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My Cousin Vinegar

Maybe it’s because our family is from New York, but the movie My Cousin Vinny leaves us in hysterics every time we watch it. And I have a cousin who might just be the long lost twin of Marisa Tomei.

Are there any movies you and your family can watch over and over again that remind you of yourselves? We think my Mimi is a carbon copy of Marie, the mom in Everybody Loves Raymond. But don’t tell her that.

my_cousin_vinny_ver2

Recently, I received the following email:

Hey Katie, I’m writing you an email today because I wanted to ask you about vinegar. Strange topic, huh? I read a post of yours where you made a stir fry with vinegar as one of the ingredients, and I was wondering if you used the vinegar just for its taste or if you used it for all its health benefits that I’ve been hearing about on various blogs lately. Is vinegar really healthy for you? Should I be taking shots of it, like one blogger suggested? Please say no! Can you share your stir fry recipe so I don’t have to take shots to get my healthy dose of vinegar? Plus, it looks so yummy, especially over those wheatberries—the non burnt ones, of course!

Wow, you remember from an old post! (I think you mean this post: Skinny Bitch burns food in the Kitch.)

I wasn’t aware of vinegar’s health benefits, so I googled it.  According to some sources, apple cider vinegar contains potassium, malic acid, calcium, pectin, ash (whatever that is!), beta carotene, and acetic acid, and it can help:

  • Alleviate joint pain and stiffness, arthritis, and weak bones
  • Remove toxins from the body by helping to improve bowel irregularity
  • Clear up skin conditions and blemishes, giving one a smoothier complexion
  • Break down fats for easier use in the body
  • Alleviate heartburn and headaches
  • Circulation and blood flow
  • Regulate blood pressure and metabolism

Sounds like a wonder drug, no?  Remember that I’m not a doctor; I just found some information online. But even if the above information turns out to not be completely true, the recipe below still tastes great!

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Stir Fry Salad

This is the perfect recipe for those sweltering summer days when you’re craving cooked veggies but don’t want to eat hot food.  You can sub in any veggies you like; I use what I have on hand, so it changes.  The ingredients below are just examples.

  • 1 head cauliflower, chopped
  • 1 package snow peas
  • 1 package mushrooms
  • Other veggies (asparagus, green beans, sprouts, okra, etc)
  • 3-4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (depending on how many veggies you use)
  • Salt and pepper to taste (you can also spritz on some Braggs liquid aminos, before eating)
  • Sauté the cauliflower in water, oil, or broth (you can add garlic too, if you wish) until it’s kind of soft (about 10 minutes).  Add salt and pepper.

Throw in the snow peas (and other veggies) and cook for about 5 more minutes, then add the mushrooms. Cook for about 5-10 minutes more, depending on how soft you like your veggies.  (Alternatively, you can steam your veggies in the microwave.) Add the vinegar and mix to coat the veggies.  Portion the veggies into Pyrex-type dishes and put ‘em in the fridge until ready to eat.

Chocolate-Covered Meals of the Day

meal

Above, the kabocha-mousse meal from this post,

snack

Above, a veggie-ful snack

onsaladgreens

Above, Stir Fry Salad, featuring broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, zucchini, chard, tomatoes, etc. In true salad form, it’s sitting atop a bed of raw spinach.

And what’s that next to the stir fry? It’s hulled (blended) barley pilaf.

blend

Published on June 24, 2009

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Chocolate Covered Katie is one of the top 25 food websites in America, and Katie has been 
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ABC's 5 O’Clock News. Her favorite food is chocolate, and she believes in eating dessert every single day.

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35 Comments

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  1. Daria says

    Longtime reader, first-time commenter! My brothers and I used to watch What About Bob over and over again…I guess this means that our family is either super uptight or super annoying?

    Also I *love* vinegar way more than is probably normal. I’m definitely down for drinking it straight. 😉

    softerbetterslowerstronger.wordpress.com

  2. Coconutgal says

    Hey my dear! *Not a doctor* either but I have read that AC-vinegar is also good for tummy upset and helps aid in digestion because it’s fermented. I have used it for tummy upset and it has helped. Your stir-fry sounds delish and I have all the ingredients. You know I’m making it tomorrow.
    Hope you are doing well 🙂

  3. Marianne says

    You have reminded me that I have yet to make a blended pilaf, only oats. Note to self – get on that!

