Unicorns & Rainbow Vegetables – Unicorns are hot right now and so are rainbows. So, why wouldn’t we demand that our vegetables also be shades of the rainbow? Oh yeah, and can these brightly colored beauties also be organic, please? Lakeside Organics Gardens in Watsonville (the largest family-owned and operated solely organic vegetable grower/shipper in the USA) offers beautiful, colorful produce options. Lakeside grows gorgeous rainbow carrots, colorful beets, cabbages and they even have the watermelon radish that is a bright pink inside. I drive through Watsonville several times a year and now that I know what amazing produce comes from this Farm, I may have to stop by and ask if I can run through their color-producing fields to see ‘where the magic happens’. I’m certain they have a unicorn or two hiding among their rainbow chard fields as well.
Learn more about Lakeside Organics here.
Hatch Peppers – These smoky tasting peppers grown in New Mexico are all the buzz. You will start to see a big selection of Hatch Pepper products hitting your local groceries soon from salsa, seasoned chips, spices and more. Hatch chile refers to varieties of species of the genus Capsicum which are grown in the Hatch Valley, an area stretching north and south along the Rio Grande in New Mexico, The soil and growing conditions in the Hatch Valley create a unique terroir which contributes to the flavor of chile grown there. Terroir – Fancy! It is very popular to roast or smoke these peppers, and if you see fresh ones in the store you can roast your own in the oven. If you’re short on time, but want that smoky flavor infused in your food, check out Melissa’s Produce Hatch Salsa and Chili Powder Shakers. I added some of the ‘Hot’ Hatch Chili Powder to my tofu veggie stir fry last night and it was the necessary pièce de résistance. Just a side note, the Hatch chilies did not seem very spicy to me, but then again I’m from San Diego and we put hot stuff on everything. #bringonthetears
You may learn more about Melissa’s Produce Hatch Products here.
Finger Limes – These extremely cool little oblong limes may be sliced or broken open and then the lime ‘citrus caviar’ may be easily squeezed out. The tangy lime pearls are a great way to add lime flavoring without the soggy juice. Shandley Farms hit a homerun with their stuffed avocado appetizer with the beautiful pale pink Finger Lime caviar on top. You may order Citribust Finger Limes direct from Shandley Farmers here & check out some great recipe ideas.
Drinking Avocado – Wait, what? Yep, and don’t look at me like that. Hey, you drink kale and other juiced greens in a smoothie, so why not sip on the healthy ‘superfood’ avocado?
Good Foods has just introduced a delicious line of cold pressed juices (never heated!) and one of the new varieties just happens to be “Velvet Avocado”. It has pear, apple, avocado, spinach, romaine, celery, kale and lemon. It’s smooth, refreshing and not heavy tasting at all. This carefully crafted beverage is power-packed with nutrients and a great way to boost your immune system going into the flu season. Their other elixirs are also very tasty, so be on the lookout in your local supermarket.
Click here to visit their site. http://goodfoods.com/
Stay tuned for my next article featuring fun, healthy Kid Snacks at the PMA Fresh Summit.
