If your mom told you to eat your veggies she was right. If you threw them on the floor and went to bed hungry, you were wrong. Vegetables are good for your. Eat them.
Vegetables are full of vitamins and minerals that provide anti-oxidants, inflammation reducers, blood sugar control and many other healthful benefits from eating.
Cruciferous veggies are particularly good in their benefits to help keep cancer at bay. They include Kale, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts and Cabbage.
They can be stir fried, air fried, sauteed, steamed, grilled, made into tempura, eaten raw or thrown in stews and salads. Remember kids, champions and winners eat vegetables. It’s good for your health. Don’t be afraid to eat them.
This form of eating called Tapas can be traced back many moons to when bar owners used salty meat strips to cover drinks to keep the flies from swimming. The salty meats promoted thirst amongst the patrons and drink sales thrived. Soon the drink covers became other salty creative snacks and a bar culture of food was born. Spain gets most of the credit for this type of nourishment as many of the ingredients used in creating these food gems are found abundantly in their region.
This salty sales theory is why in the 70’s and early 80’s many bar owners in the US offered free peanuts to bar patrons. Peanuts were cheap and salty and the President (Jimmy Carter) was a peanut farmer. Jimmy’s brother Billy was a famous beer drinker. See how these things go together!? The cool thing was back then that many places just let you throw the empty peanut shells on the floor like at a hockey game.
The Dude of Food was really impressed with the tapas in Donostia/San Sabastian. While visiting this beautiful Basque city many great items were discovered. I stumbled upon a place named Bar Desy that invited me to try tons of great foods including an extensive tapas menu. I went back to Bar Desy a bunch, sometimes 3 times a day, for the next week. The staff was really great and I even met the owners father.
The top photo is one I took after I created a few tapas for my Brazilian girlfriend to enjoy while listening to some Samba and sipping on wine. We would look deep into each others eyes and share moments that made the world outside go quiet. Love was in the air. I digress.
Anyways as stated, the Dude of Food created the above pictured tapas. On the various breads are oil, cheese, meats, tomato sauce, veggies, sardines, salt and herbs. Tapas are fun to make, great to share and super enjoyable to eat.
Below was my first pass by the home made tapas table.
Don’t be afraid to try this style of eating. Combine some of your favorite flavors and enjoy some tapas soon.
“Follow your grandma’s directions and eat your greens. She’s right, they’re good for you. Besides, blanched kale sauteed in olive oil and garlic tastes good.” the Dude of Food
Take bok choy, grape tomatoes, broccoli, green or white onion and other desired veggies from the fridge, wash and dice to desired size. Crushed peanuts or shaved carrots would go well in this dish.
Warm some olive oil in a pan on medium heat. You can add soy or teriyaki sauce later.
If adding chicken, add to the oil first and let cook up a bit. If adding shrimp they can wait.
Add veggies with a couple tablespoons of water and cover, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and promote even heating. Add soy or whatever sauce you like with any dry spices about 6 minutes in after the veggies have had a chance to soften up a bit in the simmer. Continue to simmer for 10 minutes depending on heat level.
When it looks ready to eat, scoop a heap on a plate over some warm rice and serve. For a lovely extra flavor, stir in drained pineapple chunks to the pan about 5 minutes before removing from heat.
Be thankful. Eat. Enjoy and be happy. Be thankful some more.
