Foodie Friday : World Cuisine : Cooking : The Right Blend of Spices for Cajun Food Lovers

Enjoy Everyday Exotic Spices Every Day!

If you are a spicy food lover then more than likely Cajun food is on your list of most awesome world cuisines ever! Right? But you don’t know just the right blend of spices needed get that authentic spicy Cajun flavor. Also right. Huh?

Image credit: © Photographer: Ppy2010ha | Agency: Dreamstime.com
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Ever tried Slap Ya Mama seasonings?

Interesting name huh?. The way Walker & Sons advertise their food products is:

"Taste so good. Make you wanna slap ya mama!"

Say what??!! There is nothing in my entire life that I've eaten that ever made me want to slay my momma. But guess what? These are award-winning spice blends.

"Real Cajun Seasoning for Real Cajun Cooking."

How did I find out about these products? The Internet and Facebook, in particular, is a beautiful thing. This person saw my foodie website, Everyday Exotic Spices, which is advertised on Facebook via my business page, contacted me, and asked if they could send me samples. Of course, my response was “Yes!”
Received various products in a box delivered straight to my door. Tried them in different recipes and here's my reaction. Did I want to slap my momma? No. But I was ready go mano-y-mano with my spouse!
He wanted to keep it all to himself. I'm like: “Oh no! That ain't happening!!”

View the entire selection of Slap Ya Mama products.

Below are my favorites.

Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Seasoning

Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning White Pepper Blend

Slap Ya Mama Cajun Seasoning Hot Blend

Slap Ya Mama Etouffee Sauce

"Étouffée or etouffee (pronounced: [e.tu.fe] ay-TOO-fay) is a dish found in both Cajun and Creole cuisine typically served with shellfish over rice." (Source: Wikipedia)

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Links of Interest:
Cajun Food History and Louisiana Creole Cuisine History
Cajun vs. Creole: What’s The Difference?

Hope you enjoyed this post.

Image credit: © Photographer: Moneca1 | Agency: Dreamstime.com

Previous #FoodieFriday posts? 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

Why is Changing Your Eating and Drinking Habits So Challenging?

Over the years you become so accustomed to certain food and drink, that a suggested change in your diet isn't a change ... it's a challenge!

Hope you’re in the mood for some delightful foodie humor. Here goes.

When you have developed certain eating and drinking habits over the years, you think that either you will absolutely never change your ways OR you reluctantly make the change while whining about how hard it is to change. But once you make that change … which is usually for the better … your body (and mind) adapt so easily that you wonder why you thought it would be difficult.

Has that happened to you? It has happened in my life so many times.

I talked about my first food experience with veggie burgers in another post.

Several years before that experience, I told a friend that I would never eat meatless spaghetti. I used my kids as an excuse and said they would never agree with that change in the menu. Truth is I had never even tried to get them to eat it. I just assumed they wouldn't. Several years later, my daughters took over some of my meal preparation duties and decided that they were perfectly OK with meatless spaghetti. Served it with garlic bread and a huge salad and they were happy! Well! There went my excuse. LOL. The meal is great! To my surprise, I don't mind meatless spaghetti at all! And of course, my objection to a plate of meatless spaghetti was totally ridiculous. After all, I'll eat a large plate of vegetable lo mein without batting an eye. And what is lo mein? DUH!

Image Credit:  Amazon.com

My latest dietary change pertains to drinking less coffee and consuming more tea. I think back again to that same friend, who was my office mate. She drank tea religiously while I consumed gallons of coffee. Once again, my daughters decided that they would become tea drinkers instead of coffee lovers. Hey, wait a minute! Is this a conspiracy? LOL.

I am not a total convert. I still have to have my daily dose of java. But I am enjoying experimenting with the various flavors of teas that my kids purchase from the local grocery store and also making my own teas with herbs and spices in the kitchen cabinet. Teas have numerous medicinal purposes and lots of health benefits. On top of that, tea tastes good and some teapots are really pretty!

