Red, Red Peppers!

It's amazing how your taste buds and cravings can rapidly change, ebb and flow. Recently I have not only started eating tomatoes, but craving them as well. Last week I picked a bag full of cherry, grape and pear tomatoes and ate them all within a few days. This week, however, my craving has shifted to red bell peppers.

What my daydreams now consist of

Growing up I wouldn't come near a green, let alone a red, pepper. When my mother made stuffed peppers, I would delicately slice mine open and retrieve the innards, careful not to puncture the pepper and therefore contaminate the contents. The casing would then be sneakily placed on my father's plate, or otherwise disposed of.

Later on, as my taste buds gradually matured, I came to like cooked peppers. I would slice them up and throw them in stir fry or fajitas, cautious as they gradually chipped away at my defenses.

But now, I regularly purchase and consume these tasty treats. I slice them up and eat them out of the bowl like candy! (ok, so they've Almost replaced my candy supply, but not quite) Red peppers have a much sweeter taste than green and have therefore moved up on my list. Especially when taking into consideration the information I found on Wikipedia (so you know it's legit):

"Compared to green peppers, red peppers have more vitamins and nutrients and contain the antioxidant lycopene. The level of carotene, like lycopene, is nine times higher in red peppers. Red peppers have twice the vitamin C content of green peppers. Also, one large red bell pepper contains 209 mg of vitamin C, which is almost three times the 70 mg of an average orange."

Yesterday I ate a raw pepper for lunch and dinner. No wonder the cold I felt coming on has suddenly disappeared!

While these precious peppers usually sell anywhere from $1 - $1.49 each, today they are on sale 2 for $1 at Sunflower Market. Hurry in and stock up (if not for yourself, then for me!).

Offer good while craving lasts. 

*photo courtesy of only-cookware.com