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Healthy Kitchen Hacks #6 – The Green Edition

Healthy Kitchen Hacks #6 – The Green Edition

Healthy Kitchen Hacks is a weekly series on Teaspoon of Spice. We share fellow bloggers’ and our own favorite cooking shortcuts, kitchen tricks and “aha” ideas for making healthy meals a snap.

#HealthyKitchenHacks: How to Keep Lettuce Crisp, How to Quickly Cut Hearty Greens, Keep Asparagus Fresher Longer, What To Do With Leftover Herbs, All Natural Shamrock Shake via @tspbasil @teaspoonofspice

Welcome to this week’s Healthy Kitchen Hacks, which I’m (Deanna) calling the green version as spring is coming this month (along with spring weather, right?? please oh please)….and not a second too soon.

Here are some of my favorite tips on using all the green edibles that will be popping up in farmers’ markets and gardens soon:

1) How To Keep Lettuce Crisp Longer
via Evelyn @My Turn For Us

#HealthyKitchenHacks: How to Keep Lettuces Crisp Longer

I think picked up this trick back in the day from Rachael Ray’s show 30 Minute Meals. Evelyn, who blogs at My Turn For Us, has a nice picture step-by-step on keeping lettuce crisp for up to 3 weeks in the fridge.

2) The Fastest Way to Cut Leafy Greens for Cooking
via Life Hacker & America’s Test Kitchen

#HealthyKitchenHacks: How to Quickly Cut Hearty Leafy Greens

This quick video shows a great shortcut for chopping greens, especially ones with tough stems like collards and tougher versions of kale. And if you need some recipe inspiration when you’re done chopping, here are the two recipes I make almost weekly with my hearty greens: Asian Style Winter Greens and Cheesy Broccoli Greens Soup.

3) How to Keep Asparagus Fresh Longer
via Alicia @Urban Strawberries

#HealthyKitchenHacks: How to keep asparagus fresher longer
Asparagus season will be here soon (hooray!) and Alicia of Urban Strawberries gives instructions with photos on how she keeps asparagus fresh for up to 2 weeks in her refrigerator. Then go check out Serena’s Coconut Ginger Braised Asparagus (you won’t regret it.)

4) What To Do With Leftover Fresh Herbs 

#HealthyKitchenHacks: What to do with leftover dried herbs so they don't go to waste.
A green thumb I am not (I honestly cannot even keep mint alive), so I do buy a lot of fresh herbs from the store/farmers’ market but always have lots left over that often sometimes are forgotten and then wasted. Tips on how to avoid herb waste:

Dry Them – I do this with thyme and just stick it in an empty glass – it dries easily this way. Gabrielle @Design Mom has all the details on drying all different types of herbs.

Freeze In Ice Cube Trays – I haven’t try this yet but I’ve seen it done with water, wine or olive oil as Michaela @The Gardener’s Eden does.

Blend Into Smoothies – I still can’t get on the spinach/kale/hearty greens smoothie band wagon (blech) but I loved this Tropical Cilantro Smoothie (pineapple, banana, orange juice) from The Kitchn. And speaking of herbs in smoothies….

5) How to Make an All Natural Shamrock Shake
via Sara @The Organic Dietitian

#HealthyKitchenHacks: An all natural Shamrock Shake featuring fresh mint and spinach.

Photo credit: theorganicdietitian.com

Now, admittedly I haven’t tried this yet but Sara’s healthier version of the Shamrock Shake drew me in with her gorgeous photos and simple ingredients including fresh mint. Maybe St. Patty’s Day will be the day I finally drink some spinach.

(Bonus green tip —> Serena’s recent post on 7 Easy Ways To Enjoy Leftover Cabbage.)

Would you try any of these hacks? Any green tips to share?

Sunday Link Love: March 1-7 | Zen & Spice

Sunday 8th of March 2015

[…] Healthy Kitchen Hacks #6 – The Green Edition via Teaspoon of Spice […]

Heather Mason@ nuttynutrition

Friday 6th of March 2015

love the lettuce trick! Wilted lettuce is the worst!

Deanna Segrave-Daly

Friday 6th of March 2015

I know wilted lettuce and soggy spinach - bleck! :)

tanya

Thursday 5th of March 2015

What great tips! Thanks!

Meal Makeover Mom Janice

Wednesday 4th of March 2015

Love your kitchen hacks! So useful and things I wouldn't always think of. I may have to make the smoothie for St. Patrick's Day!

Alanna

Wednesday 4th of March 2015

I was in desperate need of what to do with leftover herbs - thank you!!! I hate how much I waste but now I will be putting these tips into great use :)

Deanna Segrave-Daly

Wednesday 4th of March 2015

So glad! Besides drying thyme, all my extra herbs would go to waste - I just tried the olive oil freezer trick (now I just have to remember they are in there - ha!)

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