Fresh Foodie

Kid, It's a Goat's World

"Hey Kid, you know, you really should stay in your cage!" is what I thought as I stood outside the cage of this cute pair. They were pretty hungry, so I wasn't able to get much out of them, but the lighter one is the goat in question here...

A few days ago, someone decided to play a little prank and decided to remove the goat from Marshall's Farmstand in Gloucester and put it in someone's apartment in Essex. Basically, the people woke up and found a goat in their home. What was he doing? Was he just standing next to their bed? Was he eating their socks? Was he starting breakfast for them? I wonder. Maybe they kept him around at least until the coffee was ready; goat's milk is fabulous as a substitute for cow's milk if you are lactose intollerant and it's delicious. (Goats milk has 9 g lactose and cow's milk has 11 g). Some research is showing that goat's milk may help with the metablosim of minerals and can help with iron related anemia, plus there are anti-inflammatory compounds that may help with easier digestion. 

According to the USDA, just in 2006, there were 288,000 registered milk goat’s in the US. I'm not sure if our little prankster goat here in Gloucester is a milk goat, but if he is, the milk production is seasonal and results in the milk having slight consistency differences throughout the year which would contribute to all products that the goat's milk is used for. I have tried goat's milk by the glass, goat milk yogurt, and goat milk cheese; love them all. Goat's cheese these days is common in salads with walnuts and perhaps strawberries,  it is often used as a spread with cristinis and jam, or in a grilled vegetable sandwhich; I would recommend trying this goat's yogurt (shown below) at least once. You will be pleasantly surprised!

Look for this brand:  

 

I figured I'd share a little about Henry's home stomping grounds, otherwise known as MARSHALL'S FARM STAND in Gloucester, MA near Wingaersheek Beach.  Small and quaint, they have a wide variety and sell many local favorites such as Richardson's Ice Cream, Vergillios's Bread, Winfrey's Chocolates, The Pie Guy pies, and more. They even make their own soda. Take a look, and if you are in the neighbrhood, they have plenty of pupkins for your Halloween festivities. Are you dressing up??

 

 

Stay tuned for my review of the Boston Local Food Festival that took place October 1st, and no, Henry the Gloucester Goat was not there :)

 'Till next time...

xo Fresh Foodie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tyson Recalls Ground Beef Due To E. Coli Scare

CINCINNATI — Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. is recalling about 131,300 pounds of ground beef because a family in Ohio fell ill after eating meat produced by the company that was contaminated with E. coli, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported Wednesday.

via www.huffingtonpost.com

IN with the New...and OUT with the Bad (Meat)!

I wouldn't call myself a true red meat-eater because I really only end up eating fillet mignon or steak tips about once a month, yet recently I am pretty into the good old fashioned hamburger. I do tend to substitute lean turkey burger instead and trust me, you will have to look for my agave ginger recipe (coming soon)! On my recent vacation though, after seeing all the grass-fed beef burger joints, I went for it at Burger Lounge. LOVED it! I felt like I was reaquainted with an old childhood friend and I suppose, in many ways, I was. I mean, I hadn't had a real red-meat hamburger for years! (add cheezy love music here)

Then, my hosts kept telling me I need to go to In-N-Out.   I had heard of this place before, but was pretty sure I wasn't interested in any fast food.

 ***I may go to a Burger King for a veggie burger if I'm really stuck...but that's about it. Well, actually, MacDonald's Newman's Own Organic coffee is quite good as well. Yet, the styrofoam cups (that are as thick as the bottom of a draft glass) or the fact that I have no idea where the milk is truly coming from since it is  MacDonald's brand and not the non-rRBH hormone using Hood company, as I see in most Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks locations; I'm not so sure the organic factor of the coffee trumps the anti-GREEN and possible hormone laden variables to make the coffee win any gold stars in my opinion. Again.... when you are in a jam though, and it comes to coffee.... sometimes you do what you have to. Can I get an "AMEN" out there, coffee drinkers, please?!

