Kohlrabi, Jicama, & Rutabaga...OH MY!

Demystifying Weird Veggies

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?

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