It's OK to Enjoy Okra
Nutrition, From Our KitchenOkra might not be the most exciting food you've ever encountered, but it has its devotees. A staple of Cajun and Creole cooking, it's also found in many North African and Middle Eastern dishes. The Centers for Disease Control has given this humble little veggie its due by proclaiming it Vegetable of the Month for June. Okra has a long growing season, but it reaches its peak in summer, so you may start seeing it soon at your local farmers'...
Food Day 2011
Nutrition, Sustainability, From Our KitchenThe first ever Food Day will take place on Monday, Oct. 24. Sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Food Day is a nationwide grassroots effort to encourage people to push Congress for healthy and affordable food produced in a sustainable and humane way. Whether through lobbying, participating in a community event or making a personal change, Food Day hopes to inspire people to transform the American diet. Though many of the goals for Food Day concentrate...
Purslane: The New 'It' Green
Nutrition, From Our Kitchen, GardensRecently, while buying greens at the farmers' market, I was encouraged to try purslane, which was entirely new to me. The vendor tossed some in with the spinach and mesclun in the bag. As part of a salad, it was an interesting element. The taste was slightly lemony and astringent, though not at all bitter. Then a friend mentioned that Dr. Oz has been touting the health benefits of purslane, and I saw folks talking about it on Twitter...
Improvised Summer Dinner
Nutrition, From Our KitchenRecently, I invited a friend for dinner, but with the temperature in the mid-90s, cooking was not an enticing prospect. What could I throw together that would be tasty, seasonal and simple, with little or no cooking required? At the farmers market that morning, I was enticed by the sweet corn and vivid red tomatoes. (The heirloom tomatoes growing in my backyard are getting there, but are not quite ready to eat yet.) The plump, glossy blackberries and fragrant...