Exotic Fruit: Do You Heart Persimmons?

Fuyu Persimmon Diospyros kaki 'Fuyu'
~ Other Common Name(s): Fuyu Kaki

Fuyu persimmon is a fruit that ripens in the fall season and should be included in the American cornucopia or “horn of plenty”. It is sweet and has a beautiful color! It makes for a beautiful ornamental plant. It attracts birds so you might want to put a cage around it.

There are two other varieties of the persimmon that I know of: Cinnamon Persimmons (also called Percinnamons); and Hachiya Persimmons. This fruits is native to China and Japan.  But there is also an American persimmon.

• "Putchamin is the Algonquin Indian word from which we get persimmon, and it appears from a report by Hernando de Soto in 1541 that Indians in the Mississippi region made it into “bread”. The variety of persimmon enjoyed by these intrepid explorers and early settlers is what we now call Diospyros virginiana." (Source: Pioneers and Persimmons | The Old Foodie)

• According to folklore, if you crack open a persimmon seed from a ripe fruit and the shape inside (called a cotyledon) looks like a fork, winter will be mild; if you see a spoon, there will be a lot of snow, and if there is a knife, winter will be bitingly cold and “cut like a knife.” (Source: Farmer's Almanac)

• In the Buddhist religion, persimmons are a symbol of transformation. In China, they are an auspicious gift to newlyweds to celebrate eternal love. (Source: Real Food Encyclopedia | Persimmons | FoodPrint)

You can make cookies, pies, breads, and jam with it. Slice or dice tme like apples and you can put them in salads, if you like fruit in your salad. Instead of apples with your roasted pork, substitute persimmons. You can dehydrate them and eat them like chips!

• FUN FOOD FACT: You can freeze persimmons whole. Then when ready to eat, take them out of the freezer, let stand for 20 minutes to soften up, cut off the the top, take a spoon and DIVE IN!

Here are some wonderful recipes collected by Yummy Mummy Kitchen and Martha Stewart.

20 Persimmon Recipes  

12 Persimmon Recipes Everyone Should Make This Fall ~ 

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Food Blog Spotlight: A Cook @ Heart: A basket (cake) of flowers! (Reblog)

I started publishing this blog in 2016. As of May 2020, seven (7) of my posts are specifically related to cakes. (See below.)  I am always looking for cakes. Not only are they a delicious and luscious dessert but many times they are works of art. You almost don't want to eat them. Fortunately, many people take photographs of their artistic culinary creations BEFORE they are devoured. 

My search for fellow food bloggers on the Blogspot blog publishing platform led me to this post. A Cook @ Heart: A basket (cake) of flowers!  Isn't this cake gorgeous?!!  You can tell by the comments left at this post that the blog visitors were ecstatic!!

This wonderful blog's posts archive dates back to 2006.  You could spend months exploring the content.  OR ... just use the handy Recipe Index and search for cake!  ☺❤🎂

Cake Posts at Food Ways:

"Baumkuchen", tasty and historic German cake | Recipes via Foodal

Box Cake Mix or Cake From Scratch -Throw Down!

Custom Cakes by Rainbow Nourishments(Raw Vegan Cake Maker)

Honey Chai Cake Recipe | Arabic Food(Reblog)

Let "em Eat Cake! Cake Loving Finds on My Instagram

Michelle Wibowo's Sugar Art Is MoreThan Precious!

Which Countries or Cultures Make theBest Cakes? Let's Discuss!

glitter-graphics.com

Recipe Sharing: My Foodie Luv

Thank you for supporting my foodie blog. Just so you know ... I am active in various other social communities around the web and often share recipes there too. Foodies are everywhere!  One of those communities is called Noise.Cash; and I created a channel there called Recipe Sharing: My Foodie Luv.  Here is a sample of the recipes shared there that I am sure you will enjoy.

Bacon & Fruit Brunch Kabobs

10 Things … About Japanese Food

Blackberry Salsa Recipe

Chicken Bite Recipes

Chocolate-Dipped Ice Cream Tacos

Cool Summer Salads

Friesor Chips?

