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Lots of precious nutrients are lost in the cooking process, so eating raw foods such as fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, pulses, and dried fruits is extremely nutritious. Raw foods are packed with antioxidants: eating them increases energy levels, helps with digestion, and the high levels of vitamins B, C, and E are beneficial to both skin and hair. A good rule of thumb when preparing a raw dish is to use as many different colored fruits and vegetables as possible, for optimum health benefits.
In kitchens across America, cooks are preparing lighter meals and are looking for ways to serve more vegetables as part of a well-balanced, healthful diet. Vegetables that were once considered exotic are now everyday fare. And what was old is new again, as farmers' markets offer intriguing and delicious heirloom varieties.
Vegetables are often grouped according to their family: onions, leafy greens, cruciferous (cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower), fruits with seeds that aren't sweet and are therefore treated like vegetables (eggplants, peppers, and tomatoes), roots (carrots, turnips, and the like), stalks (asparagus and celery), tubers (starchy potatoes and sweet potatoes), and mushrooms.
I love to cook but that doesn't mean i want to spend every minute of our free time in the kitchen. So we're always on the lookout for quick recipes that taste time-consuming but really (secretly…when it comes to having guests over) take less than half an hour. There are ingredients and directions with pictures for quick and easy vegetarian recipes. Here is the list of this recipes.
When buying vegetables, appearance is usually the best indication of freshness. Avoid bruised vegetables or those with soft spots. Leafy tops should be crisp and fresh looking. Prepackaged vegetables in bags aren't always a good choice because you can't inspect them thoroughly. Some vegetables are covered with a thin edible wax coating that seals in their moisture and gives them a fake sheen. Organic produce is available at natural-food stores and at most supermarkets. These vegetables and fruits have been grown without the use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Refrigeration is the key to keeping most vegetables in prime condition. Store them in the coolest part of the refrigerator or in the crisper drawer. Don't store vegetables in zip tight plastic bags, as the condensation that forms encourages rapid decay. The exception is leafy greens. Store them, loosely wrapped in paper towels,in a plastic bag, pressing out all the air. Mushrooms should be kept in a brown paper bag, and it is best to store potatoes, onions, garlic, and winter squash in a dark, well ventilated place at cool room temperature.
Wash vegetables briefly under cold running water just before using. If necessary, a gentle scrub with a soft vegetable brush will remove any surface dirt. When washing leafy greens, swish them around in a large bowl of cool water, changing the water several times. Cut or peel vegetables as close to serving time as possible. Once the skin on vegetables is broken, they begin to lose valuable nutrients. Some vegetables, such as artichokes, discolor when their cut surfaces are exposed to air. To prevent this, rub the cut surfaces with the cut side of a lemon half.
Not all vegetables require peeling, but you may want to peel certain types if their peel is tough or unpleasant tasting. It is important to remove as thin a layer of peel as possible; a vegetable peeler is the best choice. Vegetables should be cut into uniform pieces to ensure even cooking. If you are making soup or preparing a recipe for which evenly cut pieces aren't important, use a food processor to save time.
..more tips for vegetables
Not all vegetables require peeling, but you may want to peel certain types if their peel is tough or unpleasant tasting. It is important to remove as thin a layer of peel as possible; a vegetable peeler is the best choice. Vegetables should be cut into uniform pieces to ensure even cooking. If you are making soup or preparing a recipe for which evenly cut pieces aren't important, use a food processor to save time.
