TANGERINES:  

The information below is from Wikipedia:

The Tangerine (Citrus reticulata) is an orange or red colored citrus fruit, a type of mandarin orange. 

They are slightly smaller than oranges, and their skins peel off more easily.  Good quality tangerines will be firm to slightly soft, heavy for their size and pebbly-skinned with no deep grooves.  Their flavor is often more sour and more sweet than that of an orange.  The Honey Tangerine, which was originally called a murcott, is very sweet as its name suggests.  One of the  most popular kind is the Dancy Tangerine variety.  Another popular kind is the Fairchild Tangerine.

 The flavor is commonly used in bottle[d] juice or soft drinks in North America, but  is also enjoyable in salads, desserts, and main dishes. Tangerines are a good source of vitamin C, folate and beta-carotene.  They also contain some potassium, magnesium and vitamins B1, B2 & B3.

The number of seeds in each segment (carpel) varies greatly.

Historically the name tangerine comes from Tangier, Morocco, the port from which the first tangerines were shipped to Europe.  The adjective tangerine, from Tangier or Tanger, was already an English word (first recorded in 1710).

Wikipedia (R) is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tangerine

SPINACH AND TANGERINE SALAD
1/2 lb. spinach, washed, stems removed, dried
4 mushrooms, cleaned, trimmed, and sliced
2-3 tangerines, peeled, sectioned or oranges
1 c. alfalfa sprouts
1 recipe Yogurt Vinaigrette

Toss together the spinach, mushrooms, tangerines, and
alfalfa sprouts with the dressing and serve.

YOGURT VINAIGRETTE:
Juice of 1/2 lemon
3 tbsp. wine or cider vinegar
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. parsley
1/4 tsp. tarragon
1/4 tsp. marjoram
Freshly ground pepper to taste
3/4 c. plain lowfat yogurt

Mix together the lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, garlic, herbs, and pepper. Whisk in the yogurt and mix well. Keep in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Makes 1 cup.

Complex carbohydrates ++, Vitamin A ++, Vitamin C ++,
Potassium ++, Calcium ++, Minerals +.
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit Cooks.com Recipe Search for the most recipes!   http://www.cooks.com

(C) 2006 - The FOURnet Information Network (TM) - All Rights Reserved

BEETS:  

The information below is from Wikipedia.

The beet (Beta vulgaris) is a flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae, native to the coasts of western and southern Europe, from southern Sweden and the British Isles south to the Mediterranean Sea.

It is a herbaceous biennial  or perennial plant with  leafy stems growing to 1-2 m tall.  The leaves are heart-shaped, 5-20 m long on wild plants (often much larger than cultivated plants).  The flowers are produced in dense spikes, each flower is  very small, 3-5 mm diameter, green or tinged reddish, with five petals; they are wind pollinated.  The fruit is a cluster of hard nutlets.

There are two subspecies:

          --  Beta vulgaris subsp. maritima.  Sea beet.  Northwestern Europe.  Plant
              smaller, to 80 cm tall; root not swollen.

          --  Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris.  Mediterranean Europe.  Plant larger, to 2 m
              tall; with a rounded fleshy taproot.  The ancestor of the cultivated beets (not
              sbsp. maritima, as sometimes stated).

The cultivated forms are thought to have come from sea-coast plants of Europe and Asia.  With the imposition of the blockade of the continent during the Napoleonic wars there was an impetus to develop beet for their sugar content.  The white Silesian beet, which was fodder a crop, received attention.  Beets contain significant amounts of vitamin C in the roots, and the tops are an excellent source of vitamin A.  They are also high in folate, as well as soluble dietary fiber and several antioxidants.

Beetroot is among the sweetest of vegetables, containing more sugar even than carrots or sweet corn. 

Wikipedia (R) is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beet
 


BAKED BEET & ENDIVE SALAD

2 bunches of beets with 1/2 inch of tops
2 tsp. green peppercorn mustard
1/4 c. balsamic vinegar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp. safflower oil
1/4 c. light olive oil
 4 heads Belgium endive, separated into individual leaves
2 tbsp. chopped chives

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a large roasting pan with foil. Place the beets in the pan in a single layer. Cover the pan with foil and bake until the beets are tender, about 1 hour.

2. When beets are done, let them cool slightly. Remove the tops and slip off the skins. Cut the beets into 1/2 inch wedges.

3. In a small bowl, combine the mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper. Slowly whisk in the safflower and olive oils.

4. In a medium bowl, toss the beets with 3/4 of the vinaigrette. Arrange the endive leaves on a large plate, pour the  remaining dressing on top and sprinkle with chopped chives. Add beets.
         --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Visit Cooks.com Recipe Search for the most recipes!   http://www.cooks.com

(C) 2006 - The FOURnet Information Network (TM) - All Rights Reserved

PEAR SALAD:
Here is a list of ingredients for pear salad that my sister, Lucia, gave me. 
   
"It's pretty simple: lettuce - but not iceberg - a more tender  type, and
pear slices and walnuts and crumbled blue cheese with blue cheese 
dressing.  I  just can't remember how much of each.  It is really  good."

PRODUCTS:

1.  Blue Diamond Natural Nut-Thins are wheat free rice and nut crackers.

The box says that the crackers are "wheat & gluten free".  The Celiac Disease Foundation is mentioned on the box.  More information on celiac disease can be found at www.celiac.org

These crackers come in five flavors:  almond, hazelnut, pecan, cheddar cheese and country ranch. To see a full display of the crackers and other products, go to the web address below then visit the online store:

http://www.bluediamond.com/


 2.  Nature's Path Organic Flaxplus Flaxseed Meal contains 2500 mg Omega-3's per serving (2 Tablespoons).

 www.naturespath.com