Fun with Friends: Hanging in the Village with Synthia

So Friday was one of those awesomely beautiful days that are written about in story books. Irene was gonna hit the following day, it was warm, sunny and everyone was outdoors. Warm and sunny is usually enough to have me gravitating outside, but add to that impending doom and I was all over it haha. Luckily outside for me last Friday was Manhattan's East Village and Washington Square park to meet up with Synthia.

I hadn't seen Synthia since we graduated from high school 10 years ago, but we had reconnected via facebook. Through our conversations online I was impressed with how insightful and nice she was. I mean she really is a NICE person. When I finally made my big move to NY she was on the top of my list of people I wanted to hang out with.

Per her suggestion we hit up Bareburger on LaGuardia Street, near NYU. She suggested this because we are both into healthy eating and sustainability. All of their food is organic and their meats free range. Even their sodas are organic.... ORGANICALLY DELICIOUS :-)!!!! Here are a few images from our meal.....












Synthia!!!!



Me.... Look how big that veggie burger is in reference to my arm. Yum!




Our Meal close up... With a soda, about $11. Not bad for a fresh, filling and organic meal. The best thing about this place is that you have your choice of burger: veggie, portabella, turkey, beef, lamb, elk, bison or ostrich. I would personally stick with the veggie or portabella, but if meat's your thang... you definitely have options. Bareburger gets two thumbs up from me :-)

Seriously y'all.... I can't do the cow's milk

For the last couple of weeks, I've been playing with fire and consuming my fill of milk in all of its forms. Butter, ice cream and oui le devil: cheese. Mozzarella, Feta, Colby Jack and cheddar that have each passed these ebony lips at least once over the last few days. The final offense was this bomb ass tuna casserole that I made last night. I mean after tasting it I was REALLLY feeling myself. It had fresh corn, spinach, onions, green peppers, tuna, and noodles all mixed in a creamy melody consisting of milk, creme of mushroom soup and of course mozzarella. After taking our first bite my mom and I simply looked at each other, and then I smiled. It was perfect! Hearty, creamy, savory, and because I added fresh corn, contained small sweet bites of sunshine. As the storm was ragging outside, we were in casserole heaven, and by the time Irene had hit her crescendo, half of the tray was gone.

As I was finally able to make it to sleep around 5am, I had something to look forward to in the morning... That oh soooo sweet tuna casserole. I'm sure that I even went to sleep with a smile on my face, but ironically, I didn't wake up with one :-/. At about 7am Irene was beginning to cool her jets, but a battle was being waged in my stomach. AHHHHHHH! I won't get into details, but in addition to a headache ( my usual indicator that I've eaten something wrong) I had many of the other symptoms of lactose intolerance. No bueno....

It's not like I didn't know that I had this problem , I've given up the dairy on numerous occasions, I've even spoke to friends about black folks being lactose intolerant. Articles on it: Science daily and NIH. According to NIH 95 percent of Asians, 60 percent to 80 percent of African Americans and Ashkenazi Jews, 80 percent to 100 percent of American Indians, and 50 percent to 80 percent of Hispanics have a lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is least common among people of northern European origin, who have a lactose intolerance prevalence of only about 2 percent. I KNOW this, yet I keep running back to the udder (ick!), and stumble away feeling sick. It's an addiction, like Alcoholics and other kinds of addicts, I need a 7 step program to kick the habit. But until then, I'll just take it one dish at a time, starting with Vegan chocolate chip cookies with rice milk... Mmmmm rice milk.




Image: http://www.ranker.com/list/lactose-intolerance-symptoms/reference

This is what happens when I have too much time on my hands...

Yesterday I went on a cooking rampage... I mean literally I went nuts. But when you go nuts with cooking - it simply means more to eat :-). I made hummus, a raw beet salad/ slaw, Jalapeno corn bread, and a deeeelicious black bean soup. I was supper proud of myself because I made every thing from scratch. Here are a few pics of what I made:



Comfort food to me = soup and bread. Because I had all of that corn from the farmers market and the jalapenos that Chris gave me, I decided to make corn bread. It was the first time that I had both eaten raw corn off of the cob as well as cut off the kernels from the ear. It was soooo cool. I actually meant to add the whole ear of corn to the bread, but once I got to munching on those sweet kernals, it was a wrap. About 3/4 of an ear of corn made it in. Here is the recipe: Cornbread. The adaptations that I made were that I decreased the sugar to 4 tablespoons (the corn was preety sweet) and I don't typically have buttermilk in the house, so I made a vegan version with 1 cup of rice milk mixed with 1 TBS of apple cider vinegar. Nice taste and crumble mmmm.






