Let's Eat
featured recipe


Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
   The result isn't pretty, but it is delicious.
 
8 Servings
 
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1½ cups water
2/3 cup Dutch-processed cocoa (divided)
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar (divided)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped
¾ cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup whole milk
¼ teaspoon salt
1 large egg yolk
 
1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly spray 8-inch square glass or ceramic baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Stir 2 teaspoons vanilla extract into water; set aside.

2. Stir together 1/3 cup cocoa, brown sugar, and 1/3 cup granulated sugar in small bowl, breaking up large clumps with fingers; set aside.

3. Melt butter, remaining 1/3 cup cocoa, and chocolate in small bowl set oversaucepan of barely simmering water; whisk until smooth and set aside to cool slightly.

4. Whisk flour and baking powder in small bowl to combine; set aside. Whisk remaining 2/3 cup granulated sugar, vanilla, milk, and salt in medium bowl until combined; whisk in yolk. Add chocolate mixture and whisk to combine. Add flour mixture and whisk until batter is evenly moistened.

5. Pour batter into prepared baking dish and spread evenly to sides and corners. Sprinkle cocoa/sugar mixture evenly over batter (cocoa mixture should cover entire surface of batter); pour vanilla water mixture gently over cocoa mixture. Bake until cake is puffed and bubbling and just beginning to pull away from sides of baking dish, about 45 minutes. (Do not over-bake.) Cool cake in dish on wire rack about 25 minutes
before serving.
 
 
Serve the cake warm with vanilla, coffee, or (for a full chocolate fix) chocolate ice cream.
Leftovers can be reheated, covered with plastic wrap, in a microwave oven.

  Copyright 2009

This is the second in a series of 6 articles that will highlight the food groups and other information provided in the USDA Food Guide Pyramid. Additional information can be found at www.mypyramid.gov.
 
Vegetables



 
What counts as a vegetable?
 
Fresh, frozen, canned, baked, or dried veggies all count. Even vegetable juice, as long as it is 100% juice. (Check labels. Many products advertised as "juice drink" or "juice cocktail" contain little actual juice.) .
 
How much should I eat?
 
This depends greatly on the person, but is usually around 2 or 3 cups per day. If you love vegetables, you can eat more than the 2 to 3 cups. It's just a guideline.
 
Make sure that you eat a variety of colors of vegetables, because there are different nutrients that are found in different colors of vegetables. Dark green vegetables (broccoli, spinach, etc.) contain a lot of nutrients.    
 
 
Why should I eat vegetables?
 
Because they are so good for you! Yes, we've all heard this since we were children, but it is true. Vegetables are packed with nutrients that our bodies need, including potassium, folate, fiber, and vitamins A, E, and C. Eating vegetables can give you healthy skin and eyes, lower your cholesterol, help maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels, and so many other things.  Plus, they contain a lot of fiber, which helps your digestive tract to be regular.
 
And you should eat vegetables because they taste good. If you don't really like a particular vegetable, try others. There are so many types and varieties of veggies that everyone should be able to find at least one that they'll like. The next time you go to a grocery store or farmers market, look for a vegetable that you've never tried. You might find a new favorite. If you are unsure how to cook or prepare a particular vegetable, there are many online resources, or any basic cookbook should have a section. Try flavoring with herbs or brushing lightly with olive oil. One of my favorite dishes is grilled zucchini that is seasoned with thyme. Don't be afraid to try new vegetables or new ways of preparing favorite vegetables. 
 
Other information:
 
If you have children who don't like to eat vegetables, don't give up. Let them choose the vegetables for dinner. Let them help make the salad. Getting children involved will often help them to enjoy vegetables more. Now is a great time to plant a garden. Let your children help with the planting and watering, and when it's time to harvest, they will be excited to try what they helped to grow. And remember that children do watch their parents. If a parent doesn't like eating vegetables, often the children will not like eating them.
 
Bonus question:
Are tomatoes fruit or vegetables?
 
If you talk to a botanist, they will tell you that biologically speaking, tomatoes are fruit. However, if you talk to a dietitian, they will tell you that nutritionally speaking, tomatoes are vegetables. So the answer is both. They are placed in the vegetable category in the food pyramid, however, so for dietary purposes, you can say they are vegetables.
 
If there is a topic you would like me to cover in an upcoming article, or if you have a nutrition question, you can email me at mkshaw5@hotmail.com. Thanks!
 
Until next time,
Melodie
 
 
* This article is for information purposes only and is not meant to diagnose or treat any disease or disorder.