Shroooms: Enokitate Mushrooms

Scientific Name: Flammulina velutipes

Enokitate or Enoki Mushrooms grow wildly in Japan, Vietnam, China and Korea. They grow on Mulberry, Persimmon, and Hackberry trees, these mushrooms are naturally orange-brown in color but due to cultivation, they end up being white. Enoki Mushrooms have long stems that can grow up to 5 inches and the cap is usually small. They have other names such as Golden Needle Mushrooms, Lily Mushrooms, Winter Fungus and Seafood Mushrooms.

Enoki Mushrooms are often found in Asian cuisines because they are known for their anti-cancer properties, They contain large amounts of protein, niacin, iron, selenium, calcium and potassium. Scientists and doctors continue to study Enoki Mushrooms because based on laboratory tests, they found out that it can be an important ingredient in vaccines to cure cancer - and that's a great news!

Dishes like Egg Soup with Enoki Mushrooms, Sautéd Enoki Mushrooms and Enoki Mushrooms with Cheese Casserole are just three of the many recipes you can prepare using this kind of mushroom. Like any other mushrooms, this can also be added as toppings on burgers and noodles. It can also be added in sauces for pastas.

Green Minded: Broccoli

Scientific Name: Brassica oleracea

The name Broccoli comes from the Italian name broccolo, which means the flowering tuft of cabbages. They have a tree-like structure with big flower heads. The flowers are colored green and so are the stalks. Broccoli existed since 6th Century and Italians before would consider them as valuable vegetables. There are three types of Broccoli and these are:

Purple Broccoli - sold in Italy, UK and Spain, this Broccoli's tuft is purple in color and the flower buds are smaller that the regular one.

Calabrese Broccoli - the regular Broccoli that's usually deep green in color and has larger flower heads.

Sprouting Broccoli - they have thin, plenty stalks but have very large flower heads.

Eating a generous amount of Broccoli can help support cardiovascular health. It's also rich in Vitamin B Complex, this vegetable is also good for our nervous system. Eating Broccoli daily can help prevent cancer and can help digestion. 

Broccoli is prepared by trimming the "trunk" and slicing the stems, leaving clumps of flower heads which will look like tinier versions of Broccoli. These can be sautéd with butter or combined with other vegetables. One famous dish in Philippines made with Broccoli, is the Beef Broccoli. A healthy snack you should try is steaming Broccoli and drizzle some salad dressing! : )