Have you been challenged to make any dietary changes?

♦

If You Like This You Might Also Like:

Food and Drink History: The Evolution of Tea

How to Pimp Up A Glass of Water

Source: My Foodie Luv newsletter

Would You Eat Food Not Grown on Planet Earth?

Have you ever thought that:

“Plants grown on other planets may be tastier than Earth veggies.”

Obviously, this thought has crossed someone’s mind.

Per my non-scientific observation and logic, none of the other planets even have trees! Why would anybody think the soil on Mars or Jupiter would be good for planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables? (O.o)

Nevertheless, ignoring the obvious scientific fact about the lack of trees, according to an interesting article published by Popular Science, there are working teams of scientists exploring the possibilities of farming Mars or growing plants on Jupiter.

The article is a fascinating read. Couldn’t help but note that when discussing or even imagining the possibilities of growing plants elsewhere in the universe they used the term “Earth-like planet”.

They have already conducted some experiments utilizing soil that is similar to that of Mars and it seems that “Martian berries will be tasty”. Not only that but another experiment indicated that “fries cooked on Jupiter would be the best in the solar system”.

To me, this is all the stuff of fiction like that 2015 movie, “The Martian” which starred Matt Damon.   The most interesting (and humorous) takeaway was what was deemed a crucial focus of all of this scientific experimentation. Forget about berries and fries. This is the really important question and it’s a direct quote from the PS article.

“So how do we identify known exoplanets as potential future homes for great-tasting chocolate?”

Really?

* * *
Reference:

• Flook, Jamie. “Could Foods Taste Better On Other Planets Than They Do On Earth?” Popular Science, Bonnier Corporation, 22 Sept. 2015

Source: Virily.com

A Large Order of Jupiter Fries, Please!

In movies, people can grow food on a planet other than earth. But it's "fiction". Not science. However, some scientists are serious about experimenting with plants growing in soil similar to the kind of dirt one would find on Mars or Jupiter.

Winter Fun! (or Summer) Let's Have a Party! Who Wants Soup?

It's party time!  Bring a board game and your favorite soup!

A soup party?  Probably never thought of it. Right? But it's a great idea!

January may be National Soup Month but people start celebrating as soon as the autumn season arrives.  A soup party is great fun!  Especially if you live in places where you get to experience the changes of the seasons. That means you don't live in Florida, Texas, or Hawaii or other places with a tropical climate. The climate in these places really doesn't get you in the mood to savor a hearty bowl of steaming hot soup. 

But if you're in Maryland or Virginia and the winter season comes – there's that chilly nip in the air that makes you feel frisky. There's also a light dusting of snow on the ground outside and inside is nice and warm and cozy because you decided it's cold enough to get a fire started in the fireplace. The only thing you need to complete this idyllic scene is the aroma of a tasty pot of soup coming from the kitchen. My spouse says if you grew up in a tropical environment, snow and cold weather can cause depression. There is some truth to that but it does not have to be like that. The winter season seems to make a lot of people cheerful and they get even happier when their insatiable craving for soup is satisfied.

 
So!  Do you want to get together on the weekend with a group of friends and play board games like Monopoly, Scrabble, Chess, or A Game of Thrones for hours and hours? Invite them to soup party! 

You prepare your favorite soup. Tell your friends to bring theirs, as if it's a potluck celebration. Make sure there's lots of warm bread or rolls, plenty of salad, and a never-ending supply of tea or lemonade.

Soup party not your idea of a good time? OK. Giving credit where credit is due, it wasn't my original idea either. Got it from a cookbook called Entertaining With Ease. For me, it is fun! Also, this would be great for me because domestic diva/goddess and perfect party hostess, I am not! This book is a Better Homes and Gardens® publication and the copyright is 1984. For decades, it has been my Go-To guide for recipes, cooking tips and entertaining.   For Your Information:  My fave soup recipe must include seasoned chunky chicken thigh pieces, sliced links of a spicy Italian turkey sausage, diced potatoes AND beans (red, black, no matter) OR peas (black-eyed peas, purple hull peas, crowder peas), and a green leafy vegetable; preferably kale, but mixed greens, spinach, or bok choy are all acceptable substitutes (the greener the leaf, the better) . The rolls and salad are optional. There's a recipe in the cookbook for a hot and hearty sausage soup which I varied slightly and made my own.


