Hi Everyone!

It’s been a fun year in the food world.  When I visited The Fancy Food Show in San Diego, Chocolate, Tea (and tea infused everything), Martini’s, and Exotic Flavored Water like Lemongrass and Lavender were hot.   Write me and let me know what you think is hot.

Do you ever crave a certain kind of food?  I went through a season recently where I wasn’t happy unless I ate a beet a day, or two or three…I must have been suffering a severe deficiency in vitamins…

 BEET Facts: they contain phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, calcium, iron, and potassium, as well as fiber, vitamins A and C, niacin, and biotin. Beets contain folic acid, which is recommended for pregnant women because it may lower the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects in newborn infants.

RED FOR THE HEART AND LIVER: According to John Heinerman, in the Encyclopedia of Healing Juices, beets (and beet juices) are a blood-building herb that detoxifies blood and renews it with minerals and natural sugars. Beet juice contains betaine, which stimulates the function of liver cells and protects the liver and bile ducts. Recent studies point to betaine as contributing to the prevention of coronary and cerebral artery diseases.

BEETS Beats C: Early research in Hungary indicated that beet juice and its powdered form slowed the development of tumors. Heinerman reports that Alexander Ferenczi, M.D., observed beets aiding cancer patients and performed studies that indicated that beets may help animals fight cancer.  So put some steamed beets in your old doggie’s dish.

Out of that severe beet stage I was experiencing came a Red and Golden Beat Salad with Goat Cheese, Candied Pecans, and a Raspberry Vinaigrette…lovely and colorful.  I highlighted this salad at one of my cooking classes called Wrapped up Valentine, where I described various techniques for cooking with Parchment Paper, Foil, Puff Pastry, Phyllo Dough, and Rice Paper.  So, if you feel like having a night in, invite some friends over for a demonstration and plenty of good food.

Happy Eating!

Deena