This is the black bean soup with the cornbread. I adapted this recipe from the Black Bean Soup with Cumin and Jalapeño here. This soup was extra yummy - especially on the dreary, rainy day we had yesterday. It was full of flavor and comforting. The only change that I made to the recipe is with the canned beans - I used dried beans and quick soaked and cooked them.



Now on to one of my favorite dips... hummus. Again I consulted all recipes for my hummus dip. I had some chick peas left over from the Channa I made earlier in the week, so I figured that since I had the blender out anyway, I might as well make the hummus. The recipe is here. Adaptations that I made: I used dried chickpeas that had been soaked and cooked and I also used a teaspoon of lemon to brighten up the flavor. I garnished it with paprika and minced jalapenos. To be honest with you, I'll eat it, but I wasn't crazy about the flavor or the texture of the dip. I think that next time I'll add a little tahini, and try not to compare it to the ultra smooth commercially made hummus that my palate is accustomed to.




Last but certainly not least.... The raw beet salad. The recipe was found here. By the time I got to the beets it was pretty late, hence the lighting, but it was a lot of fun to make. This salad took all of 10 minutes to pull together which was pretty good considering the amount of time that it took to prepare and cook the rest of the food items. I would have never considered adding fresh lemon and orange juice to beets, but it works. Because the beets are sweet anyway the citrus flavors adds a nice refreshing kick. Outside of tasting for flavor, I couldn't eat this last night because the flavors would have messed up my soup and cornbread high, but as I munch on it this morning, it's great. The flavors have had a chance to mix and mingle and the beets have retained their color and crunch. Yum! This is the perfect summer salad.

The 411 on Beets

To say that I was pleasantly surprised about all that beets have to offer would be an understatement. Actually, I shouldn’t be all that surprised…. Parents and grandparents have been shoveling them down unappreciative kids’ throats for millenia. Now that we are older and (ehem) wiser…we can start enjoying force feeding our own kids these crimson jewels, and dare I say enjoy them ourselves,


Medicinal Benefits of the Beet

1.It’s great for your blood - Surprised? Check the color. I’ve noticed that in nature God put everything in dummy’s terms for us. You have an issue often times look at the shape and color of the veggie to see what it’s good for. Blood red, and shaped kinda like a heart – No brainer.

2. Chi Circulation – You don’t want your energy to become stagnant

3. Good for the heart

4. Treats anemia

5. Has anti-inflammatory properties

6. Cleanses the blood

7. Helps to dissolve acid crystals from the kidneys and may help to prevent kidney stones

8. Alleviates constipation

9. Cleanses the liver

10. Promotes menstruation


Often Neglected, but super important: The Beet greens. No don’t throw those out….. they are full of nutrients and easy to cook. Simply cut them off of the root, wash them, spin dry of pat dry in a paper towel, and lightly sauté with olive oil, onions, garlic, salt and a few sprinkles of crushed red pepper flakes in a pan just like you would fresh spinach. Voila… you have a healthy side dish.

Medical Benefits of Beet Greens:

1. Excellent Source of Folic acid

2. Vitamin K and Vitamin A

3. Contains more iron and calcium than the roots.

4. Contains betacyanin – a powerful anticarcinagen


Fun facts:

1.Beets were domesticated in the Mediterranean.

2.Have the highest sugar content than any vegetable.

3.After eating beets 10-15% of U.S. adults will experience beeturia ( Yup… you guessed it red pee)

4.Was considered an Aphrodesiac (Woohoo… and they’re cheaper than oysters)


In conclusion, beets are awesome. If for not other reason than to see if you are among the 10-15% of Americans who experience beeturia haha….. No but seriously give them a try, they are healthy, cool to look at, and when prepared with the love and care they deserve… delicious to eat.



Tomorrow: How I prepared my beets.



Resources:

Wood, Rebecca Theurer., Paul Pitchford, and Peggy Markel. The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia: a Comprehensive Resource for Healthy Eating. New York, NY: Penguin, 2010. Print.

The Vegetarian Guide to Diet & Salad by N. W. Walker

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=49

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beet


Click here if you love beets too: http://www.zazzle.com/i_love_beets_heart_t_shirt_sticker-217684932754417405

Food Art: Bitter Beet

Bitter Beet. Bitter Beat. Bitter Sweet.

Acrylic on Wood.

