Happy New Year!

From all of us at B&W Quality Growers, thank you for a wonderful 2015. Let's make 2016 even better!

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

All of us at B&W Quality Growers extend our most heartfelt thanks for enjoying our watercress! 

A watercress wreath or tree is a healthy addition to any holiday table.

May your days be merry and bright!

Happy Holidays!

How are your eyes?

Do you see what I see? How's your vision? Did you know that vitamin A is abundant in watercress. One bowl of this vegetable gives you 42% of the recommended daily value of the vitamin. Watercress, when consumed on a regular basis, can help aid in macular degeneration, and cataracts.

There's two types of Vitamin A, Preformed, which is found in animal products, and Pro-Vitamin A which is in watercress and some other plant based foods. Not only does Vitamin A help your eyes, it also helps form and maintain healthy skin, teeth, skeletal and soft tissue. It also is known as retinol and produces the pigments in the retina of the eye. Vitamin A especially helps promote good vision in low light. Eat your watercress to keep your body, and eyes, happy and healthy.

Link to sources: http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/watercress-benefits-for-skin-hair-health/

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002400.htm

Hair and watercress

Watercress is a leafy green cruciferous, and a water plant. It has a plethora of minerals and vitamins that are truly a treasure trove for your hair and scalp. It helps prevent infections that effect dandruff and dry scalp.

Watercress helps hydrate your scalp keeping it healthy and helps prevent hair loss. Not only that, it helps promote hair growth keeping key hormones in balance.

Adding watercress to your daily diet can help cleanse your blood, which in turn improves your body's defense mechanisms. The sulfur and zinc in watercress help encourage hair regrowth. Watercress juice can be used directly on the scalp, hydrating your hair and scalp.

Link to sources: http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/watercress-benefits-for-skin-hair-health/
http://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/health-benefits-of-watercress/

Do you know how good watercress is for your skin?

B&W Quality Growers Watercress is a peppery and delightful treat, do you know it's also really good for your skin?

It treats skin inflammation with its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anti-bacterial qualities.
When you consume watercress, for acne, it acts as a cleansing agent, in the digestive tract which in turn encourages better filtering in the blood. You can also apply watercress topically. Just make a paste of the watercress by crushing it and apply to affected areas. Leave the watercress on for a few minutes to allow it to penetrate the pores.

Watercress can also act as soothing balm for eczema. Ingesting watercress helps manage itching and the burning sensation from eczema.

It's been proved as a powerful anti-aging ingredient. A cup of watercress a day keeps wrinkles away.

Vitamin A and Vitamin C are abundant in watercress and there's evidence these are safeguards against skin cancer.

Link to sources: http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/watercress-benefits-for-skin-hair-health/

http://www.healthbenefitstimes.com/health-benefits-of-watercress/

Pilgrims and watercress

In 1620, the pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock on December 21, 1620. Did you know they are watercress? Initially they used it to battle scurvy, eating the crisp sprigs right from their hands.
The pilgrims found out that watercress is a nutritious powerhouse. It helped them perk up, it's a stimulant, it functions as a diuretic, aids in digestion, it can act as an expectorant, and is full of antioxidants. Also, it was inexpensive to grow, so even the poorest pilgrim could afford to benefit from watercress. Not only is watercress great for nutrition, and your entire person, it is a beautiful bright green that must have lifted the pilgrims' spirits as they gazed upon it.http://ediblecamino.com/2014/05/09/watercress-nasturtium-officinale/

link to sources: http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/watercress-benefits-for-skin-hair-health/
http://ediblecamino.com/2014/05/09/watercress-nasturtium-officinale/

Superfood!

Watercress is healthy, more flavorful (and nutritious) than other leafy greens, and easier to digest.
In a study by the Centers for Disease Control, it is the most nutrient-dense food available to date. In an article from "Hometown Life" (find source at the bottom of page), watercress is sited to have twice the vitamin C of an orange, more calcium than milk, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and so much more. But you knew that didn't you? Here's a great recipe (and photo) from the same article:

Silky Egg Cress Salad

Salad:

1 package Live Gourmet Living Upland Cress, B&W Quality Growers, or Grower Pete’s Living Watercress, root ball and stems removed, leaves rinsed and patted dry

2 medium eggs

3 purple potato chips (purple potatoes sliced thin, seasoned and sauteed until crisp)

3 slices fresh avocado

3 slices ripe pear

3 slices persimmon

2 pieces toasted brioche bread

2 tablespoons Orange Vinaigrette

Orange Vinaigrette:

2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate

2 tablespoons grape seed oil

2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar

1 teaspoon honey

pinch cracked black pepper

In small bowl, whisk together vinaigrette ingredients and set aside.

