Blog

Welcome to our blog, where community and quality meet! Explore our best recipes, stay up to date on the latest grocery store happenings, peruse annual reports, and more. Whether you’re a culinary enthusiast or just love the local grocery store experience, our blog is your go-to source for all things fresh and flavorful. Follow along with us as we share the heart and soul of our grocery store community.

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Meet the Board – Tara Dolan

We’re Back with Meet the Board Spotlights! This month, we’re catching up with Tara Dolan (She/They), who has now been serving on the Friendly City Food Co-op Board of Directors for a year and three months. In that time, Tara has brought energy, heart, and a deep appreciation for community connection to their role. Her passion for local food, grassroots engagement, and supporting the Shenandoah Valley shines through in everything she does.

Cowboy Caviar

Looking for a healthy and delicious Game Day snack? This cowboy caviar is perfect to “kickoff” your watch party with zesty and crunchy goodness. We’ve put our own twist on it that’s sure to be a “touchdown” you and your guests will enjoy.

Vegan Raspberry Chocolate Trifle

Valentine’s Day is the time for decadent desserts, and everyone deserves to join in on the deliciousness. This vegan trifle recipe has all the indulgent, yet balanced flavors you’ve been craving. The tartness from the raspberries compliments the richness of the chocolate cake, all swathed in a blanket of smooth coconut pudding®. Serve it for your sweetheart or enjoy it all your own.

Homemade Fruit Bars

Is your New Year's resolution to eat more whole foods to fuel your body? Looking to recreate you or your kids’ favorite snack, without all the processed stuff and preservatives? Try your hand at making these fruit bars from scratch. They’re sweet and snackable, but full of fiber from the dates, whole wheat flour, and real fruit filling. Pack them in your lunch as your sweet treat, as a hiking snack, or however you choose to enjoy them.

Italian “Penicillin” Soup

Fend off the winter chill with this warm and nourishing soup. It’s brimming with all the feel-good flavors and it’s sure to help kick-start your immune system and nurse you back to normalcy during this cold-and-flu season. Enjoy it with chicken, or omit the chicken and substitute with vegetable broth to make it vegan. Either way, it’s comfort in a bowl.

Making the Perfect Charcuterie Board

Co-op News, Recipes

How to Build the Perfect Charcuterie Board for the Holidays! Holiday charcuterie (or marcuterie) boards can be festive, fun, and endlessly customizable, making them perfect for any holiday gathering. At first, picking cheeses, meats, crackers, and accompaniments can feel overwhelming, but don’t worry! By following a few simple guidelines, you can easily create a board that feels balanced, looks beautiful, and will please any guest.

Mont Blanc Tart

Delight your holiday guests with this festive “snow-capped” dessert. Named for the Mont Blanc mountain in Europe, this recipe is a more portable version of the traditional French treat. Enjoy with a cup of hot coffee or tea, or whatever counts as your holiday cup of cheer.

Chicken Liver Pâté

Searching for a unique appetizer to serve with Christmas dinner or at your New Year’s Eve party? Plate up this creamy and savory pâté and your guests are sure to be impressed. Enjoy it as a serve-yourself platter, part of a charcuterie board, or spread it on slices of fresh baguette and garnish as you please.

Turkey & Sweet Potato Chili

After the holidays, you might find yourself staring at a container of leftover turkey and wondering what to do with it. This cozy, flavorful chili is the perfect way to give those leftovers new life. With cooked turkey and sweet potatoes already on hand, it comes together quickly—perfect for an easy weeknight meal. (And if you don’t have leftovers, no worries—we’ve included an option for starting from scratch, too!)

Homemade Fruit Bars

Is your New Year's resolution to eat more whole foods to fuel your body? Looking to recreate you or your kids’ favorite snack, without all the processed stuff and preservatives? Try your hand at making these fruit bars from scratch. They’re sweet and snackable, but full of fiber from the dates, whole wheat flour, and real fruit filling. Pack them in your lunch as your sweet treat, as a hiking snack, or however you choose to enjoy them.

Italian “Penicillin” Soup

Fend off the winter chill with this warm and nourishing soup. It’s brimming with all the feel-good flavors and it’s sure to help kick-start your immune system and nurse you back to normalcy during this cold-and-flu season. Enjoy it with chicken, or omit the chicken and substitute with vegetable broth to make it vegan. Either way, it’s comfort in a bowl.

Making the Perfect Charcuterie Board

Co-op News, Recipes

How to Build the Perfect Charcuterie Board for the Holidays! Holiday charcuterie (or marcuterie) boards can be festive, fun, and endlessly customizable, making them perfect for any holiday gathering. At first, picking cheeses, meats, crackers, and accompaniments can feel overwhelming, but don’t worry! By following a few simple guidelines, you can easily create a board that feels balanced, looks beautiful, and will please any guest.

Mont Blanc Tart

Delight your holiday guests with this festive “snow-capped” dessert. Named for the Mont Blanc mountain in Europe, this recipe is a more portable version of the traditional French treat. Enjoy with a cup of hot coffee or tea, or whatever counts as your holiday cup of cheer.

Chicken Liver Pâté

Searching for a unique appetizer to serve with Christmas dinner or at your New Year’s Eve party? Plate up this creamy and savory pâté and your guests are sure to be impressed. Enjoy it as a serve-yourself platter, part of a charcuterie board, or spread it on slices of fresh baguette and garnish as you please.

Turkey & Sweet Potato Chili

After the holidays, you might find yourself staring at a container of leftover turkey and wondering what to do with it. This cozy, flavorful chili is the perfect way to give those leftovers new life. With cooked turkey and sweet potatoes already on hand, it comes together quickly—perfect for an easy weeknight meal. (And if you don’t have leftovers, no worries—we’ve included an option for starting from scratch, too!)

Apple Stack Cake

There are many regional variations of this wonderful recipe, but however you make it, Apple Stack Cake is a delicious showstopper at any table.

Salisbury Steaks with Mushroom Gravy

Break out of your dinner rut with this warm and comforting classic. Salisbury steak, smothered in savory mushroom gravy, is a wonderful and easy dinner for these ever-colder evenings. Enjoy it with your favorite mashed potatoes, rice, or even some home-baked bread.

Mocha Brownies

October is Co-op Month, and we’re celebrating with these delicious and decadent mocha brownies. Made with rich and full-bodied chocolate and coffee from worker co-op Equal Exchange, these brownies are perfect for crushing all your chocolatey cravings. The coffee perfectly compliments and elevates the deep flavor of the chocolate, with a creamy frosting to round it all out. Enjoy it for an afternoon treat, or as a late night snack by substituting with decaf.

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