Fresh Cabbage for St. Patrick's Day

With St. Patrick's Day coming soon, it seems only fitting that we should feature fresh cabbage at our Findlay Market stand. Like many Americans, I have a little Irish blood in me. My grandmother's maiden name was O'Shea, and I vaguely remember her cooking corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day. I also recall hearing that my ancestors had emigrated from Ireland when the potato famine hit in the mid-1800's. About a million people died in Ireland because of the famine, but thousands of others left the country in order to survive. When they immigrated to America, they brought with them recipes for such traditional foods as Irish stew, Shepherd's Pie, Mulligatawny soup, and Colcannon. 
Colcannon is a mixture of cabbage or kale, potatoes, leeks and butter. In a common colcannon recipe, you boil 1 lb. cabbage until tender; then remove and chop or blend well. Set it aside and keep it warm while you boil 1 lb. potatoes. Remove potatoes from heat and drain. Chop two leeks (green parts as well as white), and simmer them in just enough milk to cover, until they are soft. Season and mash the potatoes. Stir in cooked leeks and milk. Blend in the cabbage and heat thoroughly. Make a well in the center and pour in 1/2 cup melted butter. Mix well and serve. 
Cabbage is high in Vitamin C, rich in fiber, low in calories and has no cholesterol. Its antioxidant properties make it a vegetable you should try to include in your diet. If you shop at Daisy Mae's Market this week (3/11-3/16), we'll make it easy for you. You'll receive a free cabbage with your $15 purchase. You might call that a great deal, but we call it the Luck of the Irish! 
(Original post March, 2012) 

12 Weeks of Healthy Food: The Banana

It's our final week of our journey through 12 Weeks of Healthy Food, and we're singing the praises of the banana! Bananas are a great source of energy due to the sugar and fiber content. But don't worry---a medium banana has only about 100 calories (about the same as an apple) so it's still a good choice for a snack.
Bananas are high in potassium which is needed for proper functioning of the heart and nerves. Because bananas are also low in sodium, they're a good choice to help control blood pressure. In addition, bananas aid digestion and help absorb calcium needed to maintain healthy bones.
Researchers have discovered that the tryptophan in bananas may reduce depression. Another research study has shown that when bananas are a regular part of the daily diet, the risk of stroke is reduced by 40%.  Much work needs to be done before these studies are conclusive; however, bananas are undoubtedly one of the least expensive fruits that pack the most nutritional power.
Like banana bread? Here's a recipe for Banana Banana Bread that I'd highly recommend. It's so easy to do and tastes delicious for breakfast or dessert. You'll find loads of additional banana information at www.chiquita.com.
And don't forget that this week (3/20/12-3/23/12) at Daisy Mae's Market at Findlay Market, you'll receive a free bunch of bananas with your $15 purchase. Now isn't that ap-PEEL-ing for all you banana lovers?

Week 8 of Healthy Food: The Grapefruit

Grapefruit is another of those favorite citrus fruits with loads of health benefits and particularly high in Vitamin C. Many studies show that Vitamin C supports the immune system, and it can help fight off those nasty winter colds. Grapefruit is also high in fiber and can help regulate the digestive system.
If you prefer the Ruby Red grapefruit, you're in luck. The red or pink color is caused by lycopene that can help fight oxygen-free radicals that damage cells. Several studies show that lycopene-rich foods can help reduce the risk of prostate, colon, and lung cancer. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice have also been shown in some studies to reduce the risk of calcium oxalate kidney stones. Other research shows evidence that grapefruit may help lower cholesterol. (A word of warning, however, if you take certain medications: Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interfere with the liver's ability to metabolize cholesterol-lowering medications. Check with your doctor.)
It's easy to either squeeze the grapefruit for juice or to take a serrated knife and just section the grapefruit to eat. But how about adding a little something extra to your breakfast? Try broiling the grapefruit next time for a little added treat. Or if you're REALLY looking for a treat, try a Grapefruit Margarita (just maybe not for breakfast!).
Speaking of treats, we've got one for you this week at Daisy Mae's Market at Findlay Market. With your $15 purchase from 2/21/12–2/24/12, you'll receive 2 free grapefruit. 