 

Needless to say, when I drove up to the In-n-Out, I think the only thing that got me to commit any further was the fact that on the awning there were PALM TREES!! I guess almost everything in SoCal has palm trees on it, but still, this was got me in the door. I was surprised- the place was clean and I mean really clean. All the aprons and hats were a crisp Clorox white, the counters were shining bright and so were the girl's teeth as she smiled to take my order (always a good sign). There are only burgers, fries, soda drinks or milkshakes available at any In-N-Out, but this is because they specialize in these items and make them fresh. Their food is free of additives, fillers or preservatives of any kind and they make everything fresh to order, there are no heat lamps! They even have an In-N-Out "University" where new managers are trained the "In-N-Out formula".

  *** yes, even I gave in to Fast-Food nation on vacation!

This family business goes above and beyond for their customers . I'm not sure, but perhaps having a Christian-based influence since the founding of In-N-Out has helped. I mean, with a company that basically believes in the "golden rule" but in more of a Biblical context, I think it's certainly as asset to their service structure. Health-wise, the single hamburger with onion, L&T, and with ketchup instead of spread runs in at: 310 cal, 10g fat, 4g sat fat, 730 mg sodium, 41g carbs, 16g protein, 20g Iron.     

 

I know we are talking about fast food here (gasp!), but I just wanted to give In-N-Out some credit for maintaining the same quality of freshness and service since 1948.

THAT SAID, I must discuss the difference between most commercial meat, organic meat, and grass-fed meat....

There are so many cattle in this country- even the private ranches still can have between 60,000 and 120,000 cattle in their feedlots. Harris Ranch, the ranch In-N-Out, Costco, Albertson's, and Safeway use, is much better than many commercial ranches where a cattle most likely spends its entire life indoors. It is fed unnatural grain diets (the corn is from the mega CornBelt in the midwest where farmers are almost being forced my a company named, Monsanto, to use genetically modified corn seeds to plant their fields). Cattle are not supposed to eat grain, their DNA requires grass, therefore, when they do eat the the grain, they become sick; antibiotics of all kinds are given to ensure the cattle don't get/ remain sick. Antibiotics are also needed to prevent disease causing bacterium (such as the deadly E.coli 0157) that the cows get from standing in their own feces because they are so crowded. I'm assuming you may have heard about how we are becoming more resistant to antibiotics, and this issues is not helping. Also, to fasten the growth and production of milk or the size of the cattle itself, many hormones are also used which carry over into their milk and into your glass or your cereal bowl. Extra hormones= not good.

So, Harris Ranch prides itself on testing to ensure zero antibiotic residue and that their cattle are free-range 80% of their lives. This is a positive move, yet organic meat is the only sure way to know that cattle are

• treated humanely
• fed organic (non-Genetically modified) food
• NO antibiotics and NO hormones

"Organic" does not always mean "grass-fed" though. Health-wise, grass-fed beef has more balanced good and bad cholesterol, is lower in total fat, and has a higher amount of something called CLA. What sounds like an acronym for a Los Angeles college, CLA is actually a type of fatty acid: Conjugated Linoleic Acid. CLA can reduce some tumor growth and has shown to destroy existing tumor cells! (www.das.psu.edu/research-extension/dairy/nutrition/pdf/das0488cla.pdf). The emerging research on CLA is showing that this healthy fat is fighting obesity, cancer, and diabetes in lab animals. Hmmm....

$$$$$$$ What do you do on a budget though??!$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ 

Grass-Fed, and even just Organic meat is very expensive. It's a tough call. In my opinion, it tastes three times better, and I know it's better for me, and for the the greater good of the cattle.  But what can a girl do on a post-grad budget? It seems possible to go organic in almost every other area; with store brands now carrying their own organic line, such as the 365 brand from Whole Foods, more market brands should foolow suit and begin their own organic practices when it comes to the butchery and deli departments. You can find great deals on grains, produce, frozen foods, bakery items, etc... you can find great CSA's (Comunity Supported Agriculture) or farmers markets- where's the best MEAT? And what about dining out?!

