Category: Food
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Asparagus
One of the world’s twenty top vegetables, asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) comes in green and white varieties. Egyptians, ancient Greeks, and Romans have been documented as using asparagus both as a food and as an herbal medicine. In modern times, Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes asparagus for its healing benefits. Much of this is because it has…
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Prunes, Prunes, the Wonderful Fruit!
Dried plums, otherwise known as prunes (Prunus domestica), have been a valued food since ancient times. Now, more than 100 different domestic cultivars exist in temperate areas around the world. At first glance, prunes don’t seem to be used commonly, but in reality many commercial food products contain prunes for sweetness and additional flavor. These…
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Curry’s Spicy History is Not What You May Think!
Here’s a culinary fun fact: Curry is not a single spice or even a set group of spices…it’s a dish! Most notably, curry is a sauce or gravy common to Indian cuisine. Every region of India (and other Southeast Asian countries) has a unique presentation of curry dishes based on a people’s history, the availability…
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Superfood Spirulina for Superior Health
A type of microscopic blue-green algae, spirulina is a superfood rich in many nutrients that’s been in use since the 1970’s. Spirulina provides a variety of vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and antioxidants that can help protect cells from damage. Studies have examined the effects of spirulina on fighting infection, protecting the liver, curtailing allergic reactions, supporting…
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The Morel: Nature’s Mystery Mushroom
With its thick, somewhat crooked stem and a cone-shaped top that resembles the crinkled nooks of a walnut shell, a morel mushroom is an unusual find in the woods. It is also a highly sought after delicacy among even those who would not consider themselves connoisseurs of mushrooms. They have a robust nutty, almost smoky…
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Cashews Many Health Benefits
Cashews, although considered a tree nut, are technically a dry fruit with one seed that becomes hard at maturity. Sweet and soft compared to most other nut varieties, a serving of cashews (about 18 whole nuts) is a great source of fiber, magnesium, calcium, potassium, and vitamins C and B. They are low in saturated…
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Oh, So Sweet and Good for You: Honey!
Honey is full of health-enhancing plant compounds such as antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. For centuries, honey has been a staple among “food as medicine” remedies. It has been used to suppress coughing, ease sore throat pain, and support wound healing when applied to the skin. Modern science has also identified the following health benefits of…
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Don’t Overlook the Health Benefits of Lamb Meat
Lamb meat is a wonderful culinary choice for a wide variety of dishes. With a mild, earthy flavor that takes well to the herbs it is paired with, lamb also contains plenty of nutrients and protein. Folic acid and vitamin B6 are among the many nutrients, as well as the minerals zinc, iron, calcium, potassium,…
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Surprising Ways to Make Tofu Flavorful and Reap the Health Benefits
If you’re new to tofu, it is a dairy-free soybean curd with a similar texture and appearance of cheese. The bland flavor provides a wonderful blank palette upon which you can layer a variety of seasonings to achieve different flavor profiles. Let’s learn about the many ways to enjoy tofu and the health benefits it…
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Getting Started with Composting
Well-fed soil will result in healthy, thriving nutrient-dense plants growing in your garden. You can enhance and maintain the nutrient quality of the soil in your garden by feeding it organic matter which you can get from composting. What is Composting? Composting is the process of recycling organic matter into high-grade fertilizer that feeds soil…