My renewed commitment to vegetables experience

[blanq]

I'm eating healthy now, so I decided I needed to broaded my horizons when it comes to the vegetable group. After all, I'm not a toddler anymore; telling people you "don't do green" just isn't acceptable when you're 40. So, I go to the grocery store and I stock up on vegetables I haven't tried in years. I mean it has been YEARS since my mother forced me to eat some of these things, and I have heard your taste buds are supposed to "develop" as you get older and all. Well I am hear to tell you:

1. Brussel Sprouts still make me want to hurl
2. Asparagus still reminds me of snot
3. Lima beans are still slimy when cooked
4. Beets? Don't get me started.

Where's the dog when you need him anyway?

So in case any of you decide you want to renew your commitment to those long lost vegetables of past years....DON'T!

Linda

[inky dinky doo]

I'm with you, blanq! At least on the brussel sprouts and lima beans. Funny story: I haven't eaten lima beans since the time my brother and I got in a fight at the dinner table and spilled the succotash (lima beans and corn) in the cottage cheese. My dear stepmother made us sit there until we'd eaten every bite. Do I need to tell you how much I despise lima beans??

I do love broccoli, green beans, peppers, cabbage, cucumbers, and lettuce, though. So, I guess some green things are OK.

Pat

225 days and counting . . . again!

[Alice Sr.]

Oh man I love all of those in fact I've grown most of them in my garden. Did you buy then fresh? Or were they canned? Fresh is the way to go.

[CDoobee]

I hate all of those, too!

(at least, I think so.....I haven't tried any of them in years and don't want to!)

Debbie:earsgirl:

[Beanie]

LOL Linda!! I couldn't agree more!! All of those are "ick" for me too!!:p:p

[bicker]

Brussels sprouts and asparagus are my #1 and #2 favorite vegetables. I'm practically "in heaven" when I have them both at the same meal, which is pretty often, actually.

The key for both is to cook them properly. You can ruin broccoli too, by overcooking or undercooking, IMHO, or by preparing it improperly. (Have you ever tried grilled broccoli? Yuck.)

Of course, brussels sprouts are best when purchased fresh. We steam them in a microwave vegetable steamer until just soft, but long before they turn mushy. I sprinkle them with a little Molly McButter, or spray them with a little Butter Pam, but it isn't really necessary.

We always prepare asparagus grilled, in a large non-stick grill pan sprayed with Pam to aid in tranferring heat into the vegetable evenly. (Something I learned about low-fat cooking -- getting rid of all the fat leaves you in a situation where the food can't absorb the heat properly. The oil is not only for flavor and texture, but also so that the heat transfers properly, so you need a little, even in low-fat cooking.) We sprinkle the asparagus with garlic salt towards the end of the cooking.

I can't think of any vegetables that we like as much as these two.

Lima beans and beets, though, bleh.

[Goofyposter]

Here's a nice reciepe I've toyed with...Linda...this is a good way to get some veggies into you perhaps with a different taste than what you're used to....This can be either a side or a main dish....



Sweet & Sour Peppers

This bell-pepper side is good and even better for you!

1/4C lemon juice

2 Tbsp honey

1 tsp (or more) Hot sauce (I like Emeril's red sauce)

1 Tbsp minced fresh garlic

1 Tbsp minced ginger

1 Jalapeno pepper seeded and minced

3 scallions; whites minced, greens thinly sliced

2 Red, 2 Green, 2 Yellow bell peppers, cored, seeded and cut into small squares

1 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds

3 Tbsp soy sauce (I recommend the low sodium)

1 1/2 Tsp. cornstarch dissolved in 1 Tbsp cold water

non stick spray

Combine lemon, honey, hot sauce in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Heat a large wok sprayed with nonstick spray. Add garlic, ginger, Jalapeno and whites of scallions; stir fry over high heat 15-30 seconds. Add Peppers and stir fry for 1 minute. Stir in 1/2 of the green scallions, 1/2 of the sesame seeds and soy sauce. Bring to a boil. Stir in dissolved cornstarch and stir fry an additional 30-45 seconds. Transfer to serving bowl/platter and garnish with remaining green scallions. Makes 6 servings.

PER SERVING: 60 Calories, 1g Protein, 13g Carbs, trace fat, 1.5g Fiber.

[Debbie]

http://www.diamondtalk.com/forums/images/smilies/moresmiles/yippee.gif And here I was, thinking, I have one more meal of fresh asparagus in the fridge. I think I'll go cook it! :teeth:

It has to be fresh, and I like to microwave it, 3 minutes for a small bowl in 1½" pieces, and then add some sesame seeds to it. I need a bit of margarine, too, and I'm in heaven. Only one other person in my family (5 kids, DH) like it, so I'm usually left to eat it myself. It's a treat. Now the brussel sprouts and lima beans, I agree with. I do like cooked canned beets on occasion.

[Lynn CC]

I love all of those veges especially fresh beets, I even eat the top greens!

[nativetxn]

Lima beans and brussel sprouts have too many carbs for me. I love asparagus.

Just a suggestion, but I wouldn't try boiled okra, if I were you, because if asparagus reminds you of nasal mucous--boiled okra will freak you totally out.

[Alice Sr.]

Just a suggestion, but I wouldn't try boiled okra, if I were you, because if asparagus reminds you of nasal mucous--boiled okra will freak you totally out.

LOL :D