As a product of the NY public school system I think it’s fair to say that I turned out pretty well. I learned a lot in my pre-college days, then went on to college, graduated and became a responsible, tax-paying citizen. When I think back to my college years and what I ate, I can’t remember cooking a single meal. Sure I could make omelets, pour cereal and milk, boil pasta, and microwave frozen meals, but cooking, like really cooking… not so much (and I don’t even mean Julia Child style). I don’t think it ever occurred to me to even try. Why would I? I had the dining hall, Lean-Cuisine, Subway, Panera and Taco Bell to do the work for me.
It’s no wonder I got sick and was eventually diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. My body just couldn’t keep up. It was time to get back to the basics! As I quickly learned, clean healthy whole food can be prepared in just a handful of minutes.
Steaming is one of my favorite ways to prepare vegetables. You only use one pot so clean up is really easy and the veggies cook in a matter of minutes. All you need is water so you really can’t beat the price for your ingredients.
When done correctly, steaming is a great way to retain the flavor and nutrients in your food. To maximize their nutritional value, vegetables should be cooked al denté – tender on the outside and crisp on the inside. So often, my clients overcook their vegetables without realize that this greatly diminishes their nutrient density.
To steam vegetables, begin by adding about 2 inches of water to the bottom of your pot. This will prevent the pot from burning. Allow the water to boil before adding the vegetables to the steamer basket so the heat will be consistent throughout the cooking time. After you add your vegetables, turn the heat to a medium temperature and cover with a lid. I like to steam multiple vegetables at once in a very large pot in order to maximize efficiency. Place the denser vegetables on the bottom because they will need more heat in order to cook. The lightest vegetables, like dark leafy greens should be on top.
Be sure to save the water at the bottom of the pot! The water can be used as a base for soups and sauces. You can also drink it straight hot or cold.
I think you turned out great! Although I steam vegetables almost daily, I never save the water for a base for soup or to drink straight up…. I will definately give it a try! Thanks!