Food of the Day: EDAMAME!

"Edamame is a green vegetable more commonly known as a soybean, harvested at the peak of ripening right before it reaches the "hardening" time. The word Edamame means "Beans on Branches," and it grows in clusters on bushy branches. To retain the freshness and its natural flavor, it is parboiled and quick-frozen. In East Asia, the soybean has been used for over two thousand years as a major source of protein. Edamame is consumed as a snack, a vegetable dish, used in soups or processed into sweets. As a snack, the pods are lightly boiled in salted water, and then the seeds are squeezed directly from the pods into the mouth with the fingers." (http://www.edamame.com/)

Eda-whaty? Yeah, the first time I heard of it, I was like... hum... I'm not so sure about this. But wait till you try them! (And you probably already know about them... but I'm just here to remind you that they make a great snack... or side-dish with fish or ice cream or whatever.)

The taste? Whoa, they have like a buttery 'center of an artachoke' taste but BETTER! (Can be eaten hot or cold. I prefer hot!) Justin and I get them from Sam's Club (avalable at Costco, too). They come (frozen) in a box with eight little microwaveable steam packs...

SO... (cheezy sales person smile)...your snack could be ready within 3 minutes!

Whooo-Hooo, We love Edamame!

Per 100 grams (edible portion)
Calories........................................125.0
Protein.........................................12.1
Carbohydrates............................13.1
Fat................................................3.6
Ash...............................................1.7 (umm. not sure what this is! any guesses anyone?)
Calcium........................................9.3
Phosphorus.................................180.0
Iron..............................................2.7
Sodium.........................................5.0
Vitamin A....................................130.0
Vitamin U1..................................0.31
Vitamin C.....................................40.0

This Post has been brought to you by the letter E! (for Edamame!)

-Panda