  4. jen molica says

    i use white vinegar to clean everything in my house, balsamic in most of my salads, and apple cider vinegar for cookin’. never used much of the raw bragg’s though.

  5. Diana (Soap & Chocolate) says

    Thanks for the vinegar factoids – I must have three kind in the cupboard which I manage to forget about…oh every day I think. But vinegar obviously has its benefits for health AND taste, plus I hear you can pretty much clean ANYthing with it! Talk about economical, eh?

    And you were so right about roasting kabocha – INFINITY times better than plain steamed. OMG. Thanks for the tip.

  6. Christina says

    I just got a food processor and can’t wait to blend all sorts of stuff. Blended barley sounds delicious!

  7. Jessica says

    I really need to try your blended grain technique. I have a hand-blender, so it wouldn’t be that hard! I also have a whole bag `o barley that I need to cook up!

    I never knew vinegar was so good for you! I’ve always been a big fan…but would definitely not take shots, lol.

  8. Maria says

    Two things I must try from this post: the barley blended grain, and the vinegar stir fry! The various veggie combo makes it look extra yummy 🙂

  9. insideiamdancing says

    I had no idea your family were from NY! Are there members of your clan still there? All my family aside from parents/brothers are there. Everybody Loves Raymond (Ray’s parents) have long been making me and my mom laugh for how much they resemble my aunt and uncle…lol. When I miss them, I just watch the show 😛

    I love vinegar- I had no idea it was such a powerhouse. Though am guessing you need a lot to get the benefits- I read some hype a few years ago about apple cider vinegar and it recommended something nuts like drinking 1 cup a day. I tried it for like…a tablespoon 😛 Balsamic is my all-time favorite!

  10. Jodye says

    Ah, I love vinegar, especially in my stir fries! I’ve blended oat bran and other grains for breakfast, but I’ve never tried savory blended grains. Perhaps I should give it a try?

  11. Virginia says

    i love vinegar but i use it the most for CLEAnING! It is a great natural cleaner when paired with baking soda…i pour it down the drain and let it foam…clean out the dishwasher, scrub sinks, etc, etc.!

  12. Bianca- Vegan Crunk says

    Chewy and creamy is best of both worlds! I gotta have a little chewy with my creamy. And yes, vinegar is most awesome. I like it in almost everything!

  13. *Andrea* says

    i love vinegar! i used to eat salt& vinegar lays chips alllll the time when i was a kid at the beach on vaca so it reminds me of that 😉 i also love when you show meals – i love seeing a vegan meal that is full of variety!!! a movie that my fam can watch about us is My Big Fat Greek Wedding…we’re not Greek but we’re Armenian and they’re practically the same 😉 haha i thinkt hey mention armenians a couple times too. we also adore everybody loves raymond. my grandmother in a nut shell hehe

  14. Erin says

    I love that movie!! Our family loves watching it over and over again too.
    And I love Katie meals. They give me so many good ideas and variety!
    Also, don’t worry. Blended grains are still very much alive here 🙂

  15. Heather Eats Almond Butter says

    Katie,
    I will NEVER forget about blended grains…I promise.

    My family = The Griswolds. Literally, I have like 5 cousin Eddie’s in my extended family. I kid you not.

    Your stir-frys always looks delicious…well, all your meals do. I need to make some soon. Thanks for the recipe…you didn’t eat the whole head of cauliflower, did you?

    OK, time to go make out with Jay…are ya jealous? 🙂

  16. mihl says

    I can’t help myself, I don’t really like vinegar. But adding it to stir fries sounds like a good idea. Maybe I should start with half the amount you suggested 🙂

  17. Mark says

    Yeah apple cider vinegar is wonderful stuff. Also, there are some other great vinegars that have the “mother” also. Eden organics raw red wine vinegar is wonderful. Ume Plum vinegar is incredible!! Cheers

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