Some vegetables can be tough customers, admits Caspar van Vark. But with a little imagination, you can turn a hard tuber into a fabulous seasonal dish
Not all seasons are equal. The autumn months, for example, are a happy time for the cook. There are still some late raspberries and soft purple figs to eat with goat’s cheese or cured ham. Pumpkins appear in every size and shape, and there are crisp apples bursting with juice.
There’s a certain satisfaction to eating with the rhythm of the planet and catching things at their best. But the romance of seasonal eating starts to wane a bit once autumn has turned to winter. Sit at mother nature’s table and you have to eat what she serves.
Out go the vine-ripened tomatoes and golden ears of corn - instead, we are faced with muddy celeriacs, swedes and turnips. Even the most determined seasonal eaters will feel their heart sink when they open their food box and find yet another spooky, alien-looking root vegetable.
Eat ugly food
The easiest solution is to put the kohl rabi in the bottom of the fridge, wait for it go off and then throw it away. We’ve all done it, but there’s no need - all of these winter vegetables will reward you if you make a tiny bit of effort.
Take the Jerusalem artichoke - it sounds so exotic, but it looks like ginger and is the thing you usually find rattling around in your organic box after you’ve taken everything else out. Not only is this one ugly tuber, it also has a reputation for giving people flatulence!
But give it a chance – the Jerusalem artichoke has a good nutty flavour and really comes into its own if you peel it, slice it thinly and bake it with cream, like you would potato dauphinoise. It’s also a great source of iron, vitamin C, phosphorous and potassium.
To cut down on the windy effects, parboil the peeled artichoke and throw away the water. Callers to BBC Radio 4’s Veg Talk programme have also recommended a cup of fennel tea afterwards or, more bracingly, a shot of cider vinegar.
Root down
Our other staple winter vegetables, such as turnips, swedes and celeriac, have much in common - they’re starchy, need peeling and they’re a bit intimidating. Traditionally, these vegetables have been boiled and mashed. And they are very good like that – just add a good knob of butter, maybe some cream, and plenty of salt and pepper.
Still, it can all feel a bit too beige and bland. Fortunately, these vegetables respond well to a kick up the bum. Try cutting them into wedges, brushing with oil and roasting (like potato wedges) Add some fire chilli or other spices, such as cumin or hot paprika.
Top tastes
Similarly, you can cut them into chip-shapes and roast them like oven chips. Blanch them in boiling water first, then let them cool off and dry. Next toss them in some oil and then put them in a hot oven for about 20 minutes. If you have several of these vegetables knocking about, you can mix them all up.
You can also get more creative. There’s a lot to be said for grating winter vegetables because it brings out their sweetness and a new texture. Try grating celeriac and mixing it with sour cream or mayonnaise for a winter salad – think Waldorf and add some walnuts and celery if you want.
A cure for sprout phobia
Some more familiar winter vegetables include Brussels sprouts and pumpkin. While not as scary as swedes and celeriac, people harbour prejudices about these foods. The sprout, in particular, has an image problem.
If you just boil your sprouts, it’s no wonder if you get bored – try steaming them for a couple of minutes and then stir-frying them in a smoking hot wok. Add what you like – onion and garlic, bacon, chopped chestnuts – and finish with a splash of balsamic vinegar. The stir-frying gives a sweeter edge to the sprouts and makes them less cabbage-like.
World inspiration
It’s also helpful to look around the world for inspiration. Pumpkins can seem bland, but in Argentina it’s traditional to hollow them out and cook meat in them for a thick, hearty stew. The pumpkin is then baked in the oven for an hour or so and the stew is ladled out of it.
Pumpkins are also popular in some Asian cuisines – Nigella Lawson has a recipe for a yellow pumpkin and seafood Thai curry – and it appears in South Indian recipes too. In the Caribbean, pumpkins turns up in braises and in the Middle East they are often stuffed with meat, rice and spices.
The comfort zone
And finally, think of the carrot cake and extrapolate from there. There’s almost no end of possibilities for creating savoury – or indeed sweet – muffins and cakes using winter vegetables. It’s precisely their sweet, starchy nature that makes them get on well with butter and flour.
A basic muffin recipe can be adapted by leaving out the sugar and adding a few cups of grated vegetables – carrot, parsnip, potato – and some cheese to make a savoury batch. If you have kids, this is a sneaky way of getting some extra vegetables into their diet. Apple and carrot work well together in a muffin recipe.
