Mushrooms and Bok Choy and Squash, Oh My

Nature supplies some super foods to build your immune system, boost your energy, and bring comfort to your cold winter days. Here are a few fruits and vegetables that exemplify nature's amazing seasonal solutions. 

Mushrooms

What room can be eaten? A mushroom. Aw man, somebody stepped on that mushroom..too bad, he must have been a fungi. Not enjoying these fungus jokes? They might grow on in you with time..

Not only do mushrooms possess impressive pun potential, but they are also packed with some serious immune-system support. According to World'sHealthiestFood.org, mushrooms contain certain phytonutrients that guide white blood cell activity, have been observed to block the production of pro-inflammatory molecules, and offer a significant source of antioxidant nutrients of selenium, zinc, and manganese. 

Squash

From Delicata, to Blue Hokkaido, to Kabocha, the varieties of winter squash offer more than just some fun names.One variety, Butternut Squash, is deemed a power food by WholeLiving.com. Butternut Squash boasts an arsenal of carotenoids (pigments responsible for that beautiful tangerine hue). Most notable is its abundance of beta-carotene, a pre-cursor to vitamin A (keeping your sight sharp during short winter days). Further, Butternut Squash's supply of vitamin B6 offers essential support to your immune and nervous systems. 

                                                                               the rain is gone..

RECIPES PLEASE

                                         (photo by mindbodygreen.com)

Winter Wellness Bowl from MindBodyGreen
 (click link for recipe)

                                                                  (photo by Olivia Johnson)

"Bok, Broc, and Squash" Pizza

Steam or sauté bok choy, broccoli, butternut squash. Slice fresh mozzarella and grate fresh grana padano. Prepare HomemadeGarlicFlatbread dough, divide in half, and roll out each section pizza-style. Place section in skillet, top with olive oil, cook until bottom just begins to brown, flip pancake-style, and add pesto, cheeses, vegetables, cannelloni beans, and rosemary. When cheese begins to melt, transfer really-hope-this-doesn't-fall-on-the-floor-style to cookie sheet. Repeat with second section, and bake at 350 degrees for 8-17.5 minutes (give or take). Remove from oven, slice, and enjoy every bite of color and freshness of this home-made goodness.

If you're not sold on Shrooms or Squash, Part 2 of this post will feature some Winter Citrus (fruits with a peel), so stay tuned.

In the meantime, feel free to leave some questions/details/funfacts/praise/recipes of your favorite winter vegetable or fruit in the comments below!