World Cuisine: Exotic Fruits: Ackee Fruit

Always happy to learn about exotic fruits from around the world.  This post is about the ACKEE FRUIT.  Even though it is a fruit, it is cooked as a vegetable.  It is native to West Africa, but has been cultivated in Jamaica since 1778 when it was brought to the Caribbean by British slave traders.  The Jamaicans liked it so much they made it the country's national fruit and their national dish is ackee with saltfish (or codfish).

WARNING:  Do not eat this fruit in its unripened state as it is poisonous.  However, once ripe, eat only the yellow arilli  which is the edible portion.  The black seeds are always toxic whether the fruit is ripe or unripened.  

NOTE:  If you are unable to buy it fresh, you can also buy canned ackee to use in your recipe.  You can even find it freeze-dried.

 * Ackee and Saltfish Recipe | Serious Eats

* Ackee And Saltfish Recipe #TastyTuesdays | CaribbeanPot   

I was curious to know if there were any West African recipes with this fruit as a main ingredient, but discovered that even though the ackee fruit originates from there, in that part of the world, it is used mainly for medicinal purposes.

** West African Ackee Fruit • We Blog The World

“The ackee tree (Blighia sapida) is indigenous to the tropical forests of West Africa. Although it is not popularly eaten there, it is cultivated in the region for several nonfood uses: Immature fruits are used to make soap; the wood from the tree is termite resistant and used for building;  extracts from the poisonous seeds are taken to treat parasites and are sometimes used as a fish poison;  topical ointment made from crushed ackee leaves is applied to the skin to treat headaches and ulcers. And the Ackee leaves are also good as a fodder for goats.”

Since this food comes with a warning, you might want to know a little bit more.  Below are some additional links of interest.

Ackee - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

What is Ackee Fruit: How Do You Eat It + 4 Best Ackee Recipes

Ackee Fruit Information, Recipes and Facts | Specialty Produce

Ackee: Wiki facts for this cookery item | Cookipedia

THE POISON THAT JAMAICA LOVES AND AFRICA FEARS | beyondentertainmentblog

Make Sure the Saffron You Buy is Worth It

SAFFRON has been called "The World's Most Legendary Spice" [1]. It's not just legendary, it's expensive.  There are stories and myths about this spice from the Mediterranean to Arabia to India to Italy to Spain. If this spice could talk it could probably tell you of its interesting travels around the world. It has been used to dye fabrics, as medicine, as fragrance, and in cooking.

• IMPORTANT TIP: As stated this spice is very expensive, so don't get cheated. “If the liquid colors immediately, you have a fake on your hands. Authentic saffron takes about 10 to 15 minutes of soaking before it changes the color of the water.” [2]

For your information, since it is so expensive, you might want to know if you can grow it in your own garden. The answer is YES!! [3] The only thing that the flowers are so beautiful, you might not want to harvest them into saffron strands. [4]

♦ REFERENCES:

[1] “The History of Saffron: Mythology, Legends in Italy and Abroad.” CROCUS D'ORO, 2018, http://www.crocusdoro.com/en/history-of-saffron/.

[2] “Interesting Facts about Saffron.” Just Fun Facts, 2018, https://justfunfacts.com/interesting-facts-about-saffron/.

[3] Rhoades, Heather. “Growing Saffron: How To Grow Saffron Crocus Bulbs.” Gardening Know How, 1 July 2021, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/saffron/growing-saffron-crocus.htm.

[4] Grant, Amy. “Harvesting Saffron Crocus - When And How To Harvest Saffron.” Gardening Know How, 10 Oct. 2020, https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/saffron/saffron-harvesting-information.htm.

• Saffron Market Outlook | Industry Statistics 2021-2027 | Global Market Insights

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

Which Countries or Cultures Make the Best Cakes? Would love to hear your thoughts on this foodie topic.  My husband says when it comes to baking, nobody beats out the Greeks and the Jews. Not that I'm a cake connoisseur, but I am tempted to agree with him; especially about the Greeks.  Did you know the Greeks invented cheesecake and that we have them to thank for the tradition of the birthday cake?

