#MondayMeals: Romaine Calm!

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Everybody romaine calm! This simple and easy recipe will rock your week. Grilled Romaine Lettuce is the perfect crispy snack for a little extra boost, and can be made with locally sourced ingredients! Read on to learn the benefits of this great dish. 

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Lettuce is full of nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium, and fiber that can help prevent heart disease and inflammation.

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Olive oil contains healthy fats and antioxidants which may reduce the risk of chronic diseases, fight inflammation, and lower the risk of heart disease. Olive oil might also lower the risk of stroke and type 2 diabetes.

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Red wine vinegar is great for healthy digestion, helps to lower cholesterol, improves blood circulation, and is good for healthy skin. It is also diabetes-friendly and can help avoid blood sugar spikes.

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Thyme contains vitamins that help boost the immune system. Thyme also helps to lower blood pressure and has been used to suppress coughing.

Food produced locally is more nutritious. This is because food contains the most nutrients around the time it is harvested. The longer food spends traveling, the less nutrition it contains. Less time traveling also means less exposure to harmful chemicals and less production of greenhouse gasses. What a tasteful way to decrease our carbon footprint!

Find ingredients for Grilled Romaine Lettuce and more at Anderson’s Farm Market, The Local Food Market, or through a CSA share at Main Street Farms. Check out the healthy and delicious recipe for Grilled Romaine Lettuce below.

Grilled Romaine Lettuce

INGREDIENTS

  • 3 to 4 romaine hearts

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar (or cider vinegar)

  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme, oregano (or 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs)

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • Pinch freshly ground black pepper

HOW TO MAKE

1 Prep the romaine hearts: Pull off any old leaves. Chop off the top 1 or 2 inches of the lettuce head, and shave off the browned part of the root end, leaving the root end intact so that the lettuce head stays together. 

2 Prepare your grill for high, direct heat.

3 Prepare the vinaigrette: Put the oil, vinegar, herbs, salt and pepper in a small bowl and whisk with a fork to combine. Paint the lettuce hearts all over with the vinaigrette.

4 Grill: Grill the romaine hearts until lightly browned on all sides, turning every minute or two until done.

Serve immediately. You can either serve the hearts whole, or chop them and toss them for a salad

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