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Fresh Strawberry Jam

Hot diggity jam! Who would of thought mashed up fruit would taste this good? But what makes this particular recipe taste even better is that it’s made with fresh, local strawberries! Made with three simple ingredients, you’ll never look at store-bought jam the same way again. Once and for all, it’s time to ditch the sugar-laden fruit spreads for this mouthwatering jam. Spread it on toast, biscuits, bagels, pancakes and more!

 

Yields 12 oz

Ingredients

1 lb. fresh organic strawberries, tops cut off

2 cups Florida Crystals Organic Cane Sugar

1/2 medium lemon, squeezed

Directions 

 

1. Cut strawberries into fourths and mash. Pour into medium saucepan. 

 

2. Add sugar and lemon juice. Cook over medium-low heat until sugar fully dissolves. 

 

3. Turn heat to high and bring to a boil. Stir mixture frequently for 10 minutes. Once mixture thickens, remove from heat and dispense equally into sterilized mason jars. Seal to cool.

 

To learn how to can your jam for a prolonged shelf life, click here

 

 

Chef’s tip: Strawberry tops contain a lot of beneficial nutrients. Instead of tossing them, save the leafy green tops of your strawberries for your compost bin or freeze them for your next smoothie.

Cashew Tofu with Teriyaki-Peanut Sauce

What’s a hungry veghead to do when you have a fridge full of fresh local veggies? You slice, dice and sauté! Stir fry dishes are easy go-to meals. All it takes is a little bit of creativity and you’ve got a delicious bowl of goodness for dinner (and for lunch he next day if you prepare enough!) This one-pan recipe (or one-wok, if you will), calls for crunchy cashews and protein-packed tofu. What’s even better is that you can prepare this meal without producing any waste (opt for farmers market produce and bulk nuts when available!).

The best part about this recipe is that in can be easily modified to please your palate. Swap the veggies in this recipe for your favorites. You can even use peanuts instead of cashews. That possibilities are endless! Pair this Asian-inspired veggie medley with a mound of fluffy white rice and a savory, nut-based sauce. Oh, and I can’t forget about my top-secret ingredient: organic Japanese cola. Pour some into the wok for a tasty finish you won’t believe you prepared yourself!

 

Yields 3 Servings 

Ingredients 

1 medium red onion, chopped

1 cup basmati white rice

1 1/2 cup water

1 celery stalk

8 oz. Nasoya Organic Cubed Super Firm Tofu

3 cloves of garlic

1 tsp. of finely chopped fresh ginger 

I medium green bell pepper, chopped

1/4 lb. baby bok choy, coarsely chopped

1 handful of Vitacost Organic Whole Raw Cashews Unsalted Large

1 tsp. Vitacost Himalayan Pink Salt- Fine

1 Tbsp. La Tourangelle Delicate Avocado Oil

Teryaki-Peanut Sauce:

3 Tbsp. Kikkoman Organic Soy Sauce 

3 Tbsp. Edward & Sons Organic Teriyaki Sauce Gluten Free

3 Tbsp. Vitacost Certified Organic Light Brown Sugar – Non-GMO 

1 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar 

2 Tbsp. Vitacost Certified Organic Crunchy & Unsalted Peanut Butter – Gluten Free and Non-GMO

 

Directions

  1. Get rid of any leaves that are discolored and place the baby bok choy in a colinder. Rinse until clean and pat dry. Repeat this process with the celery stalk, red onion, and green bell pepper. To prep your tofu, cut a small slit in the package to release the liquid. Pour tofu onto paper towels and allow to drain.
  2. In a small pot, combine rice and water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover with lid; simmer for 10-15 minutes. Remove rice from heat and fluff with fork. Set aside.
  3. On medium heat, add the oil to a saucepan along with your onion, celery, bell pepper and cashews. Sauté for 6 minutes. Add in the garlic and ginger and allow to cook for 2 minutes. 
  4. In a seperate bowl, combine the soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, and peanut butter together; stirring until combined. 
  5. Pour sauce mixture into pan and allow to bubble and thicken. 
  6. Lastly, add the tofu and baby bok choy. Remove from the heat and mix together to combine. The baby bok choy will wilt as it is mixed into the sauce and vegetable mixture. 

 

Chef’s tip: You can put black sesame seeds and fresh green onions on top of your white rice. 

Bedner’s Fresh Farm Market

Farmers Market

Looking for somewhere worthy of your time this weekend? Visit a farmers market! There’s nothing better than strolling a market lane by lane to browse the bounty of fresh fruits, veggies and unique homemade and locally made creations.

Farmers Market

Every Saturday, my roommate, friend and I head to the notorious Bedner’s Farm Fresh  Market in Boynton Beach, FL. The best part about this market is the ever-exciting U-pick; meaning you get to pick your own produce right from the vine, bush or tree!

Upon entering, I’m immediately overloaded with amazing fruit, breads, vegetables, herbs, wines, freshly squeezed orange juice and more. It’s tempting not to toss one of everything in my reusable grocery bags.

When I’m finally ready to check out, I often find myself pausing after I unload the cart because I have no idea what the grand total is going to be. It’s like a game! But when you purchase organic, local produce you don’t have to worry about the bill! When you shop at a farmers market, you’re essentially cutting out the middleman. You pay for your food at cost rather than marked up prices (think big-box retailers). Plus, nothing beats the level of freshness you get when you buy local—especially when you know the level of care being sowed in.

Farmers Market

It’s also smart to always ask your local farmers if their produce is organic, what pesticides are used and if it’s Non-GMO. Like I always say, once you go farm, you’ll never go back!

If you would like to plan a visit to Bender’s Fresh Farm Market- click here. 

Farmers Market