insecticide. Today, some technologies have been used to create new organisms and traits, for example, apples not browning.

    Research shows that there is a growing amount of evidence that links consumption of GMOs to health problems, environmental damage, and violation of farmers’ and consumers’ rights. Due to the substantial amount of research, more than 60 countries around the world require GMOs to be labeled. With the ample amount of research against GMOs, companies and consumers are choosing to opt out of swallowing GMOs in a fight to live a longer life.

    For more information about the Non-GMO Project and its efforts to decrease the amount of GMOs in the market, click here.

     

  • RECAP: NEW PRODUCT WEDNESDAY 9/19/18

    RECAP: NEW PRODUCT WEDNESDAY 9/19/18

    Check out our NEW products this week!

    Maddalena’s KETO Cheesecake

    Lake Champlain Halloween Chocolates

    Forager Project Coconut Cashewgurt

    Califia Farms Unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk

    Basil Bandwagon Elderberry Syrup & Ginger Rescue

    Aunt Patty’s Brown Rice Syrup

    Anita’s Plain Coconut Milk Yogurt Alternative

    Essential Baking Take & Bake French Baguette

  • Berry Lemonade Smoothie

    Berry Lemonade Smoothie

  • Stuffed Delicata Squash

    Stuffed Delicata Squash

    We love Delicata Squash because it’s SO easy to prepare. No peeling- just slice in half and scoop out the seeds. It cooks fast and tastes similar to sweet corn- so even people who aren’t squash fans will enjoy it!

    We choose to stuff it with savory mushrooms, Italian chicken sausage and top it with parmesan cheese.

    Stuffed Delicata Squash

    • 4 large delicata squash, ends cut off, sliced vertically and deseeded
    • 1 package of Bilinski’s Organic Mild Italian Chicken Sausage
    • ½ small onion, diced
    • 3/4 cup of  chopped Crimini Mushrooms
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • 4 stalks of celery, minced
    • 6 tbsp. of Organic Valley shredded Parmesan Cheese
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • your favorite fresh herbs to taste

     

    Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush the cut sides of the squash with oil and sprinkle with salt. Place face down on a large baking sheet. Bake until tender and browned on the edges, about 20 to 25 minutes.

    Meanwhile, in a large saute pan cook sausage on medium heat, breaking up the meat into small pieces as it cooks until the sausage is cooked through and is browned.

    We used a food processor to chop the sausage and mushrooms to get a uniform texture.

    Add the onion and celery; cook until celery is soft, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the mushrooms to the pan, more salt and pepper if needed and cook, stirring 5 minutes, then cook covered for 2 minutes, or until the mushrooms are soft and cooked through.

    Divide (1/2 cup) between the squash, top with parmesan cheese and bake 10 minutes.

  • Introducing: Fall Glory Smoothie

    Introducing: Fall Glory Smoothie

    We thought about Pumpkin Spice. We thought about Apple Pie. But what if we blended all the flavors of fall together into one nutrient-rich smoothie?

    That’s our Fall Glory Smoothie. Apple Cider, Maple Pumpkin Butter, Organic Pumpkin Puree, Rolled Oats, Vanilla Plant Protein and Coconut Milk combine in this comforting October smoothie.

    Welcome Fall!

  • 7 Reasons Why You Need to Eat Cherries This Season

    7 Reasons Why You Need to Eat Cherries This Season

     

    1. Cherries are a smart sweet. They score low on the glycemic index for a fruit, keeping us fuller longer and helping curb our appetites.

     

    1. Cherries will help you snooze. They are a natural source of melatonin, a compound found in our bodies that helps us regulate healthy sleep cycles.

     

    1. Our ancestors have been chomping on cherries for years (and years).  Archaeologists discovered fossilized cherry pits in prehistoric caves. The earliest mention of them was in the year 300 BC!

     

    1. Cherries come in many varieties. There are over 1000 varieties, including our personal favorite at Basil Bandwagon: Rainier Cherries!

     

    1. Cherries combat inflammation. All varieties: dark, sweet, Rainier, etc. all lower uric acid, which is a key contributor to the inflammation that can make us feel stiff, achy, puffy and sore.