Winter always feels like ages, but it will seem like an eternity if you eat boiled turnips. Open your mind, be creative and you might even find yourself looking forward to the swede season next year.
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Green Rewards is a loyalty programme offering members the opportunity to redeem points earned in areas of everyday life into ecologically considered products, services and experiences that will not compromise the environment.
How does a splash of colour of a flower arrangement in an otherwise sedate setting affect you? How do you react to the wafting scent that you know belongs to a bunch of fresh flowers? What visual satisfaction do you feel when presented with a bouquet or a nosegay? What sensations are awakened in your body and mind with the silky caress of tulip and rose petals? Do you feel a surge of contagious enthusiasm while being part of arrangements made for a marriage party, anniversary, birthday celebration, graduation day or any occasion that involves mass participation? Can you for a moment imagine such a scene divested of the presence of flowers?
Flowers are attributed with myriad meanings. There are specific meanings attached to their colours, varieties, fragrances and arrangements. There are flowers for happy occasions and sad occasions, for sober moments, for passionate moments, for peace and quiet of mind, for romantic and passionate settings, and even for making peace with a foe. Flowers are for all seasons, all occasions and all emotions.
Most of us intuitively know the emotions stirred up by specific colours. In our fast paced lives where we seem to be out of breath most of the time, the rate at which we are expected to cope with one change after the other is frightening; draining our physical, mental and emotional energies. Flower therapy aims at restoring that balance so that we may achieve physical, mental, emotional and spiritual harmony.
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Floral arrangements that represent sensuality and passion are ideal for a seductive and sensuous setting. Colours included in these arrangements are robust reds, perky pinks, flame oranges, fiery yellows, vivid violets, plush purples and magnetic magentas. Spicy hues are the hallmark of this extravagant arrangement reflecting expansive emotion.
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Whatever the emotion, whatever the occasion, you can make your point with a floral arrangement of appropriate colour mix. You don’t have to resort to that mobile phone or e-mail to send your message. For a change, try the power of flowers. Send your message now! See how much more satisfying it is for you as well as for the recipient. Happy messaging!
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About the Author:
Smit Mathur is an expert for writting Articles and is currently working for GoGreen Farms. For more information related to Go Green Farms, Flower grower in India, Flowers, Gladiolus Exporter India, Tuberose Exporter India Please visit http://www.gogreenfarms.com/
Looking to buy or rent a green home? These days, lots of green homes are going on the market as sellers and landlords recognise they're in demand. But how is one to know which homes are truly green?
Here's a checklist of features to look out for and questions to ask to determine the green quality of your next home.
Eco Home Tip #7 Location Location Location - pick a location that's convenient and easy to get to. Close to shops, amenities and public transport will reduce the amount of emissions that come from getting around. Inquire about the council's recycling program.
Eco Home Tip #8 Orient yourself with the right orientation - if a house is to have good eco principles, it will designed with the right orientation. This means that the living areas will face due north, to make the most of the winter sun while allowing the hotter summer sun to pass overhead. Sleeping rooms, meanwhile, will be oriented towards to the South to capture cool summer breezes.
Eco Home tip #9 Cosy is not a four letter word - consider how the space is used as much as the size of it. Oversized houses utilises more resources in both construction and maintenance, while smaller dwellings are cleverly conceived can feel quite spacious.
Eco Home Tip #10 Inquire about insulation - ask about the insulation. Higher R values means the house will better protected against extreme weather elements. See if the windows are double glazed. While you're at it, ask about other green home features such as solar panels and solar hot water. Make your message loud and clear!
Eco Home Tip #11 Good green help - there are a few Australian green realtors, such as ecoproperty, who specialise in green listings. Check the Green Pages green directory for real estate agents who will help you find the perfect green home.
The important thing is to ask before you buy. Even if the real estate agent can't tell you upfront, it's important to let the market know that buyers and renters are looking for this bit of information. While no single home will have all of the sustainable features listed, at least you can get a clear picture of what the potential home has to offer.
Autumn is approaching and that means colder days ahead. However, Australia is blessed with an amazingly moderate climate where even our chilliest days are nothing compared to other regions in the world. This means that Australian residents can take advantage of all natural low emissions heating in their green home.
As well as insulation and energy efficiency, there are other innovative heating ideas to keep your home toasty warm for the winter.
