Late July Organic Snacks

So Long Decade. Get Out Your Crystal Ball and Tell us What's in Store Over the Next 10 Years!

We're trading $5 worth of coupons for your predications.  I was reading on the Huffington Post today about things that became obsolete over the past decade: dial-up internet, calling, fax machines, newspaper classified ads, cds, catalogs, yellow pages, encyclopedias, and handwritten letters.

The post got me thinking about the next ten years and what life will be like in 2020.  I could think of a lot of things I'd like to see disappear over the next 10 years like toxic chemicals in our food supply, but I really want to hear from you! 

To get the $5 worth of coupons, all you have to do is tell us one thing you think or hope will be obsolete by 2020 in a comment on our blog or our facebook page, then email offers@latejuly.com an address you'd like us to mail the coupons to.   Everyone who enters will get coupons, but our favorite entry will also win our popular Late July Gift Pack worth over $50!

Check back in December of 2019 and we'll see who was right...

Cookies for Santa!

  Watching Unwrapped the other night I was surprised to learn that Oreos are the most popular cookies left out for Santa!  So the boys and I, along with some of our facebook fans, were thinking maybe Santa would like something organic this year.  

Hope everyone is having a holiday season filled with peace, love and joy!  See you in 2010!

Organic Vanilla - Food for thought while you bake this holiday season.

I wait all year for the first weekend in December to make my first batch of holiday cookies.  Now my youngest son, and sometimes my oldest will bake with me.  Everyone's favorite part is always adding the vanilla extract.  I've always been obsessed with vanilla and it seems I've passed it on because the vanilla is the only part the boys will fight over.  This obsession meant I had to get the vanilla for our Vanilla Bean with Green Tea cookies just right. 

Vanilla, grown from a beautiful orchid, is one of the most complex flavors in the world containing over 150 aromatic components.  It also has to be hand pollinated and the pods must be hand harvested which accounts for the high cost. Every pod is examined daily to determine when it's ready to harvest because they ripen individually.  Each vanilla region has a distinct flavor and after sampling all the vanillas, I concluded that Madagascar was my favorite for its rich, less smokey flavor.  My testing also reaffirmed my love for the seeds which we ultimately included in Late July's blend. 

In the end, I found a supplier even more passionate about vanilla than I am, Lemur International.  Not only did their vanilla have the best flavor, but their commitment to sustainability and giving back to the growers at the farming cooperative in Madagascar was impressive.

I consider it a great honor to make food for other people, whether it's holiday cookies with my sons or on a larger scale through Late July and the ingredients that go into both are what make the end result special.  Every ingredient has a story and I'm always willing to share ours.  If you're ever curious about any of our other ingredients just email us.  Happy baking!  

My Top 10 Eco Gifts of the Year

Happy Holidays everyone.  I wanted to share some of the best eco-friendly holiday gifts I've seen this year. Hint, hint to my family & friends... 

10.

Organic Wine Club Membership from Medlock Ames Winery.  The recipient will get 4 shipments of either 2 or 6 bottles of pre-release wines and special access to their beautiful "by appointment only" winery that has been called "an extraordinary example of environmental sustainability".  I am a member and look forward to every shipment!

9.

 
Give someone an original movie poster from Posterati.  I know movie posters aren't traditionally associated with eco, but this gift is the ultimate in reuse!  There are so many to choose from, you can pick their favorite movie or one that will remind them of a favorite memory. 

8.

 
Late July's mixed cookie pack or cookie cracker sampler!  Make sure your favorite college student is well fed!  Email us at info@latejuly.com about a snack of the month club.

7.

 

Snuggleherd's adorable upcycled tshirt stuffed animals make great presents!  Each comes with a cute story and you can also get a matching romper.

6.

 

Handmade recipe journal.  Help someone create a lasting family keepsake.  I have one that holds all my special family recipes and my kids get so excited every time I get it off the shelf.  Pictured is one from Bittybook's and this one I found at Uncommon Goods is handmade and uses recycled paper.  You could also make your own from recycled materials.  This gift will be in their family for generations. 

5.

 
 
Seedling Pot maker and spider web frame!  Create little pots for seedlings with old newspapers. Combine this gift with organic sunflower seeds and this garden spider web frame and even my seven year old would think it was cool!

4.

 
Give your favorite family cookie recipe, an itunes holiday playlist and these wonderful mixing bowls from Preserve made from 100% post consumer #5 plastic.

3.

For the little chef.  My 3 year old loves to cook pretend food.  Last year he got a wooden play kitchen.  This year I'm getting him this set from Green Toys to go with it!  It's made from 100% recycled milk jugs and contains no lead paint or BPA.

2.

 

Home canning gift.  A canning set and book make the perfect gift for the organic gardener.  Weck Home Canning Company makes glass jars with glass lids so they don't contain BPA like standard metal lids. Weck has an order form on their website.

1.

 
Looking for a sentimental gift that will last a lifetime?  Then a seasoned cast iron skillet is the perfect gift!  My husband gave me one this summer and I was skeptical (and a little scared) at first that it would really be as non-stick as you hear.  I imagined myself having to spend hours cleaning every time I used it, but the one he gave me came seasoned and after just a few uses it has become one of my favorite pans!  It's so nice to be able to use a non-stick pan again without worrying about cancer causing materials.  I can't wait to see my skillet 50 years from now!  Now I just need a second so I can pass them down to my sons!   
 

WIN a signed copy of Dr. Jane Goodall's New Book!