Prepare and artfully arrange cress and all ingredients, except eggs, on serving plate and set aside.

Soft boil eggs 5 minutes in 1 quart of water. Remove from heat and cool 30 seconds under cold running water. Gently remove shells. While still warm, slice eggs in half and place atop the plated salad. Lightly drizzle with Orange Vinaigrette.

Guaranteed to be delicious! 

http://www.hometownlife.com/story/life/food/2015/12/15/superfood-watercress-adds-flavor-vitamins-meals/77352460/

Destress with Watercress

Modern research shows that nutrients in watercress can help our eyes, bones, and general health. There's antioxidant nutrients in watercress, lutein and zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene. Because of these and the vitamins and minerals in watercress, it helps promote cardiovascular health and general well being. Here's a great recipe to help your holidays be brighter:

Watercress Soup

INGREDIENTs

• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon olive oil

• 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

• 1 large white potato (12 ounces), peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice (2 cups)

• Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

• 3 cups low-sodium chicken stock

• 2 bunches (14 ounces total) watercress, thick stems trimmed, coarsely chopped

• Lemon wedges, for serving

DIRECTIONS

Heat a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add oil and garlic, cook until sizzling and fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in potato and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook 1 minute.
Add stock and 1 1/2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in watercress. Return to a boil. Reduce to a simmer for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Divide among soup bowls and squeeze a lemon wedge into each bowl. Serve immediately.

Relax and enjoy.

Recipe and images via Marthastewart.com

http://www.marthastewart.com/1049723/watercress-soup

Watercress facts via: http://www.wholeliving.com/133538/power-foods-watercress

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you and yours a day full of delicious food and gratitude.

From all of us at B&W Quality Growers, we are thankful for you!

Watercress in the News

Watercress is often compared to kale, nevertheless, they are different enough to stand alone on their merits. I found a fantastic article in the news about the benefits of watercress, kale, and other greens.

The information and above photo are from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-16/powerhouse-foods-watercress/6659222 read more by clicking the link. 

1. watercress
2. Chinese cabbage
3. chard
4. beet greens
5. spinach
6. chicory
7. leaf lettuce
8. parsley
9. romaine lettuce
10. collard green
11. turnip green
12. mustard green
13. endive
14. chive
15. kale.

Most of these are green leafy vegetables and they are among the most concentrated source of vitamins and minerals, calorie for calorie. Just adding one cup of leafy greens to your diet every day means you'll consume up to nine times your daily nutrient intake of Vitamin B, C and K.

As a general rule, you'll get the most from your powerhouse fruit and vegetables if you consume them raw as essential nutrients can be lost during cooking.

Watercress soup with crab toasts

This recipe comes from "Daily Mail", the article it resides in mentions how traditional Chinese medicine considers watercress an excellent liver cleanser. Find the original article below the recipe.

SERVES 4

• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 medium potato, diced
• 850ml (29fl oz) good-quality chicken stock (see our book for home-made)
• 400g (14oz) watercress, rinsed
• a little unsweetened almond milk or water, if needed
• flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

TO SERVE

• ready-made fresh crab pâté and pumpkin seed crackers (we like Dr Karg)

♥ Melt the butter in a large saucepan, add the onion and cook gently for a few minutes, stirring, until soft. Add the potato and cook for a few minutes more, then add the stock. Bring to the boil and reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for around 15 minutes, or until the potato is cooked.

♥ Meanwhile, pick the watercress leaves from the stalks and set aside. Add the stalks to the pan 5 minutes before the potatoes have finished cooking, so that they just wilt.

♥ Take the soup off the heat and add the watercress leaves, then process to a smooth consistency in a blender. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add a little almond milk or water, if needed, to loosen it to your desired consistency. Serve with fresh crab pâté on pumpkin seed crackers.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-2932841/New-soupermodels-Watercress-soup-crab-toasts.html#ixzz3oZqhqZlG
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Watercress Avocado Salad

Today, a recipe from the website, Watercress Avocado Salad. It is quick and easy to make and remarkably delicious. Here's what you'll need to make this dish:

Ingredients (serves 2)

3 bunches watercress, cut into bite size lengths

1 firm ripe avocado, cut into chunks

1 tablespoon sweet onion, grated

1/2 peeled apple, grated

1/4 cup sushi vinegar

2 teaspoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation

1.       Make a dressing by mixing sweet onion, apple, vinegar, soy sauce and oil.

2.      Just before serving, toss watercress and avocado with enough dressing to coat.

Enjoy!

