Gather Round the Table for a Holiday Dinner from the Wedge

Co-ops are all about good food and strong values. What better match for the holidays?

What better year than this to celebrate co-ops and the holidays in tandem? This year, create a holiday dinner that reflects your appreciation of organic, local, sustainable food and the cooperative movement.

We have everything you need for your holiday feasts:

The season's bounty. A lovely array of fall vegetables and fruits boasts color and nutrition: pumpkin, winter squash, leeks, apples, red and green cabbages, pears, kohlrabi, assorted greens like collards, kale, and mustard greens, mushrooms, parsnips, potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, Jerusalem artichokes, carrots, celeriac, cranberries and raspberries.

Grains. Explore the bulk section at the Wedge for mainstay grains as well as a new ingredient or two. This year try wild rice, quinoa, or millet as a side or a dressing ingredient. Or feature grain in a casserole, especially if you'll be feeding vegetarians.

Beverages. Mull fresh local cider, and make eggnog and Fair Trade cocoa, teas and coffee.

Meats. Turkey is traditional, but that's no reason not to serve another favorite meat if you prefer. Choose organic, free-range, and local when possible. Organic meats are free of GMOs, hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides, and irradiation.

Vegetarian Main Dishes. Prepare or purchase nut loaves, grain casseroles, polenta, or try a substitute, like Tofurkey.

Cheeses. A selection of artisan cheeses makes for a wonderful appetizer or dessert. Serve them with whole grain crackers or breads, sliced fruits and nuts.

Baked goods. Nothing is better for giving your table enticing homemade appeal than freshly baked breads. Gather ingredients to craft your own, or turn to the Wedge Bakehouse aisle.

Desserts. For some, making homemade dessert is a fun part of hosting the holiday dinner, while for others, making dessert adds stress. If you're crafting your own cakes, cookies, pies, or fruit dishes, you'll find luscious, wholesome ingredients—maple syrup and honey, nuts and flours, fruits and seasonings—at the Wedge. If you want a perfect pie or cake or cookies without any fuss, shop the deli bakery. You may order ahead to be certain you get just what you want.

Co-op labels. Here are a couple of co-op brands that you'll want to include at your holiday table:

• Organic Valley is a cooperative of 1,296 farm families. Dedicated to quality, organic products and protection of the family farm, it provides virtually any dairy product you'll use for your holiday meals, including organic milk, cheese, butter, eggs, juice, soymilk and cream, cottage cheese, and sour cream.
• Frontier Natural Products Co-op provides quality organic spices, flavorings, and Fair Trade tea. Frontier is owned by its customers and has been a leader in organic agriculture and social responsibility since its inception in 1976.
• Equal Exchange worker co-operative imports Fair Trade tea, coffee and chocolate and also works domestically with small producers of nut and fruit snacks.

A few more fun ideas for holiday dining:

Set an eco-friendly table. Use cloth napkins and nature-inspired settings. Bring home mini-gourds and pumpkins for your centerpiece. Simply arrange them on a collection of colorful leaves. Or hollow them out and insert candles, or write names on them and use them as place markers. You can even use them as small vases at each place setting.

Don't overdo. Focus on healthful, quality, beautiful food rather than on quantity. If you do have leftovers, make sure they don't go to waste. Make a soup of leftover veggies, add leftover meat to your pasta and grain casseroles, fajitas or salads.

Plan for a wide variety of preferences. Serve a variety of side dishes, and non-alcoholic beverages alongside any alcoholic drinks. If you bake your dressing in a pan rather than in the turkey, vegetarians can eat it if it's made without meat products like chicken broth.

Make a holiday food basket for someone who is unable to join you for dinner. Include fresh fruits, cheese, nuts, and a small serving of each dish.