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Saturday 16 June 2018

Take These Five For A June Harvest !

Romaine (or Cos) Lettuce



Romaine*, or Cos lettuces as they are also known, have a long, oval head of tightly packed crisp leaves.
Little Gem is a miniature version.
Cos Lettuce is believed to have originated on the Greek Island of Kos.
*In the US there has been serious problems with Romaine Lettuces, read more in this article 'Is it safe to eat romaine lettuce now?' here
See recipe suggestion here


Courgette/Zucchini



A member of the summer squash family, courgettes are harvested when young to ensure a stronger, sweeter flavour. Choose small, firm courgettes and store them in the fridge.
See recipe suggestion here

Watercress



Back in the 1800's, hawkers in London sold bunches of watercress, which were bought and eaten as snacks.
Like its cousin mustard, watercress has a strong smell and a bold peppery taste, as hinted by its Latin name, Nasturtium officinale - Nasturtium means nose twister !
Both the leaves and the stem are edible - just remove (or finely chop) any thicker stems, which can be tough.
See recipe suggestion here

Broccoli



Broccoli is thought to have been introduced to Britain from Italy in the 1700's, when it was sometimes called 'Italian Asparagus'. It's name translates as 'little arms'.
Like kale and cabbage, broccoli is a brassica, and is high in Vitamin C and folic acid. Although the stalks are tough, they are still edible. Best stored in an airtight bag in the fridge.

See recipe suggestion here

Strawberries



These wonderful berries are at their best from now until September.
Store fruit un-washed in the fridge but bring to room temperature before eating to maximise their flavour. Strawberries have the highest Vitamin C content within the berry family.
See recipe suggestion here

Idea for article from Tesco Magazine.
I wonder … have you a favourite among these?

All the best Jan

37 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

You've got all of my faves here. Hugs, Valerie

Jo said...

I like all five but strawberries have to be my favourite. The Pick Your Own farm nearby has just opened so I'll be having a trip soon.

Tom said...

...the harvest is beginning!

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Dina and I trekked to the farmers market and loaded up on green carbs we don't normally eat...while I was typing Dina returned from the regular grocery. Bought plain Greek yogurt...think we'll be trying that broccoli-cauliflower recipe from the other day. Hm...never have tasted plain yogurt. You may be changing our lives.

:)

Snowbird said...

I like all of those!xxx

Iris Flavia said...

Never thought mustard and watercress are related! Our cress... again! looks different, or is! Broccoli, big yum!

eileeninmd said...

these are some of my favorites. We are enjoying the strawberries right now!
Enjoy your day and weekend!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Cos lettuce is my fav in summer Jan, the leaves work well shredded or as the perfect wrap for something delicious ☺ Enjoy your weekend ✨

Sandi said...

Have you made zucchini pasta?

Lowcarb team member said...

Sandi said:
"Have you made zucchini pasta?"

Hi Sandi
Many thanks for your comment.
Yes, we enjoy eating courgettes/zucchini and have got quite used to them within our menu plans. Of course it is different from actual pasta but we like the substitute/swap … especially as husband Eddie is a Type 2 diabetic.

Some recipes can be fiddly but I always think them worth doing, just have to make sure I allow time.

This recipe thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/2016/03/spinach-and-ricotta-lasagne-with_18.html

and this one https://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/2016/09/ricotta-and-almond-courgette-ravioli.html

are well worth trying.

We also enjoy eggplant/aubergines as a lower carb alternative to lasagne.

All the best Jan

Christine said...

Wonderful colourful food!

William Kendall said...

Strawberries, of course!

Bob Bushell said...

What a selection of vegetables, I love them all, thanks Jan.

Kay G. said...

Just to say, strawberries in England are just amazing!

A Cuban In London said...

Lovely and colourful post. :-)

Greetings from London.

Amy Purdy said...

I have never tried watercress. I will have to do so soon.

Betty J. Crow said...

We are starting to get fresh garden vegetables. The zucchini and strawberries are my favorites of these, but love them all.

Anonymous said...

Strawberries for me.

Tina

Lorrie said...

We enjoy all of these. The strawberries are at their top just now. So sweet and juicy.

Elephant's Child said...

Our winter has finally arrived. I am in soup mode at the moment, and made a huge batch yesterday which included some of these gems. No strawberries in my soup though.

Sue said...

I'm very lucky, I do love my fruit and veg, and strawberries are close to the top of my list! xx

carol l mckenna said...

So healthy! And even the photos suggest health with the green items ~

Happy Weekend to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)

This N That said...

I love Strawberry salad..I'lll have to find a substitute for the Zucchini...;) Our Strawberries are at their peak now so I have been taking advantage of that. Enjoy the rest of your weekend..

Pam said...

Not a big strawberry fan unless they are dipped in .......you know....CHOCOLATE! haha and I will eat Broccoli if I can hide it in some other food. Yep, I am not a big fan of that either.But I do love Brussel Sprouts! Cabbage, green beans and my fave is the worst one for you...corn! Oh, well I do get some greens in and I love oranges and bananas.

JFM said...

Love fresh veggies and fruits...even their colors are good for you...cheerful :)

Hugs

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I purchased some romaine the last time I was at the grocery store. I made sure it was NOT from Arizona before I purchased it.

I love strawberries just like they are. They should never be mixed with anything, but eaten with their little hats still on them.

In the past, I have grown zucchini with great success. This year ALL my veggies have died, so there will be only those purchased in a store for me. I love everything you shared today, with the possible exception of water cress which I am not sure I've ever tasted.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

I eat all of these and love them ---especially in Summer when they are SO fresh.... Thanks for sharing.

Hugs,
Betsy

handmade by amalia said...

I think all five would go well together in a nice salad.
Amalia
xo

Marleen said...

We have some strawberry plants in the garden, they are at their best now!

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

I'm a piggy when it comes to all of these five. It was a huge relief when the romaine got the "all clear" to eat again.

Teresa said...

Mi favoritos lechuga y brocoli. Un beso.

Out on the prairie said...

I like to make a cream soup with the cress, it grows in many of the streams I fish in for trout.

Carla from The River said...

YES!! Strawberries are ripe here in Wisconsin. :-)

Conniecrafter said...

The band has lifted for the Romaine here but I still decided to grow my own but the problem is you have to pick it and it won't last forever and so it will only help for a short time, the weather is getting too hot now for it to last in the garden.

DMS said...

Helpful tips about storing and enjoying these treats. I love strawberries! :)
~Jess

Linda said...

The romaine lettuce contamination has scared me. It's sad because I ate it almost daily.

Magic Love Crow said...

Love them all! Great post, thank you!