Noshtopia

Ingredient Idea: Squash

This week eat something with squash in it. There are so many varieties of squash that you will find it easy to cook something with squash in it. Have a little squash adventure, and try a variety of squash you haven't tried before. 

Butternut, turban, hubbard and acorn are all winter squashes, along with the familiar pumpkin. From Livestrong, here are some health benefits of squash like squash helps to reduce inflammation.

To get your creative juices flowing, here are some squash recipes from super duper food bloggers around the noshosphere:

• Spaghetti Squash with Chard, Cranberries & Dijon Vinaigrette [Cookin' Canuck]
• Patty Pan Squash with Bulgar Wheat [Including Cake]
• Fall Minestrone Soup with Butternut Squash, Kale and Orzo [Jelly Toast]
• Farro Crusted Sweet Dumpling Squash Filled Tartlettes with Roasted Beets [Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes]

What's your favorite squash dish?

Ingredient Idea: Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are one of those polarizing vegetables, people either love it or hate it, or they can only eat it if the vegetable is combined with bacon. For a long time, I hated Brussels sprouts until I ate roasted Brussels sprouts. Talk about night and day!

My previous opinion of Brussels sprouts was based on the fact that I had always eaten them boiled almost into a mush or boiled and cold. Yes, ick! If that's your experience too, I would highly recommend giving roasted Brussels sprouts a try because it's like eating two different vegetables.

Ina Garten has a simple roasted Brussels sprouts recipe over at Food Network. I just use sea salt on mine, no pepper. Last Thanksgiving, I made this vegan roasted Brussels sprouts with pecans and pea shoots dish. I ate most of it by myself.

 

To get your taste buds going, here are a few other Brussels sprouts recipes from other wonderful food bloggers around the noshosphere:

• Brussels sprouts Caesar salad with low-cal dressing [Gen Y Foodie]
• Roasted heirloom carrots, Brussels sprouts, spiced chestnut with millet crumble [He Needs Food]
• Steamed sole in a butternut squash sauce with rock shrimp and brussels sprouts. [Spork or Foon]

What's your favorite Brussels sprouts dish?

 

Ingredient Idea: Pumpkin Seeds aka Pepitas

Now that it is Fall, there are plenty of pumpkin foods to enjoy. Besides the meat of the pumpkin also consider eating the seeds.

Pumpkin seeds or Pepitas (in Spanish) are not only tasty especially when slightly toasted, these seeds are loaded with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, carbohydrates and essential fatty acids. Here are some health benefits of pumpkin seeds from Livestrong. Pumpkin seeds are also a dietary source of L-tryptophan which can help aid in the healing of depression.

I eat pumpkin seeds all the time because I like the crunch and the flavor. I'll throw the seeds on salads, yogurt, and ice cream, or eat them plain especially as a post workout snack.

To help spark your creativity, here are some delicious dishes using pumpkin seeds from fabulous food bloggers around the noshosphere:

• Homemade Trail mix with autumn flavors - pumpkin seeds, pistachios, cranberries, cinnamon and nutmeg. [Tasty Eats At Home]
• Asian-flavored kale and cabbage slaw with pumpkin seeds [Lisa is Cooking]
• Shrimp salad with peppery greens, sunflower and pumpkin Seeds [Wishful Chef]
• Zucchini quinoa salad with microgreens, feta, and pumpkin seeds [Gourmande in the Kitchen]
• And for some tips on how to roast pumpkin seeds in 5 fun ways like Sugar’n’Spice Pumpkin Seeds [Cherry Tea Cakes]

How do you like to eat pumpkin seeds?

Ingredient Idea: Okra

Did you know okra is also known as "lady finger," is low-cal and is rich in fiber? I know lady finger cookies in Tiramisu sounds like more fun, but as far as vegetables go, okra is very versatile and is fun itself.

To spark your creativity, here are some delicious okra dishes from fabulous foodies around the noshosphere:

• Chicken Gumbo with Lima Beans, Corn, and Crispy Okra [Mississippi Kitchen]
• Coconut Okra Curry [Dust and Color]
• Pan Fried Spiced Okra [Simply Reem]
• Cajun Shrimp and Okra [Food Whirl]

What's one of your favorite ways to eat okra?