Fuyu Persimmon Diospyros kaki 'Fuyu

Gulab Jamun Shrikhand Bowls

Healthy appetizers

Japanese Sauces

Korean Barbecue Party

Kunafeh, Middle East's Fave Cheese Delight

Mango Lassi Popsicles

Mediterranean Lemon Chicken Pasta Salad

Mexican Recipes

Non-AlcoholicMango Mojito

Pink Peppercorn-Viola Shortbread

Puff Pastry Apricot Blueberry Tart

Refreshing Yellow Watermelon

Roasted Cranberry & Brie Grilled Cheese

Scorzonera or Black Salsify

SuperfoodsFor a Healthy Mood

TAHOIS MADE WITH TOFU

Tapas originated in Spain

The Joys of Making Dishes and Drinks with Edible Flowers

The first issue of Southern Living Magazine appeared in February 1966. Since then, the magazine has only grown in its popularity and not just for the people who live in the South (Southern United States). The magazine has published wonderful articles about the home, travel and food for over 50 years. I found this wonderful article in Southern Living Magazine. It starts off with the statement “Cooking with edible flowers is back.”

I thought to myself: “What do you mean back? I have never cooked with edible flowers!”

When I was a kid growing up in Miami, Florida, we had hibiscus flowers in our front yard. We would pick them, rip them apart and I enjoyed sucking the nectar from stem. I never ate the petals because I didn't know they were edible. They are not just edible you can brew a tea with them and dirnk it!

In the SL article hibiscus in on the list of the 10 Best Edible Flowers.

What have I missed? LOL.

For me, the things is ... flowers are so pretty you don't really want to eat them. Do you?

But it's good that you can. It's one of those things you need to know if you ever get stranded on a desert island and you're not that good at catching fish or hunting for your food (like me).

It's just a personal thing; but I think edible flowers should only be used for weddings.

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FUN FOOD TRIVIA AND FACT:

Image is a photo of a marigold calendula. Calendula is known as the “poor man’s saffron” and it can be used in the recipe for deviled eggs. Who knew?

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Related Links:

10 Best Edible Flowers | Southern Living

10 Edible Flower Salads That Are Way Too Pretty to Eat | Spoon University

Recipe Box: Edible Flower Popsicles - Lauren Conrad

The Ten Best Edible Flowers to Grow in Your Garden

30 Edible Flowers You Can Eat Right Out Of Your Garden

Garden Guides | The History of Edible Flowers

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Have you ever prepared a dish or a drink with edible flowers?

Original Source

Foodie Friday : Recipes | Desserts | Pineapple Stuffing and More!

This week's Foodie Friday spotlight is pineapple!  Pineapple is included with a list of refreshing super foods we should eating during the summer.  

This recipe at mostlyhomemademom.com, is typically prepared during the Christmas holiday season but it's a treat that should be enjoyed whenever you have a craving for something delicious and sweet!  For me that's all year round!  What about you?

Holiday Stuffing
For any day of the year.

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More Pineapple Delights from Around the Web

Mrs. Renfro's Salsa Express 
~ Offering a wide variety of salsas from traditional to exotic. The pineapple salsas are very popular!

Previous #FoodieFriday posts? Japan’s 10 weirdest ice cream flavors  The Right Blend of Spices for Cajun Food Lovers  Indian Food: Hot n Spicy Samosas (Reblog)  Candied Jalapeño Peppers  Chinese New Year Recipes and Dishes  Pesto Around the World  Experiencing the Joy of Salsa   Spice Spotlight: Cinnamon  It's Flipping Foodie Friday!  Raw Coconut Fig Slice (Reblog)  Winter Salad Binging  Banana Brownies - Back for Seconds  Cool Foodies and Food Lovers Celebrating Their “Firsts” on Twitter

When You Say 'Eat Healthy', I Think 'Eat Salad'

People (especially me) always associate healthy eating with eating salad.  My mother rarely served a salads with our meals.  It was a meat, a starch, and a vegetable.  She never served us a salad (like lettuce and tomatoes) nor did we get dessert.  We didn't complain.  I got used to not eating salad.  

Then I became an adult and went to university and found out that salad was "expected".  Except for this one guy that I knew.  He kept saying salad was "rabbit food" and wouldn't eat it.  Not me.  When I went to the cafeteria I could eat as much salad as I wanted.  And I did!  Do you know why?  Because it was "healthy" and I could eat a lot of it!  It was one the few foods that I could eat a healthy amount of and I didn't gain weight.  

