The Lemongrass

The spearheads are making their presence felt this spring. Wonderful bunch of lavender and forest green colored stalks, cooling their tips in a calm inch of crisp water. I go for the thin spears because I just felt like they are fresher, crispier and spent a short while growing on the earth, thus more unspoiled and pure... or that's just me. Asparagus are the best, sweetest, prime quality at the beginning of spring - the first offerings of the season. I've read that it is best to treat them like a bunch of flowers, and prop them up in a vase filled with fresh water to prolong shelf life. Best cooked within 2 days of purchase.

Asparagus got lots of little nooks and crannies for germs and bacteria to dwell and spend their hey days. As a self-confessed germophobe, I would usually wash them first and spray a generous amount of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) to annihilate any unwanted living organisms. Then for the best part, I take a moment and enjoy the zen-like sounds of the gazillion fizzles that translates to the extinction of those poor, unfortunate souls. I leave it at that for a while and repeat the process again to make sure none of them bastards survive, and I end it with a thorough wash. Speaking of H2O2, I will leak you The Amazing Secrets That THEY Don't Want You To Know!

I always use Asparagus in pasta or soups; below is a quick, no-hassle compliment to any dish.


Roasted Asparagus

Asparagus spears, washed and cleaned
oil
salt and pepper

1. Pre-heat oven to 400F.
2. On an oven tray, spread the Asparagus and brush it with oil.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Bake for 8-12 mins. depending on the thickness of your spears

You can also blanch those spears in hot water for 1-2 mins. and dip it in rich, REAL butter. There are tons of ways to enjoy them, just take your pick.

The Balkan-style yogurt is the yogurt nobody loves. If you look at the long, horizontal stretch of the dairy chiller, the Balkan corner is always well stocked. Common people are magnets for those yuppy yogurts with sunshine commercials and attractive packaging, designed to mask the crap and sugar lurking inside the jar. Most dairy products use modified milk ingredients, partially skimmed milk, and a chuck-load of Hieroglyphics or Sanskrit unknown to your vocabulary... unless you have a PhD in Omnipotence. I think that explains why there's a new breed of milk and whatsoever allergies in this generation, because the body can no longer identify the kind of food we eat, or if it is even justifiable to call it food. Our body is on high terrorism alert all the time, just like the USA. The only difference is... it is telling the truth.

Plain Balkan yogurt doesn't promise you a taste of heaven, but it is somewhat a diamond in the rough. It is very flexible and can be used in many ways, even as part of a meat casserole in Indian and Mediterranean cuisine. I also make sure to get the highest fat content (available is 6%), because I don't buy low fat. Not now, not ever.

Here are some simple ideas on how to get the best out of your plain yogurt.


Homestyle Fruity Yogurt

Plain yogurt (the purest you can get)
Maple syrup (preferably Medium flavor)
Fruit jam or spread
Real fruit pieces

Mix all together and you get your own homemade, stirred yogurt, just like store-bought.


Palestinian Cucumber Yogurt Side dish

Plain yogurt
Cucumber (diced or minced)
1 clove garlic (mashed)
dash of salt
1 tsp dried or fresh mint leaves
dill

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Adjust spices according to your taste.

You can also use your plain yogurt as salad dressing like this.

If some of the ingredients are not available, you can always substitute it with anything compatible in your kitchen, just use your creativity and imagination *wink*.

Spring is finally here after the long, desolate, and depressing company of old man winter!
The extremes are still fighting and I want summer to win sooo bad!

I never believed in seasonal disorder until I came to this northern country. I thought winter depression is an exaggeration or another make-believe syndrome created by the deceitful mind of the medical cartel. Sure-fire, this brings colossal investments in the pockets of Big Pharma.

As you might have already noticed, my hubby and I are into organic stuff. The masses are slowly catching up on this since Walmart is already investing in the organic market. Yes, Walmart, you read it right. Usually, when I open my mouth about organics and health matters, people tend to look at me like I'm a spiritual preacher on the streets of New York, amidst a crowd of pagans during rush hour. So, I would just shut up and watch them take flu shots and later on, marvel on the pinkish glow of their runny noses.

Raw greens, specifically dark greens is indeed vital in our diet. Making a fresh, tossed salad is a no-brainer and makes a wonderful side dish. It is also very important to buy organic vegetables and fruits due to pesticide contamination. You don't have to buy everything organic because it can be costly, we don't either. We just follow this very helpful list and try to avoid those produce at the top half. I like Red Delicious apples, so we ONLY purchase organic apples because conventional ones contain high amounts of pesticide load. We break the rules at times, but make certain to wash it thoroughly to remove toxic traces. It is also good to support your local farmer who grows produce the organic way. And of course, don't forget fair trade.

This is the partial, dirty dozen list:

RANK	FRUIT OR VEGGIE	SCORE
1 (worst)	Peaches	100 (highest pesticide load)
2	Apples	96
3	Sweet Bell Peppers	86
4	Celery	85
5	Nectarines	84
6	Strawberries	83
7	Cherries	75
8	Lettuce	69
9	Grapes - Imported	68
10	Pears	65
11	Spinach	60
12	Potatoes	58

Here is a list of baby greens that you can just mix up for a great salad. A dash of the classic oil dressing will do the trick, hence, you can always add other flavors and textures to zest it up.


Organic Field Greens Tossed Salad

Classic Salad Dressing:
Olive Oil or Mary's Oil Blend
Salt and Pepper

Add ons / or:
Balsamic Vinaigrette or soy sauce as substitute
lemons
grated parmesan cheese
yogurt
maple syrup
flaxseeds
hemp hearts

Fruits that add kick:
ripe Mango (the best, I swear!)
golden pineapples
grapes
oranges

Great greens you can mix and match:
baby lettuces (all kinds and colors EXCEPT the Iceberg)
arugula
beet tops
spinach
red and green chards
red mustard
chicories
bean sprouts
mizuna
tat soi
... or any edible greens in your backyard to spring clean your system.