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Boy Scouts Prepare for 28th Annual Food Drive, Ask Community to Give Generously

Scouts Will Deliver Door Hangers for RI Community Food Bank Donations on October 31

Food will be collected on November 7, Beginning at 9 a.m.

Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America

Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America is preparing for its annual “Scouting for Food Good Turn” drive for the 28th consecutive year. On October 31st, thousands of Scouts from across the state will be distributing door hangers to neighbors’ homes seeking donations of nutritional, non-perishable canned goods. Donation pick-ups will take place the following Saturday, November 7 starting at 9 a.m., and will be delivered to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

More than 200 troops will participate in the drive, collecting canned goods from homes throughout Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and Connecticut.

“As members of the community, we want to ensure that all of our neighbors have access to nutritional food,” said Joe DeStefano, Volunteer Coordinator for the annual Scouting for Food drive since it began in 1987. “Scouting for food does just that while teaching Scouts the importance of helping those in need.”

Each month, 60,000 Rhode Islanders seek food assistance through the Food Bank’s network of emergency food programs. 14.4% of Rhode Island households are food insecure, and 4.6% of Rhode Island households experience severe hunger. 150,000 Rhode Islanders are living in poverty.

Over the years, the Scouts have collected more than 8.5 million pounds of food for the Food Bank.

“We are thrilled to have the support of the Boy Scouts for the 28th year,” said RI Community Food Bank CEO Andrew Schiff. “We rely on these dedicated young people to help stock our shelves just in time for winter, providing food for the 60,000 Rhode Islanders we serve each month.”

For more than 25 years, the Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America’s commitment to this cause has inspired community members to get involved.

“As we look forward to another successful drive, we ask the community to give generously,” said John Mosby, Narragansett Council, Scout Executive/CEO. “This year, we hope to reach record numbers.”

Scouting for Food, the largest food drive in New England, is a cooperative effort supported by the Narragansett Council of the Boy Scouts of America, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, WPRI-12 News, Fox Providence, the Rhode Island National Guard, The Valley Breeze and area fire stations.

Following the USDA’s guidelines for healthy eating, donors are encouraged to fill their bags with the Food Bank’s most needed items:

Canned Soup, Tuna, Canned Meats, Peanut Butter, Nuts
Canned Fruits & Vegetables, Dried Fruit, Tomato Sauce
Nutritious Breakfast Cereals, Whole Wheat Pasta, Rice
Granola Bars and other healthy snacks
Canned or Dried Beans

If the Boy Scouts are not able to cover your neighborhood, please visit your local food pantry or the RI Community Food Bank located at 200 Niantic Ave., Providence.

Easy Entertaining Inc Releases 2015 Thanksgiving Catering Menu!

Easy Entertaining Thanksgiving, Photo Credit: David Dadekian, Eat Drink RI

It’s time to start planning your Thanksgiving menu and what better way to enjoy this year’s harvest than with a Thanksgiving feast that’s been sourced directly from farms in your very own backyard? Easy Entertaining Inc, Rhode Island’s premier farm-to-fork Cafe and Catering Collaborative, has released their 2015 Thanksgiving catering menu to make this year’s holiday spread more about time spent with family and friends and less about the stress of planning and preparing a meal.

This homegrown catering company has produced a locally sourced Thanksgiving meal for their clientele for the past 7 years, each year growing more successful and mouthwatering than the last. A gourmet and sustainable Thanksgiving is easily attainable with the help of Easy Entertaining’s catering services whether it’s for the entire meal, just a few sides, or even simply a ready to roast turkey sourced from Baffoni’s Poultry Farm in Johnston.

“New England is one of the most bountiful places to live [and eat] this time of year. Our Fall season produces exuberant amounts of hand picked fare so why not enjoy a Thanksgiving that’s been sourced and produced from your neck of the woods?” says Kaitlyn Roberts, Proprietor and Executive Chef of Easy Entertaining.

Easy Entertaining Inc has taken pride in sourcing more than 70% of its products from within a 250 mile radius year round for the last nine years. Their mantra enforces their focus on fresh, seasonal, and gourmet cuisine. A Thanksgiving from Easy Entertaining Inc is lavish with locally raised vegetables, breads and pastries baked in-house, humanely raised poultry, and so much more to provide a true taste of Rhode Island. Effortlessly enjoy a locavore’s feast this year and stock your table with items such as their Signature Stuffing made with day old house made breads, caramelized onions, dried cranberries, maple syrup, and all natural sausage, or a Southern Sweet Potato Casserole featuring whipped Schartner Farm’s sweet potatoes with a touch of orange, nutmeg, cinnamon, and brown sugar. If you’re the family that craves something sweet after your feast the pastry department will be baking away creating Cranberry Apple Pies, Chocolate Cranberry Tarts, and more to satiate your sweet tooth.