So whenever I packed on a few extra pounds because I was wolfing down too many pizzas with my friends late at night, the next 2 weeks I went on a diet and ate salads for lunch and for dinner.  The pounds came off easily.  That was THEN (1970s).  This is NOW (2021).  The pounds don't come off so easily now, but I still enjoy eating salads.  I also enjoy collecting salad recipes and sharing them.  Hope you like these!

Image Credit: Acacia Wood Salad Bowl with Servers Set - Large 9.4 inches Solid Hardwood Salad Wooden Bowl with Spoon for Fruits ,Salads and Decoration by AVAMI ( https://amzn.to/3vmT57c )

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Ever have Tabouli salad?  “Tabouli is a traditional Levitan recipe, which is the common name for the area of Eastern Mediterranean sea. … Tabouli is derived from the word, “Tabil” which means spice. Its also translated as “Dip” ...”

Tabouli Recipe with Amaranth Grain | Healing Tomato Recipes

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"This classic salad pairs well with a variety of Japanese or Asian mains. Best of all, it is packed with nutrients, making it an all-star side dish. There is plenty of variations to enjoy this recipe too! ..."  

Chrysanthemum Greens and Tofu Salad (Shungiku Shiraae) 春菊の白和え • Just One Cookbook

~ Related Link:  15 Easy Japanese Salad Recipes ~ "... 15 tasty, vibrant, healthy, easy-to-follow salad recipes ..."

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Do you like Indian food? I watch a lot of cooking shows and videos. One thing I noticed about Indian cooking is that they really know how to blend herbs and spices and do amazing things to enhance the flavor of vegetables. Whether the veggies are cooked or eaten raw in a salad, they are so tasty. 

Methi Sprouts Salad Recipe - Delicious Diabetic Snack by Archana's Kitchen

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Anybody who says that salad is just  an refuses to eat  is missing out. 

Kale Sprouts and Apricot Dressing | Sproutpeople

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Final share.  I know some people don't like kale. They complain that it's too tough and chewy for a green leafy vegetable. So, just in case you don't like eating kale, here are some “kale substitutes”.  Use them instead of sale and enjoy your salad anyway!

The Best Simple Kale Substitutes | Stonesoup

Original source

Similar Posts at This Blog:

• Tomato, Peach and Whipped Ricotta Salad (Guest Post)

• Choose Sides: How Do You Like Your Green Salad? Fruit or No Fruit

• Winter Salad Binging

"Pickled Ginger Salad with Wasabi Dressing is packed with citrus, and is an explosion of spicy, sweet and fresh flavors. It’s mind-blowingly delicious!"

Homemade Soups: Prawn Coconut Soup

Prawn Coconut Soup

Ingredients for Prawn Coconut Soup:

• Shrimps - 1/4 Kg chopped
• Yam - 1 cup
• White Pumpkin - 1 cup chopped
• Beans - 1/2 cup chopped
• Peas - 1/2 cup
• Cucumber - 1/2 cup
• Drum Stick - 1/2 cup
• Coconuts - 1 shell
• Corn Flour - 1 tablespoon
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 teaspoon
• Peppercorns - 2 teaspoon
• Cumin seeds - 1/2 teaspoon
• Ginger - 1 Inch size piece
• Green chilies - 4 no's
• Oil - 2 tablespoon
• Salt to taste

Method for Prawn Coconut Soup:

Step-01: Boil the vegetables till soft, chop shrimps.

Step-02: Extract milk from the coconut.

Step-03: Grind peppercorns, green chilies, cumin, and turmeric to paste.

Step-04: Heat oil in a pan and add paste, shrimps and fry for a minute.

Step-05: Add coconut milk and simmer cook for about 15 minutes.

Step-06: Make a lump-free mixture of corn-flour and water, and then add it to the soup.

Step-07: Once the corn mix blends well, the Prawn Coconut Soup is ready, Serve hot.

♦♦

Soup recipe from Homemade25 Soup Recipes for Nutrition and Health Benefits. Be a part of the healthy eating family at viaindiankitchen.com. 

More Prawn Soup Recipes

Homemade Soups: Not Peas and Carrots. Pea or Carrot

Green Peas Soup

Ingredients for Green Peas Soup:

• Green Peas - 2 cup

• Cabbage - 1/2 cup chopped

• Carrot - ½ cup grated

• Ajinomoto - 1/8 teaspoon

• Sugar – 1/2 teaspoon

• Black Pepper Powder - 1/2 teaspoon

• Soya sauce - 1 teaspoon

• Corn flour - 3 tablespoon

• Oil - 2 tablespoon

• Salt to taste

Method for Green Peas Soup:

Step-01: Boil the peas with water and cook till they become soft, keep aside.

