TRENDS
Go purple for better health
Purple will reign as the new color of healthy food, according to a recent report on garden trends by The Garden Media Group. “According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the purple antioxidant anthocyanin helps fight cancer, has anti-aging benefits, reduces obesity, protects the heart and promotes mental strength,” according to a column by Don Kinzler in the Fargo Forum.
Purple foods that could gain in popularity include beets, plums, eggplant, purple cabbage, purple cauliflower, purple carrots, purple sweet potato and purple corn.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Perfect cup of tea
Stephen Twining, whose family founded Twinings of London in 1706, shares some tips to brew your favorite cup of herbal tea: Start with a clean mug and a clean kettle of fresh, cold water. As soon as the water reaches a boil, remove the kettle from the heat source. Set the tea bag in the mug before you add hot water, pouring it directly onto the tea bag.
— Brandpoint
EASY RECIPE
Carrot Cake
• ¼ cup butter
• Shortening
• ²⁄ ³ cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 (20 oz.) can sliced pineapple in juice, drained
• 7 maraschino cherries without stems
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon table salt
• 1½ cups grated carrots
• ½ cup finely chopped pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter in a lightly greased (with shortening) 10-inch cast iron skillet over low heat. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Arrange 7 slices of pineapple in single layer over brown sugar. Place one cherry in center of each pineapple slice.Beat granulated sugar, oil and eggs at medium speed with electric mixer until blended. Combine flour and next four ingredients. Gradually add to sugar and beat at low speed until blended. Stir in carrots and pecans. Spoon into pan over pineapple slices.Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool in skillet on a wire rack 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of cake to loosen. Invert cake onto serving plate, spooning any topping in skillet over cake.