Sorry to say cake baking is not my forte. But I do love a great cake. It would be right to say that cake loving IS my forte.  💗

Honestly! If Queen Marie Antoinette had really said “Let them eat cake!” and I had been in earshot distance, I would have been “Where?!! Where??!! Where's the cake??!!”

Image credit:  Marie Antoinette | CheriesPit

Recently, I've been coming across recipes shared by my online friends from different countries and also from food newsletters that I subscribe to and it's got me dreaming and wishing I could enjoy all of these wonderful baked delights without having to concern myself with the possible ill effects of consuming too much sugar. Alas! There is diabetes in my family line and I just don't want to take any chances.

Most of the time, I enjoy cakes by just looking at them or maybe taste a teeny weeny sample. ☺

But some cakes are far too pretty and unusual to eat. Don't you think?  Like these incredible jelly cakes.

Stunning Edible Flower Jelly Cakes Blooming in Your Plate

These gorgeous jelly cakes came from 'La Floraison' in Sydney Australia. Like a Japanese rainbow cake these confections are almost too pretty to eat.

http://k-kyeopta-blog.tumblr.com/post/36270226635

Some cakes are not even cakes. They're masterpieces. Works of art!

• Like the cakes created by celebrated sugar artist Michelle Wibowo Seeing is believing!.

And then some cakes are dummy cakes. Dummy cakes? Yeah. Also called Fake Cakes.  New term I learned.  Apparently they have become popular at weddings as the wedding cake.  Check out this article in the New York Times about NY Cake.  Not edible but the artwork is incredible! 😆

But we all have our preferences and there is not one person in the world who can say that their specific food taste is “the right food taste”.

What about you? Do you 💗 cake?
If you were going to sing praises about a country or a culture that makes the best cakes what would your choice be?

I'd love to hear your picks. 
Do you agree or disagree with my husband? ☺

MARK YOUR CALENDARS.  

November 26 is #NationalCakeDay.

Custom Cakes by Rainbow Nourishments (Raw Vegan Cake Maker)

Foodie Friday: Dinner Idea: Chicken with Blackberry Salsa

In Texas people love their salsa.  They put it on everything!  Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks!  But it's not the sweet salsa.  It's the spicy made with tomatoes and lime juice.  As I did more foodie research, I began to find that there are many variations for a salsa recipe.  For me, the spicy or the sweet recipe is fantastic!.  They make great condiments and really enhance the flavor of your meats.   If you like sweet and savory dishes you'll probably enjoy this recipe. 

Grilled Chicken With Blackberry Salsa Recipe
| Mix and Match Mama

The Ratio of Dry and Fresh Herbs (Guest Post)

Herbs are expensive to buy, but because they take so little space, they are also really easy to grow your own. If you purchase fresh herbs from the grocery store, you can extend the life of any fresh cut herb by wrapping the stems in a damp paper towel and place the entire bunch inside a bag for refrigeration. To deal with the excess before it goes bad, you can chop, add a little oil and freeze 1 tsp. or 1 tbsp. blobs on a sheet, and then bag for use later.

You can also dry herbs. Wash and remove leaves from the stem, simply place on a paper towel over a cooling rack, or use a dehydrator tray. Place where the air is warm and there is less light (sunlight will reduce the essential oils). Once dry, store in repurposed clean jars in a dark cupboard. If you are drying large amounts, keep the bulk of it in whole leaf form and only lightly grind the amount meant for storage in the kitchen cupboard.

Dry herbs? Fresh herbs? The answer is: either. The ratio of replacing dry herbs with fresh herbs goes like this:

• 1 tsp. dry herb = 1 Tbsp. fresh herb

However - IF the dry herbs are older than 2 years, increase the ratio to:

• 2 tsp. dry herb = 1 Tbsp. fresh herb

Some herbs such as bay leaf, parsley and cilantro, become quite mild after dehydrating, so cooks often double the amount:

• 1 leaf = 2 leaves
• 1 tsp. = 2 tsp.

