News and Reviews

Just coming into season we have the first of the early potatoes, beetroot, marrows, onions, parsnips, runner beans and sweet corn.  In seasonal thrive, we have broccoli, carrots and peas so load up.  We will lose Asparagus by the end of July until next year, so get that nutritional powerhouse in.

July is truly the season of the berry.  Blueberries are literally just in season and are only in season for the next three months.  Also in season are blackberries, gooseberries, raspberries, strawberries.   The lesser known tayberries and loganberries have an extremely short season as they are only in for July.  The only fruit we lose until next year is the Blackcurrant.  Enjoy July it’s an antioxidant paradise.

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Darren

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For over a year, the five wooden pallets that we go through a week have been mysteriously disappearing at night from the back of our shop.  Some consider this stealing but we were delighted to save the recycling costs but it did remain puzzling.

Last week we caught the would-be pallet crusader in action and we just had to ask why? A gentle grey haired Stephen, in is late sixties early seventies, answered. He  said that he has been taking the pallets every week, bring them home, cutting them up and has been distributing them as Firewood to all the elderly people in Blackrock for free.

He said it keeps him busy and he loved to think he is helping the older people.  .No spring chicken himself …we helped him load the five pallets this Friday.  Today we raise a toast to Stephen, the pallet crusader.

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Darren

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We think these five DVD’s explore what is really happening to our food and provide an interesting insight into industrialised food…

1.    Food Inc 2009
2.    Fast Food Nation 2007
3.    Food Matters 2008
4.    Dirt the Movie 2009
5.    The Future of Food 2005  (You can now watch this documentary on the director’s website for free.  http://www.thefutureoffood.com/onlinevideo.html)

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Darren

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Feel Good Food by Alex Donald of Alex Donald’s Multiverse

“The weather in December was frightful..and we are set for more of the same in January” Between the recent snow, hailstones and thunder, our little island is getting battered by the elements. Add to this the general black mood caused by the economic situation and no wonder people are feeling depressed!

I have suffered from clinical depression for many years and currently take medication to treat it but I believe that it’s possible to also help yourself naturally*. Whether you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or a case of the blues, there are many things you can do to lift your mood and what you put into your body is a good place to start.

Carbohydrates

A low carb diet such as Atkins is not the way forward if you are prone to any sort of depression. Carbohydrates contain selenium which is important for immune system function and protection against low mood. Make sure you get a couple of servings of wholegrains every day in the form of pasta, bread or potatoes.

Turkey

Serotonin (the feel good chemical) is made in the body and brain from an amino acid 5-Hydroxy Tryptophan (5-HTP), which in turn in made from another amino acid called Tryptophan. Turkey is the most well known source but other foods rich in Tryoptophan are poultry, eggs, oats, cottage cheese, red meat and spirulina.

Omega 3

EPA is one of the essential Omega 3 fatty acids and in scientific studies it has been proven to improve mood disorders. The best source of Omega 3 oils is cold water fish, such as salmon, mackerel and herring. However if you’re not a fish fan you can buy Omega 3 supplements in most good pharmacies and it is now being added to other foods in recognition of its health benefits.

Other things you can do

Increasing your exposure to sunlight helps elevate your mood as does exercise which produces endorphins. So avoid the temptation to stay in bed and instead get up and get active. Even a twenty minute walk in daylight can significantly improve your mood – imagine how much fun a snowball fight could be!

Winter seems like it will be a particularly cold hard one this year so make sure you do everything you can to put a smile on your face. The steps above are just a start!

*Treatment for depression should be monitored by your healthcare professional.

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Darren

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Easy to prepare, seasonal and delicious..

Serves 4, preparation time: 10 minutes, cooking time: 58 minutes

Ingredients:

- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs about 250g/9oz in total, cubed (available in store)
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- Half green pepper, deseeded, diced
- Half red pepper, deseeded, diced
- Half yellow pepper, deseeded, diced
- 500g / 1lb 2oz closed cup mushrooms
- 1 tablespoon organic plain flour
- 1 tablespoon fresh chopped rosemary or one quarter teaspoon dried
- 300ml / ½ pint chicken stock
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:

Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the onion and fry for 5 minutes, stirring until softened. Stir in the chicken and garlic and fry for 5 more minutes, stirring until the chicken is lightly browned.

Mix in the peppers and whole mushrooms and fry for 3 minutes, stirring then mix in the flour. Add the rosemary and stock, season and bring to the boil.

Transfer to a casserole dish, cover and cook in a preheated oven set to 180oC/350oF/Gas mark 4 for 45 minutes until the chicken is tender. Serve with rice or mashed potato.

Tip

If you are in a hurry, then rather than transfer the mixture to a casserole dish, cover the frying pan and simmer still on the hob for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

All the ingredients listed in this recipe are organic and  available from our Blackrock Store.  Published with permission from, and special thanks to:  Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board.

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Darren

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