5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

[mitzimarie]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

You don't peel chayote, completely unnecessary, the peel is quite tender. I personally don't think it will make you crave apples, it is a satisfying alternative... and it is so good in soups too.

Chayote was my new veggie in the last challenge, and I really liked it. I am one who is prone to cravings from many things, but I was OK with it. I cut it up and put it in a skillet with butter, cinnamon, and a little splenda. Very, very good! It does take quite a while for it to cook, I found.

Here is a little info on chayote:

chayote = cho-cho = chocho = christophene = christophine = chuchu = mango squash = mirliton (in the South) = pear squash = vegetable pear = sousous = choko = custard marrow = pepinella = pepinello = xuxu = xoxo Pronunciation: chi-YOH-tay or chi-YOH-tee Notes: This mild-flavored squash looks like a wrinkled, pale green pear. It needs to be cooked before serving, and for a longer time than other summer squash. You should peel a chayote before cooking it, but don't take the seed out--it's edible and tasty. Cooked chayotes make good low-fat substitutes for avocados.

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This says it should be peeled, but I didn't peel mine. I didn't know that the seed was edible! I don't even remember what the seed looked like, because I haven't had it in while. I'm going to get one.

[mitzimarie]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

OK, my veggies for the day:

Breakfast: .88 cups pumpkin @ 7g net carbs
Mini-meals: 1 cup jicama @ 5g net carbs
1 serving sugar snap peas @ 5g net carbs
1 cup jicama @ 5g net carbs
Dinner: 2 large portabello mushrooms @ 8g net carbs
GRAND TOTAL OF 30g NET VEGGIE CARBS FOR WED., 5/6

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I decided to make the first of the 2 mushroom recipes I posted. It was pretty good.

I'm going to post some mushroom info I got from www.foodsubs.com, and then ask your opinion on 2 things. Here we go:

Markets stock a variety of cultivated mushrooms, but many people prefer wild mushrooms, which are often more flavorful. Be careful when picking wild mushrooms--some species are poisonous--and always cook them thoroughly, both to release their flavors and to convert their proteins into a more usable form. To prepare fresh mushrooms, first trim off the bottoms of the stems, then wipe them off. Don't rinse them or soak them, for they'll absorb water and turn mushy when you cook them. Dried mushrooms are often excellent substitutes for fresh, though some species don't dry well. You can reconstitute dried mushrooms by soaking or simmering them. Don't throw out the soaking liquid--it can add more flavor to your sauce than the mushrooms themselves. You can also pulverize dried mushrooms with a food processor or blender, then use the mushroom powder to flavor.

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portobello mushroom = portabello mushroom = giant cremini Notes: These are just large cremini mushrooms, and their size (about the same as a hamburger patty) makes them perfect for grilling or roasting. They're also more flavorful than younger, smaller creminis. Substitutes: cremini (smaller) OR matsutake (for grilling) OR porcini (for grilling)

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Now for my questions:

On this site (thanks, Kath, for the link!),

http://kitchen-parade-veggieventure....mushrooms.html

Instructions in recipe state: Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar and garlic. Pour mixture over the mushrooms, letting some sink into the gills, letting some pour over the sides. Move the mushrooms around a bit to soak up a bit of the mixture. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

And

"So I made these again -- they're so simple and quite good! But since I had such good luck washing the mushrooms for Kalyn's Roasted Asparagus & Mushrooms, I decided to wash two of the portobellos and brush the other two. Much to my surprise, the washed ones cooked faster and tasted better! I suspect it's because they had more moisture to both 'carry' heat into the flesh of the mushrooms and to withstand the hot grill. They even look better in the photo. Anyway, do as you like but from now on, I'm washing mushrooms (except when they're eaten raw)."

Question #1: Do you brush off mushrooms, or wash them before using them.

Question #2: Do you leave the gills in the cap, or do you scrape them out?

I've seen info go both ways on each of these questions, and I was just curious what you guys do.

[GHB]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

Here's my veggie totals for Thursday:
Breakfast - pumpkin - 4.5g
Lunch - salad with cucumber, tomato & celery 5.5g
Snack - pumpkin "chips" - 6.2g
Dinner - salad with celery & brocolli - 4.6g
Total - 20.8g

Didn't make it to the asian supermarket to get something new to try today, so I'll have to do it tomorrow night. If they don't have that bitter gourd then I'll give kohlrabi a try, I'm pretty sure they have those there!

Regarding mushrooms, I'm new to them and I always wash the dirt off. I don't scrape the gills out though, it never occured to me to do that.

[Georgiana]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

24 veggie net carbs on Wed. Sorry for not writing more (what veggies, yadda yadda)... busy with school. *sigh*

[Slapshot]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

Weds - approximately 21g of net carbs (I rounded up)...

