Fall in Love with Spinach

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 17 people | Log in to rate

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My First Taste of Spinach

When did you first try spinach? Can you remember back that far?

I was in first-grade, eating lunch in my school cafeteria. A boy told me the green stuff on my tray was seaweed. Dark, slimy strands swam in juice that pooled under my grilled cheese sandwich. It smelled strangely like my brother's dirty socks.

This lens isn't about awful stringy, slimy spinach. It's about how many delicious ways this good-for-you veggie can be prepared. I was an adult before I started experimenting with spinach recipes, and you know what?

Spinach is now one of my favorite foods, not only because it's packed with vitamins, but because it's just plain good.


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Hooray for Spinach!

Researchers have identified at least 13 different flavonoid compounds in spinach that function as antioxidants and as anti-cancer agents.

My Slimy Spinach Dilemma 

...the rest of the story


So after that mouthy first-grade kid told me about the "seaweed" on my plate, I decided to remedy the situation fast. I dumped my spinach in my half-empty milk carton, picked up my tray, and headed toward the exit.

I parked my tray on the designated dirty-dish table near the door, and was about to step outside when I felt a strong hand on my shoulder.

"Just where do you thnk you're going, young lady?"

It was my short, stocky principal, Mr.Herman. And he wasn't smiling!
Seems he'd done a little investigative work, and discovered my milk-carton burial. In one swift motion, he dumped my slimy spinach--milk and all--back onto the lunch tray and pointed me back to my table.

He only showed mercy when I swore I was going to throw up, and then made convincing sounds to prove it.

So ended my early spinach years. It would be 20 years before I had the nerve to even try it again. Pathetic, but true.

The Great Spinach Debate 

raw or cooked - which is best?

How do you like your spinach?

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Raw, used like lettuce for salads.

mulberry says:

Raw, although I'll eat in other baked dishes too.

Posted May 16, 2009

lakeerieartists says:

I only like spinach raw unless it is in another food like a dip or omelette. Weird, huh?

Posted February 17, 2009

Miriam says:

Raw with a citrus vinaigrette, some citrus sections (usually grapefruit and tangerines, but it depends on what I can find) and some avocado slices.

Posted January 05, 2009

seedplanter says:

I eat it cooked occasionally, but like raw spinach best. I always keep a bag of fresh spinach on hand for my salads.

Posted January 05, 2009

Cooked with all the trimmings.

WhitU4ever says:

Sauted with garlic!

Posted May 16, 2009

3c86a4 says:

I love wilted spinach with garlic.

Posted January 19, 2009

Paula says:

Cooked mostly, but I also like it raw. I especially like it creamed!

Posted January 05, 2009

 

"Boiled Spinach" video 

powered by Vimeo

Grow Your Own Spinach 

Have you ever considered growing your own spinach? Don't panic; you don't have to be an expert gardener (or wear a silly straw hat). Just find a spot in the corner of your backyard that gets full sun several hours a day.

Sow a row of spinach seeds every couple of weeks. Why? Because your garden will produce fresh spinach for most of the year that way.


Spinach plants like cool weather, by the way, so unless you're buried under snow or ice, it's a fairly easy vegetable to grow. Give it plenty of water and well-drained soil. Keep plants weeded, whether you like to weed or not.

Your garden will thank you.





Popeye - Spinach Power




Buy at AllPosters.com

Spinach with Shallots & Garlic 

Spinach with Shallots and Garlic Recipe

curated content from YouTube

Spinach Dessert? Who Woulda Thunk? 

Desserts typically make us think of something gooey...chocolate...sweet. But have you ever connected the word "dessert" with "spinach". Didn't think so.
Spinach Strudel Recipe - Dessert Recipes
Granny apples, spinach...what a combo!
Binnur's Turkish Cookbook: Spinach Cake
Binnur's Turkish Cookbook - Delicious, healthy and easy-to-make Ottoman & Turkish recipes.

History of Spinach 

Spinach's Long Road Here

Spinach originates from the Middle East, and the smart guys who find these food facts for us believe it came most likely from the area known as Persia. Persia is our modern-day Iran. Later, around 800-1200 AD, it was transported to Spain via the Moors.

This leafy green vegetable didn't hit U.S. shores until 1806.



This dark-green vegetable has been chopped, steamed, sauteed, and disguised, but here are some of the most delicious recipes around. Try them for yourselves and see if you can't turn your borderline spinach lover into a full-fledged spinach spokesperson.
Spinach Lasagne!
Tell me this isn't delicious!
Spinach Quiche!
Stop your whining and TRY this. Quiche is like pie.
Chicken Spinach Tortellini Soup!
It's soup season. This is really delicious.
Chicago Italian Loaf
Italian sausage. Spinach. Mozarella. What more do you need to know?
Baby Spinach Salad!
Eat your spinach raw, for a great addition to a salad. Here's a salad that tastes AND looks good.

More Reasons to Love Spinach

The vitamin K provided by spinach is important for maintaining bone health. Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A, as well as folate, magnesium, and other body-protecting nutrients, too.

Spinach-Artichoke Dip 

Spinach Artichoke Dip Video Recipe

curated content from YouTube

Popeye - Legendary Leader 

Shop CartoonNetworkShop.com!

Popeye of cartoon fame is still connected with spinach. His bulging muscles and unforgettable voice was an household icon. He's been an animated cartoon for over 75 years, after being brought to life in 1929 by E.C. Segar.

Popeye's character was so appealing, it was featured on tv, radio, and in comic strips. Wikipedia has an extensive site dedicated to Popeye.

Popeye, the legendary strong man/lover of spinach, lives on the Web, too, along with his pals. Check out the Flash website. It's a treat, whether you like spinach or not. He's also returned to DVD in a modern remake with Robin Williams, plus Amazon offers the classic Popeye features on a variety of DVDs! Check 'em out.

Popeye (Robin Williams)
Popeye the Sailor Man Vol.1 (1933-38)
Popeye the Sailor Man Vol.2 (1938-40)
Popeye Enhanced version/2-DVD set (1930-60)
Popeye's 75th Annivesary Collector's Editon/Restored
Popeye's Greatest Tall Tales & Heroic Adventures

Remembering Popeye 

Spinach Lover from the Get-Go

Kids and Spinach 

Turn "Eeeew!" into "Cool!"

Encourage a toddler to try new foods and I doubt they'll grow up looking down their noses at spinach. The Web is filled with articles and ideas, which seems almost silly, except for the fact that I held onto a disgusting impression of spinach for almost two decades until I decided to try something new.

The NYTimes ran an article about creating tasty spinach dishes sure to catch the attention of even the most finicky kid.

Someone who keeps a blog described as "ramblings from a crazy wisdom Grandma" has a picture of a spinach dish that makes my mouth water. Her post, "When Your Kids Won't Eat Spinach" explains it all, along with a recipe. If that's not enough to impress them, show them this, from Science News for Kids. Spinach Power? Solar Cells? Amazing!

More Than Just a Bunch of Leaves 

Spinach--the good-for-you veggie

Created at Wordle.net

Betcha Didn't Know...

1 cup of steamed or boiled spinach contains only 42 calories!

 

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