Eating with the Seasons: Winter Vegetables

In our home we are very conscience about eating foods that are in season for our area here in the North East.  Winter is obviously the most challenging season for vegetables, and by the end of it we are jumping for joy when the spring crops start to come in!  At the same time the limitations can fuel our creativity to come up with new and interesting ways to cook the same old winter veggies.

Seasonal eating is important for many reasons.  It is for the health of our bodies, as well as the health of the earth.  When a vegetable is picked at the right time of year it is the absolute highest in vital nutrient content.  It also means you are eating what is appropriate for your region, so your food is not traveling to you from thousands of miles away.  

You can always try growing some of your own winter vegetables, its easier than you think!

Winter Squashes

Butternut, Spaghetti, Acorn, Pumpkin, Buttercup, Carnival, Delicata, Kabocha, Sweet Dumpling

Recipes featuring winter squash 

Curried Butternut Squash Soup, Zucchini (or Squash) Pancakes, 
Herbed Spaghetti Squash Side & Pasta Bake, & Pumpkin Bread

Kale

Green, Purple, Dinosaur, Scotch Curled, Leaf & Spear, Siberian
Recipes featuring kale
 Meat Pie with Greens, Fancy Spiral Meatloaf
Throw some chopped kale in a soup, or simply steam and toss with your other favorite veggies

Mushrooms

Shitake, Crimini, Clamshell, Trumpet Royal, Pioppini, Oyster, Maitake, Enoki, Portabello
Recipes featuring mushrooms
 Chicken Marsala, Egg Fu Yung, Creamy Chicken & Rice Soup, Millet Stuffing,
Simple Savory Mushroom Gravy

Onions

Brown, White, Yellow & Red
Recipes featuring kale
 Brown Rice Vegetable Quiche, Deli Style Macaroni Salad, Greek Chicken Egg Lemon Soup

Leeks   
Recipes with leeks
Corn, Collards & Bacon (& leeks), Leek Pie
Add leeks to soups, greens or meatloaves to add something different.

 Cabbage 

Green, Red, Savoy, Napa
Recipes with cabbage
 Egg Fu Yung, Seasonal Stir Fry
Or you can make your own coleslaw, add it to any vegetable dish, or create a cabbage salad.

Brussels Sprouts
Type of Cabbage
Recipes with brussels sprouts
Braised Dijon Brussels Sprouts, Roasted Sprouts with Balsamic

Parsnips 

Recipes with parsnips
These are fantastic if you roast them in the oven with other root veggies like, carrots & beets.

Carrots

Rainbow, Yellow, Baby

Recipes featuring carrots

Coconut Topped Carrot Cupcakes, Seasonal Stir Fry, Crock Pot Curried Lamb, Vegetable Lo Mein, Zucchini Carrot Loaf, Millet Stuffing, Greek Chicken Egg Lemon Soup, Carrot Coconut Salad

*Most of the recipes listed can be found in my cookbook & healthy eating guide,

"Organic, Gluten-Free & Delicious"