Health, Food and Human History: Grains and Beans

One thing that fascinates me to no end is the history of food and human civilization. Throughout history, humans have been developing ways to cultivate and prepare food, sometimes for flavor but more often than not, it seems, for nutrition, digestion and preservation. What I find difficult to get my head around, is the idea that thousands of years ago, humans figured out food combinations that had the most nutritional value. Beans and grains, for example, often form a complete protein when paired together. In the Americas, beans and corn has been a popular combination for thousands of years. Beans, containing all of the amino acids but the one contained in corn: methionine.

Below are some interesting links containing information about the history of these foods as well as recipes:

Mother Earth News: Pinto Beans and Corn
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/1972-01-01/Pinto-Beans-and-Corn.aspx

Food Reference: Beans
http://www.foodreference.com/html/artbeans.html

Veg Paradise: Corn, The A-Maize-Ing Grain
http://www.vegparadise.com/highestperch9.html

I’ve also put together a recipe of my own. Sausage and Mushroom Succotash.

Downtown Garden

SF’s Civic Center Welcomes Fresh Veggie Garden

“For the first time since 1943, the first edible garden was planted Saturday at San Francisco’s Civic Center, with the hopes of encouraging residents to eat healthy food.”

http://www.kcbs.com/pages/2588388.php?

Some additions to the blog.

I have added a few RSS feeds of my favorite podcasts and articles in the sidebar. I hope you find them interesting and informative!

Deconstructing Dinner http://kootenaycoopradio.com/deconstructingdinner/

The Ethicurean http://www.ethicurian.com

The Food Chain http://www.metrofarm.com

Indy Bay http://www.indybay.org

Eat Feed http://www.eatfeed.com/

Edible San Francisco http://www.ediblesanfrancisco.com

California and Water

I’ve been thinking about water a lot lately with the drought and all of the fires that are still burning around the state as I type. I am not the only one thinking about this, of course, and there’s a great, locally produced 30 minute program about the future of water in California:
State of Thirst: California’s Water Future
“Are we in danger of running out of water? California’s population is growing by 600,000 people a year, but much of the state receives as much annual rainfall as Morocco. With fish populations crashing, global warming, and the demands of the country’s largest agricultural industry, the pressures on our water supply are increasing.”

It’s time for more… DUN DUN DUN…

LOL FOODS