By the way, you can also use this idea for summer fun.  Do you like cold soups like vichyssoise and gazpacho?

Image credit:  glitter-graphics.com

Do you have a favorite soup recipe?

KOVOT Set of 4 Speckled Ceramic Soup Bowls With Spoons - 22-Oz Each
 

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Round Up! Random Foodie Finds: Recipes and Healthy Eating Tips

When this foodie blog was started back in 2016, I made it clear that "its purpose is to share food finds for food lovers, recipes, cooking tips and all things foodie!" 

Staying true to the purpose, it's been almost 4 years; and as they say: Time flies when you're having fun! This blog post includes recipes to encourage you to eat your fruits and veggies and a link to an informative article published by the American Cancer Society for reducing the risk of cancer.

Photo by Eaters Collective on Unsplash

Mexican Stuffed Peppers with Quinoa & Black Beans (vegan & gluten-free) | momswhosave.com :  A delicious recipe for Mexican stuffed peppers with quinoa and black beans. This recipe is vegan (& gluten-free), but some melted some cheese on top or a dollop of sour cream would be tasty …


American Cancer Society: Avoid Meat to Reduce Cancer Risk | livekindly.co : The American Cancer Society (ACS) unveiled its new guidelines for reducing the risk of cancer. The organization advises people to eat less red and processed meat and more whole, plant-based foods. …



11 Best Indian Mango Recipes To Try At Home | food.ndtv.com : 
The best of our Indian mango recipes for you to try at home. Let's just agree that the primary reason for most of us to wait for the peak summer season is only the… 


Watermelon Salad | old-fashion-recipe.com : Watermelon Salad is an old fashioned recipe made with fresh fruit cantaloupe, grapes, pineapple, and cheese. Included is How To Make A Watermelon Basket. It was popular in the 1970s as a decorative …

Food Spotlight : Capsicum Annuum (Peppers)

My late sister liked bell peppers. Me? I never paid any attention. It was an ingredient in a recipe. Fine! If it wasn’t in the recipe, I never missed it. To me, if I had celery why did I need bell pepper? Moved from Florida to Texas and in this state, particularly in two cities where I lived (El Paso and Austin), the folks love their fajitas, which is made with small pieces of meat (chicken, beef or pork), and chunks of veggies, mainly onions and bell peppers. Bell peppers in all different colors. I must say they make the dish pretty.

Anyway! I like fajitas. If it weren’t for this dish I don’t think I would have even realized that different color peppers exist and also have different flavors. For example, the red bell pepper actually tastes sweeter than the green bell pepper. The green pepper if you put too much in a recipe can taste kind of bitter. I blame my ignorance on a family tradition. My mom only bought green bell peppers. My sister only bought green bell peppers. So? I only bought green bell peppers. I learned by example. It’s not my fault! I watch a lot of cooking shows and once heard one of the TV chefs say that a red bell pepper has more vitamin C than an orange. Did you know that? Coming from Florida I was inclined not to believe that. But even though it’s true, I would still rather have an orange. Wouldn’t you?

I also recently discovered that there was such a thing as purple bell pepper. There is a website called johnnyseeds.com. There is even a sweet chocolate organic pepper. I’m not sure I want to try it. But if you’re brave enough, go for it!

There seems to be a little confusion over the use of the word capsicum. In my mind, that is. I always thought capsicum was the word used for a hot red pepper. But I was watching an Indian chef on TV and she used the word “capsicum” for the dish she was preparing, however, she was talking about bell pepper. I was confused but an Indian guy on a Q&A site called Quora clarified the difference between the bell pepper and capsicum. It turns out that we are both right!