[mitzimarie]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

I have a little puzzle for you. It's not a requirement for the challenge... it's just for a little fun. I'll give you a day or so to consider, and then post the answers so you can see how you did.

Here you go:

I've got some answers for you!

answers

1. Kohlrabi
2. Rutabaga
3. Okra
4. Bok Choy (Chinese Cabbagee)
5. Wasabi
6. Brussel Sprouts
7. Daikon Turnip
8. Leeks
9. Chayote
10. Tomatillo
11. Shallot
12. Kale
13. Radicchio
14. Jicama

[planetclaire]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

Oh shoot, I missed the quiz portion!

My veggies for yesterday....I only ate eggplant and tomatoes, I had a crazy day and ended up eating the same thing for lunch and dinner, and now I have no lunch for today yet.....

an entire eggplant (over the course of the day!) - 42.4 grams
8 roma tomatoes 19.4 grams

total carbs = 61.9
minus fiber = 31.2 (wow)
net carbs = 30.7 Holy cow!

[gemgirl]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

22 net carbs.

do i list each and every veggie? sorry i am a newbie to this challenge.

[blueberrylady]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

I was on the road all day yesterday and almost didn't get all my veggies in so I had a salad late in the evening!

Mushrooms in an omelette 4
1 stalk Celery 1 (I eat celery everyday)!
1 cup green beans 8
Salad (lettuce, grape tomatoes, cuke, onion) 10

Total 23 net carbs.

[quiltkat]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

Thank you for all the info about chayote - I think I will go get some - especially if I don't have to throw any of it away by peeling it.

When I bought the fennel my check out clerk was a young guy - when he got to the fennel he asked if I needed all the stalks on the top - I said no - and he ripped them off - I'm sure that isn't standard.

Alton Brown on Good Eats once did a show on mushrooms - he soaked them in water and then weighed them again - it wasn't significant - so he said go ahead and wash.
I usually wash white mushrooms in water. I usually wipe off portabellos. I hadn't thought of removing the gills on portabellos - my least favourite part - I don't like the texture - how do you do it?

Wishing you all a high veggie carb day.

[planetclaire]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

I tried jicama today....and it was pretty good. I was kind of hoping it would be more potato-y, since the name of the recipe I used suggested something to that effect....I can't describe the taste, other than I enjoyed it

I didn't have red bell pepper so I just made without

Shoestring Jicama


Vegetable Cooking Spray
2 ts Vegetable Oil
1 cl Garlic Crushed
3/4 lb Jicama -- peeled and julienned
2 tb Chopped Red Bell Pepper
1/8 ts Paprika
1/8 ts Salt
1/8 ts Pepper

Instructions:

• Coat a medium skillet with cooking spray; add oil.
• Heat oil over medium heat, add garlic, jicama & red pepper.
• Sprinkle with seasonings and saute for five minutes; stirring frequently.

[Georgiana]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

Thursday. I had 24 veg net carbs from:

eggplant salad
tomato chips
1/2 avocado, jalapenos, leek and garlic (in a soup: Creamy Avocado Soup from Mike's Table)
red bell pepper (stuffed with chicken salad)
Brussels sprouts (with garlic butter)

[C P]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

Ooooooh I'm so jealous - I can't get chayote, jicama, spaghetti squash or tinned pumpkin, and believe me I really am looking! That Jicama recipe looks good - I might try it with kohl rabi instead. I did think about trying the 'mock apples' with young kohl rabi - hopefully before they develop too much of their flavour - I find them quite a sweet taste, so with sweetener and cinnamon, it might just work!

I am growing pumpkin and spaghetti squash this year, in desperation - so at least I'll have them for some of the year! I'm also growing some kohl rabi, as I haven't grown them for a few years. I suppose I could try and find seeds for the chayote and the jicama next year - will have to do some research!

CP

[C P]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

I forgot to enter my figures for today in my last post!

Here they are:

Cheese and Smoked Pork Sausage with mixed leaf salad, cherry toms, cucumber and onion.

Roast Beef with Baby Roast Turnips and Cabbage, Onion 'Gravy' - made with fried onions, yeast extract, water or home made stock, and the beef juices. Sometimes it needs a little sweetening up - in which case I add either a little splenda or tomato puree.

Total Net Veggie Carbs for the day = 23.5

CP

[C P]

Re: 5th Semi Annual Veggie Challenge!

Thursday. I had 24 veg net carbs from:

eggplant salad
tomato chips
1/2 avocado, jalapenos, leek and garlic (in a soup: Creamy Avocado Soup from Mike's Table)
red bell pepper (stuffed with chicken salad)
Brussels sprouts (with garlic butter)

That Avocado soup looks good - think that is on the menu tomorrow! (I don't do cold soups though, so I will be warming it up a little - don't tell Mike!)

CP

Right, no more hogging this thread - I'm off for a read around the board!