tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7026386367749580262012-01-06T18:34:45.232-05:00Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.comBlogger291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-48874390943257454722010-01-29T10:56:00.001-05:002010-01-30T16:42:59.838-05:00

I eat butternut squash all through fall and winter. It is packed with vitamins A and C, several B vitamins, and minerals such as potassium, manganese and tryptophan, an amino acid that helps you make seratonin and helps your body fight stress, relax and sleep.    Nothing beats the easy preparation and incredible versatility of this vegetable. I mash it for a side dish, turn it into pancakes, or

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-23227364415446770722009-11-18T09:00:00.002-05:002009-11-18T09:00:04.604-05:00

Chocolate-chocolate chip granola bars, as promised! Also try the cinnamon-raisin granola bars. Again, these are designed to keep you going. Good fats, good protein and healthy carbs. They are gluten, dairy, egg and soy free. GLUTEN-FREE CHOCOLATE-CHOCOLATE CHIP GRANOLA BARS This is a two-day project, but the actual time invested is minimal. INGREDIENTS List 1 3 cups rolled oats (I like Bob's

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-63894454009342468312009-11-17T09:15:00.001-05:002009-11-17T09:15:00.732-05:00

Homemade granola bars... my new favorite take-along food. These are easy, even if you don't cook (yes, you need to do a bit of cooking here). These are great as a pre/post-workout, grab-on-the-go or "Help, I'm about to eat chocolate cake" snack. If you have kids, they'll be a hit with them, too. These granola bars are gluten, dairy, egg and soy free. In other words, nothing in them will slow you

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-51220355554265970272009-11-14T08:22:00.000-05:002009-11-14T08:22:20.484-05:00

Did I ever tell you about my friend Elly? She's at the Union Square Market each day it is open. Her farm, Patches of Star Dairy, produces some of the best goat products I have ever tasted. She has several varieties of goat cheese—raw aged havarti and edam, and ricotta—as well as yogurts and amazing ice cream. I love her cranberry-almond chevre on my morning bagel or the plain salted chevre in my

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-55611057670493137642009-03-21T14:50:00.001-04:002009-03-21T14:52:18.436-04:00

It's no wonder most of us are confused about the safety of pesticides; even in the face of mounting evidence to the contrary, pesticide manufacturers continue to insist that pesticides are safe. The government requires—and manufacturers conduct—studies of individual chemicals in high doses, looking for immediate and obvious toxic effects. Unfortunately, our bodies store toxins, and the effects

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-29383165855461922022009-01-18T19:28:00.003-05:002009-01-18T19:34:59.243-05:00

1. BROCCOLIFacts: Broccoli is rich in vitamins A, C and K as well as folate and fiber. It is also an excellent source of phytonutrients sulforaphane and the indoles, which have significant anti-cancer effects. It boosts the immune system, optimizes cell detoxification, supports digestive health and helps build stronger bones. It is important to include broccoli in your diet, especially in the

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-36891303874870893832008-10-01T11:58:00.003-04:002008-10-01T12:03:47.846-04:00

It's probably safe to assume that those of us following the current state of the economy are feeling a bit breathless. So, I'm going to take a departure from farmers' markets and talk about stress management. Don't let your health tank along with your 401K.Stress is a highly toxic, destructive force on our immune system. It must be dealt with decisively in order to stay healthy and alert. Below

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-472956759539227642008-09-22T16:04:00.002-04:002008-09-22T16:16:07.438-04:00

Hey, check this out! NYC Greenmarket Diva has been chosen as one of the best mommy blogs by Vanessa Van Petten, the author of You're Grounded!: How to Stop Fighting and Make the Teenage Years Easier.http://www.onteenstoday.com/2008/09/14/best-mommy-blogs-for-parents/

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-675412511783647562008-09-05T09:00:00.001-04:002008-09-05T09:00:03.892-04:00

On a Friday afternoon, I visited the Liberty Farmer's Market in the Catskills. To my gleeful astonishment, I found the familiar, friendly faces of the Gorzynskis behind tables full of perfectly ripe vegetables. Gorzynski Ornery Farm produces over 500 varieties of vegetables that are grown to specifications higher than the USDA's degraded organic label. The farm gave up its organic certification

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-81063561372864102592008-09-03T13:54:00.010-04:002008-09-03T15:52:44.720-04:00

