Comments on: Five Winter Greens You Don’t Want to Miss http://nourishedkitchen.com/winter-greens/ Reviving Traditional Foods Fri, 25 May 2012 05:48:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tina Malone http://nourishedkitchen.com/winter-greens/#comment-5868 Tina Malone Wed, 17 Nov 2010 14:07:58 +0000 http://nourishedkitchen.com/?p=2863#comment-5868 Jenny, you might want to mention to readers that if sauteed or braised greens are something they don't like, green smoothies are a great way to get greens. I love raw spinach, cress, etc. but cannot stand them cooked. This limited my ability to get enough of them in my diet because how much raw greens can you really eat? Now I make green smoothies. I just throw a couple of big handfuls of greens in with my homemade raw kefir and some organic fruit into my Vitamix (a regular blender can be used also) - and I've got a nutritional powerhouse for snack, lunch or breakfast. Add some chia or hemp seeds for more protein or "body". If dairy is a problem or you don't like raw kefir, coconut milk works great too. I am now able to work greens into my diet on most days. Jenny, you might want to mention to readers that if sauteed or braised greens are something they don’t like, green smoothies are a great way to get greens. I love raw spinach, cress, etc. but cannot stand them cooked. This limited my ability to get enough of them in my diet because how much raw greens can you really eat? Now I make green smoothies. I just throw a couple of big handfuls of greens in with my homemade raw kefir and some organic fruit into my Vitamix (a regular blender can be used also) – and I’ve got a nutritional powerhouse for snack, lunch or breakfast. Add some chia or hemp seeds for more protein or “body”. If dairy is a problem or you don’t like raw kefir, coconut milk works great too. I am now able to work greens into my diet on most days.

]]> By: Wilted Spinach Salad | The Nourished Kitchen http://nourishedkitchen.com/winter-greens/#comment-5867 Wilted Spinach Salad | The Nourished Kitchen Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:25:49 +0000 http://nourishedkitchen.com/?p=2863#comment-5867 [...] wilted spinach salad, simple and nourishing, offers an excellent way to incorporate fresh winter greens onto your supper table during the long, dark days of winter when hardy spinach is plentiful. [...] [...] wilted spinach salad, simple and nourishing, offers an excellent way to incorporate fresh winter greens onto your supper table during the long, dark days of winter when hardy spinach is plentiful. [...]

]]> By: Gigi http://nourishedkitchen.com/winter-greens/#comment-5866 Gigi Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:21:14 +0000 http://nourishedkitchen.com/?p=2863#comment-5866 For us, the winters aren't as harsh and we can grow greens outside this time of year. Potted greens are of course an option. A very sunny window should do it. Any one can do this! I have bought the beets with tops at the store. Cut off all of the large leaves stem and all (eat them of course) leaving the smallest two or three leaves, and then mostly submerge the beet bottoms in clean water. Keeping the water changed, they become quite happy and within a few days often start growing little root hairs. I then plant them (just imagine the size of the top and match the size of pot to around that - I would stay around the size of a gallon or larger - though I haven't done it in a pot) and have quick results to fresh greens. Beets live in our garden through most of the summer and even though in AZ the tops become too bitter in the heat to eat, they still grew until I overneglected the garden. I don't enjoy the root as much as the top so I did not pull up to see if the root was woody or not. I imagine if I had continued to water, it would have bloomed and seeded, possibly even growing and leaves becoming palatable once Fall came. Beets, I believe, can be considered a multiple year crop from seed. I bought turnips the other day (my first time) and am planning on attempting the same steps with one since it has these little leaves curling up and tempting me at the top of the bulb. For us, the winters aren’t as harsh and we can grow greens outside this time of year. Potted greens are of course an option. A very sunny window should do it.
Any one can do this!
I have bought the beets with tops at the store. Cut off all of the large leaves stem and all (eat them of course) leaving the smallest two or three leaves, and then mostly submerge the beet bottoms in clean water. Keeping the water changed, they become quite happy and within a few days often start growing little root hairs. I then plant them (just imagine the size of the top and match the size of pot to around that – I would stay around the size of a gallon or larger – though I haven’t done it in a pot) and have quick results to fresh greens.

