Holders Farmers Market

Did you know that the Romans used red beets as an aphrodisiac?.

It's is even scientifically proven!. Beets have a high amount of boron, which increases the efficiency of s*x hormones.
Did you know that in England during the 19th century, Victorians used to dyed their hairs with beet juice?. Ah!, The things we do for fashion's sake!. Since the 16th century, beet juice has been used as a natural red dye. No more spending money on expensive dyes!.
Did you know that sugar beets is a common sweetener in Europe?. It can be bought in most supermarkets and is just as affordable as regular cane sugar. In fact, people use it as they would use regular cane sugar.
I am sure these are not the firsts thought that come to your mind when you think of beets!. My mother used to force me to eat my beets by telling me that it would stimulate my skin and give me reddish healthy looking cheeks!. I would devour beets for the sake of beauty!. Aw, Vanity!.
Beets are another one of those vegetables that not everyone is super excited about. Whether you love it or hate it. To those of you who enjoy them, I salute you!. And to those who don't, maybe some info about them would do the trick.
The beet (Beta vulgaris) is a root vegetable that grows as a round bulb with a leafy top poking out above the soil. The most common is a deep ruby red in color, but they come in a variety of vibrant colors. Beets are native to the Mediterranean region. The leaves have been eaten since before written history, but the beetroot was generally used medicinally. It did not become a popular food until French chefs recognized its potential in the 1800s. Today, they're inexpensive and most often used in soups and salads. The plant thrives in cold climates. Germany, France, Russia, and the U.K. are leaders in beet cultivation. The entire plant is edible and can be boiled, baked, steamed, or eaten raw. Beets are best described as having an earthy flavor with a surprising amount of sweetness for a root vegetable.
Beets are also a source of folic acid, vitamin C and potassium. They contain lots of vitamins and phytonutrients, including antioxidants. They boost energy, detox the body, improve cognitive and physical functioning, regulate the blood pressure, fight inflammation and leave your skin looking great. It also has a high amount of insoluble fiber necessary for the well functioning of our digestive system and elimination process, ahem, sends you to the bathroom more regularly.
Note: Raw beets do have a high amount of oxalic acid. It's often advised that people with a history of kidney stones limit their raw beet consumption to avoid complications.
What is the most creative way you have ever eaten beets?, How do you like to eat them?.

Here I am attaching a picture of one of my last attempts to add beets to my everyday cooking / baking. I added extra color to my sugar free frosting with my homemade roasted beets purée.

I buy my beets from Harrow's Organic Produce at Holders Farmers Market

Did you know that the sorrel plant is also cultivated for the production of bast fibre from its stem? The fibre can be used in making cordage for burlap.

In India, it is primarily cultivated for its bast fibres. But has also been used in folk medicine as a diuretic and mild laxative. The leaves are mixed with green chillies, salt and some garlic to prepare a chutney which is served with sorghum or millet made as a flat bread. This is eaten by farmers as breakfast to start their day. The leaves are also steamed with lentils and cooked with dal. Another unique dish is prepared by mixing fried leaves with spices. The bright red petal of the fruit is also used for chutney which is sweet and sour in taste. Roselle is also commonly made into a type of pickle. In northeast India almost every household has this plant in their homes.
In Burmese cuisine, the roselle is widely used. It is perhaps the most widely eaten and popular vegetable in Myanmar. The leaves are fried with garlic, prawns and green chilli or cooked with fish. A light soup made from roselle leaves and dried prawn stock is also a popular dish. In Burma, the buds of the roselle are made into preserved fruits or jams.
In the Philippines, the leaves and flowers are used to add sourness to one of their iconic chicken dishes. In Vietnam, the young leaves, stems and fruits are used for cooking soups with fish or eel.
In Mali, it is the main ingredient in at least two dishes, one where rice is slowly cooked in a broth containing the leaves and lamb, and the other dish where the leaves are cooked in a tomato sauce, also including lamb. In the central African nations of Congo and Gabon the leaves are used puréed, or in a sauce, often with fish and/or aubergines.
The red calyxes of the plant are increasingly exported to the United States and Europe, particularly Germany, where they are used as food colouring. Thanks to a Senegalese community in France, it can be found in French markets as syrup. The green leaves are used like a spicy version of spinach. They give flavour to the Senegalese typical dish of fish and rice.
Brazilians attribute an increase of appetite properties to the bitter roots.
In the Caribbean, a drink is made from the roselle fruit. It is prepared by boiling fresh, frozen or dried roselle fruit in water for 8 to 10 minutes, then adding sugar. Bay leaves and clover may also be added during boiling. It is often served chilled. This drink is also commonly consumed in Mexico and Central America.
In Africa, the calyxes are used to prepare cold, sweet drinks popular in social events, often mixed with mint leaves, dissolved menthol candy, and/or fruit flavors. In the Middle East it is consumed as a cold drink made by soaking the dried calyxes in cold water overnight in a refrigerator with sugar and some lemon or lime juice added. It is then consumed with or without ice cubes after the flowers have been strained. In Lebanon, toasted pine nuts are sometimes added.
Roselle is also used in Nigeria to make a refreshing drink with natural fruit juices of pineapple and watermelon added. But also it is used to make rosella jam, which has been made since colonial times.
But there still so much more to say about this humble plant. The entire plant is edible!. Roselle has been used as a therapeutic plant for centuries. It provides relief from cramps and menstrual pain and helps in restoring hormonal balance. Fresh or dried flowers of roselle contain high quantities of Vitamin C, which boosts immune system. It is also anti-inflammatory and has antibacterial properties. It helps to calm down the nervous system and helps to reduce anxiety and depression. The seed capsule in the roselle fruit is known for its diuretic and tonic properties, it increases both urination and bowel movements, treats constipation and prevents colon re**al cancer.
Roselle or Sorrel is also rich in phosphorus. Phosphorus along with calcium is essential to the formation and maintenance of strong bones and teeth. It also contains Potassium, which helps to control electrical activity of muscles including the heart and regulation of our body fluids. Other health benefits include relief from high blood pressure, stroke and other heart disorders as well as regulation of blood sugar levels. Potassium also supports kidney functions.
This humble plant helps your body to break down your food and decrease absorption of carbohydrates assisting in keeping the weight stable or improving the journey of weight loss.
Each and every part of Roselle offers amazing benefits, all you have to do is add it to your current dishes and receive all the goodness this humble yet delicious plant has to offer.
Did you know how amazing sorrel was?. Hoping for some brand new wild recipes to be created soon!! Stay tuned!!.
I am trying the Middle Eastern way of drinking the Roselle / Sorrel in this picture, but if I may be honest, since my friends from Harrow's Organic Produce showed me to eat this flower raw, I hardly get to make anything else other than feasting on it plain and simple!. I get my flowers picked up fresh and deliciously crunchy from them Holders Farmers Market
Naraleska Perez

Ex Jockey/Trainer Sean Hall, Ian Douglas and Jamaican jockey Everton Miller at the launch of the “Equi-X Boost” at the Garrison Savannah in Barbados. House of Re-Discovery herbal product ethically sourced tried and tested all-natural herbal alternatives. Inquiries Tel/Whatsapp:1(246)252-0451, Email:[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10221090728791748&set=a.1308548907687&type=3&theater

Why you should visit De Bajan Bookshop at Holders Farmers Market this Sunday! 😁

All liaded