Grass-fed beef serving restaurants are increasing in the Boston area, but very slowly. There IS a burger place on Mass Ave in Cambridge, and also on Boyleston St in Boston.  Four Burgers  sells great grass-fed hamburgers, and even salmon burgers for a great price.  Also, I remember seeing a diner style restaurant with the line out the door in Jamaica Plain by City Feed and Supply, (an all natural market) as well as T.W. Food in Cambridge, and Local 149 in South Boston.

Hope this helps you people.... 'cuz, as if it isn't already tough enough out there.... to find quality MEAT, gosh... it's almost harder than finding quality, well, I'll leave that one up to you.... :)

xoxo - Fresh Foodie

 

 

 

Today's Dietitian

Today's Dietitian

I guess I wasn't the only one interested in reporting on California EVOO!!

What nice COCONUTS you have there!

Any beach on the west coast or the east coast will do for me, I really just need to see the ocean and have a nice long beach available on a regular basis. Yesterday at one of my 'go-to"  running beaches, I met up with a good friend. Do you remember me mentioning  West Beach in my last post?

   

There was something about the lighting, the air, and the way the clouds spread over the sky that brought the east coast into fair competition with the infamous west coast beaches. The day was stunning! Here are a couple pics more from my run.... can you tell which one is from Cali?!

 

I have a picture of a bottle in the mix there. I got that from VIDALIA'S! Yes, I went back already; I mean it's right around the corner from West Beach, just as I had mentioned. There's a new kind of coconut water and I  just had to give it a try to see if it compared to some of my other top choices.

First of all, we are talking about coconuts here, which meeeeeeans...... COCONUT TREES!!!! Any of you who know me well enough, absolutely know how much I love these beautiful palms. They are sexy and they lead me to the sun! There isn't one piece of the palm tree that isn't used after it (usually) grows almost 100 ft tall; whether the leaves are used for woven baskets, or the trunks are used in construction... the coconut palm is the most resourceful tree.

Of course,  there are sooooo many products the coconut is used for. Let's brainstorm: coconut cream pie, coconut munchkins, coconut shrimp, coconut macaroons, many Thai dishes with coconut and curry, and think of all the coconut drinks like Pina Coladas and Malibu rum! It's in so many baked goods as coconut oil (not that I am promoting oil with such high saturated fat, it's just the truth), and as my dear friend would point out it is often the oil banana chips are fried in. All are not the healthiest, but I cannot lie if I said they were not tastey.

So, one of the fantastic things we get from these coconut palms is the coconut water. About 2 glassfulls per coconut to be exact. They get the water in a young coconut after about 6-7 monthes, where coconut milk is often from a mature coconut after about 1 year old. Anyway, let's keep it healthy and highlight how refreshing an ice cold coconut water is over ice... umbrella and swirly pink straw optional :)

The latest claim is that coconut water is similar to Gatorade, having the electrolytes needed to replenish a great workout. There are told stories about how the water is so similar to human blood plasma that in WWII surgeons actually replaced the IV they had in patients and used pure coconut water. After some further investigation, there was only a single episode documented, so I wouldn't expect any substitutions during your next hospital visit... just drink it and enjoy the fresh flavor on your tongue, not from an IV. With low natural sugar, high potassium and low calorie, it makes for a perfect thirst quencher.

Now, I'm all for an all-natural approach to drinking anything, and coconut water is a fantastic way to replenish hydration, but keep in mind that water will work just fine if you are not a professional athlete. (If you are, and you are reading this, please don't hesitate to leave your contact info :) Much of the latest coconut water trend may be just that- sales, sales, sales. Of course, I have fallen for a couple trending brands myself, so I certainly would recommend at least trying coconut water if you haven't already!

