VITAMIN D MUSHROOMS

Why do we need Vitamin D? Vitamin D, which is really more like a hormone than a vitamin, is essential for healthy bones and strong muscles. It helps put calcium into the bones rather than into the arteries, where it causes hardening of the arteries. It plays an important role in metabolism, prevents infections, enhances mood, and reduces the risk of cancer and auto-immune and cardiovascular diseases. Rickets, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and fractures are a few of the many problems linked to low vitamin D. How…

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AFTER POTATOES

AFTER POTATOES  Close your eyes and tell me what you see when I say comfort food. Did you see potatoes? Chances are they were mashed with a pool of butter or gravy on top. Or perhaps the spuds in your mind’s eye were deep-fried, crispy and brown, and cozied up to a little paper cup of ketchup. The USDA reported that potatoes are the most commonly eaten vegetable in America. (http://time.com/2818849/these-are-the-most-popular-foods-in-america/) Tomatoes, another member of the nightshade family, came in a distant second. Our rocky…

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MAITAKE MUSHROOM FRIES

Maitake mushrooms (Grifola fondosa) are prized for their rich, woodsy flavor and meaty texture. They are also called Hen of the Woods because their feathery rosettes resemble the ruffled plumage on a speckled hen. They are popular as an ingredient in stir-fries, soups, and stews or they can be eaten raw as a snack or in salads. They are also used to make tonics, teas, and herbal extracts that are reputed to have powerful healing properties. Maitakes have been used by  practitioners of Asian medicine for…

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