Lady finger

What is green, likes a little southern heat, and is also known as lady finger?  It is often fried in the South, but tastes FABULOUS baked, sautéed, or thrown in soups and stews!

Okra!  It grows best in warm weather, but can be enjoyed all year long.  It is a vegetable with a high content of fiber, vitamin A, folates (great for those ladies who are pregnant), vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin K, iron, calcium, manganese, and magnesium.  Whoa- that is a mouth full of stuff that does a body good! 

Bake it, don't fry!

No need to fry that okra to get it tasty.  Try baking it!  I like to cut up okra and place on a foil-lined baking sheet, drizzle a little olive oil, & then sprinkle sea salt.  Sometimes I will experiment with other spices too (like lemon pepper).  Then, I stick it in the oven for about 15 minutes at 425 degrees.  I like it slightly crispy so may leave it in longer if it isn't quite there yet.

A few storing tips:

• Do not wash until ready to use (otherwise it will get overly slimy)
• Use within 2 to 3 days
• Store in the warmest part of the fridge in a paper bag

Other quick recipe ideas I found:

• Stewed okra and tomatoes: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/stewed_okra_tomatoes.html
• Hot & sour okra pickles: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/hot_sour_pickled_okra.html
• Grilled okra: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Grilled-Okra/Detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=okra&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page

Eat well,
Bri

Pop to the Corn

Popcorn makes a great snack!

My mom has told me in the past that she craved popcorn whenever she was pregnant with me.  I believe it.  I love the heck out of some popcorn. 

Not all popcorn is created equal though.  Humans have a way of putting everything under the sun in different food products and not always for the better.  Ever read the calorie count for a bag of buttery popcorn at the movie theater?  You'd have to watch the movie on a treadmill to burn off maybe half of those calories.  The ingredients list in the artificial buttery spread alone is longer than the Declaration of Independence too.   

But, have no fear.  There are plenty of ways to enjoy a snack of popcorn without all the artery-clogging ingredients.  The hardest thing about eating popcorn, though, is pacing yourself.  Savor it!  And if savoring it is hard for you, have a piece of string cheese or small handful of nuts before enjoying the popcorn.  The protein will help fill you up quicker.

There are MANY options for popcorn lovers.  If you love the sound of popping corn, try an air popper.  The popcorn machines are fun to use and you get to determine what ingredients you use to season or flavor it.  If you are on the go and need something already made, try pre-made bagged popcorn.  I like the Fit brand (sea salt flavored), but there are plenty others too.  The ingredients in this one are: popcorn, non-GMO canola oil, & sea salt.  And what about boxed microwaveable popcorn?  Well, some aren't that great for you and there is a simpler way to make microwaveable popcorn (cheaper too!).  Read this recipe for a way to make popcorn in the microwave with a brown paper bag...  http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Microwave-Popcorn/ 

Different flavors or seasonings I think sound tasty:

• Dark chocolate shavings
• Parmesan cheese (with or without a drizzle of olive oil)
• Drizzle of olive oil & sprinkle of favorite spice
• Black pepper & lemon zest (or squeeze of lemon)
• 1/2 teaspoon cocoa powder & 1/8 teaspoon of chipotle powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/8 teaspoon cloves, & 1 tablespoon each of 3 of your favorite nuts or seeds (think pumpkin seeds, slivered almonds, chopped pecans, etc.)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons each of coconut butter & coconut sugar plus 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

How do you eat your popcorn?  Feel free to share!

Eat well,
Bri