If herbs have accidentally been ground into a powder, this fine flour is now more concentrated and this is the ratio:

• 1 tsp. fine ground dry herb = 1 Tbsp. dry herb

Hope you find these cooking tips useful!

AUTHORS:  Lillian and her husband Dave are the team behind Brummet Media Group, high-fiving cheerfully as they pass each other on the way from checking off one item or other from their long to-do list. Their business includes Dave's music studio and percussion accessory products and graphic design work, as well as popular blogs and numerous award-winning non-fiction books. 

- From One Small Garden, with over 300 delicious, nutritious recipes! 

Visit the Brummets @: http://www.BrummetMedia.ca

Original Source

Foodie Friday: My Favorite Party Dip!

Do you ever go to parties or other social gatherings where they serve finger foods, hors d'oeuvres, appetizers, tapas, dim sum, etc. At almost every one of these occassions you'll find bowl of dip surrounded by some potato chips or crackers for you to dip with. The most popular dip is onion dip which is very easy to make. Take a packet of Lipton onion gravy and mix it into a cup of sour cream. Tasty but after a while … BORING!!

One upon a time, a friend decided to bring in smoked salmon dip to an office party. My life was changed forever! Seriously! I don't even like salmon. But I loved that dip!!

Found a great recipe at an awesome food blog.

Smoked Salmon Dip | Once Upon a Chef

On the off chance that you're not convinced that it's the best dip in the world, here are a few more dip recipes you might want to try.  There are plenty recipes to choose from.  There's got to be at least one that will make your faves list.

Dips and Spreads Recipes | Allrecipes  

The Best Delicious and Easy Dip Recipes Everyone Will Love! 

15 Easy Dip Recipes | A Couple Cooks  

25 of The Best Savory Dip Recipes for Sharing - Scrambled Chefs  

30 Easy Dip Recipes for Your Next Party - Insanely Good  

55 Best #Party Dip #Recipes So Good You'll Want to Turn Them into a Meal | PureWow  

70 Best Party Dip Recipes - Easy Super Bowl Dip Recipes  
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Foodie Nuggets: African Food: What is African Salad?

The fun about being in social communities is that people often like to share what they eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and appetizers.  Sometimes they call food by a certain name, and you think you've never heard of it.  Then you realize you do know that food, but where you live, it has a different name.  A friend said they were eating African Salad for lunch.  I like the photo, so I immediately Googled to get the recipe.  It was super easy to find.

AfricanSalad (Nigerian Abacha) | How to Make Igbo Foods | All Nigerian Foods

“The fresh Abacha (African salad is a by-product of cassava). There are a lot of processes involved with obtaining the fresh abacha that is used in preparing the African salad ...”

AfricanSalad: Health Benefits of Abacha food (Abacha and Pregnancy) -Nigerian Health Blog

• Abacha has numerous #health benefits. It's not good for weight loss but it is good for pregnant women.

African Salad (Tapioca or Abacha) | NnendiFoods

• “A staple food now in many parts of Nigeria, tapioca is used as a thickening agent in various foods. Tapioca is one of the purest forms of starch food. The Igbos call Tapioca in their native language, 'Abacha'.”

Interested in more Igbo Foods?

Top 5 food in Igbo culture dishes

1. Nkwobi.
2. Igbo Bitter Leaf Soup. ...
3. Fufu and Uha Soup. ...
4. Jollof Rice with Chicken. Jollof Rice is one of the most popular nourishments not only for Igbo people but whole West Africa. ...
5. Yam served with Fish Pepper Soup. It can be called as Yam soup or Ji in the Igbo language. ...

The Mystery of the Perfect Condiments for Veggie Burgers

For several years we've been adjusting, changing, modifying our diet. "We" meaning my significant other and me. Had you asked me 40 years ago about “veggie burgers”, I probably would have tried to pretend not to hear the question or act like you're weren't talking to me. 

However, beginning in 2015, this is my reality check.

