Assorted Tidbits

Tangy fruit loves the limelight: Look for limes with smooth skin and no brown spots; avoid hard, dried-out limes. The fruit should be heavy for its size and give slightly when pressed. Fresh limes will last a about 10 days in the refrigerator. Buster Dean – Houston Chronicle Flavor Section

Cabbage that keeps it cool keeps it nutrients: Is there an appreciable loss of nutrients when you salt a vegetable, such as cabbage, and drain off the moisture that is released? According to W. Craig Byrdwell, a chemist at the Agricultural Research Service (a branch of the USDA), the method would not result in an appreciable loss of nutrients because you’re not subjecting the cabbage to heat. There would be a small loss of vitamin C and minerals but less than if the cabbage were steamed, for example. Generally, steaming will preserve more nutrients than boiling, and using less water for boiling will help retain more nutrients and minerals that using a great amount of water, Byrdwell says. Nutrients that suffer the greatest losses from boiling or blanching are vitamin C, vitamin A and folic acid.

Keep a tight lid on your honey: The darker a honey’s color, the more intense the flavor. Once opened, honey will keep for up to a year if stored at room temperature in a tightly sealed container. Everyday food- Fridge Clip.

For the whole truth, read the label: Myth or fact? Multigrain foods are always made with whole grains. Myth. The only way to know for sure is to see if “whole” is in front of every grain in the ingredient list. “Multigrain” means only that the product was made with several grains; you can’t assume that whole grains were used. The same is true for “seven-grain” or “cracked wheat.” Even breads and cereals that say “made with whole grains” may contain few of them. Look for products labeled “100 percent whole grain.” McClatchy-Tribune Fridge Clip

Eating Breakfast has its rewards: Does skipping breakfast help you lose weight? Studies show that breakfast skippers actually compensate for those missed calories by eating more throughout the day. People who regularly eat breakfast end to have better luck losing weight and keeping it off. And you have to eat the right foods: If you grab only a doughnut, you may be ravenous before lunch because of a rapid rise and fall in blood sugar. Make sure your morning meal contains fiber and protein. McClatchy-Tribune Fridge clip

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Note from Lucy: TF’s stent removal was a “piece of cake”. They sent him in around noon and, before I could read an entire article in my magazine, they were calling my name to come back and see him in recovery. It didn’t take the doctor 10 minutes to put him under and remove the stent. Everything went very well. He slept for about an hour and 15 minutes and then woke up wanting to go home. He took it easy for the rest of the day and was in great shape to visit his parents over the weekend. I am soooo thankful that everything went well. I am keeping my fingers crossed but he shouldn’t have to see any more doctors for a while……YEA!!!!