Monday, November 08, 2010

Monday Mish Mash, with a Recipe

This weekend went way too fast for my liking. It was busy from the get go which I don't really like but at least it slowed down enough for me to watch the Amazing Race last night. I am now officially sad as one of my favorite teams ever got eliminated. Sigh. Why do I get so emotionally invested with these people? Now I don't know who I want to cheer on. I'm thinking maybe the father/daughter team or the doctors team. Such a dilemma.

Braving the crowds at Costco on Saturday was officially not a favorite thing this weekend. I always say I'm not going grocery shopping or to Costco on Saturday but somehow I found myself there. Oy, it was crazy in there. And I spent way too much money, blowing most of the grocery budget there. Ugh. I did get a few Christmas gifts I wanted though, and at a good price too, so I guess that made the horrendous crowds and lineups worth it. So far I have been really blessed with the Christmas shopping. I have been finding great deals on things I had in mind and I'm so glad I've been looking early. Can't tell you about the great deals though 'cause you never know just who might be reading. Ahem, family, cough, cough. And don't bother looking people, it's nowhere on the property! The elves have it stored off site.

Hubby and I watched a program on raw food diets. It was very interesting that's for sure. Now I am not anywhere near the point where I am ready or willing to go that route but it sure did make us start thinking about the variety of vegetables we eat. And how we tend to automatically cook them all especially in the winter time. Raw food advocates believe that cooking of foods and bringing them higher than 115*F kills enzymes naturally found in the food that your body needs to function and heal itself properly. I don't know about any of that but then I watched a food network program that mentioned briefly how important it was to have some raw food everyday because of the enzyme thing. So yesterday instead of cooking up the beautiful bag of brocolli florets that I just had, I made a salad out of it. And it was delicious and everyone, company included, raved about it. Nary a spoon was left out of a big bowl. So I thought I'd share it with you. Sorry no picture, it was gobbled up too fast and I think the company would have thought I was a little "touched" if I had been taking pictures of our food.

BROCOLLI SALAD

-approximately 6 cups of raw brocolli florets (bite sized pieces)
-1/2 cup raisins or craisins
-1/4 cup sesame seeds, toasted
-6 medium sized mushrooms, cut in slices
-1/2 cup pecan or walnut pieces, slightly chopped
-1/2 small white or red onion, cut in thin slices

-3/4 cup lite mayonaisse
-1 1/2 - 2 Tbsp. sugar
-1 1/2 - 2 Tbsp. vinegar

To toast the sesame seeds just throw them in a small fry pan. Toast over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally until nicely golden or light brown. Don't leave them as they turn color all of sudden.

To make the dressing, start with the smaller amount of sugar and vinegar and then adjust according to your taste. You can also use raspberry vinegar to add a dimension of flavor. Whisk together well and let sit a few minutes. Dress the salad starting with about 1/2 cup and then add more as desired.



So do you guys eat lots of raw veggies or do you tend to automatically fall to cooking them. Or do you eat veggies at all?

8 comments:

ellen b. said...

Seems like eating veggies is a chore even though we know the benefits!
I have raw favorites and cooked favorites. Ugh Costco on Saturday...I try to avoid that at all costs! :0)

Barbara H. said...

I was sad about the father/son teamed being eliminated, too. I'm not sure who I am rooting for now. I like the TV-show-host team, the blond girl especially, for always being so positive, but I don't think I could be around or watch someone with that much energy in real life for very long, LOL!

We don't eat as many raw veggies as we should, but we try to have salads from time to time and carrot sticks when we have pizza or sandwiches. I did find I love raw spinach though I hate cooked spinach. We had a broccoli salad at a ladies' luncheon one year that was awesome -- it had cheese in it and no raisins, but I'd especially love to know what dressing they used. I don't know if the caterer would share her secret, though.

nikkipolani said...

I love Vietnamese food which is often a combination of slow-cooked something served topped with fresh veggies and herbs (carrots, bean sprouts, cucumbers, heaps of herbs). A nice balance.

As for converting to raw veggies only... my digestive system would object. So I eat most of my veggies cooked. Good for you for including more veggies!

Faith said...

I LOVE eating raw veggies and fruit..but most especially raw veggies like broccoli (I have a salad for broccoli, carrots, bacon, tomatoes, on my blog under faithfixes:salads...feel free to search and copy)..I LOVE raw carrots, peapods, cauliflower, tomatoes, and green beans (have a recipe for a green bean raw salad too!). You're making me hungry now susanne....I heard about the enzyme thingy too but don't know much about it....I tend to steam my veggies until just tender when I don't serve em raw. I do know I need to eat more fruits.
I don't watch Amazing Race but I DO watch Dancing with the Stars...and it just came back on! bye for now!!

Brenda said...

This is one of my favorite salads, only we put bacon in it too.

Sounds like a good weekend. Costco in my city is busy all the time. Crazy

Melanie @ This Ain't New York said...

There's a Southern brocolli salad that is very similar. It has a small amount of chopped green onions. I love using the craisins. Makes it very colorful.

Laura said...

Hello girlfriend! Well I'm a terrible veggie eater. I drink mine in a smoothie instead LOL

Karen said...

I avoid Costco on the weekends, too, it's just crazy. I'm impressed that you did Christmas shopping. I've usually started by this time of year, but I'm late this year.

I try to have raw veggies and dip for my family at least a couple times a week. Our big thing lately is to try different kinds of veggies, but most of them are cooked.

The recipe sounds yummy!