Here. I have a few to tell you about...

CoCo Exposed by ALO Drinks

I saw this while waiting for my now favorite curry chicken salad from Vidalia's and was unfamiliar with the CoCo label. They had a green one that seemed to be the original, yellow for more citrus, a few other colors, but come on, it's me here, so I chose the pink which had goji berry and lychee. The interesting thing about this coconut water is that it is combined with aloe vera. Aloe vera has been in the limelight for a soothing internal as well as external homeopathic remedy. I can totally get the concept and have even tried aloe juice myself (however it tasted awful in the supplement form). Studies are showing that aloe vera may lower potassium levels which can be dangerous, especially on blood thinner meds. I suppose they added coconut water which is high in potassium to make up for causing lower potassium in the body? Who knows... however, on the flip side, studies have also shown that it may help lower colitis symptoms. Either way, there were bits of aloe pulp in my coconut water, which was different, and to be honest the goji berry/lychee was nice, but I couldn't taste the coconut at all. In fact, it SORT OF tasted like the end of a mixed drink.... you know, when the ice dilutes the last sip of a cocktail. Yeah. ALO Drink brand has received a bunch of awards and I like their design, their mission, etc, but breaking into the coconut water segment may be better left to those that want to sell COCONUT tasting coconut water.

Zico Pure Premium Coconut Water   

You should go to the Zico website; it's full of inspiring graphics. Zico is the "Official Coconut Water of Professional Football Players". They clearly went for the whole, replenish-after-a-hard-workout message to its consumers. This was probably the a good choice, considering there are so many children athletes, high school through college players and especially professional athletes. I mean, if Kevin Garnett is drinking Zico Coconut water after his workout... ph-ff, I sure as heck better do the same after mine! Did you know that according to ConsumerLab.com Zico is the only brand in the US that keeps true to the levels of nutrients in their label? They mentioned Vita CoCo having 85% of the sodium and O.N.E. having 35% of Magnesium listed. Um, I think that is either really wrong, or really bad. I liked how the founder of Zico left his job and started in NJ just handing out samples in yoga studios for two years and were backed by Honest Tea, and Nantucket Nectars as investors to get big. The coconuts used are from Brazil and Indonesia palms; there are many flavors including pomberry, lima citron (perhaps a great cocktail mixer?) and even CHOCOLATE. I have yet to try any but the original, and I am not sure I am into chocolate water, but I think the Zico is pretty good. No.... its good good.

Taste Nirvana: Real Coconut Water

Okay, so we get to the final contestant and I must say straight up, this is my favorite. In this curve-shaped glass bottle, the eco-friendly Moody International company makes the purest, smoothest tasting coconut water I've had yet! The plant runs on steam energy (hello GREEN!!!) and it prides itself on high standards of operation following HACCP (FDA management system that ensures proper production, material handling, and consumption practices). There is no bitterness to the water and I believe this is much to do with the coconut palm origin. These coconuts are from Thailand palms, the "land of the coconut".  I've got to say, I've only found this brand in Barnes & Noble Bookstores and Whole Foods, and maybe a couple private cafes, but I will usually wait to get my Thai treat until I am at these locations. It's just too good! Sweet, sort of a nutty undertone, and BEST ON ICE! (give me the pink straw AND the umbrella too)

 

Okay, there you go people.... I hope you try one of these coconut waters and let me know what you think. All of them run about $2.59-$2.99 and at roughly 11 oz, you will get about 120 calories and 14g sugar in most.

I guess I was feeling a little competitive today, since it was Sunday Football! The West Coast may have my heart for the beaches and palms..... but East Coast took the win today from the Pats vs. Chargers game! Hmmmm..... you think he had enough COCONUT WATER at Gillette after the game? I'm sure he held off on the umbrella... but maybe not the pink swirly straw ;)

 

'Till next time..... stay fresh.