I am not really a huge fan of bell peppers. But I can live with them. So if a recipe calls for the ingredient, I prefer to use RED.

What about you?
♦ ♦ ♦

Vegetarian Singapore noodles - quick and easy!

Recipe uses bell peppers, bean sprouts, snow peas, tumeric + curry powder. Follow the recipe here >> https://t.co/gv5x5UTdLO#vegetarian #recipe pic.twitter.com/zesbccX17H

— Louisa Clements (@Living_Lou) August 13, 2018

The secret to this #Japanese Style Grilled Bell Peppers #recipe is a dressing that is both sweet and savory - and plenty of katsuobushi!
RECIPE >> https://t.co/GbXmltkUSB pic.twitter.com/uROEb7dapQ

— Pickled Plum Food and Drinks (@misspickledplum) August 8, 2018

● Herb and Spice Spotlight: Capsicum (Red Pepper) https://t.co/zsmV9DtqDM @EverydaySpices #foodanddrink #veggies

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) June 17, 2020

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Grocery Shopping on Amazon ~
The Best Fresh Peppers in Best Sellers.

Content Source

Strawberries or Blueberries? Pineberry or Pink Lemonade? Choose!

Life is full of difficult decisions. As if it isn't hard enough to choose between whether to grow strawberries or blueberries. There are these two exquisitely delicious variations of these fruits and you have to choose.

White Carolina Pineberry Plant VS 

Pink Lemonade Blueberry Plant.

Let's Discuss.

If you are a gardener and you like strawberries, then you might like to try planting the White Carolina Pineberry plant. It tastes like pineapple and strawberry TOGETHER! If you can imagine that. Sounds so exotic, doesn’t it? (Although some people describe it as weird.)

PROs:

• Can a fruit which tastes like strawberry and pineapple be bad?
• Great gift idea for gardeners
• People might be impressed if they saw it in your garden
• Can be dipped in chocolate like the red strawberry
• Natural Medicine endorses it as a healthy food

CONs:

• Uh? Any fruit claiming to be a strawberry “relative” should be RED.  (O.o)  What?  It's not red!!
• Need to be a good gardener

* Learn more: Specialty Produce: Pineberries

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

Do you like lemonade? I do. What I like about lemonade is that you can vary this drink recipe and make it even better adding another fruit. Do you like blueberries? Well then there is no reason why you wouldn’t love the Pink Lemonade Blueberry plant.

PROs:

• For people who always wanted blueberries to be PINK
• Has been suggested for people who are NOT gardeners
• Great gift idea for gardeners and non-gardeners
• People might be impressed if they saw them in your garden
• Can still be used to make blueberry pancakes

CONs:

• Any fruit claiming to be a blueberry “relative” should be BLUE.  (O.o)  What?  It's not blue!!

* Learn more: Specialty Produce: Pink Lemonade Blueberries

♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

♦  White Carolina Pineberry Plant

A berry lover's delight! White Carolina Strawberry - Pineberry - Pineapple Hybrid Berry Bare Root 10 Pack... by astor_farm https://t.co/dMVe7K24tr #fruit #exoticfruit #pineberries #strawberries #healthyeating #groceryandgourmet @EverydaySpices @goshoppingbees pic.twitter.com/I92hxNBtO0

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) June 3, 2019

♦  Pink Lemonade Blueberry Plant

Pink Lemonade Blueberry Fruit Berries Plant Quart Pot Garden Outdoor Flowers by rrgkusamall https://t.co/rdlzpTzvb8 #fruit #exoticfruit #pineberries #strawberries #healthyeating #gardening #plants #groceryandgourmet @EverydaySpices @goshoppingbees pic.twitter.com/lfcb7jYe9P

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) May 10, 2020

Do You Have a Favorite Summer Fruit and Do You Like Popsicles?

Don't you love when you're listening to the weather forecast and they announce when the first day of a season will begin? I do. 