Ingredient Idea: Nectarines

We're coming to the tail end of nectarine season, so while this delicious fruit is still around, eat something this week with nectarines in it, or simply enjoy eating a nectarine all on its own.

I made this really fun nectarine salsa with heirloom tomatoes. Just chop up a nectarine, an heirloom tomato, some sweet onion, and cilantro, then add in some sea salt, and squeeze some lime juice in. Very fast and simple to make!

To spark your creativity, here are some other lovely nectarine ideas from around the noshosphere:

• Nectarine and salmon salad [Fueling Endurance Performance]
• Farro with juicy nectarines and crunchy pine nuts [Food Gal]
• Nectarine pops with mint and pistachio - gluten free and vegan [Wandering Ladle]

What fun dishes do you like to make with nectarines?

Ingredient Idea: Broccolini

In case you are studying for Jeopardy or Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, here's a great question. What is broccolini?

The common assumption is that broccolini is young broccoli, but in actuality this vegetable is a hybrid of broccoli and kai-lan, Chinese broccoli. Broccolini is not a GMO food. Mark's Daily Apple has a great explanation on the difference between hybrid and GMO foods. In my book, hybrid foods are fine because it's cross-pollinating versus genetic combining of DNA molecules from disparate sources.

Introduced in the U.S. in 1998, broccolini is grown year round in California and Arizona. Broccolini is similar to broccoli but has smaller florets and longer, thin stalks, and sprouts edible yellow flowers.  Broccolini is also sweeter than broccoli and cooks faster. 

Think of broccolini the next time you want to create a lovely crudite platter. I love eating broccolini raw! To broaden your palate, try eating something this week with broccolini in it. Here are some delicious ideas from fantabulous foodies around the noshosphere:

• Maple and Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries, Broccolini and Arugula [Love and Lemons]
• Lime- and Honey-Glazed Salmon with Basmati and Broccolini [Epicurious]
• Broccolini with Smoked Chicken and Sun Dried Tomatoes [Exquisit] Note: This blog is in Spanish but if you use Chrome, it will translate the recipe into English
• Farro and Roasted Broccolini and Green Garlic Salad [Chezus]

Do you have a favorite broccolini dish?

 

 

Ingredient Idea: Eggplant

This week, eat something with eggplant in it. Eggplant comes in so many varieties that you can have eating fun in all kinds of ways. In the collage above is Thai green eggplant, Long eggplant, and Indian eggplant.

To get your creative juices going, here's an heirloom tomato, baked Chinese eggplant, and Thai chili dish we made. Here's three more eggplant ideas from tasty food bloggers around the noshosphere!

• Baked Mushroom Risotto with Sautéed Eggplant [Veggie Num Num]
• Falafel-stuffed Eggplant with Tahini Sauce and Tomato Onion Relish [Eats Well With Others]
• Cambodian Ground Pork with Charred Eggplant and Shrimp [Girl Cooks World]

What's your favorite eggplant dish?

 

Ingredient Idea: Basil and Heirloom Tomato

I LOVE heriloom tomatoes! LOVE them!

Did I mention I love heirlooms?

While we are still in heirloom tomato season, eat something this week that has this most wonderful tomato in it. And while you're add it, include some fresh basil because there is nothing like tomato and basil together.

To spur your creativity, here are some dish ideas from wonderful food bloggers around the noshosphere:

• Peach, tomatoes, basil, and cannellini beans salad [A Couple Cooks]
• Cucumber Tomato Basil Salad with Arugula and Bok Choy [Joylicious]
• Chicken and Baby Heirloom Tomato Pesto Skewers [La Kocinera] 
• Note: Trader Joe's sells Baby Heirloom Tomatoes in season.

What do you like to eat with tomato and basil in it?

Ingredient Idea: Arugula

This week eat something with Arugula aka Rocket in it.

Arugula is one of my favorite greens because it's nutrient packed and I like the peppery taste. Arugula is very flexible can be used in a plethora of dishes. 

Here are a few ideas from fantastic food bloggers to inspire you:

• Couscous Salad with Arugula and Pomegranates [Anja's Food 4 Thought]
• Fennel & Arugula Salad with Feta and Toasted Pine Nuts [Love & Lemons]
• Paprika & Maple Chicken with Pear & Rosemary [Greedy Gourmand]