June 6, 2011

Fruit Water: A Refreshing Drink Idea

By Whitney Gerschke Johnson, Nutritionist

Fruit water: To make: slice up fruit of your choice (about a cup or less) and a sprig or 2 of some chopped fresh herbs and put in a pitcher or a mason quart jar and add water.  Place in refrigerator for cold water or leave out for room temperature water.

Yay fruit water!

Fruits that are delicious for fruit water: any really, but some of my favs are strawberries, cucumber, watermelon, peaches, lemons, and oranges.

Fresh herbs that are delicious for fruit water: again, any will do, but some favs are rosemary, basil, mint, catnip, and lemon balm.

Cucumber Strawberry Water: Combine ½ of a cucumber & as many strawberries as you would like in a big water pitcher.  Put it in the fridge & enjoy!

Lime mint cucumber water: Combine ½ of a cucumber, chop a sprig of mint, and squeeze a few lime wedges into a big water pitcher.  Put it in the fridge & enjoy!

Subbing in for juice...

Other ideas:

  •  Orange basil
  • Lemon balm & peach
  • Catnip lemon
  • Watermelon mint
  • Starfruit, orange mint

2 comments | posted in Food Makin

June 3, 2011

Plants expanding our gratitude

By Whitney Gerschke Johnson, Nutritionist

Gratitude:

When we grow plants, we usually see them everyday.  So, we see when they are in their tender youth, just getting to be a strong, hardy plant that can make it through rain and hail.  We see them grow into their fullness and ripeness, producing flowers and fruit.

We saw this kale go from seed to beautiful leaves... it was wonderful!

Witnessing all of those transitions is remarkable, and creates a deep appreciation when we eat the plant or its fruits.  When we see it grow, we know that it took time, care, and perseverance for that plant to blossom, and that makes me grateful.

Leave a comment | posted in In the garden

June 1, 2011

Plants expanding our palette

By Whitney Gerschke Johnson, Nutritionist

Palette:

I also love bringing plants into our garden because it expands the plant varieties that we are exposed to, both in the garden and in the kitchen.  Often in the grocery store, there is just one kind of broccoli, three kinds of tomatoes, certain culinary herbs, but we want more!

Oh green zebra tomatoes, we haven't forgotten about you...Photo thanks to The Marmot.

Ol & I went to our favorite plant sale recently~ the Boulder Culinary Gardeners plant sale~ and we got so many neat varieties.  We aim for weird.  Like the Black Prince tomatoes.  We also aim for delicious, like the Campari tomatoes we got as well.  Lots of pepper plants, herbs, and pickling cucs.  These are plant varieties you just don’t see in the store (if you don’t garden, go to the farmer’s market and look for variety there).

Leave a comment | posted in In the garden, Notions Nutritionally

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