CABBAGE: It
is the most globally cultivated plant and is eaten in almost every country
around the world. It has only 15
calories per one cup serving due to it being 90 percent water. It does however retain a lot of vitamin A, C,
calcium, potassium and magnesium.
Properly stored cabbage can last up to 3 months; store plastic bag in
fridge. Try boiling cabbage for five minutes with chopped onions and add to
mashed potatoes.
CUCUMBER: First cultivated in India over 3,000 years
age and even Iceland grows cucumbers.
They are surprisingly rich in vitamin E and about 95 percent water. They are enjoyed raw in salads or dips as
well as pickled. They came in hundreds
of varieties and colors but all should be stored in the fridge.
KALE: Oldest member of the cabbage family and was a
favorite in ancient Rome. The largest
consumer of kale in this country is Pizza Hut…not for eating; it is only used
to decorate their salad bars. It is a
vastly superior to most vegetables nutritionally. It has the highest protein content of all
cultivated vegetables; it also contains high levels of vitamin A,C , B, and
calcium. IT can be eaten raw or cooked;
great in salads or stir-frys. Wrap in
damp towel in plastic bag in fridge.
ONIONS: The pungency of an onion reflects the amount
of sulfer in the soil when the onion was grown.
The onion can have a very strong flavor when eaten raw but is much
sweeter when cooked. It adds a ton of
flavor to any dish and is used a lot in all sorts of cuisines. Bulb onions will
store for several months in a cool dry place.
SUMMER
SQUASH: Summer squash is a very fast
growing vegetable; once it starts, one plant can produce a lot of squash. It is about 94 percent and very low in
calories; it is a great source of vitamin A and C as well as potassium and
calcium. It is easily digested; nourishing
and can replace lost fluids; which is perfect for the middle of summer when you
are losing a lot of fluids.
*you can expect a lot of summer squash/ zucchini this week so check the "Recipes" tab for creative ways to eat it.
SWISS CHARD: Indigenous to the Mediterranean; it has gone
through periods of popularity and disdain.
It is slowly regaining popularity as the latest super food. It is high
in vitamin C, E, A, and minerals like iron and calcium. Chard can be eaten raw
in salads or cooked in stir-fries. Try
it chopped finely in your morning eggs.
Chard is a great thing to freeze and add to your winter soups; just
blanch for 3-4 minutes, drain and bag it up. Like all other greens it should be stored in
the refrigerator wrapped in a damp towel.
TOMATOES: The word tomato derives from the ancient Mayan
word “xtomatl”. Tomatoes which
are native to Peru were not introduced to Europe until the 16th
century. The tomato is now widely used
across the world. You should enjoy the
tomatoes while they are in season; they are very cold sensitive and will be
done growing by fall.
PEPPERS: They are native to South and Central America;
following Columbus’s voyage they quickly spread through Europe. Capsaicin is the chemical that gives peppers
the heat; they range from habenero which are really hot to bell peppers which
have almost no heat at all. Peppers are nutritionally
significant; they contain vitamins A, C, and E.
Peppers can be enjoyed raw, cooked and are easily preserved by
drying.
Due to the heat the chickens are not laying as much so you will only receive a half dozen eggs this week.