Watercress + Nigella Lawson

Nigella Lawson is one of my favorite chefs and uses watercress in many recipes. Here she is making a watercress and sugar snap pea salad:

For the salad:

1 bag of B&W Watercress

1 bunch of sugar snap peas

For the Lime Wasabi dressing:

3 T bottled lime juice

4 T oil of choice

1 T wasabi paste

1/2 tsp coarse salt

Mix in jar and shake

Finish salad by tossing watercress and snap peas, drizzle dressing and serve.

Balsamic Chicken with Watercress and Nectarine Salad

Before the weather turns too cold, keep the grill warm with this delectable combination of flavors, from "The Colombian"

Balsamic Chicken
With Watercress and Nectarine Salad

4 servings

You can substitute another leafy green, such as baby kale or arugula, or a different stone fruit, such as peaches or plums.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (1¼ pounds total), tenderloins and visible fat removed

3 tablespoons extra-virgin
olive oil

2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

3 to 3½ ounces (1 bunch) fresh watercress, tough stems removed, coarsely chopped (about 2½ cups lightly packed)

1 medium ripe nectarine, pitted and sliced into thin wedges

½ small red onion, sliced into thin half-moons

If using a gas grill, preheat to medium-high (400 degrees) with the lid closed. If using a charcoal grill, light the charcoal or wood briquettes; when the briquettes are ready, distribute them evenly over the cooking area. For a medium-hot fire, you should be able to hold your hand about 6 inches above the coals for 4 to 6 seconds. Have ready a spray water bottle for taming any flames. Brush the grill grate.

Place the chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap, then pound each one to about ¼ inch. (You can also ask the butcher to do that.)

Whisk the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper in a liquid measuring cup to form an emulsified dressing. Transfer 2 tablespoons of the dressing to a bowl; use it to brush the chicken all over. Reserve the rest of the dressing for the salad; discard any dressing left over from brushing the chicken.

Place the chicken on the grill. Cook uncovered for about 1 minute per side or until just cooked through, with light char marks. Transfer to a plate.

Toss the watercress, nectarines and onion with the reserved dressing in a large bowl. Divide the chicken evenly among individual plates. Top each portion with a quarter of the salad, and serve right away.

Per serving: 280 calories, 33 g protein, 5 g carbohydrates, 14 g fat, 3 g saturated fat, 105 mg cholesterol, 210 mg sodium, 0 g dietary fiber, 4 g sugar

Find the original link to the recipe here:

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/sep/22/dish-turns-chicken-salad-on-its-head/

It's Apple season!

When I was a kid, I used to love going to the apple farm during apple season.

You know what goes great with apples? Watercress!

Here's a recipe I found on "Smarter Fitter":

Watercress & Apple Smoothie

A handful of B&W watercress

1 apple

1/2 a frozen banana

1/4 avocado

a few ice cubes

water to blend in blender

Blend and enjoy!

Here's a link to the original recipe: http://smarterfitter.com/watercress-and-apple-smoothie/

Watercress and Mango Salad with Ginger Dressing

• This is one of many delicious salad ideas from Food and Wine magazine. Find the original link below.
• 
  
• TOTAL TIME: 30 MIN     SERVINGS: 8

• FAST
• HEALTHY
• MAKE-AHEAD
• VEGETARIAN

INGREDIENTS

1. 2 tablespoons canola oil
2. 2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
3. 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
4. 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
5. 1/2 teaspoon chili paste or Tabasco to taste
6. 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
7. Pinch of sugar
8. 1/2 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
9. 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
10. Salt and freshly ground pepper
11. 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
12. 1 scallion, thinly sliced
13. Three 6-ounce bunches of watercress, tough stems discarded
14. 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
15. 1 mango, cut into 1/2-inch dice
16. 1 Hass avocado, cut into 1/2-inch dice

1.  Heat the canola oil in a small skillet. Add the ginger and cook over moderate heat until just golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer the ginger to a small bowl and let cool. Stir in the lime juice, rice vinegar, chili paste, garlic, sugar and sesame oil. Slowly whisk in the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Stir in the cilantro and scallion.
2.  In a large bowl, toss the watercress and onion with the dressing and season with salt and pepper. Add the mango and avocado, toss gently and serve.

MAKE AHEAD

The dressing can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Stir in the cilantro and scallion just before serving.

http://www.foodandwine.com/blogs/2015/04/28/7-best-watercress-salads

Gingered Watercress

This recipe originally came from Cooking Channel TV. You can find the link below.

