7 Ingredient Pantry

Today's nutrition tidbit comes from an article by Jesse Ziff Cool.  Jesse Ziff Cool is the author of Simply Organic: A Cookbook for Sustainable, Seasonable, and Local Ingredients as well as the founder of some food establishments in Menlo Park, California.  She has been a pioneer in the "farm-to-table" movement since 1975.  The 7 Ingredient Pantry was developed as a way to help people learn that healthy cooking and using fresh fruits and veggies in season is easy to do.    With Cool's list of 7 ingredients you can take fresh ingredients from your garden, a farmers' market, or the grocery store and turn them into a delicious, healthy meal without even using a cookbook.  Here they are:

7 Ingredients to Success
1. Olive oil
2. Acid (vinegar or lemon juice)
3. Salt
4. Pepper
5. Sugar (small amount to enhance flavor)
6. Herbs, either fresh or dried
7. Spices, either fresh or dried

Use these 7 ingredients to cook vegetables and the proteins you like to "delicious perfection" by sauteing seasonal vegetables and lean protein in olive oil with the listed ingredients and calling it a meal.  Or use these ingredients to make a vinaigrette dressing and add a protein, like chicken, to a salad to top with the dressing.    You can cook any vegetable that is in season with the herbs and spices you have on hand in one pot with no recipe.

Two more ingredients I would add are
1. garlic
2. onion

Give it a try!  You might be surprised how easy it is.