Newsletter
November 2007
Hi everyone!
Well, the pace seems to be ramping up for us, as we round the corner on our first holiday season and try to figure out how much to make, and of what. We anticipate that the next couple months will be exciting and busy and fun for our bakery gang, but honestly, we have nothing but our best guess to guide us through this first year, so I'm officially recommending that you call ahead and pre-order anything you think you will be very sad to go without for a holiday gathering or getaway. Not only will this earmark what you order so that it's still there for you when you come in to pick it up, but also it will help us anticipate how much to make. We really appreciate your support!
So, that brings me to...
Thanksgiving is just around the corner! (who saw that coming, with this September weather we've been having?!) A food frenzy of a holiday if ever there was one (how quintessentially American of us!). As with so many food traditions ingrained in our culture, this holiday can present painful reminders and feelings of exclusion for those of us eating gluten-free. Cooqi wants you to forget all that. We have so many things that will help make this Thanksgiving a memorable start of a new tradition, that of a fabulous and fully participatory seat at the table!
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For starters, there is stuffing!! Who doesn't miss that? Even if you have learned to 'make do' with rice stuffing, or mashed potatoes, or whatever, let's face it, you'd really like just a little bit of the old stuff, right? Let us help! We are offering pre-dried and cubed gluten-free bread made from our own Ellie, Honey Molasses, and Baguette breads (don't worry-no nuts or seeds). We've included two different recipes for stuffing with each bag, and each portion is sufficient to serve 2-3 people traditional stuffing if you have just a few GF folks at your table. If you are interested in a less traditional stuffing, made with wild rice and cranberries, the recipe is sufficient to actually stuff a turkey-and I guarantee, everyone will love it, GF or not! Even if you don't need our bread cubes, the recipes are posted on our website: Recipes
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Speaking of Thanksgiving recipes, we have more! Unfortunately, making our way through our first year of business, we haven't gotten to do absolutely everything we have dreamed of. We will, we will, give us a little time. But what this means (this week, anyway) is that we are not able to offer pie crust or pumpkin pie, as so many of you have requested. We do have a next-best option, for those of you willing to take a stab at baking: I have a recipe for pie crust that is really easy and delicious. Especially for the bottom crust of a one-crust pie. Trust me, give it a try, it's not even as hard as a 'regular' wheat flour pie crust. I recommend you use our Cooqi GF baking mix for optimal freshness and quality (though I'm sure pretty much any GF flour mix will do in a pinch). You mix the whole thing in your mixer and then chill it and roll it out. You can do it! Let me know how it goes. Note: if you're planning a two-crust pie, such as apple, you'll need to double the recipe.
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Please note that Cooqi will be closed on Thursday, November 22nd (Thanksgiving Day). We will be open on Wednesday, the 21st , as well as the rest of that week, our regular hours. (Wednesday 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m., and Saturday 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) Please remember to shop on Saturday if you will be leaving town and can't make it to the shop on Wednesday!
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Make Cooqi a part of your busiest shopping day of the year! (that's Friday, November 23rd, the day after Thanksgiving, for those of you who've been in Siberia for a while). Come on by for a break, a treat, and oh, heck, mention you read this and we'll treat you to a free cookie with any purchase! (limit one per customer) It's all good!
And let me not forget to announce that our gift cards and gift baskets are officially available. Either or both make great thank-you gifts for your Thanksgiving hosts. A gift basket would be just the ticket for an out-of town relative or friend who can't make it in to shop at the store. You can order baskets by calling the bakery, or go to our website for the online order form Gift Baskets. Please note that we do require advance ordering for the baskets (though a gift card can be purchased on the spot if you're in a jam). **We will, however, have a limited number of baskets available on a first-come-first-served basis from now until Thanksgiving.**
Coop distribution update: we are working with Mississippi Market and Lakewinds to make our nummy GF things available in these fine stores. We are really excited to get this rolling, and we're exploring options available. Certainly we will be sure to let you know as plans become solidified. Currently, the Mississippi Market on Randolph is carrying some bread and pizza crust. Meantime, feel free to let your local coop know that you are interested in having them carry Cooqi items. Thanks!
And finally, mark your calendars for the week of December 12th to 15th (well, the Cooqi week, that is), when Cooqi will be celebrating our first birthday!! Yes, it has been nearly a whole year (or, depending on your perspective, not even a year) since we opened our doors to offer the Twin Cities gluten-free community the finest in healthful whole-grain, organic, fresh, local, and yummy baked delicacies. It's been an amazing year, and we are celebrating! And we want you to join in the celebration (now and always). We'll have some special fun and promotions available that week, so plan to be there! We'll let you know more details in the next newsletter.
We wish everyone a bountiful and joyful Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for all that this crazy, wonderful Cooqi year has brought, and for all of you who have helped bring our mission to life. It is very humbling, this business of starting a business. I truly thank you for appreciating our offerings, and making the dream real.
Love and Peace,
Judy
Other Newsletters:
June 2008 Newsletter
May 2008 Newsletter
March 2008 Newsletter
February 2008 Newsletter
July 2007 Newsletter
August 2007 Newsletter
October 2007 Newsletter
November 2007 Newsletter
December 2007 Newsletter
