Note: The Garden Newsletter is an internal newsletter sent to employees of TS Designs on a weekly basis. It’s purpose is to keep the team connected with activity happening in the Company Garden. TS Designs believes in supporting this endeavor as a way to stay connected to the ground and to provide an added benefit to each team member (fresh, organic produce). We’ve posted it to our blog so that you can share in our Company’s adventure in gardening, learn gardening tips and enjoy the great recipes that we share with each other!
Ah…what are we going to do with all the greens available?!
Last week, I posted some ideas highlighting sautéed Swiss Chard. This week…let’s look at keeping it raw.
UM….RAW?!
It’s actually really (REALLY) healthy to eat more raw foods. Why?
- Heating food over 118 degrees Fahrenheit destroys much of the nutrients in your food.
- Cooking food destroys much of the natural enzymes (your body can also create enzymes, but can only do so much) in your food that are needed to break down nutrients
- Eating raw gives you an amazing boost in energy
- Less packaging, which means less clean up (also less trash)
- More regularity…um, you know what I mean, your body just works better
Learn more at Zen Habits
JUICING YOUR GREENS
Darlene mentioned that she’s got a juicer and has been coming up with some really great juices using the greens that come from the TS Designs garden.
Do you have a juicer at home? Maybe you have one tucked away in a closet collecting dust (like my parents)…
Try this recipe for a Mean Green Juice and thank Darlene for sharing it!
In a juicing machine juice…
2 Granny Smith Apples
A small knuckle of ginger
1 large orange
10 large leaves of swiss chard
12 large leaves of spinach
1 large cucumber
2 medium tomatoes
2 handfuls of fresh green beans
1 red bell pepper
— Makes about 4, 16 oz. glasses of juice
GOT A BLENDER?
There may be a few more of us that have blenders (than juicers) in the house – and since it’s getting a little warmer, it’s a perfect time to make smoothies. Whether you’re just tossing in some fruit chunks with juice for a snack or really hard core about meal-replacement smoothies packed with protein powder, you can use greens to change up your normal smoothie routine.
Here’s what I did last week:
1 Banana – medium to large
Sliced Peaches – about 1/3 of a can
1 cup Juice – any kind will do, but just so you know, I used Orange
1/2 cup Yogurt – I used Greek Yogurt because it’s a little thicker
*Handful of Greens – some Spinach or a couple leaves of Kale
The smoothie will come out bright green…there’s no helping that; but it tastes sweet and delicious because there’s enough fruit to hide “green” taste.
DO YOU HAVE A RECIPE?
I’d love it if you wanted to pass it along so that I can share it with the rest of the group. I’ve got two really great ones that I’m already planning to share next week. Send me more!!