Dark leafy greens and whole grains
If you've been reading about nutrition recently, or looked at the new guidelines for the food pyramid provided by the government, you know that dark leafy greens and whole grains are considered very important to good health, and perhaps even to longevity. One thing frequently missing from these articles is a creative idea for preparing healthy ingredients in appealing ways that will enable us to make them part of our daily diet.
Fortunately, we live in an area that has several sources for grains in bulk. The local co-ops, and some specialty grocery stores carry bulgur, along with numerous other grains we will explore in future columns. Bulgur has a nutty taste, and is frequently found in Mediterranean cooking. Kale is readily available at the tailgates, and once the outdoor markets close for the season, it can also be found at the co-ops, or in the produce department of your local grocery store. Look for small bunches with deep colors, and no yellow or limp leaves.
This delicious recipe for roast chicken calls for the bird to be brined for just a few hours, and serves as the perfect accompaniment to the kale and bulgur pilaf.
