Food, Recipe and Activity of the Week - May 18, 2008
This week's features include:
Food - Zucchini
Recipe - Skillet zucchini with tomatoes
Activity - Car washing
Zucchini, Latin name Cucurbita pepo, is a part of the cucumber and melon family. Archaeologists have traced the zucchini and other summer and winter squashes back to their Central and South American origins as far back 7,000 and 5,500 BCE. Christopher Columbus brought zucchini from the Americas and introduced it to people living in the Mediterranean and Africa. In French, it is called courgette, a term also used for yellow squash. Our word for the squash is derived from the Italian word zucchino, which means "small squash."
Zucchini facts
The zucchini is a green, slightly curved, cylindrically shaped summer squash, which is slightly smaller at the top than the bottom. It’s shape look a lot like a lightly ridged cucumber. Zucchini’s skin color varies from medium to deep green, with paler flecks and stripes, some of which are yellow. It grows rapidly and is typically harvested at common market size of 4 to 8 inches long 2 to 7 days after flowering. If grown past their prime, they can grow quite large, although the flavor becomes bitter and the seeds become tough. The world’s longest recorded zucchini was grown in New York and measured 69 inches long!
When purchasing zucchini, it is desirable if the skin is vibrantly colored and without blemishes. It can be deliciously prepared in a number of ways, including grilling, baking, sautéing, steaming, and deep-frying. Zucchini has a high water content of about 95%, which makes it low in calories.
Nutrition
Nutrition information (1 cup sliced, steamed) calories: 29, protein: 1 g, carbohydrates: 7g, fat: 0 g, cholesterol: 0 mg, sodium: 5 mg, fiber: 3 g
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp whipped light butter
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 4 small (6-inch/15-cm) zucchini, thinly sliced
- 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- Freshly ground pepper
Instructions:
- In a large nonstick skillet, melt margarine over medium heat.
- Add onions and cook, stirring until softened.
- Add zucchini and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add tomatoes and cook for 3-5 minutes or until zucchini is tender-crisp.
- Season to taste with pepper and serve.
Nutrition Information: 50 calories, 1 grams total fat, 11 grams carbohydrate, 2 grams protein, 3 grams fiber, 20 milligrams sodium, 0 milligrams cholesterol.
Courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. For more recipes and access to the recipe’s full nutritional profile, visit www.cdc.gov.
Is the winter dirt covering your car and has the winter mud dried on your car floor? Then it is time to take some action. Instead of taking the car to a carwash, enjoy a sunny day and manually wash your car yourself. If you do not have a hose and an area at home to wash your car, there are several areas that provide vacuum cleaners and hoses that can be used for manual car washing. Check for locations in your area and set a date to get motivated.
Car washing will contribute to your daily physical activity and you can burn anywhere from 250 kcal to 420 kcal per hour depending on your body weight. Therefore, why not bring a bottle of wax and a few towels and wax your entire car. You are not only working out your arms and legs, but are also getting a shiny bright car. It is advised to consult with your physician before participating in new physical activities.