vegetables

It’s that time of year again! Summer is here, or rather, a few short days away, marking the return of many of the city’s farmer’s markets and their bounties of fresh and local summer fruits and vegetables. Don’t want to miss your favorites? Here’s a quick guide to the summer’s harvests.  Summer Guide to Philly’s Farmer’s Markets:

Ah, spring produce is finally here! I don't know about you guys but I've had about all the apples, pears and winter citrus I can handle for a while. It's time for some variety. When it comes to the best of spring produce here's what to choose, how to pick the best of the best and a few seasonal recipes to boot:

These days it seems everyone from Gwyneth to your Dad is pushing the benefits of fresh juice. Perhaps you've tried a juice cleanse yourself or maybe you are on the other end of the spectrum and the sight of the "green stuff" makes you ill. I'm certainly not a health care professional nor a dietitian but what I've found when it comes to juicing is... moderation is key. (Duh?!) Here are 5 reasons to get your juice on, plus why too much of a good thing ain't always a good thang.

I'm a big fan of dishes that can be easily customized based on what's in season in your area. And, by what you happen to have in your kitchen at the given moment. This recipe serves as a perfect example ( ugh sorry unintentional pun!) Risotto, traditionally created with arborio rice is delicious. But I find all the stirring and standing over the stove unappealing at the end of a long day. This variation using quinoa is less time-consuming, and high in fiber and protein. And, it's creamy and comforting like traditional risotto. Click through for the recipe.

I can be a procrastinator... and due to the weather/vacations/etc, I've delayed on planting my back porch city garden. Starting a garden isn't an easy task - some plants can be easier to grow and benefit from than others. Luckily, I got some advice from MNN's Mother Nature Network to help my planting:

It finally feels like spring! The warmer weather has my body craving seasonal fruits and veggies that feel like a treat after the long winter. You really can get delicious produce in the Philadelphia region that doesn’t have a ridiculous carbon footprint. (New Jersey tomatoes anyone? ) Here’s some of what’s in season in the Northeast for Spring:

Now that we've revealed the Dirty Dozen, it's time to reveal the "Clean 15", or produce that's OK to buy non-organic. Most often, fruits & veggies that have "thick skins" tend to be safe for consumption. Here they are, ranked starting from lowest in pesticides:

57% of women believe that organic food is better for them, but only 26% will go out of their way to buy it, finds New Hope Natural Media. When you're strolling through the grocery store, it's easy to see that Organic costs more. But people who eat the 12 most contaminated fruits & veggies consume an average of 10 pesticides a day. You don't have to buy everything organic, but here's the 'Dirty Dozen" of fruits that you should buy organic, ranked from worst to bad: