The early Greeks and Romans were among the first mushroom growers. Mushrooms were initially avoided out of a fear of poisoning. The Italians cultivated it and it became popular all over Europe. There are thousands of varieties today, and they are grown all over the world. Unlike other vegetables, mushrooms contain two important B vitamins – niacin and riboflavin. The shiitake is an extremely healthy mushroom, as it contains lentinan which may help fight cancer and bolster the immune system.

The following recipe will give you an idea of a nutritious way of enjoying mushrooms. Fresh mushrooms can be stored unwashed in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

A simple Mushroom Salad can be prepared with shiitake mushrooms. You will need:

¼ cup rice vinegar

3 tablespoons orange juice

2 tablespoons light teriyaki sauce

1 tablespoon dark sesame oil

2 teaspoons minced ginger

1 clove garlic minced

2 cups orange sections

1 ½ cups thinly sliced cucumber

1 ½ cups shiitake mushroom caps

½ cup thinly sliced radishes

4 cups sliced romaine lettuce

1 (3 oz.) package enoki mushrooms

Combine first 6 ingredients in a bowl – stir well. Stir in oranges, cucumbers, shiitake mushrooms and radishes – let stand for 5 minutes. Arrange 1 cup lettuce on each of 4 salad plates – spoon 1 cup orange mixture over each serving. Divide mushrooms evenly among salads.

Nutrition information:

Calories: 115

Fat: 4 gm

Iron: 1.6 mg

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Calcium: 73 mg

Carbohydrate: 19.1 gm

Sodium: 141 mg

Protein: 3.6 gm

Fiber: 5.9 gm

Check out a delicious recipe made of coconut.

Thai Chicken and Coconut Soup

Serves: 4

Time: 30 min

Ingredients:

• Unsweetened coconut milk One can (13.5-ounce)
• Green curry paste 2 tsp
• Lime zest Four (2-inch strips )
• Ginger( lightly crushed) 2 quarter-size
• Sugar 1/2 tsp
• Chicken stock 3 cups
• Boneless chicken 2 cut into 3/4 -inch pieces
• Asian fish sauce 3 tsp
• Cilantro leaves (chopped) 1/4 cup
• Basil leaves, chopped 6
• Fresh lime juice 1 tsp

Directions:

Mix the coconut milk, curry paste, lime zest, ginger and sugar in a big pan, and cook on moderate heat. Add the chicken stock, cover and cook on low heat for 8 minutes. Raise the heat and bring the soup to a boil. Add the chicken, fish sauce, three tablespoons of the cilantro leaves and the basil leaves. Mix and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Now add ginger and lime zest. Add the remaining one tablespoon of cilantro and stir in the lime juice. The soup is ready now serve hot and enjoy it.

The coconut is called as the tree of life because it has been providing us, human beings, food and drink, material for making home, fuels and for many other industrial uses. Its medicinal uses are many.

Coconuts play an exceptional role in the diets of mankind because they are the source of important physiologically functional components. These physiologically functional components are found in the fat part of the whole coconut, in the fat part of dry coconut, and also in the extracted coconut oil.

In a nutshell about coconut:

- Coconut is a simple dry nut known as a fibrous drupe.

- Coconut contains less fat than other dry nuts.

- In a coconut approximately 90% of the saturated fat found.

- Coconut meat also contains less sugar and more protein than popular fruits such as bananas, apples and oranges.

- It is relatively high in minerals such as iron, phosphorus and zinc

- Coconut water can be used as an intravenous fluid

- Coconut oil is processed and extracted as a fully organic product from fresh coconut flesh, and used in many ways including as a medicine and in cosmetics, or as a direct replacement for diesel fuel.
- Coconut is also commonly used as herbal remedy in Asia to treat bites from rats.

- Coir (the fiber from the husk of the coconut) is used in ropes, mats, brushes etc.

- The husk and shells can be used for fuel.