 

 xoxo Fresh Foodie   

 

 

 

 

 

No Goggles Needed....

Has anyone ever told you, "You're as sweet as a Georgia peach?" Well, perhaps they meant to say as sweet as a Georgia Vidalia onion. If you are from the North East, such as myself, you may not have known that Vidalia Onions, those sweet white onions that are so versatile in any cuisine, are only grown in Georgia. It's actually not so much a matter of where they DO grow, as much as where CAN they grow?

Because of the soil down in Georgia, the sweet onions contain less sulfur and more water. Usually, its the sulfuric acid that is released when you start slicing those layers upon layers for salads, pizzas, stir fry dishes, sausages, you name it! That acid gets in the air hovering over your ripe onions and bam! Pull out the goggles, grab a tissue box, next thing you know you look like you just watched The Notebook.

Not the case for sweet Vidalia Onions; not the case, either, for my venture over to Beverly Farms for an amazing visit to Vidalia's!

   

 

(THIS IS AN ADD IN MY FAVORITE FREE PERIODICAL:  EDIBLE  Magazine

Edible is full of local food articles, recipes, highlights of local activities, and TONS of adds from the best grocers, restaurants, non-profits, farms, and more! (Edible Magazine website)

It doesn't surprise me how pleased I was with the goodies I found at Vidalia's....

Again, the mission was lunch, this time for two. First of all, let me just mention that having street front property in this hidden jewel of the North Shore makes for great traffic because you can't miss this market if you are passing through town. Beverly Farms, or 'the Farms...', is a small pocket of Beverly before Manchester-By-The-Sea. In fact, one of my favorite beaches is about 1/4 mile from Vidalia's, called West beach. (Great 4th of July fireworks celebration here)

With a few glances to my right I kept going past the chocolate chip muffins and whoopie pies, and headed to the back (although, as you can see, they looked like they'd fit perfect in my shopping bag, then perfect at home on my counter, but not so perfect on my hips.... so I kept moving forward).

Hello amazing! This is the piece of pizza I brought home to share. Your job right now- just read and salivate: almost-a-sourdough pizza crust base, topped with blue cheese, roasted leeks, FRESH figs and the sweetest prosciutto, finished with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

The other prepared item I bought was just-the-right-amount-of-curry chicken salad with added raisins in a spinach wrap. Yes, my dear chef... take a bow... because not only did I LOVE the balance of all these flavors, but how nice it was to be able to sample before I committed to regular or curry.

Someone better take note of my new found love of chicken salad (well, THIS chicken salad), because in about 4 decades when that is on the menu almost everyday, Vidalia's curry chicken salad best be still available or I may be on the crankier side of the rocker! :) I'm just kidding. This is exactly the kind of chicken salad that will keep me from any rocker at all. Indian curry is one of those super spices that may help with the prevention of Alzheimer's Disease!

Let's go back to the figs for a second, except think dried.  Somewhat similar, is something we call the dried DATE. (no, I'm not talking the somewhat boring and dull date you had last weekend with the CEO of I-Have-No-Personality, Inc.)  I'm talking about the yummy, chewy bits of Nature's candy, commonly associated with the food of the God's. As I was paying, there was a friendly woman behind the counter (who I will call Vidalia, because although 'vidalia' is an onion, I think it makes for a great name); she placed an amazing display before me with toasted table crackers, cheese and what I thought was jelly. With little slivers of almonds and bits of dates in these round crackers, don't they just look delicious? Accompanying this display was St. Andre cheese from Coutances, France and an Italian pear mustarda, which is like a chutney of sorts. Again, H-e-l-l-o AMAZING!!! Sweet. Tart. Crunchy. Nutty. A tiny bit spicy. Love.

 

 

The crackers were from Lesley Stowe: Whole grain goodness, and perfect for wine and cheese pairings!

This amazing pear mustarda is usually added to a roast or soft cheeses, such as St. Andre.

