Simple Cooking for Simple Living
Lesson #1 - Eating with the Seasons
![shutterstock_127983005-[Converted].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/de8399_43ff4a508d914da489ca010680dd164e~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_20,w_340,h_243/fill/w_331,h_223,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/shutterstock_127983005-%5BConverted%5D.jpg)
Seasons form a natural backdrop for eating. All of the world's healthiest foods are seasonal. Imagine a vegetable garden in the dead of winter. Now imagine the same garden on a sunny summer day. How different things are during those two seasons of the year.
Seasons are considered a source of natural diversity. Changes in growing conditions from spring to summer or fall to winter are considered essential for balancing the earth's resources and its life forms.
In winter turn toward warming foods. This time of year, you need and crave warmth, with nourishment that will sustain you through the cold, dark days.
We will begin with Root vegetables. Local produce can be hard to find when cold weather inhibits crop growth. But root vegetables like beets, carrots and turnips can withstand the cold, so local farmers can provide the produce and you can reap the benefits.
Our first January Recipe: Creamy carrot-fennel soup with leeks.
Carrots are one of the best superfoods. I'ts not only because of their many benefits, it's mainly because they are available everywhere. Because they are so tasty and contain a few calories, they're a great snack. From many vitamins to various fibers, carrots are full of benefits. It should be a no-brainer to include carrots in your diet. See full article... 9 Health Benefits of Carrots
Part of the carrot family, fennel is a flowering plant that offers many surprising health benefits that are simply to good to ignore. Easily recognizable, fennel features small yellow flowers and green leather-like leaves when it grows. Fennel has been a favorite part of diets, especially where it grows around the Mediterranean region for thousands of years. See full article....The Amazing Health Benefits of Fennel
Leeks, a member of the onion family, resemble large green onions but have a stronger, more earthy taste. Not only are they tasty, they offer health benefits that range from lowering blood pressure to facilitating weight loss to helping your skin luminous and youthful. The vegetable is easy to grow in most climates and can add great flavor to stir-fry, salad, braised meat dishes, and soups. See full article.... The Many Health Benefits of Leeks
