I'm not exactly a child of the 60's, being born in 1969, I just missed the parties at Woodstock and Haight Ashbury.   I have certainly heard tale of all the good times and have even been told that I might have fit in nicely!  But I'm pretty sure that none of those parties were as exciting as our 'Shroom Love In during the latest "Food for Healing" at Earth Fare. 

Shiitake 'Shrooms that is!  A wonderful healing anti-inflammatory food that is tasty and easy to prepare.  In fact they can be added to SO many recipes in order to get the daily quota.

We were joined by Wind River founder, Shannon Carney and Wind River Alumni Allison Peeler Schwartz for an extra special treat for all!  We had a great evening exploring Asia's most popular mushroom.  Not only did we explore the history of Shiitake and how they are harvested, we also explored the health benefits and how to prepare them. 
 
Our healthy tasting menu included: Shiitake Baba Ganoush, Shittake bruschetta, Shittake & olive tapenade and Shiitake pesto. To conclude our 'Shoom Love In,  everyone was sent home with a big bag of freshly harvested Asian yard long beans and a recipe for Shiitake green beans to try.   We were feeling the 'Shroom love for sure!!!

“Food for Healing” is a workshop designed to teach cancer survivors, caregivers and anyone interested in better nutrition about a rainbow of colorful healing foods.  The workshop is free of charge for all who attend and is sponsored by Wind River Cancer Wellness Retreats to promote whole body well being.  Currently, we meet on the second Tuesday of the month at The Kitchen Emporium in Anderson from 5 - 7pm and the third Tuesday of the month at Earth Fare in Greenville from 5 – 6:45pm.

Last night "Food for Healing" featured unusual and exotic veggies because the more veggies we eat, the more protective phytochemicals we take in.  Let's face it, eating green beans, broccoli and corn can get old and there are SO many wonderful, tasty and weird veggies to try.  As I was shopping for Jicama to take to class, I mistakenly picked up rutabaga and almost put it back because I didn't know what to do with it. Since I had planned to issue a weird veggie challenge for everyone to step out of their comfort zone and try something unusual,  I decided to follow my own challenge; I would take rutabaga to class so we could all sample it.   I searched my cookbooks and googled several recipes to become acquainted with this softball sized, jicama-looking thing and discovered a lot of combinations that paired rutabaga with potato or smothered it in butter or covered it with gravy.  I didn't want to disguise the flavor so instead, I simply boiled it, smashed it with a tablespoon of organic butter and seasoned with salt and pepper....and WOW!!! Everyone LOVED it!    

During class, we also learned how to design "The Healthy Plate" and had a cooking demonstration on roasting red peppers and preparing fresh basil pesto.  To complete our class, we enjoyed a colorful dinner of Pesto & Roasted Red Pepper Pasta, Panzanella and a Strawberry smoothie.  Pure Healthy YUM!

 “Food for Healing” is a FREE workshop designed to teach cancer survivors, caregivers, health care providers and anyone interested in better nutrition about a rainbow of colorful healing foods.  "Food For Healing" is sponsored by Wind River Cancer Services to promote whole body well being.  We meet on the second Tuesday of the month at The Kitchen Emporium in Anderson from 5 - 7 pm and the third Tuesday of the month at Earth Fare in Greenville from 5 – 6:45 pm.

I'm going to be on the lookout for weird veggies this month and beyond
~Want to join me?

One of my very favorite things to do is visit a farmer's market.  The explosion of color and flavor and variety is not easily repeated at the local grocery store.  In most cases, the produce you find at the farmer's market is local, organic and OH SO fresh.  In fact, farmers usually pick produce early on a farmer's market morning. And what a perfect way to get your RAINBOW of color every day.  Other jewels you can likely discover at the market are local honey, home-made jams, whole food baked goodies, farm raised organic meats, goat cheese and crafts by local artisans.   What a TREAT!  This summer I have had the opportunity to visit The Ferry Building Farmer's Market in San Francisco, The San Mateo Farmer's Market and The Sarasota Farmer's Market in Florida. And of course, I make a weekly visit to the local markets in my Upstate South Carolina.  I even had the privilege to teach a smoothie-licious "Food For Healing" workshop at The Anderson Area Food & Farm Association Farmer's Market this month using produce right from the market.  If you find yourself travelling with a little extra time on Saturday morning, check out area Farmer's Markets as part of your vacation plans to truly get a local flavor of the area in a BIG way .  

 “Food for Healing” is a FREE workshop designed to teach cancer survivors, caregivers, health care providers and anyone interested in better nutrition about a rainbow of colorful healing foods.  "Food For Healing" is sponsored by Wind River Cancer Services to promote whole body well being.  We meet on the second Tuesday of the month at The Kitchen Emporium in Anderson and the third Tuesday of the month at Earth Fare in Greenville from 5 – 6:45 pm.

information compiled by Tricounty Transition 

Anderson (409 N. Main St.):
Saturdays (10-2)
Tu, Th, & Sat (8-1) June - November
Sharon Nicometo (864-231-1924)

Anderson Area Food & Farm Assoc.
Tuesdays (5-8pm)
402 North Murray Ave., Anderson
Each week special events, music and featured restaurant

Clemson (578 Issaqueena Trail, Patrick Square)
Fridays (3:30-6:30), starts May 16
Kathi Dimmock (864-654-3918)

Clemson Area Food Exchange (CAFE):  pick up on Tuesdays in Liberty, Clemson and Seneca
www.clemsonareafoodexchange.com
Elian Evans (elian@clemsonareafoodexchange.com)

Easley (205 N. 1st St.):  Saturdays (8-noon), Tuesdays (5-8)
Lisa Garrett (864-855-7900)

Pendleton (on the village green):  Saturdays (9-1), starts June 7
Amber Barnes (864-646-9409)

Seneca (Main St. at Norton Thompson Park):  T, Th, & S ( 6-noon)
Ed Halbig (864-885-2726)

Six Mile (old Fire Station):  Thursdays (4-7)
James Atkinson (jatkinsonfs@hotmail.com)

Walhalla (next to Bountyland Quickstop Exxon):  Saturdays 6am-noon, Thurs. 4-7pm
https://www.facebook.com/walhallafarmersmarket

Westminster (Depot grounds), Tuesdays 4-7pm
Sandra Powell, wcoc@nuvox.net

Westminster (178 Wayfield Road):  Saturdays (8-noon)
Foothills Heritage Market (across from Blue Ridge Electric Co-Op)
Gail McPhail (864-972-3192)

Westminister (online market)
Maranatha Blackwell
carolinafoothills.localllygrown.net/welcome

Visit  http://www.tricountytransition.org/ for more information