Veggie burgers are a real part of our nutrition plan.

Learned something about myself. Veggie burgers taste pretty good to me! Not all of them. But there is one particular brand that is inexpensive and tasty: Morningstar Farms® Garden Veggie Patties™. They have a variety of flavors: Asian, Spicy Black Bean, Mushroom, Grillers, etc. You eat them just like a regular hamburger.

(This is not affiliate advertisement.  I just like the brand.)

Made an amazing discovery. It sort of makes me feel silly because of its obviousness.

The Garden Veggie Pattie is the one that tastes the best in my opinion.  You don't have to dress it up with condiments. You don't even need to put it on a bun.

But the other ones – the mushroom, the Asian-style, the spicy bean, the chik'n or turkey grillers, etc. - are not so flavorful.  So I avoid them.

One of my daughters fixed a spicy bean burger for lunch but didn't finish the sandwich. She asked me if I wanted her leftovers; otherwise, she'd have to throw it away.

Waste food?!! Not in my house!!

So I ate what was left of her sandwich and … and … It tasted great!

Do you know why?

She put mustard and ketchup on her burger.

Duh! (O.o) That's what was missing from those veggie burgers??

The two most common under-appreciated condiments that are in homes and restaurants gave the veggie burger what it was missing. Flavor!

Why didn't I think of that??!  :)

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Marshman, Victoria. "The History of Mustard." The Nibble. Lifestyle Direct, Inc., July 2009. Web. 15 Apr 2017. © Copyright 2005-2017

Wiggins, Jasmine. "How Was Ketchup Invented?" National Geographic: About The Plate. National Geographic Society., 21 Apr. 2014. Web. 05 May 2015.

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Content also appears at Persona Paper.

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Do You Have a Favorite Condiment for Your Food? ~ Whenever I ask this question I get a wide range of responses that went way beyond mustard and ketchup. People started throwing out: salsa, soy sauce, barbecue sauce, different kinds of mustards, chutney, mint sauce, red currant jelly, pickles and paprika, garlic and chives, Chimichurri, fish sauce and shrimp paste, Thai chili, black vinegar and peri-peri.  Talk about food diversity!

Care To Share Your Eggplant (Aubergine) Recipe?

Do you love to watch cooking shows on television?  One of my favorite TV chefs is Nigella Lawson (nigella.com). She taught me what an aubergine was. Aubergine?? Oh! You mean eggplant!! :)

On the hunt for eggplant recipes.

Sharing a few recipes via this foodie blog. But ....

I want more eggplant recipes! More! More!!

Why?

The food experts say that for 2017 and beyond, “purple is the new green” and everybody is supposed to be eating more purple veggies. Sure! Eggplants are not the only purple plants out there. But it's a good purple food to start with! Agree?  :)

One quick question:

• Do you eat eggplant cooked or raw?

I enjoy listening to the music of smooth jazz vocalist Michael Franks. One of his songs that we really like is called “Eggplant”.

When my baby cooks her eggplant.

She don't read no book!

Yeah OK. He's not really singing about eggplant. But the lyrics are inspiring and might make you want to cook eggplant, even if you do have to read “how to” in a book!

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Links of Interest: 

Freedman, Joanna. "Start Eating Purple for Good Health: The Science behind 2017's New Food Trend." The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 19 Dec. 2016. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/news/start-eating-purple-good-health-science-behind-2017s-new-food/ ).

Davis, Sara. "A History of Eggplant in Four Languages." Table Matters. N.p., 12 Sept. 2016. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. ( http://tablematters.com/2012/10/10/a-history-of-eggplant-in-four-languages/ ).

Ehler, James T. "Eggplant Trivia and Facts." Food Facts & Trivia: Eggplant. Food Reference, n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. ( http://www.foodreference.com/html/feggplant.html ).

Meyer, Megan. "Eight Fascinating Facts About Eggplant." Earth Eats | Real Food | Green Living. The Trustees of Indiana University, 18 Jan. 2010. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. ( http://indianapublicmedia.org/eartheats/eggplant-facts/ ).