Needless to say, from the free samples, the quaint ambiance, the gourmet ingredients with an antique boutique-ness decor, I am far impressed and I am excited to try more. I also bought fresh red-leaf romaine lettuce that perhaps 'Vidalia' grew herself. This is one more example of how absolutely trustworthy Edible Magazine is with who they advertise, and of course, I found a fabulous issue of Edible right at the counter.

 

Now in case you didn't know, because I certainly did not know this, but with further research I found there is actually an entire festival dedicated to Vidalia Onions! These people gather for AIR FORCE air shows with A-10s, a concert, Miss Vidalia Pageant (including Jr. and Little Miss) and lots of onion creations from arts and crafts to recipes even your grandmother couldn't copy. All this at the Vidalia Onion Festival in Georgia. Ha!

So there you go. I have a new appreciation for onions, yet I never really had any particular opinion to begin with. Just that I liked them in my food, but not in my breath; and I sure don't like to cut the kinds that make your eyes tear up. Go ahead and try a new recipe with these sweet white vidalias.... you won't need to wear any goggles slicing them in your kitchen and I assure you, you won't need to wear any when you head to Vidalia's in 'the Farm's'... 

 

(but just in case you feel like looking super cool- goggles found here :)

 

'Till next Time..... Stay Fresh!

 

-Fresh Foodie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COZY in COVEN

It isn't too often that I venture into Salem, MA, but the other day I needed to find two things: a good sandwich and Wi-Fi. Of course, I could have gone my traditional route with the good 'ole Starbucks, but to tell you the truth, I am underpressed with their food selection. Though pre-packaged in their cute display case, I feel I am paying more for the plastic container than the amount of food that comes with...

Hunger led me in a different direction. I have found that my handy dandy AROUND ME app' usually saves me from a navigational twist. 

LOST: ME..... FOUND: COVEN

This day called for a nice turkey sandwich, and that is just what I found at Coven Market on Essex St. in Salem. Now, I try to keep things healthy (obviously) and when eating out, I try to also keep it as organic, as local, as gluten-free and as tasty as possible.

What I liked about this place was how I immediately saw signs for Gluten-Free breads, pastries, brownies, cupcakes, etc. They advertised VEGAN and VEGETARIAN menus too. However, my eye was on the Boar's Head.

Sure, Boar's Head turkey deli meats are not organic, BUT... they ARE gluten-free, all natural, no fillers (which is gross to me), no artificial colors or flavors, low sodium, low fat, PLUS, they have been in business since 1905. Done deal, sandwich made on gluten-free toast, and I was a happy girl.

  

  As you can see, I was given a fantastic portion of deli meat, and unexpectedly received this wonderful side mixed greens salad with one of the most delicately sweet balsamic dressings I've ever tasted with just enough tang leave me wanting every last drop.

Now, I do believe that the food is priority in this type of establishment, then atmosphere and service are a dueling factor fighting for second place, and third would be price, location, etc. I can't say anything bad about any of these, as I enjoyed the artsy collection on the walls, the board game tables, the high ceilings, wood flooring... all great....

               

.....the only thing that really sort of, well, I guess struck me for a bit of TACKY and OUT OF PLACE, was the large cereal containers that were placed upon the beverage refridgerator. I understand there was a "cereal bar" for the morning, and though artificially flavored sugary/chemically laden cereal I definitely do not encourage, I am sure this is a selling point for kids in the morning.

WHY these monsterous boxes though. I felt for a moment as though I walkig the isles of Market Basket (maybe you have not noticed them there, but I always see the gargantuine cereal boxes on the freezers).

So, okay, cute, but, in my opinion, doesn't fit right. I don't know... what do you guys think?

Besides this adverting opp for General Mills, my lunch was fabulous. I would go back if I was in the area, basically.

       

 

B+, COVEN!!!!

 

'till next time.....   stay fresh!

