Fiddlehead fern?!!! The little veggie, you need to know about!

Fiddle Heads are back!!!!!!!

This has been a crazy week, I got back from Cali, started a new temp assignment in boston, became my Yogi intern job at Kundalini Yoga Boston and oh yeah created an music and experience for adults. Pweph I am exhausted so the blog writing got put on the back burner this week. Now being so tired I have been trying to stay up on my health so not to catch the ever "going around" illness of the week. I believe stomach and regular flew are popular choices again here in boston.... UGH! So in wandering through my local market, I was on the prowl for anything that could support my opposition of the evil illnesses. And low and behold what do I see in my wanderings? But Fiddle Head Ferns!!!!!!!

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I am so excited that these little green, science fiction looking ferns are back in season again. With there tucked in ferns and rounded head, they look like a cute little alien waiting to uncoil to a ferocious monster... or well that was what I saw. So, you better believe I was turned away when I first saw them. In my head how could these little alien, fern, things even closely taste good. Then after some conjoling from my mother I tried cooking these little ferns  and .... WOW! They are so versatile and good for you that now,these fiddlehead are one of my absolute favorite foods. So you can imagine my joy, when low and behold there are my little alien ferns at a local whole foods :D 

I mean there was actually a little  middle of the floor squeal of excitement as I mad rushed over to the produce bags!

NutritionalBenefits:

-100g of fiddleheads contain 120% of your daily vitamin A.

-A great source of  poly-phenolic flavonoid compounds. Those are like beta carotenes that let's your body work with vitamin A.

-A 100g of the ferns contain 44% of your daily level of vitamin C.

Just to name a few kick butt benefits to this little veggie!

See the table below for in depth analysis of nutrients:

Fiddlehead ferns (Matteuccia struthioreris), Fresh, raw,
Nutrition Value per 100 g,
(Source: USDA National Nutrient data base)

Principle	Nutrient Value	Percentage of RDA
Energy	34 Kcal	1.7%
Carbohydrates	5.54 g	4%
Protein	4.55 g	8%
Total Fat	0.40 g	2%
Cholesterol	0 mg	0%
Vitamins
Niacin	4.980 mg	31%
Riboflavin	0.210 mg	16%
Thiamin	0.020 mg	1.5%
Vitamin A	3617 IU	120.5%
Vitamin C	26.6 mg	44%
Electrolytes
Sodium	1 mg	<1%
Potassium	370 mg	8%
Minerals
Calcium	32 mg	3%
Copper	0.320 mg	35.5%
Iron	1.31 mg	16%
Magnesium	34 mg	8.5%
Manganese	0.510 mg	22%
Selenium	0.7 mcg	1%
Zinc	0.83 mg	7.5%
Phyto-nutrients
Carotene-ß	2040 µg	--
Carotene-α	261µg	--

So let's stop messing around and get to making something easy and to die for with them!!!!!

So I'm a paleo girl who believes rice is okay remember that! Not to mention I miss quesidillas like nothing else and Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow.... So the craving hit and I ran to my trusty Daiya Cheese and voila! This also goes great with my mint ginger lemonade! YUM!

Fiddlehead, mushroom and pancetta quesidilla 

Ingredients:

1 bown rice, or paleo wrap

2 Mushrooms, chopped

5 fiddlehead ferns, Chopped

1 handful Of Daiya Pepperjack cheese

2 pieces of Apple Gate's Pancetta, cut in half

salt, pepper and italian seasoning for taste

Instructions 

1. Heat up your pan and add a tbs of your oil of choice
2. Add your chopped Fiddle Heads, mushroom and seasoning and let cook till mushrooms are soft, about 2 min 
3. Remove the veggies and place in a bowl to save dishes
4. Place your tortilla in the pan and allow it to warm up, 30 sec per side
5. Sprinkle your cheese evenly on the tortilla, then layer your veggie mix and pancetta slices on one half of your tortilla
6. Allow the cheese to melt, then fold in half, cut to desired slices

Easy, quick and so good for ya!!!

Have a great Cinco de Mayo and rest of your week stay tuned for this weeks podcast!!!!

<3 jenn