Fun Food Fact Friday #6

These are the wonderful blogs, videos, and recipes that I have discovered this week.  Enjoy.

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1.  Popcorn Fun!

Popcorn is one of our favorite snacks–this was a fun look at popcorn.

2.  Mastering French Toast

I love French Toast but I’m not that great at making it . . . my bread is always soggy.  My husband actually found this article for me in hopes that I can “master” French Toast.  I hope you have better luck than I have!

3.  More Benefits of Ginger !

This is a great article about Ginger.

4.  My Lunch Smoothie

I have been trying so hard to find a kale smoothie that I like–I don’t like kale that does through the juicer–I think I just need to give it more time so . .. in the meantime I want to reap the benefits of kale.  I found this recipe and I LOVE it.  (I don’t always have blueberries and I skip the almond milk if I don’t have it.)

5.  Lemon Salad Dressing

I feel Spring in the air!  My backyard still has under 2 feet of snow!  But I’m thinking summer salads!  I created this lemon salad dressing as my first attempt to move from Thousand Island, Ranch and processed dressings in general.  Even though it is my recipe–it is really wonderful and the herbs can be switched out for what you like.

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What was your favorite on this list?  Leave a comment below!

Have a great weekend.

Peeling Ginger? A Spoon will Do!

This is what I found out this week!

ginger video

People love ginger!  In my travels this week (really just at Target and dropping and picking the kids up from soccer–my world is kind of small) I had two conversations about ginger!  During the week that I am writing about ginger!  

When I asked about how these two women–both moms use ginger . . . they said they didn’t.  They LOVE ginger TOO but have no idea how to cook with it!  I told them I can fix that!  So . . . I created this 3 minute video to show how easy it is to peel ginger.

Good Luck!  If you need ideas on how to use ginger–come here!

 I am so proud of myself for keeping this video under 5 minutes!  Way under!  

5 Ways to use Warming Ginger

How do you like your ginger?

Ginger ale, ginger snaps, ginger cake, crystalized ginger . . . Vernors!  Vernors is a ginger ale that was only available in Michigan when I was growing up as a kid–it is the iconic drink for locals.  Well, at least this local.  Recently, I saw Vernors at the grocery store and did a happy dance while hugging and kissing a 12 pack!  I was so excited I couldn’t help myself!  A little slice of home, in a can, in my hands!  I love ginger!

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1.  Ginger Tea

Ok, this is super simple–boiling water and ginger.  Stir.

Really! It is that simple.  Ginger is a body cleansing herb.  I drink ginger tea when my stomach is feeling upset.  My kids aren’t crazy about the flavor of just ginger and water so for them I add lemon juice with a touch of honey.  This is also a great tonic for a sore throat.  I’ve also been told that it can relieve menstrual  cramps, motion sickness and morning sickness.  (Now that is information that I could have really used with my 2nd pregnancy!–I’ll spare you the detail but it wasn’t pleasant!)

2.  Ginger Sunrise Juice

Did I tell you I started juicing?  I found a great deal on a juicer right after Christmas and have been juicing ever since.  I started slow–once a day, then graduated to twice a day and then . . . now I’m back to once a day.  I love how my body feels when I drink my Ginger Sunrise Juice.

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3.  Preserving Ginger

Did you know you can freeze fresh ginger?  It really is quite simple.  

  1. Peel fresh ginger.  (see my How-to peel ginger video)
  2. Chop in the blender or cut finely with a knife.  (stop for a moment and soak up the aromatherapy of ginger)
  3. Seal in a plastic bag or glass container.  (I use baby food jars)
  4. Ginger will thaw within 10 minutes depending on how thick they are cut.

4.  Ginger Infused Rice

I use my rice cooker a few times a week.  We love to eat rice in our house.  I add a one inch knob of ginger to the rice water as it is cooking.  The warming ginger flavor infuses each grain of rice.  TIP:  this is especially helpful with introducing a ginger flavor.  

5.  Ginger Ice Cream or my Mom’s Boston Cooler

Ok–NOT VEGAN.  But so incredibly awesome.  I just add frozen ginger from  #3 with cream and sugar into my ice cream maker.  Amazing.

Or if you don’t have an ice cream maker you could make a Boston Cooler.  My Mom loved Boston Coolers and she made them for us on hot summer nights at the cabin.  They are simple to make as well.  Two scoops of ice cream into a glass and fill with Vernors.  It becomes a bubbly mix that is creamy, cold and warm at the same time.  When I’m feeling nostalgic and missing my Mom . . . I have one.  

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How-to Buy Ginger (because I’m really hoping that you will!)

When you go to the store to buy ginger–look for a firm looking root that doesn’t have any wrinkles.  I keep the ginger on my counter top among the bananas and apples.   I recently bought organic ginger for the first time, I was just curious.  Whoa!  The organic ginger had WAY more flavor.  So much so . . . I almost couldn’t drink my juice–so beware.  I’m always skeptical so I  bought it a second time and the results were the same–amazing intense flavor.

Do you have a favorite recipe that includes ginger?  Can you share it?  If you leave a link I will add it to the Renee’s Kitchen Reader Pinterest Board.  

L.O.V.E. (local, organic, veggies, everyday)

Renee