Gingered Watercress

TOTAL TIME: 25 min

 

YIELD: 6 servings

LEVEL: Easy

INGREDIENTS

• 3 bunches B&Wwatercress, trimmed (about 1 1/2 pounds)
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 knob fresh ginger, minced
• 1 tomato, seeded and chopped
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

Wash the cress and spin it dry. Heat the oil in a wok or skillet. Add the garlic and ginger and cook 1 minute. Add the tomato and cook until it is paste like. Add the cress, and cook down, turning occasionally with tongs, until tender, about 10 minutes. Season and serve.

Calories: 78
Total Fat: 7 grams
Saturated Fat: 1 grams
Protein: 3 grams
Total carbohydrates: 3 grams
Sugar: 1 gram
Fiber: 1 grams
Cholesterol: 0 milligrams
Sodium: 146 milligrams

http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/gingered-watercress.html

How to eat watercress

At watercress central (here), we think you can eat watercress any way you want to. Huffington Post, however, has some pretty great suggestions. Here's just one, but the link below takes you to the other fantastic ideas. It was hard to choose just one they all look so delicious:

Tomato, Watercress and Mozzarella Salad
Serves 4

1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
1 English cucumber
1 ball mozzarella, Claudio’s if possible
1 head watercress
¼ cup pine nuts, toasted
vinaigrette (see below)

Halve the cherry tomatoes and place in large bowl. Remove stem and seeds from peppers and chop into small dice. Dice the cucumbers finely as well and add to bowl with the tomatoes. Cut the ball of mozzarella into large pieces and add to the bowl. Add the watercress and pine nuts to the bowl and toss lightly with the Basil-shallot vinaigrette.

Basil-Shallot Vinaigrette
Yield = ½ cup

4 teaspoons sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon finely chopped shallots
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
¼ teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 small bunch basil, finely chopped (1/4 cup)

In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, shallots, mustard, sugar and salt. Let mixture macerate for 20 minutes. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, whisking constantly until emulsified. Add the basil, whisk, taste, add more salt and pepper if necessary. Set aside. The original recipe was provided by Alexandra's Kitchen: http://www.alexandracooks.com/2007/06/19/tomato-watercress-and-mozzarella-salad/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/07/09/watercress-recipes-soup-salad_n_3006513.html

Chilled watercress and lettuce velouté with oysters

If I'm honest I'll tell you I didn't know what a "velouté " was when I was posting this.
So, I looked it up, this is how Merriam-Webster defines it:

velouté

 

noun ve·lou·té \və-ˌlü-ˈtā\

Definition of VELOUTÉ

:  a soup or sauce made of chicken, veal, or fish stock and cream and thickened with butter and flour

The recipe I'm sharing today is from "Great British Chefs", you will find the link below. 

1

Place the oysters, flat-side up, in a steamer basket over a pan of boiling water. Cover and steam for 1 minute. The oysters should have opened. Carefully reserve the oyster juices in a cup

• 8 oysters, large and fresh

2

Remove the oysters from their shells and leave to cool. Then cut the lemongrass stalks into thin skewers and pierce an oyster on each. Chill until ready to serve

• 4 lemongrass sticks

3

Gently sauté the shredded lettuces with 2 tbsp olive oil in a saucepan for about 5 minutes, until softened but not coloured

• 1/3 iceberg lettuce, shredded
• 1/2 baby gem lettuce, shredded
• olive oil

4

Cut the stalks from the watercress and parsley and blanch for 1 minute. Add the watercress leaves and parsley leaves, then blanch for another 2 minutes

• 2 bunches of watercress
• 1 bunch of flat-leaf parsley

5

Drain in a colander and plunge into a big bowl of iced water. Leave for 5 minutes, then drain, pressing down on the leaves to extract the water. Keep the liquor for blending and adjusting the texture of your velouté

6

Mix the lettuces and the wilted watercress and parsley in a blender with the reserved oyster juices and the butter. Blitz until smooth

• 1 knob of butter

7

Add seasoning to taste, then pour and rub the velouté through a fine sieve into a bowl. Chill until ready to serve

• sea salt
• pepper

8

Once ready to serve, heat a little olive oil in a frying pan and sauté the skewered oysters for a few seconds on each side to reheat and lightly colour

• olive oil

9

Pour the chilled velouté into 4 soup plates and serve with two oyster skewers balanced on the side. ENJOY!

http://www.greatbritishchefs.com/recipes/watercress-veloute-recipe