     

    1. Cherries are rich in anthocynanins. Say what, now? Anthocynanins are a class of flavonoids found in many fruits that give them their vibrant colors. The health benefits of them can be far-reaching: boosting cognitive performance, supporting liver health, optimizing vision, and more!

     

    1. Cherries are fun! In fact, cherry pit spitting contests are no joke! The world record for spitting was made during the International Cherry Pit-Spitting Championship in Eau Claire, Michigan, in 2004: 93 feet, 6.5 inches!!!

     

    Sources:

    http://mentalfloss.com/article/82858/13-sweet-facts-about-cherries

    http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2007/12/sf_cherries/page-01  

    http://www.naturallivingideas.com/7-reasons-to-eat-more-anthocyanins-and-top-foods/

    http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/cherry-stone-spitting-greatest-distance

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry_pit_spitting

     

     

     

     

     

  • Meet May’s Featured Drink: Sunshine Smoothie

    Spring is in full swing and summer is on the horizon. Everyone is looking forward to warm evenings and days full of fun. What better way to celebrate this glorious anticipation than with something sunny and sweet?

    Meet our Sunshine Smoothie:

     

    We blended frosty chunks of mango with cool coconut milk, added tangy orange juice and a few creamy bananas to round it out. A scoop of turmeric adds not only a boost of inflammatory goodness, but it gives this smoothie its bright orange hue!

    Try one today!

     

  • A Lucky Shake for St. Patrick’s Day! (Hold the Polysorbate 80, Please!)

    A Lucky Shake for St. Patrick’s Day! (Hold the Polysorbate 80, Please!)

    It’s time for me to fess-up a bit here.

    I work in a health food store but haven’t always eaten healthy. When I was a kid, I used to look forward to seasonal holiday treats from fast food chains. My all-time favorite was when March would roll around. My mom would take my brother and I to our favorite fast food place for a St. Patrick’s Day-inspired shake we’d order off their seasonal menu. This was so cool because the shake was a lovely shade of bright green and tasted like sweet minty goodness.

    I carried this tradition into my teenage years with my friends and then into early adulthood. That is, until I woke up to how the food I was eating was effecting my health. Let me shed a little light on exactly what is in this green cup of “goodness”.  According to the nutritional facts for the shake listed on the company’s website, the shake includes the following ingredients:

    Phew… still with me? That is an awfully long list that leaves me with a few questions: Why is it called whipped “topping” and not whipped cream? And why does the cherry have a list of ingredients- isn’t it just a cherry? Also, do green sugar crystals grow out of the ground? Might I add that there isn’t actually any mint in this minty-tasting beverage?

    As if this wasn’t enough information to scare you away, check out the nutritional facts associated with a small and large shake:


    That’s why we created the Lucky Mint Chip Shake – available at both of our locations for a limited time. Our shake uses none of the above and is actually healthy and naturally energizing and detoxifying. Here’s OUR ingredients: At Basil Bandwagon, we think everyone should be able to enjoy a holiday treat without having to dowse themselves in artificial colorings, flavorings and 3 days-worth of sugar in one glass.

    Organic Banana

    Organic Spinach

    Spirulina

    Organic Mint Leaves/Extract

    Organic Coconut Milk

    Organic Cacao Nibs

     

    Come visit our café to enjoy this delicious shake today!

     

     

  • Winter Citrus & Beet Salad

    Winter Citrus & Beet Salad

    Fresh, Sweet Satsuma Mandarins pair with Beets and Goat Cheese for this refreshing salad. It’s easy to put together and packs well for lunch!

     

    We chose to use cooked beets from Love Beets. These little jewels make quick work of all kinds of recipes. Baby Romaine is soft and plays nice with all the bold flavors going on. We used our raw walnuts from our bulk section, and Raw Goat Feta from Mt. Sterling  Co-Op Creamery.

    No need to measure- it’s all up to your flavor preferences. Peel the mandarin, chop the beets, crumble the cheese and toss together. Top with the dressing of your choice- we like simple balsamic vinegar and oil.