Chioggia Beets
Chioggia (kee-oh-jee-uh) beets have a distinctive red ring pattern. They are often referred to as bull’s eye or candy stripe beets.
They originated in the Italian town of Chioggia, located on the north east coast of Italy, near Venice. They were first grown in the USA in the 1840’s. Today they can be found in specialty grocery stores and farmer’s markets.
Chioggia beets are sweeter than most beets. They contain potassium, folic acid, and iron. One beet contains just 35 calories.
These are great for making pickled beets. A few hours after the vinegar mixture is poured over the beets, the rings disappear and all of the beets take a very pretty pink color.
These are great sautéed, roasted, pickled or added to soup.
lack beans, also known as turtle beans, are small, shiny and dark. They pack a nutritional punch- they have protein, fiber, folate, B vitamins and numerous other vitamins and minerals. Studies show they are good for digestive health and may help to prevent colon cancer. Black beans have been around for about 7,000 years and originated in Central American and southern Mexico. They are widely used in Caribbean and Latin dishes.
Cashew cream is very easy to make and can be added vegan recipes where dairy cream would have been used. Because of the fat content in cashew cream behaves much like cream when cooking with it. It is great in sauces and soups.
Cashews contain fiber, copper, manganese, tryptophan, magnesium and phosphorus and 75% of the fat us unsaturated.
Cover 2 cups of raw cashews with cold water. Soak over night. drain the water off and place the cashews in a blender or food processor. Cover with fresh cold water and process until smooth. Cashew cream may be strained if you wish.
Makes 2 1/4 cups. Each tablespoon contains 43 calories.
Potato Ricer
Black Beans
lack beans, also known as turtle beans, are small, shiny and dark. They pack a nutritional punch- they have protein, fiber, folate, B vitamins and numerous other vitamins and minerals. Studies show they are good for digestive health and may help to prevent colon cancer. Black beans have been around for about 7,000 years and originated in Central American and southern Mexico. They are widely used in Caribbean and Latin dishes.
And if all that isn’t enough- they are really cheap and easy to prepare. Today I bought my one pound bag of black beans for 86 cents. I cooked them up and served them alongside our Portabella Fajitas for dinner. And I put about 6 cups of beans in the fridge for about another 3-4 meals for the two of us. Not bad for a mere 86 cents.
Another note on money- there is a perception that it is expensive to eat a vegan diet. At the rate we are spending on food, we stand to save over $6,000 this year with our vegan diet. Hmmm….now what could we do with all that extra cash.
One cup of cooked black beans has 227 calories, no fat and no sodium. A Big Mac has 576 calories, 292 from fat, and 742mg sodium. Give my body black beans!
To prepare black beans:
Rinse one pound of beans and pick out any bad beans, dirt or pebbles.
Place in 5 quart pan and soak for 3-4 hours.
Then bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer, cover and cook until done (40-60 minutes)
Cashew Cream
Cashew cream is very easy to make and can be added vegan recipes where dairy cream would have been used. Because of the fat content in cashew cream behaves much like cream when cooking with it. It is great in sauces and soups.
Cashews contain fiber, copper, manganese, tryptophan, magnesium and phosphorus and 75% of the fat us unsaturated.
Cover 2 cups of raw cashews with cold water. Soak over night. drain the water off and place the cashews in a blender or food processor. Cover with fresh cold water and process until smooth. Cashew cream may be strained if you wish.
Makes 2 1/4 cups. Each tablespoon contains 43 calories.
Potato Ricer
A potato ricer is loaded with cooked potatoes, squeezed and lump free potatoes emerge.
Nutmeg Grater
A nutmeg grater is an essential tool for all home cooks. Why buy the ground stuff in the jar when you can grate your own from a whole nutmeg in a matter of seconds?
My grater has a little nutmeg house at the top to store my nutmeg until I need it again.
Gnocchi Rolling Board
Gnocchi Rolling Board
Roll the cut gnocchi across the board to add the little ridges that will hold your sauce.
Just Great Stuff
Powdered Peanut Butter
Betty Lou's, Inc powdered peanut butter is the best! I had given up peanut butter entirely because of the high calorie count in regular peanut butter. Just Great Stuff is a nice alternative with just 45 calories per serving, When I first read the label, I thought that the serving size must be awfully small, but it is not. It is enough for two Trader Joe's Whole Wheat crumpets or a peanut butter sandwich.
It is easy to mix up- just two tablespoons of the powder and one tablespoon of water. Stir and it's ready to eat.
Just Great Stuff is 100% organic, low fat, no cholesterol, low sodium and 4 net carbohydrates.
There are just 3 ingredients- organic peanuts, organic coconut sugar and sea salt. Coconut sugar has a lower glycemic index than cane sugar.
The powder can be added to sauces, shakes, and other recipes where you would use peanut butter.
I like to make it a little thinner and pour it over the chocolate peanut butter ice 'cream' by SoDelicous.
Betty Lou's Inc is located in McMinnville, Oregon. I am not paid to promote this product. I just like it.
http://www.bettylousinc.com/products_category.php?id=7
http://www.bettylousinc.com/products_category.php?id=7
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