Step-02: Heat oil in a pan and add vegetables and Ajinomoto and fry it on high flame for a minute.

Step-03: Add peas along with water, sugar, black pepper powder, soya sauce salt and stir it well.

Step-04: Mix corn-flour in 1/2 cup of water and add to the above soup and cook it stirring continuously till the soup thickens.

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Carrot Soup

Ingredients for Carrot Soup:

• Carrots - 1/2 Kg

• Masoor dal - 2 teaspoon

• Bay leaf - 2 no's

• Brown Cardamom - 1 no's

• Cinnamon - 1 Inch size stick

• Black pepper - 1/2 teaspoon

• Onion - 1 no's grated

• Sugar - 1 teaspoon

• Milk -1 cup

• Cheese - 1 cup grated

• Oil - 1 tablespoon

• Salt to taste

Method for Carrot Soup:

Step-01: Soak dal in water for two hours and grate the carrots and the cheese meanwhile.

Step-02: Heat oil in a pressure cooker and add bay leaf, cinnamon, and cardamom, and fry.

Step-03: Fry the onions and add dal and carrots along with salt, sugar, and black pepper.

Step-04: Add milk and water together and cover it with the lid, wait for one whistle and then simmer it for 10 minutes.

Step-05: Remove from the flame and keep it aside to cool on room temperature.

♦♦

Soup recipe from Homemade25 Soup Recipes for Nutrition and Health Benefits. Be a part of the healthy eating family at viaindiankitchen.com.

Related Content:

Homemade Soups: Chicken Soup

Chicken Soup

You probably already know there are all kinds of recipe variations for chicken soup. Perhaps this is another recipe to add to your collection.

Ingredients for Chicken Soup:

• Chicken legs - 4 no's

• Butter - 1 tablespoon

• Black Pepper Powder - 1/2 teaspoon

• Ginger paste - 1/4 teaspoon

• Garlic paste - 1/4 teaspoon

• Aniseeds - 1/4 teaspoon

• Curry leaves - A few

• Corn flour- 2 tablespoon

• Turmeric powder - A pinch

• Salt to taste

Method for Chicken Soup:

Step-01: Heat butter in a pressure cooker, add aniseeds.

Step-02: Add chicken, ginger-garlic paste, curry leaves, and turmeric powder.

Step-03: Cook for 5 minutes, then add pepper powder and salt and cook for 5 mins.

Step-04: Add sufficient water. Pressure cook up to 4 whistles or “til chicken is tender.

Step-05: Mix corn-flour with 1/4 cup of water and add to the liquid into the cooker.

Step-06: Cook for 5 minutes or until thickens and serve hot.

Though not listed in the ingredients, Food Ways suggests adding carrots, potatoes, onions, and bell peppers, to make it heartier. Enjoy the chicken soup hot and hopefully it will warm your soul.

♦♦

Soup recipe from Homemade25 Soup Recipes for Nutrition and Health Benefits. Be a part of the healthy eating family at viaindiankitchen.com. 

More Chicken Soup Recipe Variations

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/632271546215448577/thai-chicken-soup-recipe-bon-appetit-loosely

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/632271932351528960/butter-chicken-soup-recipe-this-recipe-is

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/632271120927735808/hearty-middle-eastern-chicken-soup-jeanie-and

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/632272031338070016/11-best-chicken-soup-recipes-easy-soup-recipes

Homemade Soups: Carrot and Mushroom Soup

Carrot and Mushroom Soup

Ingredients for Carrot and Mushroom Soup:

• Carrot - 1 cup

• Mushroom - 1 cup

• Onion - 1 no.

• Oil - 1 tablespoon

• Black Pepper - 1/2 teaspoon

• Salt to taste

Method for Carrot and Mushroom Soup:

Step-01: Slice the vegetables.

Step-02: Sauté carrot and onion.

Step-03: Add mushroom, water, salt.

Step-04: Boil till vegetables are tender.

Step-05: Add black pepper powder and serve hot.

Enjoy Carrot and Mushroom Soup hot. 

