edamame, wonder veggie

I am having trouble coming up with something intelligent to say about anything (bad case of rainy Monday laziness compounded with writer's block), and so, I am going to write about my lunch: edamame. I was first introduced to the soy snack my freshman year at NYU, when a night "out" meant heading to the local hole-in-the-wall Japanese eatery for sake bombs. Small plates of edamame were distributed by a wary waitress amidst rowdy cheers and table slams. One salty pod in, and I was hooked.

A half cup serving of edamame, only 120 Calories, packs a healthy dose of protein, minus the cholesterol and saturated fats often found in other protein sources, antioxidants, and 9 grams of fiber, roughly the equivalent of four slices of whole wheat bread. You can buy edamame frozen at the grocery store, and it only takes a few minutes in boiling water before you can start squeezing away. And if you're feeling your inner Martha Stewart: toss a little olive oil into two cups of cooked and shelled beans along with fresh parsley, tarragon, chervil, chives, and S&P to taste for an herbed edamame.

It's tasty and good for you, and there's even a small element of surprise as you never know where those wayward beans will fly.