Eco Home Tip #31 - Seal up draughts - Put snakes under door jambs, get weather stripping for your windows. Heavy curtains also help keep in the heat and keep out the cold. You'll be amazed at how cosy a room can be without any heating at all.
Eco Home Tip #32 - Look beneath your feet - the soil beneath you home acts as a natural insulator, keeping the ground warm all year round. By employing a geothermal heat pump, your home can be take advantage of this natural heat during the colder months. In a geothermal system, liquid is circulated in pupes that run beneath your home. As the liquid gets warmer, it is pumped up to a heat condensor where the heat is released into your central heating system.
Eco Home Tip #33 - Keep it low - Switch your thermostat down a single degree. When we come in from the cold, we're very likely to crank the termostat up much higher than necessary. Remember that every degree lower on your thermostat can potentially save up to 10 per cent on your heating. Throw on a jumper instead.
Eco Home Tip #34 - Cut your system down to size - as with air conditioning, don't go overboard with your heating. You'll be amazed at what a single space heater will do.
Eco Home Tip #35 - Look for the Energy Star - As with all appliances, energy star ratings give a good indication of the energy efficiency of the appliance. Energy star rates furnaces, boilers and heat pumps for central heating in your home.
Setting up a good green home starts with energy efficiency. Traditional incandescent light globes lose almost 90 per cent of their energy in generating heat - only 10 per cent of the electricity used is actually going into lighting your room. And because of their various filaments and parts, incandescent bulbs generally have a much shorter life span than their more energy efficient counter parts.
Installing energy efficient globes is one of the most cost effective and easiest options available for a good green home. Some companies had even traditionally given out energy and water saving "packs" for people to try out. Nowadays, these energy saving globes are available everywhere - so the question becomes, which light fitting is right for you?
Eco Home Tip # 36 - The lowdown on CFL - Compact Fluorescent (CFLs) are the most common energy saving fitting. CFLs use just about 20 percent of the energy required for the same amount of light from an incandescent globe and last 10 times as as long. All in all, a CFL will help reduce the cost of lighting your home by as much as 60 %.
Eco Home Tip # 37 - Keep your CFLs close, if shaded - a British study last year revealed that CFLs produced a small amount of UV radiation when used unshaded and in close proximity. Open globes were of note, which "encapsulated" globes were considered safe. So if you're using a work lamp with a CFL, keep it shaded of opt for an encapsulated globe instead.
Eco Home Tip # 38 - Recycling your CFLs - The typical CFL contains a minute 4 mg of mercury sealed in its glass tubing. Some manufacturers have lowered its CFL mercury content to as little as 1 - 2.5 mg. Handle your CFLs with care and take advantage of recycling programs for CFLs to keep mercury from ending up in landfill.
Eco Home Tip # 39 - Leading by example with LEDs - Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are another popular energy efficient lighting option, especially to replace halogen globes and downlights in your home. The small cluster of diodes can be arranged in a number of configurations and sizes to suit your home. LEDs have been traditionally found in electronics including clocks, and have a variety of uses in terms of producing a broad spectrum of bright coloured light. LEDs are the perfect substitute to the more heat intensive halogen globes and last for over 50,000 - 60,000 hours and uses 70 percent less energy than standard halogen globes. LEDs are also mercury free.
Lighting a home can account for as much as 20 percent of a home's energy use. Energy saving lights are simply a bright idea for your green home.
Looking for more eco home tips and ideas? Visit the Green Pages directory for more great eco home tips and ideas!
HOME
"Former actor Yann Arthus-Bertrand directed this visually astonishing
portrait of the Earth as seen from mesmerizing aerial views. Home
is not the first documentary to survey our planet from the air, but
Arthus-Bertrand brilliantly and dreamily captures the miraculous linkage
within delicate eco-systems. For viewers whose eyes glaze over at
descriptions of the way Earth recycles energy and matter, Home
underscores the beautiful and awesome reality of that complex process.
Narrated by actress Glenn Close (in this English-language version),
Home begins by exploring and clarifying the natural history of
water, sunlight, and the role simple life-forms such as algae played
(and still play) in making the planet hospitable to more evolved, living
things. As the film moves along, it also has a way of rebooting one's
lazy assumptions about familiar phenomena. The Grand Canyon, for
example, might be a fantastic sight to behold, but it's also a
collection of billions and billions of shells compressed under Earth's
oceans long ago. The carbon trapped in the Grand Canyon was drained from
the atmosphere, helping--once again--oxygen-dependent life to develop.
Art
