Have you always wondered how to prepare vegetables in order to maximize their nutritional content? There's no easy answer, since cooking powers up the nutrients in some vegetables—and does the exact opposite in others.
"Some produce is most nutritious uncooked, while other kinds need heat to bring out the best in them," says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, a registered dietitian with a practice in Chicago. From asparagus to tomatoes, here's how to get the most from your farmers' market picks.
If you’re craving something sweet and satisfying that will also help fuel your body, whip up a batch of these lemon drop energy balls. They take just 15 minutes of active prep time to make, and are filled with simple, good-for-you ingredients like almonds and dates. Plus, because they contain dates and a hint of maple syrup, they basically taste like little lemon cookies (yum!) without all the refined sugar. Watch this video to learn how to make your own lemon drop energy balls.
To start out, combine almonds or cashews in a food processor and pulse until they become crumbly. Next, add dates, coconut, maple syrup, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt into the mixture. Process all the ingredients until they’re well-combined. Then add lemon zest and pulse until all the ingredients are incorporated, which should take about 30 seconds. If the mixture is too sticky to shape into balls, you can always freeze the dough for about 15-20 minutes, until it’s firm enough to roll.
Once the dough is manageable, scoop out the mixture and roll into 1-inch balls. Then mix some more coconut and lemon zest together in a small bowl. Sprinkle each ball with the mixture, and then place them on a baking sheet. Leave them in the fridge for about an hour before serving. These tasty treats can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or kept in the freezer for a month.
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