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The Food Enthusiast Blog: cooking tips and tasty recipes
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The Most Dependable Vegetable - Swiss ChardOnce I started growing it in my own garden, I became even more of a fan. It's very easy to grow and tolerates poor soil. It withstands frost and mild freezes and even does well with little attention from you. You can plant it early and often and harvest from spring through fall depending on your growing zone or location. Even if you've never gardened before, Swiss chard is a perfect way to start. You can grow it in containers in addition to growing in a regular garden bed. This makes it perfect for urban gardeners as well as rural ones. You can grow any variety of Swiss chard in a container, but there is a variety called 'Pot of Gold' that is recommended for them. Its' Stems are a beautiful bright yellow. There is also an heirloom with white ribs, but my favorite is still bright lights or neon glow. They grow in a mix of colors including red, white and yellow. One cup of Swiss chard has 700% of your vitamin K, 109% vitamin A, 50% vitamin C, and fiber for about 35 calories! It really is a nutritional powerhouse. And it's easy to cook, too. You can cook it by itself with a little olive oil and garlic. Served up on your best dinnerware with cornbread and some beans you have a complete southern meal. This veg works in stews and soups, just add it just before serving. Chard can have a bitter taste if cooked too long. I made a great Indian inspired stew with yellow split lentil, sweet potatoes and chard. I added some onion sautéed in turmeric, garam masala and cumin. It was delicious and looked awesome served over rice on my favorite Noritake colorwave accent plates. Make sure to give this vegetable a place at your table this year. You'll be glad you did. Author: Kathy Hester Posted: Friday 7th May 2010, 12:50 AM Back To Food Enthusiast Blog |
