With summer time and tomato season just around the corner, now is the time to plan for making enough sun dried tomatoes to last the entire year. Nothing perks up a meal like the taste of sun dried tomatoes. What many people do not realize is just how easy it is to make your own sun dried tomatoes in the comfort of your own kitchen. Go to your local market or supermarket and look for big plum tomatoes. You can buy them by the bucket and then, you decide just how many you would like to dry. Make sure you get the plum tomatoes since they produce the best end result. Keep in mind that they will shrivel into almost nothing, so the more you use the more you have in the future. What looks like a lot of tomatoes will fit into a quart-size zip top bag! This is why they are so expensive in the super market. Start by pre-heating your oven to 95 degree C, remember to lower the temperature if you use a fan oven. Wash the tomatoes, and slice them about 1/4 inch thick. You don't even have to peel them. Lay the slices out on the baking tray, making sure not to touch sides. Place in the oven, and WAIT! This can take anywhere from 6 to 10 hours, but baking them faster will ruin the consistency and the flavor. Periodically check the tomatoes, as sometimes the tomatoes around the edges of the baking sheet will bake faster than the ones in the center of the baking sheet. Rotate positions, if necessary, to keep appearances uniform. You will be able to tell when your tomatoes have completely baked they will have the consistency of fresh raisins. If they are undercooked they will be too wet and sticky; if they are overcooked they will be dark brown and dried out. Sometimes certain slices will be done before the rest, simply remove them to a plate and continue baking the rest. Keep your eye on them. Bring the tomatoes to room temperature on the baking sheets. Transfer them to quart-size zip top bags, and place in the refrigerator. They will last indefinitely. They also taste wonderful right out of the bag! Be careful, though you can consume about 4 tomatoes without even thinking about it, and you'll need to buy more tomatoes to "sun dry" before you know it! For the real I am, put your baking tray in the garden on a really hot summers day with just a bit of light muslin to cover the tomatoes, (just to keep the flies off), leave out all day and bring indoors as late as possible, if they are not baked put them out again the next day. This method will give a stronger flavour.
As a kid, if you were not so enthusiastic about eating broccoli, but you are now searching for a healthier approach to eating healthy, you should stop discriminating this vegetable as it deserves another chance. This edible plant is now an essential inclusion in your diet and its appreciation comes with some study and proof. In the same way, discovering how delicious broccoli is takes a modest amount of effort.
The first thing that you should be aware of is that broccoli is a real powerhouse when it comes to vitamins. Not only does it include a large dose of vitamin C and vitamin A, it also has a healthy heaping of calcium, fiber, and folic acid.
You'll also find that it is an important source of calcium, which can help you build strong bones, control high blood pressure and contribute to the fight against colon cancer. You'll also find that broccoli is instrumental when it comes to a reduced risk for serious conditions including heart disease, cancers and even cataracts.
Now that you appreciate its health benefits, let explore ways of eating it. With some serious taste and consideration, you will discover that the automatic facial expression that accompanies the thought of this vegetable is only traces from your childhood. There are many ways of including it into a healthy diet, although steaming this vegetable is pretty delicious by itself. Steaming your broccoli until tenderness whilst maintaining its green color will both help give it a crunchy taste and a lovely look.
One of the most famously tasty ways to eat broccoli is to steam it, and then drizzle some melted cheese over it. Children tend to love this treat, but you'll find that as an adult, you'll be able to appreciate the gentle crunch of the broccoli as well as the kind of cheese that you put on top.
A traditional preference is sharp cheddar, but pepper jack and blue cheese such as stilton, which is an acquired taste, will give you grand results.
Broccoli also does a lot of good for roughly any food that has a stew or rich, meaty texture. The next time you cook chicken pot pie, toss in some baby broccoli florets in addition to the potatoes, carrots and rice, as its an excellent way to consume vegetables.
So put in that extra effort in integrating broccoli in your diet, knowing now that the horrors of broccoli is only a myth!
Both Spud Larkin & Kathy Bea are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Spud Larkin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Web Development, Valentines Day and Cooking Tips. About the author: Spud Larkin is an up and coming food writer and critic, already renowned throughout the north-east of England for his honest and open reviews that come straight from the heart and tongue.read more of his reviews at. Spud Larkin's top article generates over 18100 views. to your Favourites.
Kathy Bea has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cooking Tips. Kathy Bea has been involved with food and cooking for over thirty years, and writes for magazines and articles on cooking.. Kathy Bea's top article generates over 2900 views. to your Favourites.