Kale to the Chief!

Week 6 of our 12 Weeks of Healthy Food brings us to kale. I think kale is one of those vegetables you either love or hate. If you love kale, you probably always prepare it the same way just because that's the way your family has always done it. Although kale can be eaten raw, roasted, or fried, the simplest method of steaming kale seems to produce the most health benefits. However you decide to prepare kale, it's worth it to your health to include kale in your diet.
Kale is packed with good nutrition. Its rich phytochemical content and 95 different flavonoids (plant nutrients) put kale at the top of the chart for antioxidants and anti-inflammatory foods. Kale shows evidence of lowering the risk of bladder, breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancer, and kale also seems to promote eye health and protect against cataracts. It is high in calcium, Vitamin K, Vitamin A, and Vitamin C, and is also a good source of dietary fiber.
But you say, "I have picky eaters in the family who won't eat green stuff!" Well, I have just the suggestion for you. Offer them Kale Chips! This Crispy Kale Recipe might be just the thing to get those stubborn eaters to try something different. In fact, if you shop at Daisy Mae's Market at Findlay Market this week (2/7/12–2/10/12), we'll give you some free kale with your $15 purchase so that trying something new and healthy will be good for your pocketbook, too.

Super Bowl=Super Parties

I really like Super Bowl Sunday. I like football, but I also like joining friends and family for good food and drink. Believe it or not, the day of the Super Bowl has become the second largest day of food consumption in the United States (after Thanksgiving).
The first Super Bowl was in 1967 and was a game designed to determine a champion between the old National Football League and the American Football League winners. Lamar Hunt, architect of the AFL and owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, came up with the name of the game. He chose "Super Bowl" as a take-off on his daughter's favorite toy, the "Super Ball." The first game took place in Los Angeles and featured the Chiefs against the Green Bay Packers.
As they say, the rest is history. With each year, the Super Bowl has grown to be bigger and bigger. Even though the game itself has become a celebrity mecca and ticket broker heaven, the public has latched on to the Super Bowl concept as a relief from winter doldrums and a wonderful excuse to have a party. The Super Bowl is the most watched television broadcast of most years, but the actual game almost becomes secondary to the beer, dips, chili, and wings.
So it's time to start planning your Super Bowl Sunday, February 7, 2010. This year's event, featuring the New Orleans Saints vs. the Indianapolis Colts, is sure to be a thriller. Plan your menu and get pumped up for fun. Stop by Cincinnati's Findlay Market for fresh produce, meats, Belgian waffles, gelato, and all your Super Bowl supplies. Check out our Super Guacamole Bowl display, too, at Daisy Mae's Market. We've got everything you need to get your party started!

One Degree of Separation

So I just got back from a quick visit to see my dad in Southwest Florida. As you may know, they've experience a record-breaking stretch of cold weather in Florida since New Year's. In fact, I actually got to be there for the coldest day ever in Ft. Myers this past Sunday when the temperature never got out of the 30's.

The weather was the only headline on the news, and I found it fascinating that a degree here or there could make such a monumental difference. Local farmers had spent the last 12 days agonizing over the thermometer. They covered and watered plants, stayed up all night monitoring The Weather Channel, and prayed to Higher Powers to spare their crops. Yet just when the end of the cold snap was in sight, Mother Nature chose to drop the temperature to the mid-20's in Southwest Florida. Overnight one farmer suffered $1 million in damage, and overall Southwest Florida estimated damage at $100 million. Farmers had not suffered such a disaster since 1989. Peppers, tomatoes, zucchini, green beans, and squash suffered the worst damage near Ft. Myers. In addition to the farmers themselves, truck drivers and pickers are looking at several months before things get back to normal. It was eye-opening to see the effect that just one or two degrees in temperature could have on the local economy.

Next time I worry about whether business will be a little slow for us at Findlay Market because of colder temperatures, I'll remember the folks in Southwest Florida whose losses are much greater than ours. However, I'll also be reminded that farmers who've lost it all continue to replant and look forward to better days ahead. What an inspiration to "keep on keepin' on."