 

-Fresh Foodie xoxo

 

 

 

 

Cows go "MOO", Olives go "EVOO"- California's Organic Olive Oil at it's Best

 MARIAN'S EVOO: 

Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Unfiltered

  

  Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Unfiltered

As some of you may know, my recent trip to SoCal was inspiring and rejuvenating for me helping me to hone in on my love for travel and food. Last night I decided to keep dinner rather simple with fresh ORGANIC greens and a small handful of parsley, chopped cucumbers, chopped tomatoes,  a few crushed pita chips used as croutons, and a dash of Parmesan cheese. 

What made my dinner salad stand apart from simplicity was the olive oil with white balsamic vinegar. This is the most fruity, fresh, and DELICIOUS olive oil I have had in a long time!

I picked up this small bottle at one of the San Diego county's largest farmers markets in Little Italy. My mind was enthralled with curiosity and my tongue was relishing the many tastes from samples from juices to gluten-free pastries. When I came across this particular stand, a very congenial older man started telling me about this olive oil. Originally, he was trying to sell me on the avocado oil. Though I love any avocado product, my sample of organic extra virgin olive oil from Temacula Valley Olive Ranch farm "had me at hello".

What I love about shopping for products at the farmer's market, is that I can learn and converse with the actual producers and their staff. This gentleman and his assistant told me all about the Shellaberger's and how their estate had been growing olives since 1966. The olives here are hand picked and pressed within 24 hours. 
  

Best of all, these are certified organically grown olives and because of that, I cannot express to you the difference in taste. With so many health benefits of EVOO, it is hard to find a bad oil (unless it has turned rancid), but with this product, it's hard not to taste the fresh heart healthy nutritious benefits in each drop. Karen Collins, a Registered Dietitian wrote Olive oil brings more than flavor to your diet: Rich in antioxidants, it boosts the cancer-fighting benefits of other foods, an article for www.msnbc.com. She states that, “Monounsaturated oils seem to cause less production of the bile acids in the digestive tract that promote colon cancer development." In addition to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, the monounsaturated fatty acids are ,“less likely to generate the free radicals that create harmful blood cholesterol." This basically means that your LDL's are not going to rise- this is a good thing for your heart and circulatory system. Although I feel its obvious that the purest form is healthiest, Ms. Collins also advises to choose "extra virgin" for highest health benefits.

 

The anti-oxidants and preventative cancer qualities of EVOO ironically bring up another point I would like to add towards my appreciation and approval of this wonderful oil. Sure, maybe I am akin to the fact that I found this product on my vacation, and with fantastical freedom, sun-kissed and starry-eyed, I still believe my scrutiny for how I choose to spend my dollar is based upon an educated and realistic deciphering of opinion. That said, one quality I truly appreciate is that "Marion" was the owner's wife; she was part of the founding partnership that created the beginnings of this company; she is the woman this EVOO is named after; and she also lost a battle with ovarian cancer.

 

 

Each bottle has this picture on its side, and I am sure that each bottle touches the heart of every customer when they read that ten percent of the profits go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund (www.ocrf.org). I know I love contributing to products that give back, and to see a personal connection with the owners and why they choose to support the OCRF just might make this EVOO taste all the better...

In any case, perhaps it is difficult for you to get to SoCal to try this oil.... perhaps it is just as difficult to having ME serve you some from MY bottle. Yet, if you are still interested, you can find a wonderful online distributor at www.oliveoilsource.com.  You may have to do some searching, but I am sure you can find Marian's EVOO in there with the rest of them!

Take care and stay fresh....

-Fresh Foodie

 

 

Introducing....

FIRST and FOREMOST....   

This drink that is set to the background was a little creation of mine, yet inspired by an article I saw in Whole Living magazine:

Pureed honeydew Melon

Muddled cucumber

Skyy Vodka

(splash of St. Germain)

garnish with cucumber slices, as you choose to design them..

 

***stay tuned for my first REAL post :)