Last week, Matt and I took the kids into the wilderness - otherwise known as Smallwood, a lake community in the Catskills. We stayed in a lovely cottage, shaded by sugar maples and pines and surrounded with aromatic blooms buzzing with bumblebees and hummingbirds. We played on the beach, swam in the warm, spring-fed waters of the lake, enjoyed birdsong-filled breakfasts on the deck and watched

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-69741458570136786962008-08-22T17:31:00.003-04:002008-08-22T17:44:05.383-04:00

Every Friday, you can find him quietly selling some of the best, sustainably grown vegetables the Union Square Greenmarket has to offer. Hector Tejada farms under Certified Naturally Grown standards, selling the fruits (or vegetables) of his labors at a very reasonable price. His booth is loaded with squashes, heirloom tomatoes, dark leafy greens, potatoes, beans, herbs and eggplants. It's hard

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-21797133314616888132008-08-18T13:15:00.002-04:002008-08-18T13:21:06.827-04:00

Did you know that you shouldn't cook with certain oils? You didn't? Quick, sign up for my newsletter. The August issue is all about fats and it will be out on Thursday.

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-59356526670541908522008-07-23T14:11:00.005-04:002008-08-10T20:23:29.641-04:00

Who doesn’t love pickles? Crunchy and salty, they satisfy two of the three addictive food cravings (you'll have to go somewhere else if you want sweet). Did you know that you could pickle any fruit or vegetable? Chutneys, sauerkraut, kimchi, carrots, beets, garlic, tomatoes, corn, green beans, even ketchup – the list is endless; you are only limited by the space in your refrigerator.Pickling –

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-81526475241430556992008-07-21T10:58:00.002-04:002008-07-21T11:31:07.820-04:00

Although this, clearly, was no off-the-cuff rant, inflicting more pain onto those who already suffer daily is plainly inhumane. But, that’s why Michael Savage gets the big bucks, kicking up shit storms to perk up media interest and ultimately advertiser dollars. This too shall go away after the requisite apology to the autism community and maybe some appropriate display of outrage by WOR.Don’t

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-29677726344665769962008-07-17T14:00:00.005-04:002008-08-10T20:20:43.954-04:00

I've been remiss - beet season is in full swing, and I have not written a single word about them. Here's the skinny: we should all eat one a day - they are that good for you. Beets come in such warm colors - deep wine red, garnet, orange, golden yellow and buttery ivory. The lighter colors have a less intense beet flavor, and are less nutritious and juicy. And don't overlook the leaves - they can

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-36401904933586324812008-07-14T14:54:00.004-04:002008-07-14T17:09:47.726-04:00

Last week, I started making my own dried fruit for the kids. There's so much available at the farmer's markets that I frequently get ahead of myself and buy too much, and some of it goes to waste. So, whatever the kids don't eat, I throw into the dehydrator. I've been making dried strawberries, cherries, peaches, apricots and beets. Sasha loves beets, so I figured I would try drying some and then

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-75219122883036266722008-07-04T10:48:00.002-04:002008-07-04T10:51:01.794-04:00

The youngest member of our family (currently residing in a planter on our balcony). Just wanted to share.

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-34740752563162565582008-06-30T14:11:00.004-04:002008-06-30T14:25:10.477-04:00

So, where does one get this raw gold? At your local farmer's market, of course. Make sure you ask the tough questions, because even there you may find a dud.Here in New York, we are lucky to have a fantastic beekeeper. Andrew, of Silvermine Apiary (better known as Andrew's Taste-Bud Bursting Local Honey), comes from a long line of beekeepers. One night, over a bottle of Spanish wine, Andrew told

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-38783052278138829412008-06-30T14:00:00.005-04:002008-06-30T14:11:15.760-04:00

I am passionate about honey. Maybe it's because it's in my blood; my grandfather kept bees. I remember playing in the orchard - the lazy warmth of the afternoon sun, the sweet, aromatic scent of ripening fruit and the gentle hum of the bees. I remember the honeycombs dripping with sticky, sweet liquid and my grandfather laughing at my eager anticipation. We used honey for everything - it was our

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-21364684023961013012008-06-23T22:29:00.005-04:002008-06-25T13:49:04.966-04:00