This past week while driving down the West Side Highway with Tamarah and Nicole, Adele sang her heart out through Tamarah's speakers. I had heard this album countless times, but for some reason I found myself paying particular close attention to the lyrics in her song, "Take it all". The emotion behind this song and our late night conversation were the inspiration for this painting. Enjoy.

Youtube Link: "Take it all" by Adele - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0DdXhFVcEg

Tomorrow: The breakdown on the beat (Woops I meant beet :-P).

Goofing around haha.....

This week's Farmer's Market Bounty

This week at my local farmer's market I was able to score:

1 bunch of Kale Greens
2 Peaches
5 beets
5 ears of corn

Total Cost: $7.00

Extra Bonus:

I also got extra lucky because my friend Nobuko came to visit me. Not only did she bring her awesome self but also herbs and veggies from her friend Chris' garden. Chris is one of those beautiful people that tend to leave a mark on you the minute you meet him. He is an intelligent, conscious brother who also happens to run the community farm program at the Martin Luther King High School in Philly. When he found out that Nobuko was heading in my direction, he graciously sent over 2 peppers - the most beautiful purple green peppers I've ever seen, 3 jalapenos, 1 tomato and bunches of sage and another licorice tasting herb that I cannot identify but will certainly eat. Thanks Chris!

This week's menu will most likely include Kale Chips, Beet salad, Corn Bread with fresh corn and jalapenos, Channa, and hummus. I'll upload anything that I make.






Checkout this article that Chris is featured in. The article is on page 22.

http://www.gridphilly.com/digital-edition/february-2011-023.html

Fun with friends: City Island with Vernie

Yes..... this is the Bronx. Well part of it anyway, City Island to be exact. Yesterday, my good friend Vern took pity on me, and we went out to one of my favorite spots in NY for (relatively) cheap eats. I've been stuck in my apartment for the past 3 weeks and I was craving fresh air and shrimp. Up in these parts that means City Island and for me - Tony's Pier Restaurant. The fries and shrimp are fresh and the atmosphere is really chill. For over an hour, Vern and I sat out on the pier gabbing and gossiping, listening to the seagulls, watching the boats sail across the water, and people watching. A perfect summer afternoon :-) Thanks Vern!

Food's Dirty dozen

To buy organic or not to buy organic, that is the question. My inner granola eating, healthy, "green" queen, says "Of course I buy organic... I would never purchase anything but the best produce to enter my temple" but my wallet says, "Think again sister". Realistically speaking, I can't afford to buy everything organic, so I buy what I can.

According to the Environmental Working group, these 12 fruits and veggies are huge offenders and you should try to purchase them organic. This is especially important for pregnant women and children. Farmer's markets are a good source of organic produce, and many accept food vouchers if you qualify for them. Remember, you health is your wealth....

This year's Dirty Dozen (Buy these organic if you can)

1. Apples

2. Celery

3. Strawberries

4. Peaches

5. Spinach

6. Nectarines

7. Imported Grapes

8. Sweet Bell Peppers

9. Potatoes

10. Domestic Blueberries

11. Lettuce

12. Kale/ Collard Greens

Pictures of Dirty Dozen and Clean 15:

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary/

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/?key=35249225

Eggplant Ragout

Happy and excited, and just back with my fresh from the farmer's market eggplant, I had a small dilemma... what do I do with it? I knew that I was craving something hearty and full of veggies, so I immediately went through my mental rolodex of recipes. Lo and behold, the only thing that I could think of was Eggplant Parmesan.... Mmmm my fave, but I had that last week and I really couldn't justify the additional assault to my arteries.

Mindful of this, I went to Recipe.com, to find something quick and easy to stir up in the pot. I was thinking that I wanted something with an Indian or Caribbean vibe ( Curry and coconut milk) and with a little spice. The closest that I came to it was this Eggplant Ragout with tomatoes and peppers and chickpeas. I chose this recipe because I already had most of the ingredients that the recipe called for.

Here is the recipe: http://www.recipe.com/eggplant-ragout-with-tomatoes-peppers-and-chickpeas/

Adaptations that I made:

I didn't have red peppers, so I used green peppers. I also chose to use dried chickpeas over canned because 1) They are suuuuper cheap $1 for a whole bag 2) Dried beans haven't been sitting in water, and who knows what other types of preservatives for years, 3) They taste better.
Also, after I made the stew, it was okay, but I really wasn't that impressed so I added:

3 tablespoons of coconut milk
1.5 tablespoons of good curry powder
1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to bring up the heat



We've been eating it for the past 2 days and my mom continues to rave about it. :-) She knows how to make a girl feel good. Me being me, after day 1, I got sick of eating straight stew, so ob day 2, I drizzled whole wheat pocketless pita with olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt and then loaded it up with the stew..... Bellissimo!!!!!!

