Thursday, January 7, 2010

Week A - Arugula

From sweet and nutty to peppery finish, this salad is full of robust flavor and nutrients!

Arugula, Asian Pear and Pomegranate Salad

serves about 6

6 cups arugula, trimmed and washed
1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
1/2 of Asian Pear, sliced thin
1/4 cup sweet basil, leaves only, chopped rough

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp lemon zest, minced
1/4 cup lemon juice, fresh squeezed (meyer if available)
1 whole shallot, minced
to taste sea salt, fine
to taste black pepper, ground fine

Method:
1) In mixing bowl, add olive oil, lemon juice, zest, shallots, sea salt and pepper. Whisk together
2) Combine arugula, Asian pear and sweet basil in a mixing bowl. Toss lightly together.
3) Garnish with pomegranate seeds.


How the Food Keeps Us Strong

Arugula - From wild to farmed, Arugula is a distinctive mustard like leafy green, known for its peppery earthy flavor. The enlivened properties of this magical little green leaf dates all the way back to the ancient Roman and Egyptian era. Arugula helps to normalize the acids in the body, which in turn alkalizes your system. This is a great anti-cancer aid as well as detoxing poisonous enzymes in the body.
Arugula is rich in vitamins: vitamin A, vitamin C, folic acids, manganese, calcium and magnesium.

Asian Pears - Asian pears differ from the typical European pear. It is round, crisp and light in flavor. This fruit ripens on the vine. When buying in a store, they should be ready to eat. The Asian pear promotes cardiovascular and colon health. They are high in fiber, vitamin C, vitamin K, and iron.
How to select Asian pear: Look for unbruised and fragrant fruit. Store at room temperature for one week or can store in refrigerator for up to three months.

**All resources can be found under references**





Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Starting from A-Z

Hello out there!

I am excited for my first attempt on Blogger! Healthy Veg A-Z is going to be an ongoing project promoting a healthy lifestyle through food. Each week I will share 3-5 recipes with featured whole food ingredients starting with the letter "A" and so on. We will investigate farms, local grocers, health benefits on the featured ingredient, and we'll try out delicious recipes and cooking tips.

I hope you enjoy! Please spread the word!

Bon appetite.