Spinach

About: Spinach is a very hardy vegetable and member of the beet family. Well-known for its highly nutritious leaves, spinach tastes sweeter when raw and a tad more bitter when cooked. Spinach is classified by its two different kinds of leaf. The savoyed varieties of spinach have leaves that are curled into a cuplike position and include the Bloomsdale, Regiment, and Longstanding types. Smooth leafed spinach includes Butterflay, New Zealand, and the gorgeous, red-stemmed Bordeaux, a culinary favorite.

Nutritional Information: Very low in Cholesterol and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin K, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Copper and Manganese.  (Source: Nutritiondata.com)  Read More...

Storage: Remove any blemished leaves, trim stems, and pack loosely in plastic bags or cellophane. Refrigerate. Do not wash spinach before storing.

Tips:

• "Baby spinach" is simply a form of immature spinach leaves that are more tender than mature leaves. Excellent for fresh salads.

• To freeze for later use, steam then blanch for 2 minutes. Chill in iced water. Cool, drain and package in an air-tight container. Store in the freezer for up to six months.

• Just washed spinach can be steamed for 5-10 minutes without any additional water, a preparation method that preserves nutrient content.

QuickFix: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add spinach to the skillet and cover; allow to cook 5 minutes. Stir in garlic salt and cover again for another 5 minutes; remove from heat. Top off with Parmesan cheese!

Recipes: Chicken & Spinach Soup with Fresh Pesto, Wilted Spinach, Cheese & Spinach Stuffed Portobellos, Sesame Seasoned Spinach, Spinach Salad with Japanese Ginger Dressing