A Rainbow of Produce?!? Where??

HAHA I don't have a cool picture of a rainbow of produce, but you could make it happen in your kitchen. I am talking about variety here people!! It is so important that you add colorful foods into your diet and those colors speak to you in different ways. This blog will tell you what certain colored foods hold and what produce fall under certain colors. Also, I won't throw anything in there that you can't pronounce. :P


Okay our first color up is.... (drum roll please)...... RED!!
Fruits and vegetables that are red contain nutrients that help reduce the risk of prostate cancer, lower blood pressure, reduce tumor growth, lower LDL cholesterol (the bad kind, there is a good kind also lol), and support joint tissue in people who have arthritis. So some of the fruits and vegetables that qualify for the red category are: tomatoes, strawberries, beets, red bell peppers, grapefruit, red onions, red apples, raspberries, rhubarb, radishes and much more. 


Next color up is..... YELLOW/ORANGE produce!! These produce share a few of the same benefits as red produce but they also promote collagen formation and healthy joints, fight harmful free radicals, they are full of vitamin C, and encourages alkaline balance (keeping our body at a happy pH). Some produce that falls into this category are: apricots, carrots, lemons, mangoes, oranges, yellow peppers, summer squash, pumpkin, peaches, pineapples, and sweet corn. 


Third color up is......GREEN produce!! I think we can all think of a few different types of green produce, but what about their benefits. So, eating green produce can reduce cancer risks, normalize digestion time (salad before the entree of a dinner), support retinal health and vision and boost your immune system activity. Some of the produce in this category include: limes, honey dew melon, artichokes, spinach, romaine lettuce, cucumbers, sugar snap peas, celery, avocados, and green onions. 


Fourth color up is....... BLUE/PURPLE produce!! Now there are fewer of these types of foods but hold some of the best benefits of all of the colors. Some of their many benefits are: they fight inflammation, improve calcium and other mineral absorption, act as anticarcinogens in your digestive tract, limit the activity of cancer cells and boost your immune system. Some of the produce in this category include blackberries, blueberries, grapes, plums, purple cabbage, eggplant, purple Belgian endive, purple potatoes and black currants. 


Last but certainly not least is....WHITE produce!! lol there aren't very many of these produce either but they too have wonderful benefits. Some of which include: Reduce the risk of colon, breast and prostate cancer, balance hormonal levels, activate natural killer B and T cells (fight off infections and bad things in your body) and reduce the risk of hormone-related cancers. Some of these food include bananas, brown pears, potatoes, cauliflower, garlic, mushrooms, parsnips, onions, white peaches and white nectarines. 


All of this produce talk is making me soo hungry LOL seeing as how peach season is almost here. They get as big as soft balls where I live! lol I thank my mother for introducing me to a lot of great foods. She taught me their benefits as I ate them and now I am a healthy young woman. A variety of foods are so important not only for children but for adults as well, it is never too late to start eating healthy. Learn when these fruits and vegetables are in season and you will save a ton. If you want to eat seasonal foods year round, you can always preserve them or freeze them. If you don't have any at all, frozen produce is a great way to go also. If you can, buy from local farmers and help support your  community too. You can buy produce from local farmers stands or fresh markets for real cheap also. Make it a fun day for you and your kids, have them pick out what they want to eat!! Enjoy!


All of this info is from http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/fruits-vegetables.shtml

Learn How to Brine

Looking to jazz up your next chicken, beef or turkey dinner? This blog will explain a great technique that will do so, and it’s called “Brining”. Brining penetrates the meat and provides a great depth of flavor that an ordinary marinade or plain salt and pepper can’t match! It is so simple but requires some time so plan ahead when making a meal with brined meat. Let’s begin with what goes into a brine.

Brine: A solution of salt, water and seasonings used for flavor and preserve foods.

When making a brine you can make as much or as little as you choose, depending on the meat you are preparing. You want to make enough so that the meat can be submerged in the brine to obtain maximum flavor. If you are a little pressed for time, you can inject the meat with the brine in the meat. I found a recipe but I thought that I would make it more customized so people can add what they wanted. Here is a list of ingredients which go well in a brine:

-Salt, sugar, brown sugar, honey, black peppercorns, bay leaves, garlic, onions, juniper berries, sage, rosemary, citrus peel, thyme, pickling spice and of course water. Use warm water and taste the brine before adding the meat to make sure it is to your liking.  

There are so many more ingredients that can go into a brine but those are just to list a few. You can add as much or as little of any ingredient to make the flavor profile of your choice. If there is one thing I can advise is that you be careful not to add too much salt!! Lol you want a happy medium of salt, sugar and spices so your meat can be happy too! :D  Use warm water when making the brine so the sugar and salt will melt and not settle to the bottom. Cool the brine before placing the meat in.

Depending on how much time you have to brine the meat you can brine for a few hours or overnight. Before cooking the meat, rinse it lightly under cold water and pat dry with a paper towel. Any excess salt needs to be removed. Proceed with the cooking method of your choice and enjoy a great brined meat. I find that brined meat comes out a lot juicier and more tender than regularly cooked meat. Also, if you have the tools to do so, brine your next Thanksgiving turkey and you will have your guests begging for your recipe. Enjoy! Please feel free to ask me any questions. Rock on ya’ll!!   \m/