Even though spring is my favorite season I get excited when they announce that summer will begin. Summertime means summer fruit! 

I love summer fruit. My favorite is nectarines. I also love popsicles and found some recipes for you to enjoy your summer fruit as a popsicle.

Cold and sweet. It’s the perfect treat for a hot summer’s day or night! Don’t you think so? **

I love a simple fruit popsicle! What are your favorite summer sweet treats? #summertime #sweettreats pic.twitter.com/O0f67psHPz

— Playing W. Fire (@Playingwfirepc) July 7, 2019

Summer Fruit Popsicle Recipe Blog from The Fruit Company ~ #summerfruit #recipes #popsicles #cool and #sweet #treats
~ https://t.co/JiIMWFQWDH pic.twitter.com/buMryooB12

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) July 14, 2019

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/621302834049302528/nectarine-ice-pops-recipe-easy-summer-dessert

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/621303239568179200/summer-fruit-popsicle-best-healthy-homemade

https://foodways2017.tumblr.com/post/621303239568179200/summer-fruit-popsicle-best-healthy-homemade

Spices in Filipino Cuisine by Carlo Villamayor (Guest Post)

It's no secret that Filipino cuisine is one of the best in the world, but like any good food, it has to have its secrets. Few people have really mastered authentic Filipino food, not the washed-down fare you get in fast foods and diners, but real, home-made native dishes. Although most of us can whip up something when we need to, it can be hard to capture that distinct Filipino taste.

So what really goes into our food? How do you make your food taste truly Filipino? There's really no single answer because no one can define our food; we come from a hodgepodge of cultures, after all. But one thing that sets us apart from our Asian neighbors is our heavy use of spices. Whereas other cuisines prefer subtle hints of flavor, we like a big burst of it with every bite.

So that's the first rule: be generous with the spice. If you want your dish to fit in with other Filipino recipes, get to know the spices that go into them. Here are some of the most common. 

Ginger

Ginger is used in most of Asian cuisine, and Filipino food recipes. In the Philippines, it is most commonly used in soups and stews; dishes such as arroz caldo (rice porridge), and tinola (chicken stew) use garlic as their main spice. It goes particularly well with chicken and fish dishes, where it provides a nice contrast to the strong meat flavors. Ginger is used both for flavor and aroma, although the flesh of the root is not always eaten. Most people just crush the root and drop it into the dish, then take it out just before serving.

Chili

We're not as wild about spicy food as the Thais, but we do like a bit of bite in our food. Virtually every Filipino dish can be spiced up with chili peppers, from rich meat viands to everyday soups and noodles. Sauces like patis (fish sauce) and soy sauce are often mixed with crushed chili and used as dips or marinades. Bicol, a region in southeastern Luzon, is known for using chili peppers in most of its dishes. Perhaps the most popular is Bicol express, made with meat, bagoong (saut'ed shrimp paste), coconut milk, and chopped green chilies.

Garlic and onions

These two almost always go together, especially in meat and vegetable dishes. You may be more familiar with Taiwanese and Australian garlic, which have larger cloves and are easier to work with. But if you want a stronger, spicier flavor, go for native garlic. Philippine garlic comes in smaller bulbs, with cloves less than half the size of other types. This makes them hard to handle, but it's well worth the trouble.

Philippine onions are strong and pungent, making them a great source of flavor. Use native red onions for saut'ing and pickling, but use the white ones for salads and sandwiches. If you're making rice porridge, top it with chopped green onions for extra spice.

Lemongrass

Lemongrass has strong-smelling leaves and stalks commonly used in soups, teas and sauces. The leaf is slightly sweet with a hint of citrus, a perfect complement to gravy and other meat sauces. There are several ways to use lemongrass, but the most common method is cooking the fresh leaves (sometimes the entire stalk or bulb) with the food to release the flavor. If you're using the stalk, take only the soft inner part and chop it up before dropping it in. You can also use dried and powdered lemongrass, especially if you're in the city and fresh leaves are hard to find. 