Beets live in our garden through most of the summer and even though in AZ the tops become too bitter in the heat to eat, they still grew until I overneglected the garden. I don’t enjoy the root as much as the top so I did not pull up to see if the root was woody or not. I imagine if I had continued to water, it would have bloomed and seeded, possibly even growing and leaves becoming palatable once Fall came. Beets, I believe, can be considered a multiple year crop from seed.

I bought turnips the other day (my first time) and am planning on attempting the same steps with one since it has these little leaves curling up and tempting me at the top of the bulb.

]]> By: Jennifer http://nourishedkitchen.com/winter-greens/#comment-5865 Jennifer Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:00:44 +0000 http://nourishedkitchen.com/?p=2863#comment-5865 I have been so wishing that I had planted some winter greens this year. We are craving fresh greens right now and don't want to wait until May. I did break down and buy some, but it isn't the same as growing your own. I have to plan better next year. I have been so wishing that I had planted some winter greens this year. We are craving fresh greens right now and don’t want to wait until May. I did break down and buy some, but it isn’t the same as growing your own. I have to plan better next year.

]]> By: Jeanmarie http://nourishedkitchen.com/winter-greens/#comment-5864 Jeanmarie Fri, 01 Jan 2010 17:06:52 +0000 http://nourishedkitchen.com/?p=2863#comment-5864 I used to find greens intimidating, but then I discovered braising... and the steam/saute method in Cook Without a Book. I've also experimented with crisp-frying kale and I love it. I never dreamed greens were tough to digest with dysbiosis, but it makes perfect sense. Is it coincidence that I grew to love greens only after I embraced lacto-fermentation and healed my chronic candidiasis? Probably not Thanks for another great post and Happy New Year! I used to find greens intimidating, but then I discovered braising… and the steam/saute method in Cook Without a Book. I’ve also experimented with crisp-frying kale and I love it.

I never dreamed greens were tough to digest with dysbiosis, but it makes perfect sense. Is it coincidence that I grew to love greens only after I embraced lacto-fermentation and healed my chronic candidiasis? Probably not

Thanks for another great post and Happy New Year!

]]> By: Brook http://nourishedkitchen.com/winter-greens/#comment-5863 Brook Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:36:22 +0000 http://nourishedkitchen.com/?p=2863#comment-5863 Hi, Jenny. We love winter greens at our house! Thanks for posting about tat soi. It's not a green we've gotten with our csa but, I'm going to ask about it. Have you tried Alice Waters' chard gratin. It's delicious and has become a regular dish around here. Thanks again. Hi, Jenny. We love winter greens at our house! Thanks for posting about tat soi. It’s not a green we’ve gotten with our csa but, I’m going to ask about it. Have you tried Alice Waters’ chard gratin. It’s delicious and has become a regular dish around here. Thanks again.

]]> By: Lily http://nourishedkitchen.com/winter-greens/#comment-5862 Lily Wed, 30 Dec 2009 05:46:18 +0000 http://nourishedkitchen.com/?p=2863#comment-5862 I love winter greens! I especially love kale and collards because they stand up to cooking so much better than more delicate greens like spinach and even chard. I keep a big bag of frozen, chopped collards in the freezer and throw some into a dish (no need to thaw first) when I feel like it needs some color or more veggies. I use blanched, chopped swiss chard as a direct substitute for frozen, chopped spinach (just squeeze dry the same way) since my chard plants are nearly too prolific to keep up with. Spinach is my main green of choice for my green smoothies. Thanks for all the interesting posts :) I love winter greens! I especially love kale and collards because they stand up to cooking so much better than more delicate greens like spinach and even chard. I keep a big bag of frozen, chopped collards in the freezer and throw some into a dish (no need to thaw first) when I feel like it needs some color or more veggies. I use blanched, chopped swiss chard as a direct substitute for frozen, chopped spinach (just squeeze dry the same way) since my chard plants are nearly too prolific to keep up with. Spinach is my main green of choice for my green smoothies.