♦♦  Soup recipe from Homemade25 Soup Recipes for Nutrition and Health Benefits. Be a part of the healthy eating family at viaindiankitchen.com.

Fresh ingredients make the best soups.

More of My Best Of Chicken Recipes

When I published the first list of My Best of Chicken Recipes, it was well-received But such a list is never really complete. Here are a few more recipes. Hope you like them!

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5 Facts About Chicken:

1. Chicken is the most common poultry in the world.
2. PerTV chef Lidia Bastianich, chicken is the most Googled food term.
3. Chicken is shown Babylonian carvings that date back to 600 B.C.
4. Africans love chicken so much, suppliers have a hard time keeping up with the demand.
5. Alektorophobiais the fear of chickens. ( Who would be afraid of a chicken? (O.o)}

Find more interesting facts at The Fact Site.

  ♦♦♦

  

#1 Jamie Oliver’s Thai Chicken Laksa

They say that while the king and his noblemen feasted on large portions of meat, the peasants were content to take the leftover meat scraps to make hearty soups or stews to feed themselves and their families.  It has also been said that the servants actually enjoyed better health and lived longer because they consumed less meat, ate more vegetables, and the broth was good for their innards. { Heard that on a televised documentary. I don't get Time magazine anymore. }

I fancy most soups, but particularly chicken soup.  Plus Jamie Oliver believes in healthy eating.  This sounds marvelous!!  Take this to a soup party and there won't be any leftovers to take back home. 

#2 Taiwanese Three Cup Chicken

This recipe has three key ingredients: sesame oil, Chinese rice wine, and soy sauce. The word “cups” means these ingredients should be in equal ratio; not a literal measurement.  You will enjoy learning this interesting food history.

#3 Hot Chicken is a Favorite in Nashville

Hot chicken is extremely popular fun food and it has an interesting history.  One legend says it was invented in Nashville, Tennessee, during the Great Depression. 

#4 Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken Tortilla Soup is one of my favorite soups.  Instant Pot seems to have become a favorite small kitchen appliance that many of my friends are using for cooking.  An easy recipe for my favorite soup using Instant Pot?  I should pass this on to my friends to prepare and hope they invite me over to enjoy it.  LOL.




Original source

Dinner Ideas: Chicken and Rice - Persian Style

Got rice? Got chicken? Let's do this!

Many cultures have a chicken and rice recipe.  The Cubans have arroz con pollo.  The Indians have chicken biryani.  A recipe that I really like is "Chicken and Rice - Persian Style".  It's the saffron spice and the dried cherries that makes this rice super good!!

Persian Roasted Chicken with Cherry-Saffron Rice

Tah-Chin - Persian Upside Down Layered Saffron Rice & Chicken

Persian Sour Cherry Saffron Rice (Polow)

World Cuisine : Potatoes or Rice? Rice! It Has Jewels!!

Search Olive Nation for "cherry AND saffron" products.

Pure Spanish Saffron Powder - $1.95 Pure Spanish Saffron Powder by OliveNation is 100 percent authentic Spanish Saffron powder. Featuring a distinctive flavor, aroma, and color, some culinary creations just wouldn't be the same without it. Use Saffron Powder in savory dishes like paella, risotto, and bouillabaisse. Or, make a saffron powder-infused dessert. OliveNation offers two options for Saffron Powder for your convenience. ...

Pure Spanish Saffron Threads - $8.95 Our Spanish saffron is authentic ISO 1 with a coloring power of more than 180. This is the real thing - SOIVRE certified that it "does not contain any additive, nor any natural or artificial colorant. ... SOIVRE is the acronym for Servicio Oficial de Inspeccion, Vigilancia y Regulaciones de las Exportaciones. All saffron exported out of Spain must go through SOIVRE and must prove (with a lab analysis) that the saffron being exported is authentic. Since the USA does not have regulations with regard to the authenticity of saffron, any country can export saffron to the US, label it as Spanish saffron but it may not even be saffron. Learn more. ...

Saffron Rice - $2.95 Saffron is a precious, expensive spice produced from the dried stigma of the saffron flower. This special ingredient adds delightful flavor and color to this dish, changing plain white rice into a delicacy. Our Saffron Rice is white rice infused with paprika, turmeric and saffron powder. You'll find that saffron rice is simple to prepare and will make your dinner extra special.

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