Here is my slide show showing the process. This is my first one so let me know what you think.

Eggplant's Spec Sheet

Alias: Aubergine

Age: 2,000 + years old. Several Sanskrit records, some dating back as far as 300 BCE have written descriptions of the fruit. Yes if fact, the eggplant is a fruit.

Physical Characteristics: In the U.S. Eggplants are typically a deep purple color, but can be striped with white, all white and even yellow. They are typically elongated in shape. Outside of the States they come in a wide variety of shapes. When choosing one to take come with you choose one with firm, smooth skin, it should also feel heavy for its size.

Region of Origin: Hotly debated topic, but likely tropical Asia. It’s indigenous to the areas stretching from most probably the NE India and Burma, Northern Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and SW China.

Most Frequented U.S. Hideouts: California, Florida, New Jersey, Georgia, Michigan, New York are the largest producers of Eggplant by acreage. It’s in season July through October.

Superpowers: According to the New Whole Foods Encyclopedia by Rebecca Wood, it helps to diminish swelling, feverish conditions, and pain. It renews arteries, treats dysentery, and is used for bleeding problems. Ms. Wood also states that in Asia pregnant women are cautioned against eating it because it can cause miscarriages. It is medicinal in cases of STDs, ovarian cysts, uterine cysts, and menstrual irregularities. Ladies ( non-pregnant of course) Eat up!

Eggplant also contains Nasunin, an antioxidant and free radical scavenger that protects cell membranes from damage. Brain cells love eggplant too, because the fat in brain cell membranes.

Pesticide Alliance: Eggplant is listed by the Environmental Working Group under the “Clean 15”. This means that Eggplant is least likely to be contaminated by pesticides. So if I was strapped for cash, I would go for the conventional variety.

Resources:

Wood, Rebecca Theurer., Paul Pitchford, and Peggy Markel. The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia: a Comprehensive Resource for Healthy Eating. New York, NY: Penguin, 2010. Print.

http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/Save-on-Sustainable-Gallery-44032808

http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/methodology/

http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_US_State_Level/st99_2_030_030.pdf

http://www.agmrc.org/commodities__products/vegetables/eggplant_profile.cfm

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/chronicaeggplant.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10962130

TUNE IN TOMORROW ..... How to cook an Eggplant.

Food Art !!!!!

Acrylic on Cardboard

Whist picking through my brain for a creative way to highlight my produce of the week, and attempting to avoid being sued for using someone else's art, I remembered that I really enjoy painting. Growing up in the Bronx, part of me always wanted to be a graffiti artist. This desire to express myself continued to grow as I learned more and more about the street art movement and importance of self expression. Here is my interpretation of the eggplant, and my mini adventure in "tagging" up my stairwell.

To be honest it was kinda thrilling. Although my art was very removable, my heart started pound every time I heard the doors to the stairway open and close and the maintenance men get closer and closer. Check back tomorrow to see why besides it's absolutely royal color and crazy shape, the Eggplant it is sooo out of this world.

Today's farmer's market bounty.....

3 Eggplants

1 head of Broccoli

2 Artichokes

2 Nectarines

Cost: $5.25

Proof that eating out is suuuuper expensive. For $5.25, I have enough to make dinner for 4 people using ingredients that I already have stocked (eggplant and artichoke something), dessert (Nectarines and ice cream), plus a mid day snack (broccoli tempura).

This is about the same price that it would cost one person to eat one meal at Micky D's, Panera, Subway etc.....

Now what do I wind up doing with all of these delicious veggies? Check back and see :-)

Peaches, Peaches, Peaches

This weekend, after mini crisis number one million for this month, my brother, dad and myself found ourselves at my cousins' Sean and Wendy Nia's beautiful home. Thanks to them, the debacle caused by the morons at UHaul was remedied. It was hot, and we were tired so Wendy, always the gracious host, offered us fresh peaches from her local farmer's market and ice water. At first bite I was stunned by how succulent and sweet the peach was - absolutely divine.

Then I got to thinking.... there are probably a billion awesome things that can be done with this jewel of a fruit, and this is what I share with you. Check out this video on how to make poppy seed dressing to add to any salad adorned with summer peaches.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Freshtopia#p/u/29/N46pnI-lwOU

Health stuff: Peaches are high in Beta Carotine, Vitamin C, potasium and fiber. All of these things are wonderful for your body, but at this time my only concern is their affect on my palate. (Insert Homer drool) Mmmmm peaches.