I've tried to raise my sons to have a strong bond with animals and nature and to treat all living things with respect.  This is one of the reasons we were so excited to work with Dr. Jane Goodall and decided to donate profits from our new mini cookies to her institute.  Late July worked with Dr. Goodall to choose seven animals for our new cookies out of the many wonderful stories of hope in her new book. Through this experience we learned that the efforts of just one person can sometimes be enough to save an entire species. After much deliberation we selected the red wolf, leatherback sea turtle, chimpanzee, Sumatran rhino, giant panda, pygmy rabbit and the black footed ferret - all of which have been brought back from the brink of extinction through the efforts of dedicated individuals like Dr. Goodall. 

 

We have always believed that giving back needs to be a central part of Late July and doing this project with the Jane Goodall Institute has allowed us to support a long time personal hero of mine.  We are currently looking for other individuals like Dr. Goodall with charitable organizations to work with for our next new products and would love to hear your suggestions! 

For a chance to win a signed copy of Hope For The Animals, email us at offers@latejuly.com or post a comment on our facebook page describing a person or an organization you think we should consider and why.  Please put "Late July should support" in the subject line or comment. One entry will win the book, but all entries will receive Late July coupons (be sure to include your mailing address in the email). Deadline is October 31st.

"These delightful cookies are delicious, and they're making a difference!  Each day, with every choice you make, you can make a difference too-even when you're at the local market. These cookies will not only educate parents and children about endangered species, but they'll help the Institute continue its critical work." -Dr. Jane Goodall

Back to School 2009!

It's official, my family was on time every day for the 1st week of school.  I'd like to think it was my careful planning that made it possible, but I think it was more likely the fact that both sons were so excited they were waiting by the door 15 minutes early each day!  On the lunch box front, I thought I'd share their top lunch box favorites from week one.  Please tell us your success stories too, as a busy mom I could use the help.  I usually start to run out of creative ideas by week 3!    Share your ideas in a comment at latejuly.com or on our facebook page.  Our favorite will get a free Late July lunch bag filled with snacks and a coupon for a box of free mini cookies! 

1.  Homemade banana muffins - I baked a batch on Sunday and packed them as their snack Mon & Tues.

2.  Late July Mini Sandwich Cookies - Milk Chocolate Variety.  These are my youngest son's favorite!

3.  Oatmeal Bread Italians - Rudy's Organic Oatmeal Bread, Applegate Organic Ham, Organic Valley Cheese, Cascadian Farms Pickles, Bionatura Olive Oil, Spectrum Red Wine Vinegar & a dash of Simply Organic Garlic Salt.  For my preschooler (not my 1st grader!) I used a cookie cutter to make a car shape.   

4.  Either an Organic Valley String Cheese or Stonyfield Yogurt Tube each day.  Tip from our friends at Stonyfield: freeze the yogurt tube overnight and let it thaw in the lunchbox! 

5.  Late July Rich Crackers, Mini Apple Slices and Organic Sunbutter in a little container.

6.  Cucumber Sushi Rolls - The cucumbers were from our garden!  I made these for dinner the night before. 

Hope everyone's school year is off to a great start!

Help Late July Support Cancer Research As We Walk In Memory of My Dad

My father was one of the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk's original sponsors and throughout his long history with The Jimmy Fund was always a supporter of this annual event.  The walk is one of Dana Farber's major fundraisers and takes place this year on Sunday, Sept. 13th.

In his memory, Late July has become a sponsor donating snacks for all the rest stops and my mother, 7 year-old son and I will be joining the thousands of walkers.  Help us by visiting our team page, starting your own team or offering support along the route. 

The Jimmy Fund held a special place in my father's heart ever since he toured Dana Farber back in the 1980s.  He was especially moved by their work finding cures for once incurable childhood cancers.  We decided to use this year's walk to recognize how important this charity was to him when he was alive and to celebrate the positive contributions that came out of his involvement all these years.   I'm sure it will be an emotional day, but I am grateful for the opportunity to carry on my father's commitment to this very important cause.

 

Late July is Finally Here - Celebrate with over $5 of Late July coupons!

It's our favorite time of year and we want to celebrate by giving you over $5 of Late July coupons!  All you have to do is tell us why you love this time of year on our facebook page or in a comment on this post and then email info@latejuly.com with your address and "Late July is Finally Here!" in the subject line.  Our favorite entry will also get a free case of new Mini Cookies and an organic Late July beach bag.  Happy late July, everyone!

Late July Coupons!

 

Our friends at Stonyfield Farms are helping promote the new movie Food, Inc. Visit their site to see the Food, Inc. trailer and get some great coupons for Stonyfield, Late July and other organic products! Thanks, Stonyfield!

School's Out, Time to Change the World!

 

With the last day of school fast approaching (Stephen, pictured above is already wearing his "school's out" t-shirt), it's time to start thinking (panicking) about things to do with the kids.  Along with camp, plenty of beach days and down time with friends, I wanted to tell everyone about another interesting outlet for all that free time.

Through our partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute on our new mini endangered animal cookies I've learned a lot about her great kid's program called Roots & Shoots.  Roots & Shoots groups give kids (and their parents) a way to get involved in their own communities on issues that interest them like animals, clean playgrounds or the environment.  Summertime is the perfect time to join a Roots & Shoots group in your area or start your own with friends.  I love this quote from Dr. Jane Goodall describing the idea behind Roots & Shoots,

"Roots creep underground everywhere and make a firm foundation.  Shoots seem very weak, but to reach the light they can break open brick walls.  Imagine that the brick walls are all the problems we have inflicted on our planet.  Hundreds of thousands of roots & shoots, hundreds of thousands of young people around the world, can break through these walls.  We can change the world."