Health Benefits of BROCCOLI

Broccoli is my favorite vegetable, and one of my favorite foods. I can't go more than a couple days without it actually. Steamed with Earth Balance, lemon and salt & pepper is my favorite way to enjoy broccoli, that, and in red curries. I like to eat the florets and juice the stalks. Broccoli is Queen of our fridge (black Kale is King). It's a member of the cabbage family, originated in Italy, and the name derives from it's Italian name, broccolo, meaning cabbage sprout.

If broccoli was junk food I would still eat it. Luckily, it's considered a superfood because it's loaded with good stuff. Folate, Vitamin C, potassium and cancer preventing phytonutrients. It's great for detoxifying cells, helps repair sundamaged skin, promotes cardiovascular health, eye health and boosts the immune system. Broccoli sprouts are even more beneficial than the vegetable.

Though it's available year round, broccoli is in season from October through April. Right now the broccoli I've been getting is delicious. Look for firm, dark green organic bunches.

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I Am Grateful

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I couldn't resist this apt title. I AM GRATEFUL: Recipes and Lifestyle of Cafe Gratitude is a collection of recipes (and philosophy) from San Fransisco's raw foods restaurant, Cafe Gratitude.

Author Terces Engelhart takes you through her journey to a healthier lifestyle and ultimately into the world of raw foods and opening her own restaurant with her partner Matthew. She is very open about her struggles with disordered eating, and it's inspiring to hear about her transformation.

The recipes require the basic equipment; food processor blender, and dehydrator, and the only food I'm not familiar with is Irish Moss, which is a seaweed used for thickening and texture. I'm not put off by unusual ingredients at all, but it might be hard to find for some. There are color photos throughout the book and positive affirmations are the titles of each recipe, such as I Am Energetic, I Am Grateful, etc.

I'm particularly excited to try the flat bread and cracker recipes, and the Strawberry Shortcake looks amazing--as soon as strawberries are in season again, I'm all over it. There is also a pumpkin pie recipe that might find its way into my Thanksgiving feast. I love the inclusion of juice pulp on many of the recipes--what a great way to minimize waste while maximizing nutrition.

I think this would make a refreshing hostess gift if you are going to someone's house for the Thanksgiving.

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Jonathan's Wild Cherry Wood Lazy Spoon

Here's a twist on the traditional wooden spoon. Jonathan Wild Cherry Spoons are hand crafted of eco friendly FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified cherry wood and are completely non toxic. They have a little notch to rest the spoon on the side of your pot, keeping drips off the stovetop. The spoon is velvety smooth and lends itself beautifully to the wood's natural grain.

The spoons evolved from a happy accident one day at work when Jonathan forgot his lunch utensils and carved a spoon on the spot. One thing led to another, and today Rachel Ray uses his spoons on her show. With cooking season upon us, maybe you'd like to treat yourself or someone you love to one of these hand made spoons. You can find them HERE.

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Laughing Giraffe Yummy Raw Granola for the Holidays

Laughing Giraffe is a small family run business with a mission to provide healthy food that is "nutrient dense and minimally processed." Their snacks are raw, vegan, organic, and gluten free. I love their concept to scale down food production and create a more mom and pop vibe in a world of mass production and corporations.

They have a variety of options on their website, but my pick (and the only one I've tried so far) is the Cranberry Orange Cacao Granola for the holidays. Put a bowl of this out for your guests and you have a healthy gluten free vegan option. I kept this in my backpack for over a week and both myself and my four year old had high quality fuel on the go. As for the taste--it's great! I love the flavor combination and would never guess it's raw--I did a double take with the package after my first bite.

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Why make your Holiday meals Vegan? Author Jonathan Safran Foer discusses veganism on the Ellen show.

Why go vegan for the holidays? Or at all? Author Jonathan Safran Foer makes a great argument for veganism on the Ellen show. Jonathan poses an interesting question about tradition and gratitude--what does turkey have to do with it?

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Emile Henry Braiser: Eco Friendly Holiday Cookware

Thanksgiving is coming--and Christmas--and New Years--and big dinners are part of the festivities. Eco friendly cookware that can go from the oven to the table and look great is invaluable, especially if, like me, you have limited storage space. Enter the Emile Henry Braiser.

This brasier is perfect for braising greens, roasting vegetables, baking casseroles, and desserts like cobbler or apple crisps. You can saute onions right in the pan, then add the rest of your ingredients, pop it in the oven, and look beautiful on the table. When you go to clean it, baked on food comes right off--no need for noxious non-stick. If you need to take a dish to a family member or friend's house, this would be a handy thing to have as you can prep your food, store it, and make a nice presentation at your destination.

My standard (extremely easy) crowd pleaser: vertically sliced red potatoes and sweet potatoes, carrots also sliced vertically, sliced onions, olive oil, salt and pepper roasted for about 45 minutes. So simple and so delicious! You can use any combination of root vegetables including beets and parsnips.

Raised dots on the inside of the lid evenly distribute evaporated juices back down into the food so that it is cooked more evenly and infused with flavor. It is made to go from freezer to oven to table to dishwasher. I love the big handles on the lid and sides. This is my first experience with this kind of cookware, and I am very impressed. The ceramic is way easier to clean than stainless--I have a great Cuisinart braiser that I don't want to use anymore now that I have this. Find it HERE.

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Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart

Wicked Plants, by Amy Stewart, is an informative, sexy book with a wicked sense of humor. Tales of espionage, murder, and the unexpected dangers of house plants are found inside this mysterious book. In fact, it's pretty amazing just how many nefarious plants are within close range. "I confess that I am enchanted by the plant kingdom's criminal element," says Stewart, "I love a good villain... There is something beguiling about sharing their dark little secrets. And these secrets don't just lurk in a remote jungle. They're in our own backyards."

Indeed, Stewart keeps her own poison garden! She understands the macabre allure of plants like Hemlock, and Opium, and reveals the dark side of common plants like Castor Bean and Philodendron. Did you know that lilies are lethal to cats? That the cashew tree contains oils which induce a poison ivy-like reaction?

Copper plate etchings grace the aged-looking pages giving it an eerily elegant look. I actually can't believe this book isn't much more expensive based on its artful presentation alone. You just don't see books like this at all--maybe antiques, but nothing current.

I highly recommend Wicked Plants for yourself and for gifts. Christmas is coming and I think this would be awesome not just for the garden geeks on your list, but history lovers and anyone who appreciates good writing, good humor, and a little danger.

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