Okra, the vibrant, green pod vegetable known for its "love it or hate it" gelatinous texture, might not be the first vegetable that comes to mind when you think of crispy fries. But, when there ...

Cut carrots, onion, and celery into 1/2 inch pieces. Smash garlic cloves. Place all vegetables, parsley, and water into a pot and bring to a boil.

Before okra goes out of season in a few weeks, here are a couple of recipes to try from local writer Jane Adams Finn. Do you have a recipe request? Let us know. (See address and e-mail information ...

Both varieties taste the same, and the red one turns green when cooked. The plant was introduced from East Africa to the Americas by 1658. Its presence was first recorded in Brazil.

Add the browned sausage and bay leaves and bring everything to a boil over medium-high heat. ... Once the okra is cooked, add it to the gumbo pot. Continue cooking the gumbo for 60 minutes.

While many are drawn to okra for its taste—mildly earthy with more depth and crispness the longer it gets cooked—what may not be as apparent with each bite is its many health benefits.