The Roux- Fall Issue 2

Fall Food

Delicious

We all enjoy delicious food,
Makes us happy, fixes our mood.
It's all about the juicy taste,
Doesn't matter, where the food is placed.
We should consider, nutritional support,
We shall need it, if we engage in a sport.
Energy; food provides - plenty
Need a bit more, if we're over twenty.
A great dish, we should all savor,
Eat slowly, as we taste the flavor.
Choose our very favorite cuisine,
Is it red? Or is it green?

by AnitaPoems.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Soon the leaves will change colors, the weather will become cooler, the days will become shorter and nights will grow longer. All of these signal the early stages of the new Fall season. As we leave the summer behind with it's citrus fruit and salads, we welcome the Fall with flavors such as squash, apple cinnamon, nutmeg and other flavors.

Here's a recipe to get you in the Fall mood. 

Butternut, Cauliflower, Coconut Curry 

Ingredients:

1 (15-oz.) can unsalted chickpeas, rinsed and drained

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed

3/4 cup chopped yellow onion

2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tablespoons curry powder

1 cup cubed peeled butternut squash

1 cup fresh cauliflower florets

1 cup diced red potatoes

4 cups unsalted vegetable stock

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 

1 cup light coconut milk

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. 
Place chickpeas on a rimmed baking sheet; pat dry. Add 1 tablespoon oil to chickpeas; toss to coat. Spread chickpeas in an even layer on pan. Bake at 450°F for 30 minutes. Add green peas to pan; bake at 450°F for 5 minutes or until chickpeas and green peas are crisp.

Heat a large Dutch oven over medium. Add remaining 2 tablespoons oil; swirl to coat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 5 minutes. Add flour and curry powder; cook 1.5 minutes or until flour begins to brown, stirring constantly. Stir in butternut squash, cauliflower, and potatoes. Add vegetable stock, pepper, and salt; bring to a boil over medium-high. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer 15 to 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender.

Remove pan from heat; stir in coconut milk. Place about 1 1/2 cups vegetable mixture in each of 4 bowls; top each serving with about 1/3 cup chickpea mixture. Serve with lime wedges, if desired.

Seasonal Eating

Why Eat What's in Season?

Flavor

Produce that have been allowed to fully ripen in the sun taste amazing! Freshly picked produce has the optimal flavor – crispy, fragrant, juicy and colorful. Those summer heirloom tomatoes make all other tomatoes seem inferior. You can eat it like an apple; raw, warm from the sun and straight from the vine.

 Nutrition

Plants get their nourishment from the sun and soil. Seasonally fresh produce is picked when they’re ripe and fully developed. The plant has had more sun exposure, which means it will have higher levels of antioxidants! 

Economy

Simply supply and demand. When there’s abundance of a product, such as watermelons in the summer, the prices go down. Seasonal food is much cheaper to produce for the farmers who would rather sell their products for a lower price, than not at all. Cash in on the seasonal bounty.

Environment

Seasonal produce can grow without too much added human assistance i.e. pesticides and genetically modification. We know how these toxic compounds can contaminate the water and soil and also our health. Seasonal food is more likely to be locally produced as well, which reduces the load on our environment due to transport, or “food mileage”.

Home Cooking

Eating seasonally also forces you to cook more -- and there really is nothing better you could do for your health. When you start to take back control of what you put in to your body, which oil you choose to cook with, how much sugar you add to your food etc, you are consciously making better choices for your health. Cooking is also a great activity to do with your kids, family and friends. And, what better way to show your love?

Support of Your Seasonal Needs

The natural cycle of produce is perfectly designed to support our health.

Apples grow in the fall and they are the perfect transition food, helping the body get rid of excess heat and cool down before winter. In the spring the abundance of leafy greens help us alkalize, detox and loose some extra pounds after a long winter of heavier foods. In the summer we need to cool down and stay hydrated by eating more fruits, berries, cucumber, watermelon etc. Building a lifestyle around seasonal food facilitates the body’s natural healing process.

Organic/Free of Pesticides

Food grown outside of their season or natural environment need a lot more human assistance in forms of pesticides, waxes, chemicals and preservatives to grow and look appealing to us consumers. By choosing local and seasonal food, you are also more likely to get a cleaner product! 

What's in Season?

The Roux: Fall 2017-Issue 1