eat your veggies!

[Duchess]

That looks fantastic!

[IMaDick]

Where's the meat? That would be great with hot Italian sausage!

[Duchess]

I'm buying one of those squash. I wonder how versatile they are. I better go read about them.

[sally]

Spaghetti squash is awesome. You can replace it with pretty much any pasta dish with half the calories and carbs.

[HairOfTheDog]

I'm buying one of those squash. I wonder how versatile they are. I better go read about them.

Here's a link with some spaghetti squash dishes that look really good and pretty easy:

http://www.bing.com/recipe/search?domain...ORM=DTPNUA

[HairOfTheDog]

Where's the meat? That would be great with hot Italian sausage!

[IMaDick]

Where's the meat? That would be great with hot Italian sausage!

Perfect!

[Cracker]

Where's the meat?

You can nuke spaghetti squash, Duchess. Super easy.

Method: Just get in there and cut it in half (lengthwise) or quarters. You don't want to cut it up too small unless you want short strands. Scrape out the seeds and pulp as you would with any squash or pumpkin. Bake rind side up about 30 to 40 minutes at 375 F.
Microwave 6 to 8 minutes (let stand for a few minutes afterwards)
Boil 20 minutes or so.

Separate strands by running a fork through in the "from stem to stern" direction.

Saturday dinners are always iffy but if I cook tonight, I might just make that.

Did you cook or take a nap?

[username]

Hot damn, that was good. I made the mock and cheese...next time I might add some Italian bread crumbs on top to give it some crunch. Yummy.

I paired it with some skinless/boneless chicken breasts that I cooked in the crockpot with about 1 cup light Balsamic dressing mixed with a packet of dry ranch dressing.

[username]

I'm still munching on the cauliflower. Cauliflower crack.

[Duchess]

Cauliflower crack.

That's how I feel about broccoli.

[ramseycat]

I like raw vegetables or roasted veggies in the oven in a little olive oil, salt, and pepper.

I have been wanting to try the low carb cauliflower fake mashed potatoes. Anybody make those? Are they shit?

A friend of mine used to make them all the time and loved them. I haven't gotten around to trying them yet.

[ramseycat]

I love spaghetti squash! The oldest child and I love veggies. He even likes spinach and okra. I don't do okra. #2 only likes peas, uncooked carrots, and corn. I am making lima beans for dinner tonight! With a side of peas for Thing 2.

[aussiefriend]

Smoke your greens!

[Duchess]

Hahahaha!

[Lady Cop]

damn! just wash everything!

CNN

Watch out for the 2012 'Dirty Dozen'

Apples and celery are still agriculture’s dirtiest pieces of produce, according to the Environmental Working Group’s annual “Dirty Dozen” report. The report names the fruits and vegetables ranking highest in pesticide residue.

Cucumbers were added to the 2012 Dirty Dozen, while Kale and collard greens were moved from the list to join green beans in a new “Plus” category.

The category was created this year to highlight crops that did not meet traditional Dirty Dozen criteria but are still commonly contaminated with organophosphate insecticides, which are toxic to the nervous system.

Also included on the Dirty Dozen list are:

1. Apples

2. Celery

3. Sweet bell peppers

4. Peaches

5. Strawberries

6. Imported nectarines

7. Grapes

8. Spinach

9. Lettuce

10. Cucumbers

11. Domestic blueberries

12. Potatoes

And on the "Dirty Dozen Plus" list:

+ Green beans

+ Kale/collard greens

The fruits and vegetables with the least amount of pesticide residue make up a list of the “Clean 15":

1. Onions

2. Sweet corn

3. Pineapples

4. Avocado

5. Cabbage

6. Sweet peas

7. Asparagus

8. Mangoes

9. Eggplant

10. Kiwi

11. Domestic cantaloupe

12. Sweet potatoes

13. Grapefruit

14. Watermelon

15. Mushrooms

Although some switched spots within the ranks, the fruits and vegetables included on the lists stayed fairly consistent from the 2011 report.

The EWG report is based on pesticide residue data collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, which tested samples as they normally would be eaten — after being washed or peeled.

The chronic health effects of pesticide intake have not been widely studied, but Chensheng Lu, an associate professor of environmental exposure biology at the Harvard School of Public Health, said the toxins appear to be connected to a prevalence of diseases, including cancer. And some studies suggest pesticide intake, especially in the prenatal stage, can cause neurological developmental problems in infants, Lu said.

“Knowing that this chemical is designed to kill (certain) organisms, you have to be careful ingesting it,” he said.

With the release of this list, the EWG suggests consumers reduce their exposure to pesticides as much as possible by purchasing organic versions of the Dirty Dozen. Organic produce is grown using materials of plant or animal origin, instead of chemicals.

Organic produce is often thought of as more expensive than conventionally grown produce, but Lu said an increased demand in recent years has led to lower prices.

“You may want to think about saving money just for buying organic apples and not buying organic other stuff,” Lu said. “You switch your resources for the high risk produce and buy organic for those.”

[krystalshores]

I have been wanting to try the low carb cauliflower fake mashed potatoes. Anybody make those? Are they shit?

I make these a lot. They are much easier than regular mashed potatoes. The texture isn't like mashed potatoes at all or the taste really. So, don't try to pass it off as mashed potatoes.

[Lady Cop]

i've had some decent sweet corn this season, but we don't get real local butter & sugar sweet corn until august. then i just want to eat nothing else but sweet corn and home-grown tomatoes! mmmmmmmmmmmm




Like Garrison Keillor said, “Sex is good, but not as good as fresh sweet corn."

it is important to start with a great ear of corn. Never buy corn that is refrigerated! That means you should check the quality at the market or store. Peel back the top outer layers and silk of the cob to make sure it has even rows and no signs of bugs. You can even take a kernel off and taste it to see if it's sweet.

[Lady Cop]

not veggies, but fresh produce...
i went nutso at market today, i had a craving for the fresh fruits of the season. so i bought pounds of blueberries, strawberries, bananas, crispy apples, cherries and peaches! OMG i better make a fruit salad!

[Maggot]

2 years ago I had a real nice broccoli crop and would grab some and munch on them as I was weeding until..............one day I looked at a half eaten piece and saw these little white worms squirming in the middle.