"Eggplant Food Facts." Belly Bytes. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Feb. 2017. ( http://www.bellybytes.com/foodfacts/eggplant_facts.html#.WJI-fzjwnIU ).

Below are some recipes you might enjoy.

French style Roasted Eggplant

Ratatouille and Eggplant for Harvest Season

Marinated Eggplant - A Healthy Life For Me

Eggplant Patties with Olives and Herbs | Gourmandelle

Do you have an eggplant recipe that is the best ever?  

If so, please share.

Add These Truffle Recipes to Your Holiday Treats

The last 4 months of the year, September through December, are my favorite months of the year because of the weather, because of the holidays, and because it's the only time I allow myself to indulge in sweet treats. When I hear the word “truffle”, I think chocolate. I don't think about the truffle that is some sort of fungi, called Tuber. Even though that type of truffle is highly prized as food and is used in French cooking and numerous national haute cuisines and is very expensive.

Nope! Instead I think of the chocolate truffle which is “a type of chocolate confectionery, traditionally made with a chocolate ganache centre coated in chocolate, cocoa powder, coconut, or chopped and toasted nuts (typically hazel nuts or almonds), usually in a spherical, conical, or curved shape.” (Description per Wikipedia.)

The name for this confectionery or delightful sweet treat is actually derived from the fungi for the simple reason that the confectionery and the edible fungi LOOK very similar. Even though the really expensive truffle that is used in French cooking is considered gourmet cuisine, … eh! I'd rather eat the chocolate truffle.

Did You Know? There are different types of chocolate truffles: French, Spanish, Swiss, typical European truffle, American, Belgian, and Californian. There is even a pot truffle (the recipe includes cannabis). The recipe varies slightly for each type, but they are all made with chocolate (or cocoa powder).

So happy to share this link published via the Tasty Newsletter, which is a BuzzFeed publication.

5 Delicious Truffles to Lift Your Mood

1. Custard Cream Truffles

2. White Chocolate Chip Truffle

3. Salted S'mores Truffles

4. Magic Fizzy Truffles

5. Cookies ‘n’ Cream Truffle

(P.S. If you were hoping these truffles would lift your mood because they contained cannabis … sorry! But I guess you could add it to the recipe when nobody's looking. As long as it's legal. LOL. 😊 Me personally, I get a buzz out of chocolate. 😊)

Add these truffles to your holiday treats.  Go ahead and indulge in this guilty pleasure.  You could also make them as food gifts.  

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Original source

World Cuisine : The India-Africa Cooking Connection

For me, a hearty stew has always been the ultimate family-style comfort food. Prepare a big pot, fill the bowls for family, friends, and honored guests, break bread, and chow down!! (Keep reading and you'll get the "bread" and "chow" references.)  Such a meal can unite family and friends, make strangers feel welcome, and dare I say ... connect countries?  Hey!  Nothing wrong with wishful thinking and dreams of world peace.

Indians love curry; in fact that's where it originated. Africans like peanuts; it was a food used to feed the slaves because it was an excellent source of protein. These tidbits of info gleaned from researching world cuisine, global flavors, and food history.  When the Indians and the Africans combined their food loves ... the "mix" was WOW!  Let the links shared below explain the impact.  They lead to recipes that introduce your palette to the blending of the cultures of  India and Africa in every delicious mouthful.  Not just dishes that use curry and peanuts but meals with other flavorful cultural ingredients.  It's family food, it's comfort food, it's "all kinds of deliciousness" food!! ☺

Let's Go to South Africa for Some Indian Food

Experience the flavors of Indian food in South Africa.

Indian cuisine South Africa style blends Indian and African foods

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African cuisine reflects the amalgamation of hundreds of different cultures and groups that inhabit the continent. The local culinary traditions are a fusion and it can be seen in the choice of ingredients, method of preparation and cooking techniques.

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Foodie Nuggets: Japanese Fun Food

JAPANESE FOOD

Links to cooking videos that teach you how to make 2 kinds of Japanese pancakes; considered snacks or dessert. 

