freschly pressed
Volume 1, Issue 2
September 2010
why eat locally supporting local farmers: better your health and local economy
récipe of the month chewy banana/chocolate chip
cookies
frésch facts
A CHIP THAT DOESN’T MAKE YOU REGRET CHEATING ON YOUR DIET
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recipe of the month
CHEWY BANANA/CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
INGREDIENTS 1 3/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour 1/2 cup (toasted) wheat germ 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. fine grain sea salt 1/2 cup unsalted butter 1 cup natural cane sugar (or brown sugar) 2 large eggs 2 tsp. vanilla extract 2/3 cup banana chips, loosely chopped 1 cup chocolate chips 2/3 cup chopped walnuts
frĂŠsch facts
A TRULY HISTORIC SNACK
When referring to chips two
tasty options generally come to mind... potato chips and chocolate chips. However, the banana chip is a low sodium snack that is an excellent source of magnesium and unlike the other two guilty pleasures, won’t leave you feeling regret about cheating on your diet. While some banan chips are fried in ils, virgin coconut oil is sometimes used and in most cases is considered much healthier than the alternatives.
Issue 2: Volume 1
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. - Place racks in middle or upper middle of the oven. - Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. - Whisk together the flour, wheat germ, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. - In a large bowl beat the butter until light and fluffy. - Beat in the sugar until it is the consistency of a thick frosting. - Beat the eggs into the batter one at a time and scrape down the sides of the bowl and incorporate each egg fully before adding the next. (this step is very important!) - Stir in the vanilla. - Add the reserved flour mix in two increments, stirring/mixing between each addition. - Kneed in the banana chips, chocolate chips and walnuts - mix until everything is evenly distributed. - Roll each cookie onto the prepared baking sheets 2 inches apart and bake for about 7 - 8 mins until tops and bottoms are lightly golden. (Resist over baking as they will come out dry.)
The banana itself, next to the apple, is believed to be one of the earliest fruits cultivated by man. Bananas have the highest amount of digestible carbohydrates of any fruit and are also a great source of vitamin C and potassium and are said to help reduce high blood pressure and prevent strokes. As a result, bananas are considered to be the closest thing to an entire meal in one conveniant yellow package. That being said, banana chips are not a substitute for a meal however they are considered a great snack on
the go when givin the option. The banana has been an important part of diets for many years but was not introduced into North America until 1876 when they were sold in foil wrapping that because of its novelty included instructions on how to properly navigate the peel and eat the fruit. Next time you reach for the bag of chips or try to search for the hidden jar of baking chocolate consider the fact that the banana chips are a safe alternative to the guilty pleasures taunting you from the pantry.
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Making
If buying locally doesn’t entice you consider the facts: a trip to the grocers a scavenge hunt to find
what are not-necessarily the healthiest items but the ones less likely to kill you, it is very easy to identify with the majority of grocery-getters, who nowadays are concerned with what they consume and less about where it comes from.
People will go out of their way to search for the lowest
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Freschly Pressed
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truth is, we should care because, not only does it
matter for freshness and health reasons, but it matters for the well being of our
Canadian economy.
While commercially produced foods are often considered cheaper and are available when out-of season product are not available, they are not always the best choice.
Buying
will cover in our next issue, including your
their interest when it comes to foods they normally refuse to
making a decision about what goes into the cart and eventually
The
Imported
food travels longer distances and as a result
needs more preservatives to stay fresh.
Preservatives
unnecessary addition to already dwindling
North American diets.
Locally
grown food travels shorter distances and therefore is
delivered fresh relying on less or no preservatives to keep it that way.
•
By buying locally you are helping contribute to the local
economy.
In
cycling money through local industries
than paying for imports.
knowledge that can educate you to become more self sustainable
•
in the long run, saving both time and money.
to define people who were more
conscientious about their local food consumption and ecosustainability.
The idea behind the fast spreading movement, was that what people eat food grown and produced within
100
miles of their
plates, promoting healthier options as well as local farmers. the
Canadian’s Alisa Smith
movement and
grew
in
J.B. MacKinnon
popularity wrote,
after
The
one
hundred mile diet: a year of local eating, a book that became the source of the benefits of eating locally.
Issue 2: Volume 1
Finally,
having the freedom to discuss negotiate price
is not something you have at your local grocery store and
In 2005 Jessica Prentince, professional chef and author,
In Canada
(without
back into the local circulation which in the long run is better
to negotiate mark-up free prices and may lead to a wealth of
“Locavore”
are an
turning this article into a financial review) it encourages money
from local farmers markets gives you the ability
introduced the term
As
children in the shopping process, making it an activity, can peak eat.
where or even how their food items were raised or produced?
locally, and in some cases picking directly from
the trees, can lead to fun activities for the whole family.
fat content, calories per serving and sodium per mouthful before their mouths, however, how many people actually care about
Buying
interactions are different when you deal with someone who grows the food as opposed to someone who stocks it.
So, while not everyone has the time to pick fruit directly from the tree or search for local markets, keep in mind next time you pick up an item go ahead and look at the nutrition facts but remember you will spend less time in the car to get fresh produce than it takes imported produced food to hit the shelves.
At the end of the day the decision to buy locally is yours but take the time to check out your local farmers market for local produce...
You
may be surprised, you’re not only helping
yourself.
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