Tips for Local and Seasonal Eating
There is an easy way to eat in sync with the seasons, make a list first of the products available in your region and not the normal harvest times of each one. Here’s some tips to help you get started with the list and ways to preserve the seasonal goodies year around:
• Visit a local farmers market, and while you are there, ask about hard to find produce. They may know producers who sell them when you can’t seem to locate them in the supermarkets.
• Search online for the foods you are hunting for. Start with my favorite Local Harvest, Sustainabletable, or Eat Wild to get you started.
• If you don’t have a chest freezer go get one. You will be able to store so much more foods this way than taking up a lot of room in your refrigerator freezer.
• Get produce specific recipe books to see the many ways you can incorporate the many ways you can use produce. There are books on the market that target everything from tomatoes al the way to eggplant.
• Make out a menu for your family for the entire week. This will help you make meals quick and easy and especially help if you are on a time frame or short on time.
• Ask a local farmers market or even local farmer what he or she has in extra produce left over at the tend of the growing season. Most have so much left over on hand it spoils. They will more than likely thank you for buying it in the long run. (Source: Mother Earth News 2007)
**Need some help putting a spin on your otherwise boring plain ole’ biscuits. How about different flavors and shapes? Over at Food History, Gillian Polack has some history behind the biscuit and some ideas to help you make them pop.**
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Earthly Eating Recipe:
Strawberry Granola Parfait
Serves: 6
1 1/2 cup low-fat ricotta
1/4 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt
4-5 tsp. strawberry jam (depending on desired sweetness)
1 tsp. grated orange zest
1-1 1/4 lbs. strawberries, trimmed
1 1/2 cup granola
Fresh mint, for a garnish
1. Puree ricotta, yogurt, and jam in a food processor. Stir in orange zest.
2. Reserve 6 small strawberries for garnish; cut remaining strawberries into thick slices
3. Spoon 2 tbs. granola into each glass.
4. Top with 2 tbs. of ricotta mixture and a thick layer of strawberry slices. Repeat with a second layer of granola, ricotta, and strawberries.
5. Top with a whole strawberry, and garnish with a few mint leaves on top. Serve immediately or refrigerate until needed, up to 6 hours.
Happy Eating!
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