The Totally Rad Radish

Here's your riddle for the day:
What . . .

• is a good source of vitamin C 
• provides folate, potassium, fiber, flavonoids, anthocyanins and other phytochemicals
• detoxifies and helps the liver (reduces jaundice)
• keeps your urinary track healthy
• improves the health of your skin
• relieves congestion
• contains only 1 calorie each?

Answer: Radishes!

The name actually is derived from the latin word for "root" and the greek word for "quickly appearing".  And my those gorgeous little garden powerhouses are just that.

Nothing makes me smile  quite so much as seeing my radishes sprout in March and being able to harvest from my garden in April.

Sprouts, greens and roots are all edible and tasty!

All parts of the radish are edible and delicious.  Think outside the salad-topping-box when it comes to radishes.  They obviously deserve more than to be relegated to token garnishing.  What else can provide so much nutrition for so little calories?  From salads, sandwiches, soups and sides, bring on the radish-dishes!

Here's a few fun ways to prepare and enjoy this charming little root:

• Grilled: with a few minutes in a marinade, toss them on the grill for a tasty side Grilled Radishes
• Roasted: they're not just tasty raw, try this satisfying Roasted Radish recipe
• Sauteed: butter, garlic salt and radishes - yum! Sauteed Radishes
• Souped: try this Radish-Top Soup
• Sandwiched: at tea-time or anytime, radishes can play the starring role in your next sandwich Radish Sandwich

With all your enjoying of the root and the greens, don't forget to start your own radish sprouts.  They are my all-time favorite sandwich topper.  (Sprout post to follow - stay tuned)