Seasonal Cooking with Dan Wagner
What is buzzing in your kitchen this summer? Taking a ride out into the countryside of Greene County, one might notice white boxes scattered throughout the landscape. These boxes are becoming more popular for those who are tossing their hat into beekeeping. This hobby gives us one more ingredient in the kitchen that adds health and wellness to our daily diet. Let’s take a closer look at honey, melons and other summertime ingredients entering your kitchen – ingredients that add to a better healthy life style and exciting fun to your summertime cooking.
Honey is a versatile ingredient in the kitchen. I have used it in almost every method of cooking. It brings sweetness to any sauce or dressing and will add moistness to any baked good product with an ounce or two. Nothing is better than honey barbeque wings on the grill for a summertime outing. One can add it to a hot tea or substitute for sugar. Each pollinated flower has a unique honey flavor.
Also, when adding honey to your diet, the benefits are endless. Trace amounts of pollen that are found in honey have shown to help with allergies. Purchasing honey locally will help best with your allergies. Honey assists in improving sleep patterns and also the antioxidants help in cells within the brain.
When it comes to mid-summer sweetness, nothing is more enjoyable then a fresh melon. The choices from a honeydew to a vine-picked cantaloupe will make any breakfast, lunch or dinner even better. A favorite to me is a watermelon lime chiller, a refreshing drink in the heat of the summer. When it comes to health, melons are low in calories. For example, a half cantaloupe is 93 calories and a honeydew is 45 calories per one-tenth melon. Melons contain vitamins A and C and potassium, plus they’re low in fat and salt, and have shown many benefits. Through a diet with vitamin-enriched fruits such as melons, protection from cancer of the esophagus has been shown.
If you are looking to add a nice touch to soup or sandwich this summer, pick up a few sprouts. Sprouts can be added to any sandwich, salad or just as a garnish raw. When choosing a quality sprout, look for one that is around two inches in length. Sprouts should be fresh and be purchased and ready to use – never consume sprouts after they reach the six-day mark in the refrigerator. Sprouts have a great history of health benefits. No fat, 10 calories per cup and no sodium. The real benefit could be the vitamin K found in sprouts. Vitamin K has been shown to help women with breast cancer and minimizing symptoms of menopause.
When we are looking this summer for other healthy ingredients for our menu, Kohlrabi is my go to item. Kohlrabi is round in shape. When purchasing kohlrabi, always look for smaller than three inches in diameter, as they will not be as strong in flavor or woody in texture. When working with kohlrabi, nothing is more enjoyable than kohlrabi mashed potatoes. One way I enjoy preparing kohlrabi mashed potatoes is to take equal parts of potatoes and kohlrabi cubed, then boiled and mash. A touch of salt and pepper and cream makes a great side dish. Health-wise, one cup of kohlrabi will supply 100 percent of the recommended dietary allowance for vitamin C.
Now that we have touched on a few healthy kitchen ingredients, let us get out to your local grocery store or farmer’s market. Have a great summer, and as always have a delicious day!
Ingredients:
1/2 lb. kohlrabi
1/2 lb. Yukon gold potatoes
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 ounces butter
Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish
1/4 cup green onions, sliced
1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 cup smoked bacon bits
Directions:
1. Peel and quarter kohlrabi and yukon gold potatoes Cook in boiling salted water until fork tender; drain.
2. Take hand blender or a food processor and blend.
3. Add heavy cream and butter; season with salt and pepper. Top with minced green onions, chopped smoke bacon and cheddar cheese.