in season-related stories
In season recipes
I love going to the farmers' market once or twice a week. It's always fun to see what's in season and to try out new items. But sometimes, I have to admit, that I'm a bit perplexed. When I saw some cute patty-pan squash I was tempted, but I had no idea what to do with them. Food Network has a great tool that breaks fruits and vegetables down by their growing season and then links to recipes. Not all of the recipes are exactly healthy, but there are plenty of choices that health-conscious people can choose from. Some of the recipes that some yummy to me include:
Presto pesto -- Great ways to try this summer treat
Alternative & Green Health, Nutrition & Supplements
At the farmer's market today, I was able to buy three huge bunches of basil for three dollars... total. Food prices may be going up, but at the farm market, in-season means easy on the pocket book. After digging through my pantry for a few other staples, I had all the necessary ingredients for pesto. Not only is pesto a favorite summer treat, it freezes well, which means healthy, local meals for winter. And because it's essentially a raw dish (you'll need to cook the pasta or bread that you put it on), it's perfect treat for when the kitchen is just too hot to cook.
Pesto's base ingredients are basil, olive oil, walnuts, and garlic, which means that it's loaded with antioxidants and heart-healthy omega-3s. (Pesto lovers learn early that a little goes a long way. Not only is pesto quite oily, it also has a very strong taste.) But creative cooks need not stop there -- pesto is very forgiving and does well with substitutions.
If you think pesto might have a place on your menu, now is the time to try it. Here are four great ways to enjoy pesto this summer:
Fresh basil pesto
Low-fat pesto
Non-basil pestos
Sun-dried tomato pesto
Trim your grocery bill healthfully
Seven years ago, I found myself unemployed for a while. I tried to trim costs wherever I could -- disconnecting my cable TV, terminating my cell phone service, and doing everything I could to lower my grocery bill. When you're trying to cut costs that $0.79 box of mac n' cheese starts to look awfully good. Unfortunately, my low cost grocery shopping had a price I didn't want to pay -- I gained weight and plenty of it. With today's grocery costs, everyone has to think of their budget when shopping whether you're in a temporary financial hardship like I was, or at the top of your financial game. Luckily, you can stay within your budget and still feed your family a nutritious meal. Some tips:
- Eat locally and in season. When you visit farmer's markets, you cut out the middle man and cut out some of the cost.
- Get a green thumb. Planting your own garden is by far the most cost effective method for fresh produce -- plus you'll get the added perk of physical activity.
Fit Links: In season and delicious
The first of the strawberries are finally here in our neck of the woods. Today, we washed six pounds of them, eating them fresh from the bowl, but also making homemade goodies like strawberry ice cream and strawberry bread. Spring is the perfect time to try making one or several meals a week out of local ingredients. Spring means asparagus -- lots of it -- strawberries, greens, radishes, green onions, and peas. Yum!
Marcie at Feeding Blackmail recently wrote about her family picking seasonal strawberries. Joanne at Eat Local Challenge urges you to help the honeybees by signing up to help with The Great Sunflower Project. If you're looking for some fabulous recipes and good looking food, check out Eat Locally, Write Globally. And finally, Epicurious has a very helpful tool, a peak-season map that can help you find out what's in season where you live.
