In this month's newsletter:

• A Word from the General Manager
• Simple Meals In-person Class
• Taste of Russian In-person Class
• March Owner Appreciation Days
• Round Up For Good: $500,000 milestone!
• Recipe Features
• New Products

Hello Cooperators,

Wow, what a crazy month! Freezing cold and icy weather caused us to close for a couple of days to make sure our staff stayed safe. After that, a break in Lincoln Square's original drainage line forced us to close for another day while work crews came out to fix it. We weathered the storm and were able to get reopened but then were hit with more bad news. 

Simple Meals

In-person Cooking Class

Rainbow Quinoa, Bacon Salad & Focaccia

Thursday, February 8th 6:00 - 7:30 pm

Join us for an in-person cooking class taught by Co-op instructor, Adam Wisnewski of Breakfast, Life, and Dinner! In our Simple Meals series, we'll be doing quick and easy dinners that help you keep your weeknights moving. This cooking class will cover how to make delicious and quick Rainbow Quinoa, Bacon Salad, and Homemade Focaccia Bread. You won't believe how quickly you can make a delicious loaf of bread, even for weeknight meals. A grain salad and some delicious bacon-dressed greens will round out this Simple Meal.

Taste of Russia

In-person Class Series

Taste of Russia - Summer Picnic at the Dasha

Tuesday, February 27th 6:00 - 8:30pm

Do a deep dive into Russian culture with instructor Paul Young as we sample a wide range of seasonal delights from a country with a fascinating history and even more fascinating cuisine.

Dashas are summer homes for city dwellers in Moscow or St. Petersburg. Because Russian summers are relatively short, many people spend most of the warmer months in the country growing their own vegetables and dining outdoors. Even though it's still winter here, we'll imagine that it's the summer solstice and prepare an evening picnic under the midnight sun with imported wines. Here are some dishes we'll be making on this festive evening:

• Caviar & Vodka Toast
• Carpathian Mushroom Soup
• Shuba (Layered Herring Salad)
• Olivier (Potato Salad)

Mark Your Calendars!

We reached an incredible feat with our Round Up For Good program this week! Thanks to our supportive Co-op community, we have raised more than $500,000.00 in Round Up For Good donations since we started the program in 2012! 100% of these donations have funded important neighborhood programs, food access projects, and environmental initiatives.

Thank you for all of your donations over the years. This is proof that small donations really add up.

A huge thank you to all of our Front of House staff, past and present, for helping us reach this total.

Game Day Appetizers

Loaded Kimchi Fries

Hot Bean Dip

Caprese Spaghetti Squash

We love squash at the Co-op, and this month we're featuring spaghetti squash! Spaghetti squash is super unique because of the way it shreds after it's cooked, giving you a finished product resembling spaghetti pasta. The taste and texture are quite different from that of spaghetti, but you can use it the same way as a low-carb conduit for all of your favorite sauces! This Caprese recipe is a perfect Valentine's Day meal, equal parts healthy and indulgent, and featuring the classic combination of tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil, and balsamic.

Co+op Basics: Tofu BLT

There's nothing better than a BLT, and we've put together a delicious vegan version! Swap the bacon for smoky tofu bacon, and replace the mayo with a protein-packed chickpea aioli, and you won't miss the real thing. This sandwich features Co+op Basics products and comes out to $4.00/sandwich!

Stop by the Co-op for all of your Valentine's Day shopping! We have amazing cards, chocolates, candles, personal care products, cupcakes, and so much more.