Thanks for all the interesting posts :)

]]> By: Jenny http://nourishedkitchen.com/winter-greens/#comment-5861 Jenny Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:50:07 +0000 http://nourishedkitchen.com/?p=2863#comment-5861 <p>Hi KC -</p> <p>Isn't it amazing how great a role intestinal flora play in our health.  It's astounding.  Everything seems to be related to those wee beasties in one way or another.  I've heard that a lot of people had great success with GAPS.  I've read that the MTHFR gene mutation is related to decreased ability to metabolize folic acid.  Have you been checked for that?  Have you had your homocystiene levels checked?  Of course, though greens are a good source for folate, liver is definitely the best source and it'll be easier to digest than the greens that seem to be giving you trouble (at least in the short term).</p> <p> </p> <p>Take Care -</p> <p>Jenny</p> Hi KC -

Isn’t it amazing how great a role intestinal flora play in our health.  It’s astounding.  Everything seems to be related to those wee beasties in one way or another.  I’ve heard that a lot of people had great success with GAPS.  I’ve read that the MTHFR gene mutation is related to decreased ability to metabolize folic acid.  Have you been checked for that?  Have you had your homocystiene levels checked?  Of course, though greens are a good source for folate, liver is definitely the best source and it’ll be easier to digest than the greens that seem to be giving you trouble (at least in the short term).

 

Take Care -

Jenny

]]> By: kc http://nourishedkitchen.com/winter-greens/#comment-5860 kc Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:19:52 +0000 http://nourishedkitchen.com/?p=2863#comment-5860 It is interesting that you mention those who suffer from gut dysbiosis. Test results show that we are folic acid deficient and can't tolerate synthetic supplements because of a corn allergy. I decided to add more leafy greens to our diet to supplement naturally but found that we don't tolerate greens very well, either. We are now on the GAPS diet to try to heal our gut and have found some relief. We have a long way to go so for the time being we are having to pass the lovely winter greens on by. By the way, our medical doctor prescribed the supplements but had no answers for why were deficient in the first place or any ideas how to cure the source of the problem (or even an alternative when we couldn't tolerate the supplement). Through research I have found the answer lies in balanced intestinal bacteria (our inbalance causes our problems) so we are currently trying to fix our problem through probiotics and diet. It is interesting that you mention those who suffer from gut dysbiosis. Test results show that we are folic acid deficient and can’t tolerate synthetic supplements because of a corn allergy. I decided to add more leafy greens to our diet to supplement naturally but found that we don’t tolerate greens very well, either. We are now on the GAPS diet to try to heal our gut and have found some relief. We have a long way to go so for the time being we are having to pass the lovely winter greens on by.

By the way, our medical doctor prescribed the supplements but had no answers for why were deficient in the first place or any ideas how to cure the source of the problem (or even an alternative when we couldn’t tolerate the supplement). Through research I have found the answer lies in balanced intestinal bacteria (our inbalance causes our problems) so we are currently trying to fix our problem through probiotics and diet.

]]> By: Sheila http://nourishedkitchen.com/winter-greens/#comment-5859 Sheila Tue, 29 Dec 2009 04:08:57 +0000 http://nourishedkitchen.com/?p=2863#comment-5859 Love greens! No question is a stupid question, btw! Bobcat, you should be able to buy both beets with tops on and beet tops by themselves. You can cut the beet tops off yourself and steam them, I do it all the time. We love beets so we try to get the whole plant for that reason. I love kale too . . . it's hardy and healthy. Great blog, I love it. Love greens!
No question is a stupid question, btw!
Bobcat, you should be able to buy both beets with tops on and beet tops by themselves. You can cut the beet tops off yourself and steam them, I do it all the time. We love beets so we try to get the whole plant for that reason.
I love kale too . . . it’s hardy and healthy.

Great blog,
I love it.

]]>