Clients have raved over Easy Entertaining’s Thanksgiving menu for years stating, “Easy Entertaining makes Thanksgiving very easy and affordable to contribute delicious farm-to-table food to a Thanksgiving celebration for families of every size.” (Teri P., RI).

Easy, delicious, and affordable are just a handful of the reasons clients return to Easy Entertaining year after year to cater or supplement their Thanksgiving feast. “The Thanksgiving Dinner I ordered from Easy Entertaining made my holiday much more enjoyable! The turkey was fresh from the farm and the best I’ve had. The vegetables and homemade gravy were amazing. My family loved it! Everything was fresh and delicious and the best part was I didn’t have to shop for anything or spend hours preparing.” states Caroline Corrente, a repeat client of Easy Entertaining’s Cafe and Catering services.

For this year’s Thanksgiving Menu head to Easy Entertaining’s website at www.EasyEntertainingRI.com. For more information on Easy Entertaining Inc and Thanksgiving please contact Nik Delfino at (401) 437-6090 or e-mail him at nik@EasyEntertainingRI.com.

Backdoor Bread, a whole grain project presented by Seven Stars Bakery

Seven Stars Bakery co-owner and baker, Jim Williams, will be offering an exclusive and rotating selection of organic whole grain breads for sale during the Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market beginning on Saturday, November 7. He will be opening the backdoor of the production bakery at the Hope Artiste Village, where he will be selling a variety of all whole grain breads that he makes himself from start to finish. Jim is part of a whole grain movement happening in the U.S., sourcing and supporting farmers who are growing long forgotten grains again. Grains will include: Emmer, Spelt, Redeemer, Red Fife, Kamut, Einkorn and anything else that becomes available that sounds interesting. These whole grains are being grown for flavor, rather than yield alone.

In January 2015, Seven Stars Bakery purchased a stone mill from Austria and is now milling all of the whole grains used at the bakery, over 200 pounds per day. It has brought the craft of baking to a new level for the bakers at Seven Stars. An added bonus is that many people who have not eaten white bread in years are enjoying these whole grain breads as part of their diet.

Come see Jim and support this inspiring new project on Saturdays at the Hope Artiste Village, 1005 Main Street, Pawtucket, 9am-1pm, starting on November 7, 2015.

Follow Backdoor Bread on Instagram : https://instagram.com/backdoorbread/

Please direct any questions to Jim Williams jim@sevenstarsbakery.com

Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market Celebrates November Opening

New England’s Largest Winter Farmers Market Announces 2015-2016 Season

Saturday November 7th celebrates the opening of 9th season of Farm Fresh Rhode Island’s Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market. The market, which is the largest wintertime farmers market in New England, hosts over 70 vendors and occupies 16,000 square feet throughout the Hope Artiste Village. The market is open every Saturday from 9AM to 1PM beginning November 7th through May 14th, 2016.

“Farm Fresh opened a winter market in 2007 with seven vendors in Downtown Providence at AS220,” said Farm Fresh Co-Executive Director Sheri Griffin. “Since then, increased support of farmers and local food in Rhode Island has resulted in more demand for local produce year-round.” Farmers that participate in the Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market have been able to meet this demand through incremental expansion of their businesses and by utilizing growing and storage techniques for cold-weather climates.

The Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market expanded in 2013 to host more farmers, food artisans and prepared food vendors in both of the spacious main corridors and courtyard of the former Hope Webbing Company The market has since thrived in both hallways allowing a more comfortable customer experience while still offering high-quality, locally-grown and sourced products in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere.

As you stroll through the historic halls of the Hope Artiste Village each Saturday this winter, you can enjoy a diverse medley of local farms and vendors, listen to live music, sample fresh produce and enjoy lunch on the spot from prepared food vendors or some of Rhode Island’s favorite food trucks in the central courtyard of the building.

Wintertime market-goers can expect a variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables including: apples, beets, cabbage, carrots, onions, cranberries, mushrooms, greens, potatoes, radishes, winter squash, and more. Vendors will also be offering: locally-raised eggs, pork, chicken, beef, fish, charcuterie and shellfish; locally-produced applesauce, tomato sauce, jams, jellies and pickles; as well as prepared cheese, granola, bread, cupcakes, crepes, pies & baked treats and dog biscuits.

The Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market is now easier to get to than ever before. The Rhode Island Public Transportation Authority’s (RIPTA) new R-Line bus route drops shoppers off right at the front door of the farmers market. For information on the R-Line’s stops and schedules, visit www.ripta.com/11-1. For customers driving or biking to the market, it is located at both 999 and 1005 Main Street in Pawtucket. Parking lots are located around the perimeter of the building as well as street parking in the surrounding neighborhood. Bike racks are located in the central courtyard.

turkeys Whether you cook a big Thanksgiving dinner yourself or purchase a complete meal, there are several options for locally raised and produced dinners. This isn’t a comprehensive list of everyone in the area doing turkeys and Thanksgiving meals, but a select group for truly local eats. Here’s to a southern New England Thanksgiving! Raise a glass of local wine or local beer.

Turkeys

If you’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner, locally farm-raised turkeys are definitely the way to go. They’re more flavorful with better skin than mass-produced turkeys and, since they’re available fresh they’re usually much more moist than frozen birds. Broad-breasted whites, your typical meat turkey, are well raised on pasture with no hormones or other chemicals. The turkeys I’ve had from local turkey farms have been so juicy that I don’t brine them, something I had been doing to grocery store turkeys for years.

There are several farms in the area raising pastured turkeys so please look around your home. I mention these two farms because I’ve had their turkeys. The first is Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm near my home in Sterling, Connecticut (the farm is about 4 miles over the R.I. border). They’re well into their reservation period right now, but because they raise so many still have turkeys available, though I would advise calling now to get the size you’d like. We regularly buy Ekonk Hill turkeys and they’re some of the best birds I’ve ever cooked.

The other turkey I recommend is from the farm I work with, Blackbird Farm. I cooked last year’s turkey from Blackbird Farm on my charcoal grill and everyone raved about it. Unfortunately, our turkeys are already all reserved at the farm stand, but I’m happy to pass along the inside scoop that Persimmon Provisions, a marvelous butcher shop in Barrington, has purchased 30 of the birds to sell at the store. I have no idea what their reservations are like, so I would recommend calling.

Catering

So you want to have a big family dinner at home but aren’t able to cook? You’re going to want to look into one of these options:

Easy Entertaining, Inc. is offering a number of complete dinner packages or a la carte choices. From their order form, “Easy Entertaining Inc. prides itself on sourcing over 70% of products from a 250 mile radius, year-round. Serving a Thanksgiving package from Easy Entertaining Inc. is serving locally raised vegetables from Schartner Farms, Confreda Farms, Cooks Valley, Barden Family Orchards and many more. Feasting with Easy Entertaining is roasting a humanely raised, hormone and antibiotic free, grain fed, happy bird from Baffoni Poultry Farms. Thanksgiving with Easy Entertaining is serving a homemade cranberry-apple sauce, with cranberries grown in bogs less than 30 miles away.” Easy Entertaining’s form with directions can be found here. The deadline for ordering is November 17.

Tastings Wine Bar & Bistro‘s Chef Ben Lacy is putting together a Thanksgiving dinner to be picked up, based around an organically raised farm fresh turkey from Misty Knoll Farms, which you can also purchase uncooked if you want to prepare the bird but not the rest of the meal. Tastings is offering several soups, salads, pies, rolls and 11 different side dishes. Their deadline is November 18 and the order form can be found here.

Tallulah on Thames in Newport is offering a “Farm to Table” Thanksgiving to Go for the second year in a row. The meal includes a heritage breed turkey from Brambly Farms along with many sides made from locally farmed produce. More information can be found on their “To Go” page. The deadline is November 19 and the order form can be found here.

Ripe Hospitality is offering a Thanksgiving meal that not only feeds your family but also gives back to feed others as well. “Ripe Hospitality is donating a portion of all of the proceeds from Thanksgiving meals to several Rhode Island and Boston based non-profits including the Rhode Island Food Bank, the Genesis Center, and Kids Can Cook! As always, we’ve created a menu using organic, all natural products that come from the finest farms, local producers, and specialty suppliers New England has to offer!” Ripe Hospitality’s deadline is November 19, though they recommend reserving sooner if you’re interested in the unique in-home preparation option. Their menu and contact information can be found here.

organic

News Bites: 2015 Scouting for Food Drive / Easy Entertaining Inc. 2015 Thanksgiving / Backdoor Bread by Seven Stars Bakery / Pawtucket Wintertime Farmers Market