Taiyaki is a warm fish-shaped cake with red bean filling.

* How to Make Taiyaki (Recipe) 鯛焼きの作り方（レシピ）

Dorayaki is made of honey pancake sandwich with sweet red bean filling.

* How To Make Dorayaki (Recipe) どら焼きの作り方 （レシピ）

(Images credit: justonecookbook.com ) 

6 Best Japanese Sauces You Need To KnowBy Heart
• Just One Cookbook

1. Homemade Ponzu Sauce

2. Teriyaki Sauce

3. All-Purpose Miso Sauce

4. Tonkatsu Sauce

5. Yakiniku Sauce

6. Unagi Sauce

Food Blog Spotlight: Honey Chai Cake Recipe | Arabic Food (Reblog)

Are you curious about global flavors?  You have wanderlust but can't wander too far because your travel budget is extremely limited?  Describing myself, of course.  My travel adventures are accomplished mainly through the Internet and television.  Was watching a TV cooking show and the host asked one of his guests who was a world traveler, which part of the world had the "best food" (in his opinion).  He said he enjoyed food prepared in the Middle East.  

Image credit:  Arabic Food I, photo by Victor Maia, found at Flickr.com



Connecting the dots.  

Several months back, began using the Google+ collections feature to maintain a collection of posts and links related to World Cuisine.  In the process, stumbled across the Arabic Food Recipes blog.  My husband and kids are turned on to chai tea. Even though I am a coffee fiend, having been encouraged by them to try a cup, it's very easy to understand why they are chai tea lovers.  At the aforementioned food blog found a cake recipe and thought to myself:

• 'Chai tea is delicious. Why not chai cake?'  

(See link shared below.)

Here is another thing to note about this blog.  When many of us are enjoying the holiday season, we say "Happy Holidays" to others.  Why?  It's not to be anti-Christmas.  America is a diverse nation.  Some folks do not celebrate Christmas.  But they do celebrate a holiday!  This blog has holiday recipes for Christmas, EID, and Ramadan.  Cool huh?

Honey Chai Cake Recipe

Honey Chai Cake Recipe

A delicious honey cake with tea, covered with vanilla and white chocolate icing, no one can resist it! Shaikha - founder of "When Shaikha Cooks" blog - prepared for you this unique recipe, to prepare it easily, especially for when you're expecting friends.

Slow-roasted lamb shoulder with flavours of shawarma recipe

“There’s nothing worse than being stuck in the kitchen on Christmas day while all your guests are enjoying themselves outside, so this DIY lamb shawarma recipe is the perfect solution. ...”

Slow-roasted lamb shoulder with flavours of shawarma recipe

The Arabic Food Recipes Kitchen (The home of Delicious Arabic Food) invites you to try Slow-roasted lamb shoulder with flavours of shawarma recipe. Enjoy the Arabic cuisine and learn how to make Slow-roasted lamb shoulder with flavours of shawarma.

Eid Kaak with Dates Recipe

Eid Kaak with Dates Recipe

Cooking time: 20 minutes servings: 100 Ingredients Dough: 2 cups very hot margarine7 cups flour2 tsp smell of kaak (special kaak spices)2 tbsp toasted sesame1/2 cup warm water1 tbsp yeast 1 tsp sugar1/2 cup milk Stuffing: 500 grams Ajwa (dates)1 tsp cinnamon For garnish: Fine powder sugar Directions 1.

Eggplant With Lamb, Tomato and Pine Nuts Recipe

“ … this traditional Lebanese dish is made for celebratory meals and gatherings.

Eggplant With Lamb, Tomato and Pine Nuts Recipe

With its layers of golden eggplant, cinnamon-scented lamb, and sweet tomato sauce topped with melted cheese, this traditional Lebanese dish is made for celebratory meals and gatherings. Even better, it's just as good served warm or room temperature as it is hot from the oven.

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How To Promote Diversity And Inclusion During A Month Of Multicultural Holidays

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