There are few things in life that give me as much joy as watching my kids gleefully dive into a bowl of luscious cherries and seeing the sweet, sticky juice run down their chins. And have you ever gone strawberry picking? Then you know how placing that sun-warmed berry in your mouth makes you understand what summer is all about. I've often wondered why nature makes this abundance of such sweet

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-77338927959875699012008-06-11T21:52:00.003-04:002008-06-11T22:00:22.414-04:00

Though relatively undiscovered in this country, kohlrabi has been hugely popular in Europe and Asia for centuries. It has a delicate, mildly sweet flavor and a crunchy texture reminiscent of a cabbage core or broccoli stalks. Kohlrabi is frequently mistaken for a root vegetable - the bulbous "root" is actually a swollen stem.Kohlrabi is a great source of vitamin C, B6, calcium, phosphorus,

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-83671682203903961232008-06-04T11:42:00.003-04:002008-06-04T12:16:04.715-04:00

It is the rare kid who enjoys the pungent, spicy snap of a radish. Adults, however, should be eating plenty of them throughout the growing season. Although it is usually buried in salads or cooked into an early death, it's time to celebrate the radish.Radishes have been around for thousands of years and have been revered by all the great ancient civilizations. They are closely related to mustard,

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-57052466597488788792008-06-01T21:14:00.003-04:002008-06-01T21:37:05.933-04:00

I didn’t make it to the market this weekend. Instead, I sat in class and listened to Annemarie Colbin - the founder of the Natural Gourmet Institute and the author of numerous health-related books - lecture on bone health, women’s reproductive issues and osteoarthritis. Okay, so maybe it doesn’t sound like the most exciting way to spend a sunny weekend, but I was riveted. Dr. Colbin really

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-38832594716402119982008-05-24T16:06:00.010-04:002008-05-25T17:35:45.029-04:00

Dark leafy greens season has started! This week, the Lower East Side CSA gets its first shipment - all greens. We’re getting Swiss chard, kale, Asian greens, arugula, baby tatsoi, pea shoots and spinach. Nutritionally, greens are very high in calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, phosphorous, zinc and vitamins A, C, E and K. They are crammed with fiber, folic acid, chlorophyll and many other

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-83019454211208689712008-05-17T22:20:00.003-04:002008-05-17T22:33:39.666-04:00

Asparagus. A culinary delicacy and medicinal marvel for over 2,000 years that is rich in folate, vitamins K, C, and A, several B vitamins, tryptophan, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, copper, iron and zinc. One cup gives you fifteen percent of your recommended daily intake of fiber, and if you’re like me, you can’t eat just one.This is a detox vegetable; the abundant folate (almost 66% of RDV

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-67326635780243530602008-05-03T20:48:00.003-04:002008-05-03T21:02:42.231-04:00

This is ramp season, so go out and get some! A native of North America, they are wild leeks with a flavor somewhere between onions and garlic. Let them sit for ten minutes after you chop them. The sulfur-based compounds and the enzymes combine to create thiopropanal sulfoxide, the irritant that makes you cry. It also stabilizes the phytonutrients, the substances that strengthen the immune

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-21613919898367432032008-04-23T11:50:00.003-04:002008-04-23T12:04:44.210-04:00

Just a quick note about an article in the New York Times, telling of another atrocity soon to be forced upon us by the commercial meat industry:test-tube meat.A highlight: “People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wants to pay a million dollars for fake meat — even if it has caused a 'near civil war' within the organization.”Yum, I can’t wait.

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-57877117706238596032008-04-20T21:53:00.003-04:002008-04-23T17:51:38.676-04:00

Union Square is under construction for the next two years. The farm stands are mixed up with the artist stands – it’s kind of interesting, and I think I actually like it better. If you need to find someone quickly, you can get a “Find Your Producer” map at the Greenmarket stand, but I think it’s fun to just stroll around and take it all in. Saturday was fantastic; tons of farmers selling plants.

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-702638636774958026.post-35605773980950929332008-04-07T23:54:00.005-04:002008-06-25T13:57:09.322-04:00

Spring is here, and with this season of renewal, I am starting this blog. Each week I will write about the wonderful foods available at the NYC Greenmarkets, how to use them, and why they are good for you. I will talk about farms and farmers, local events and news.I will also post about the newly-founded Lower East Side CSA and help my friends make the most of the wonderful food we will be

Sandra Dubrovnoreply@blogger.com0