Pandan

Pandan is mostly an aromatic ingredient, most commonly used with plain white rice. Just add a couple of leaves to your rice as it boils, and it comes out with a strong, inviting aroma. Some regions even weave it onto rice pots for an even stronger scent. You can do the same with rice cakes, puddings, and other Filipino desserts recipes.

Bay leaf

The strong, pungent taste of bay leaves makes them a perfect fit for Filipino cooking recipes. The leaf has a wide range of uses, from meat sauces and dips to main dishes like adobo, menudo and mechado. Dried bay leaves are traditionally used; fresh bay is seldom available in local markets. The leaf itself is not usually eaten; like ginger, you can take out the leaves once you're ready to serve. However, most people just leave them in and set them aside when eating.

About The Author:   Carlo Villamayor is a devoted cook, he makes it his personal mission to spread the joy of one of his Filipino food recipes with food lovers the world over. Bon appetit!  (Source:  ArticleCity.com)

EES shares recipes, cooking tips
and all things foodie!
 

Everyday Exotic Spices

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Practical Food Storage Tips to Avoid Waste

Countless consumer reports indicate that Americans waste a lot of food. Sadly, even during the coronavirus pandemic, food was wasted. In defense of the consumer Americans, there was a breakdown in the supply and delivery logistics. Fortunately, a few smart young folks got together with the farmers and fixed the problem. (Not-for-profit FarmLink.)

For many, the food gets wasted because they just don't know how to store the food properly. Like the typical mom, I always told my kids not to waste food. They don’t always listen and sometimes they throw away food that could have been given away. Ah well! They can never accuse me of not practicing what I preach. I do my best to store food properly so that it does not spoil or waste. Below are a few practical tips for food storage.

♦

Do you have a particular food storage method you use a lot? (Freezing, canning, dehydration, etc.)

Content previously published on Virily.com

Rethink Your Food Storage with these tips to manage your food inventory — and waste (and spend!) less. Avoid #foodwaste. #practicaltips for #storingfood #GoodHousekeeping https://t.co/D1xiqBKo1g pic.twitter.com/R0H46Oibtc

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) May 9, 2020

How Long You Can Freeze Everything, In One Chart | HuffPost Life https://t.co/Y8928Oyig5 ~ Avoid #foodwaste. #practicaltips for #storingfood @EverydaySpices pic.twitter.com/W0j6X6euvx

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) September 29, 2019

You've Probably Been Storing These 11 Foods Wrong this Whole Time https://t.co/xGvl6sFa2M via @flipboard~ Avoid #foodwaste. #practicaltips for #storingfood @EverydaySpices pic.twitter.com/vGMDxMHBME

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) September 29, 2019

36 Easy Tips That Will Keep Your Food Fresh And Save You Money https://t.co/mb3oJThz2F ~ Avoid #foodwaste. #practicaltips for #storingfood pic.twitter.com/dBz7W2h2Gm

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) May 9, 2020

19 Food Storage Tips to Make Your Groceries Last Longer https://t.co/0Z5KLwtL6p ~ Avoid #foodwaste. #practicaltips for #storingfood @EverydaySpices pic.twitter.com/lIvy5HFIon

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) September 29, 2019

20 Food Storage Tips for Your Groceries and Leftovers You Must Try! https://t.co/jkLGsevs1d via @flipboard ~ Avoid #foodwaste. #practicaltips for #storingfood @EverydaySpices

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) September 29, 2019

Food Storage Tips https://t.co/4wusQgQPOf via @howstuffworks ~ Avoid #foodwaste. #practicaltips for #storingfood @EverydaySpices pic.twitter.com/OzXwaHlVkQ

— Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner) ~ #Freelancer (@cmoneyspinner) September 29, 2019

The Complete Guide to Drying Foods at Home: Everything You Need to Know About Preparing, Storing, and Consuming Dried Foods (Back to Basics) Kindle Edition https://t.co/hEs5ltuUBL ~ Avoid #foodwaste. #practicaltips for #storingfood pic.twitter.com/n82L1t2Jfr

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) May 9, 2020

800+ Organized Canning Recipes for Winter Storage ~ Avoid #foodwaste. #practicaltips for #storingfood https://t.co/MBJ4O8KZ5x pic.twitter.com/raDeGEOyHT

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) May 9, 2020

Enjoy Your Fruit By Season and in a Salad

Not sure how many of my blog readers have ever eaten an American Thanksgiving meal. If you have then you know how heavy that meal is. Is it any wonder many people just want to go to sleep afterward? LOL.

