Menu Planning for February 2014

Plan for February:

Plan Ahead for March:

February is a short month filled with a few busy Sundays and one three day weekend. In the middle of winter for most parts of the nation, it’s fun to think about celebrating the inevitable return of Spring. Two of the month’s holidays are great for this theme: Groundhog day (if he doesn’t see his shadow it’s an early spring); and President’s Day weekend are usually linked with spring themes. And then there’s Valentine’s Day when lovers chose to renew their passion – but that’s addressed on page two. Mardi Gras is the Tuesday preceding President’s Day this year – perhaps a ‘President Mardigras’ celebration is in the making in your kitchen.

Starting the month’s celebrations is Groundhog Day on February 2nd and the Super Bowl on February 3rd. Super Bowl gatherings are renowned for simple but delicious foods: guacamole, chips and other finger foods. Prepare your menu ahead of time so you can root for your favorite team without having to worry about your guests! How can you change up the menu to be creative and not get stuck with avocadoes….? If you’re making guacamole for the big game, be sure to buy your avocados ahead of time so they can ripen in time for the Superbowl gathering. Think about adding fingerlimes to this year’s guacamole…

Mid-month, Mardi Gras foods are a wonderful part of the culture and no Mardi Gras celebration is complete without a King Cake, also known as Twelfth Night Cake. This cake is actually sweetened yeast bread baked in a ring shape. The cake is frosted with gold, green, and purple icing. Although this cake is colorful and tasty, the real fun hides within the cake as the baker of each King Cake has hidden a special token inside. The tokens are a dried red bean or a figurine of a baby, representing the Christ child. When the cake is cut and shared, the finder of the hidden treasure is said to enjoy good luck for the coming year. The lucky recipient may also be expected to bake the King Cake or throw the Mardi Gras party for the following year.

St. Valentine’s Day has it’s own array of special foods and aphrodisiacs, you choose your favorite:

Asparagus: three courses of asparagus were served to 19th century bridegrooms because of the reputed aphrodisiac powers of the vegetable.

Banana: Lauded not only for the fruit’s shape, but also for its creamy, lush texture; some studies show its enzyme bromelain enhances male performance.

Caviar: is high in zinc, which stimulates the formation of testosterone, maintaining male functionality.

Champagne: viewed as the “drink of love,” moderate quantities lower inhibitions and cause a warm glow in the body.

Chocolate: contains a sedative which relaxes and lowers inhibitions and a stimulant to increase activity and the desire for physical contact. It was actually banned from some monasteries centuries ago.

Figs: seasonal crops were celebrated by ancient Greeks in a frenzied copulation ritual.

Ginseng: increases desire for physical contact.

Oysters: Some oysters repeatedly change their sex from male to female and back, giving rise to claims that the oyster lets one experience both the masculine and feminine sides of love.

Radish: considered a divine aphrodisiac by Egyptian pharoahs, most likely because its spicy taste stimulated the palate.

Truffles: probably due to their rarity and musky aroma, long considered to arouse the palate and the body. To sustain his masculinity, an ancient lover in lore was said to have gorged himself to death on Alba truffles during his wedding feast.

Coosemans Shipping can also provide fresh edible flowers, orchids, microgreens and garnishes for Valentine’s Day.  Coosemans Shipping will source fresh truffles with a sufficient pre-order required.  Traditional citrus for Chinese New Year is in season and available.  

Remember that the items in BOLD will prove to usually be better values as they are in their peak harvest or storage period.