Health Benefits of Asparagus

Asparagus is in season and is full of health benefits.  We picked some up for our Easter celebration, there is something so Spring-y about it.  I love the bright green and it's fun to eat something in the form of spears. It's an old crop, enjoyed by Romans, Greeks and Egyptians over 2000 years ago. 

Amongst the virtues of asparagus are its nutritional content and ability to reduce inflammation.  Asparagus is good for the digestive tract, and helps stabilize blood sugar.  It's high in B vitamins and is rich in antioxidants like vitamin C, selenium, and beta carotene.  

I like to flash saute my asparagus with a little garlic and top with hemp seeds.  It's great on pasta or just plain by itself.  Be sure to use asparagus within 48 hours of purchase, as it has a high "respiration rate" and will perish faster than some other vegetables. 

Image Credit: Esteban Cavrico

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Sunchokes

I tried a new food today, sunchokes.  Also known as Jerusalem Artichokes, they are not from Jerusalem but a native of North America.  Apparently, a French explorer brought some back to Europe and gave them to his Italian friend who gave them the name girasole articicco, which means "sunflower artichoke." Americans misunderstood that for Jeruselum Artichoke, and the name stuck.  Sunchokes are related to sunflowers and contain potassium, vitamin C,  B6, riboflavin, phosphorus, and iron.

They are curious looking, like the children of ginger and potatoes with a little galangal thrown in,  and they taste like a cross between potatoes and artichoke hearts.  I cut them into chunks, put them in a skillet with a little salt, pepper and coconut oil and roasted them for almost an hour and they turned out pretty good.  I'm not rushing out the door to buy more, but they are quite enjoyable and it's always fun to try a new vegetable.  I'm looking forward to trying them again roasted with garlic and other root veggies.

image credit: FootoosVanRobin

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Green Gift Guide: Organic Produce Delivery Service Subscription

This would be my ideal gift to receive. And also my ideal gift to give to people like my older relatives who don't always get out and about for healthy organic fruit and veggies--a subscription to an organic produce delivery service or CSA.

In the summer I like to shop the Farmers' Market. But during winter, I love having fresh-from-the-farm organic food delivered to my door. I've gotten in the habit of taking the produce out of the box, putting it in my reusable produce bags and just like that--all set for the week! What a great way to support local organic farms and your loved ones' health.

It's also a super easy last minute gift you can take care of in your pajamas with a phone call. Perfect!

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Farmers' Market Find: GROUND CHERRIES

Have you ever heard of ground cherries? I get so excited when I discover a new food and these are completely unique and spectacular. They look like little tomatillos--in fact, that's what I thought they were. But the farmer told me they're ground cherries and handed me one to taste. I examined it--they're cool looking, wrapped in that little protective paper like shell--and popped it in my mouth. WOW.

They are totally different from anything I've ever had. Fruity, sweet, exotic with a tomato texture, slight sweet cherry tomato taste with a little pineapple maybe, vanilla, and berry. Truly multi-dimensional. You have to taste them.

So of course I want to know more and went looking online for info. Apparently, they've been around forever, are native to Central and South America, grow all over the US and are quite prolific. The botanical name is physalis, and they are related to the night shade family.

They contain B vitamins and vitamin C and A, iron and pectin. They are said to reduce fever, and support digestion. You can put them in pies or tarts, jellies, muffins, salads, or just eat them right out of the carton--my personal preference, savoring all that flavor.

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Market Day

Need a little push getting out the door to the Farmers' Market on a Saturday morning? Just have a look at this book. Gorgeous photo after photo abound so you better make sure you're not hungry when you do. Organized by season, Fresh From The Farmers' Market, by Janet Fletcher, gives you tips on how to select, store and prepare produce you find at the market. There are about 75 recipes, most of which are vegetarian and vegan.

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FARMERS' MARKET FRESH

Wednesdays and Saturdays are Farmer's Market days for us, and it's the highlight of my summers. Almost all the produce at our markets is Organic, the Farmers are cheerful and happy, the mood is light, it's a wonderful experience every time. I feel so lucky to be able to have a lovely time at the market, then go home and make a big salad or pasta dish with veggies that were picked that morning.

It's a great feeling to build a relationship with the people who grow your food, I love supporting our Farmers. When you go to the Farmer's Market, you get tomatoes that taste like tomatoes. Your food is bursting with color and vitamins, it hasn't been sitting on a truck in some sort of climate control, it's way more eco friendly and you're insuring that the farmers can continue to grow because they know they'll be supported. It's also a great way to connect with and support your community and grow your local economy. It's a win-win for everyone.

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Peas Please!

Sweet snap peas make a perfect summer snack. My kid loves them (I've finally convinced him to eat the whole thing, not just the sweet peas inside) and so do I. We keep a little bag of these in the backpack for a quick snack on the go, we put them in salads and enjoy them sautéed with other veggies and tofu. I look forward to these every year. Rich in B vitamins, iron, vitamin C, K and folic acid, peas are great for heart health, bone health, and energy levels. You start seeing them in the Spring and then they fade away toward mid summer. Choose firm bright green organic peas, preferably from your local farmer's market. Snatch them up if you see them, because they won't be around much longer.

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