I have been preparing Thanksgiving dinner ever since I got married. That was over 40 years ago. My kids say they have good memories of our holiday meals and I'm glad. There was one holiday in particular that one of my kids remembers because I made a fruit salad. Instead of a cake with icing or a pie, I wanted to make something sweet but not so heavy. When I went shopping that year there was some great fruit in the produce department. So I decided to put fruit salad on the Turkey Day menu.

That memory got me thinking about fruit salads and whether or not there were specific recipes for every season of the year. I managed to find fruit salad recipes for winter, spring, summer, and fall. The Thanksgiving holiday occurs during the fall season and it was no surprise that there are quite a few fall fruit salad recipes.

Image credit: 3pcs Heart Shaped Glass Bowls Golden Rim Edge Fruit Salad Bowl Home Dinnerware Set by GOODFEER 

If you like fruit (and who doesn't?), you'll probably love these fruit salad recipes. There is a delightful winter fruit salad, loaded with the best fruits of Autumn and Winter; and dressed with honey; a spring salad recipe is super sweet, hydrating and nourishing; and a summer salad made with fresh summer fruits mixed together with crunchy peanuts and a dressing made of Thai herbs and fish sauce. Enjoy!

📷 A delightful winter fruit salad, loaded with the best fruits of Autumn and Winter; and dressed with honey. (via Winter Fruit Salad Recipe - https://t.co/IbT8UTrmF8) https://t.co/3h8xxVVA0n

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) May 7, 2020

📷 13 Amazing Salads for Spring you Should Eat Right Now https://t.co/DzEZ4pAG1W

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) May 7, 2020

📷 This recipe is super sweet, hydrating and nourishing. Spring Fruit Salad - Exploring Healthy Foods For #breakfast or a #healthysnack. https://t.co/uE7XROcoTt

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) May 7, 2020

📷 Fresh summer fruits mixed together with crunchy peanuts and a dressing made of Thai herbs and fish sauce. (via Fresh Summer Asian Salad | The Splendid Table) https://t.co/8eZzkUqS3k

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) May 7, 2020

📷 15 Incredible Summer Salad Recipes you need to try - Jessica Gavin @jessica_gavin https://t.co/M660CiKv1R

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) May 7, 2020

Autumn Fruit Salad Recipe - https://t.co/8qjafQgrMV via @flipboard pic.twitter.com/Hh4AzSEpsB

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) May 7, 2020

Sweet & Spicy Fall Fruit Salad — Shauna Sever @shaunasever https://t.co/L6vbiEuTL6 pic.twitter.com/KRicVhYuJC

— EverydayExoticSpices (@EverydaySpices) May 7, 2020

More Wonderful Fruit Salad Recipes

How to Find Out When Fruits Are in Season

Perfect Gift for the High School Graduate Who is Off to College - A Cookbook!

A Cookbook? For a college student? Am I nuts?

No. No I am not. During my freshman year or first year at university, I was fortunate because I had a meal plan. As long as I got to the cafeteria before closing time, I didn't starve! But for my remaining 3 years at the university, I lived in an on-campus apartment and my roommates (friends I made when I was just a freshman who lived in the apartments) loved to cook!! The Chinese-Jamaican guy who lived in the apartment above ours always had good smelling coming out of his kitchen! His specialty was curry chicken. 

