Three Sisters Kitchen ReFresh Newsletter
Welcome to your second ReFresh newsletter of the season! We hope your week is going well.
In this newsletter, you will find:
– ReFresh calendar
– FIRST ReFresh online cooking class
– Learn more about eggplant and its health benefits in “Ask a Registered Dietitian” with Lisa.
– Learn about harvesting tomatoes in the “Ask a Farmer” section.
– A few simple recipes that you can make with the fresh ingredients in your ReFresh bag!
– Check out the information for the Free Kids Meditation Class and Free Museum Days in the “Community Resource” section.
We hope you enjoy this newsletter and thank you for your participation as we work together to build a healthy local food system.
Next ReFresh distribution 8/10/22
Text your questions, photos, and comments to: (505) 226-3707.
Ask a Registered Dietitian
by Lisa Chen
What is eggplant and what are its health benefits?
Eggplants are in the nightshade vegetable family, as well as tomatoes and potatoes. The eggplants we eat are the fruits of the plant. They grow by hanging from the vines that are several feet in height. The most common eggplant in the United States is the American eggplant. It is large pear-shaped with a deep-purple glossy skin encasing a flesh that is cream-colored, with seeds and a spongy texture. Eggplants also come in a variety of colors including lavender, jade green, orange, and yellow-white. They are an excellent source of dietary fiber and a good source of vitamin B1 and B6, which are essential for energy production, carbohydrate metabolism, and nerve health. A plant compound, nasunin, in eggplants is a strong antioxidant, which protects cells from damage and supports overall health. When selecting an eggplant, choose one that is free of discoloration, scars, or bruises. They are also very perishable as they are sensitive to both heat and cold. Store them in a plastic bag in the refrigerator for up to five days, and once cooked, store for up to three days. Ways to cook eggplants include sauteing, stir-frying, baking, and stuffing in large bell peppers.
Check out the recipe below for the cooking class tomorrow evening. Remember to join us!
Do you have a question about food and nutrition?
Send your questions to [email protected].
Disclaimer: The information shared by Three Sisters Kitchen (TSK) is for general informational purposes only, and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by a doctor or other health care provider.
Ask a Farmer
by Tiana Baca
Recipes We Love!
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This taco recipe is a great addition to any weeknight
meal, you can add pickled onions and other toppings for a finishing touch.
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This baba ganoush is a great option for a summer vegetable dip. You can use a blender to substitute food processors. You can substitute olive oil with any other oil you have at home, such as avocado oil, grapeseed oil, canola oil, etc.
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This quick and easy eggplant bruschetta can be served as a side dish or appetizer. Adding other vegetables, such as carrots and squash, will make it even more nutritious!
Recipes by 1), 2) Love and Lemons, 3) Diabetes Food Hub
Community Resources
Free Sunday Morning Admission at Albuquerque Museum
Albuquerque museum offers free admission on Sunday morning, from 9 am to 1 pm.
Location: 2000 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
Website: https://www.cabq.gov/artsculture/albuquerque-museum
Check out the Sculpture Garden, the History of Albuquerque, and the other art history exhibits with your family and friends, and enjoy your Sunday morning there!
Kids Meditation Class
Kadampa Meditation Center offers free weekly kids meditation classes for kids ages 4-10 on Sundays from 10-11:15 am.
Location: 142 Monroe St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
Website:https://www.meditationinnewmexico.org/meditation-classes/dharma-for-kids/
Join them for in-person classes, starting August 15th, 2022. Email [email protected] if you’re interested in learning more!
This week your Refresh bag will include many of the following delicious fresh and staple items:
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Carrots from Carrasco Family Farms*
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Eggplant from Silver Leaf Farms*
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Potatoes from Rodriguez S & J Farm*
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Summer squash or cucumber from Casa Fresco Farm*
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Sunflower sprouts from Tesuque Pueblo Farm*
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Tropea onions from Vida Verde Farm*
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Corn tortillas from Sabroso Foods*
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Pina Colada Paradise Granola from TSK Food Group*
This winning flavor was designed by an Albuquerque 5th grader for a contest hosted by Kids Cook!, an Albuquerque-based non-profit. Proceeds from the sale of Piña Colada Paradise Granola go to support their important work in improving the health of children and families by exposing them to a variety of culturally diverse foods, providing the knowledge to prepare these foods, and teaching the benefits of daily activity. Find out more at KidsCook.us!
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Eggs from Yoder Family Farms
NM grown / NM made. We raise money to purchase these foods from local farmers and food producers as a concrete way to invest in our local food system and get delicious, fresh, local food to our ReFresh families. Keep an eye out for these local farms and food businesses when you do your food shopping. ReFresh boxes will always include local food items.
Thank You!
Special thanks to all of the farmers and food producers working so hard to feed our communities; our partner organizations who helped to recruit ReFresh families: Crossroads for Women, Encuentro, SWOP, Supportive Housing Coalition, Together for Brothers, Mandy’s Farm, New Mexico Asian Family Center, and YES Housing; to the staff, volunteers, donors, and ReFresh families who make the program work, and to our partners at MoGro Mobile Grocery, who pack these beautiful ReFresh bags each week for us, and who do so much important work connecting communities to healthy food throughout New Mexico. There would be no ReFresh program without all of you – we love our partners!
– All of us at Three Sisters Kitchen