But before I get too far down memory lane and forget why I am writing this post, let me get back on track. The purpose of this post is to recommend a cookbook for a student you know who is heading off to college, already in college, getting ready to graduate from college. In fact, this cookbook is great for anybody!!!

The 5-Ingredient College Cookbook: Easy, Healthy Recipes for the Next Four Years & Beyond by Ellgen, Pamela  

Related articles

• 15 things college kids should do now to be successful in the future(businessinsider.com)

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• 4 FOOD BLOGS THAT ARE PERFECT FOR STUDENTS(studybreaks.com)

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• Cooking in College by Declan & Erica(cooking-in-college.com)

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Vitamin E is a fat-soluble, essential nutrient with anti-inflammatory properties! Vitamin E helps support the immune system, cell function, and skin health. It also acts as a natural sun block.https://t.co/N7UPfCWh6y pic.twitter.com/Zd9PHYihkc

— Your College Cookbook (@YourCollegeCook) November 18, 2018

English fried mozzarella and balsamic, it was to die for! #foodie #cooking #chef #yum #food pic.twitter.com/uCnwlIz27W

— College Cooks (@College__Cooks) May 30, 2015

How to Cook Everything (Emphasis on the Greens)

Mark Bittman, is one of America's best-known, most widely respected food writers. Happy to suggest two cookbooks written by him. One for those who want to learn how to cook and the other for those who have a goal to eat healthy with an emphasis on consuming green leafy vegetables (that would be moi!).

How to Cook Everything The Basics:All You Need to Make Great Food -- With 1,000 Photos
This book offers a collection of delicious recipes, from fried eggs to steamed mussels, along with practical tips and helpful photos. Learn fundamental techniques and variation ideas for modifying or customizing recipes. Available in Hardcover and Kindle edition.
This cookbook has been recommended by some as "the new kitchen bible".

Leafy Greens: An A-to-Z Guide to 30 Types of Greens Plus More Than 120 Delicious Recipes is one of Bittman's books which is sure to delight both vegans and non-vegans. From arugula to kale to wakame (a sea vegetable), Bittman offers 120+ healthy recipes to make it easy to go green. Delicious anti-oxidant-packed recipes for salads, soups, stews, stir-fries, etc. Also, nutritional information, advice on buying and cooking greens, and which greens make good substitutes for one another.
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Cooking Basics ~ How to Cook Everything - Emphasis on the Greens

Related Links of Interest
♦ Green Leafy Vegetables: On a Roll With Escarole
♦ Healthy Eating Tips: Eat Your Greens! Drink Your Carrots!
♦ YAPAS (Yet Another Post About Spinach)
♦ Health and Wellness: Where to Find Advice on Healthy Eating and More!


Source: Webnuggetz.com

Round Up! Most Popular Foodie Friday Posts

My "Foodie Friday" posts have been discontinued because work efforts are being concentrated now on My Foodie Luv, a Medium publication, where I can collaborate with other food bloggers and writers, publish original content, and republish some of my content from this blog, Food Ways. This project (along with my other work-at-home projects) is time-consuming. But even though I have discontinued the Foodie Friday post series, there were certain posts that blog visitors and subscribers enjoyed. Below is a recap of the Top 5.  Thank you for your continued support.

• Indian Food ~ Hot-n-Spicy Samosas

• Figs ~ No! It's Not the Forbidden Fruit

• Experiencing the Joys of Salsa

• Let's Do Sushi ~ Keep It Kosher!

• Awesome Food Bloggers in Bloggy Moms Network

View more Foodie Friday posts.

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

The ingredients for this scrumptious guilty pleasure include apricot jam, dark and white chocolate. Plus it's traditionally served at Christmas.  But you pick any holiday or special event or just treat yourself!

How could you not want a piece of this cake?? 💟

"Baumkuchen", tasty and historic German cake

NOTE:  This content was previously published at a site that shut down because the owner passed away.  The link provided is to a copy of the archived content.  The source for the original content is a wonderful food blog named Foodal.com.  They share marvelous recipes.  Their cake recipes are divine!