Thursday, June 30, 2022

World Cuisine: Exotic Vegetables: Winter Melon

Thanks to being active in various global social communities, I'm learning about all kinds of food like the “winter melon”. This is not a produce that I am familiar with. Even when I checked to see if maybe I knew it by a different name, it turns out I did not know the alternative names either. I don't recall seeing this melon in my local grocery store but it is probably in the produce section at an Asian market. Nevertheless, now it's a food that I am curious to try. 


Image credit:  Amazon.com

OK. Let me explain myself. I like cucumbers and I like melons. But I say a cucumber is a vegetable and anything called melon has to be a fruit. Right? WRONG!!

The Spruce Eats is my favorite GO TO site for when I want to learn about anything food-related. They published content titled “What Is a Winter Melon?” and it tells you all about it.  


The winter melon is a large vine vegetable; a type of gourd and a distant cousin of the cucumber. Commonly called ash gourd, wax gourd, white gourd, white pumpkin, and Chinese watermelon. It is a native to parts of Southern Asia and used in both Indian and Chinese cuisine.

You can cook it, but don't over-cook it because it will become mushy. It pairs well with a lot of different foods: watermelon, mushrooms, scallions, pork, chicken, duck, and ham, seafood like shrimp and scallops. I love that it can be cooked in soups and stews because soup is on my unofficial list of Top 5 comfort foods.

  • Some sources say it can not be eaten RAW.
  • Other sources say, add it to salads RAW just like you would with a cucumber.

???????

Here are some additional food facts and most of the sources seem to be in agreement.

“Chinese people believe winter melon is a Yin food that can help our bodies to counter the summer heat and humidity.” This soup dish is so popular they even serve it at weddings.

Chinese Winter Melon Soup Recipe ~ TheSpruce Eats


Winter melon can also be used to make drinks. There are recipes for Winter Melon Tea and Bubble Tea Latte. Sounds interesting.

18 of the Absolute Best Winter MelonRecipes to Try This Year - Backyard Boss  


A few of the health websites sing praises about the health benefits of the winter melon. It's good for digestion; promotes heart health; can detox your body; can improve your vision; and more!

9 Surprising Benefits of Winter Melon |Organic Facts


FINAL LINK SHARE:

Figured there had to be a candy recipe.  Petha / Winter Melon soft Candy !!! | Shailja's Kitchen [ Meals & Memories Are Made Here ] 



Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Food Blurb: Exotic Fruit: CUCAMELON

A cucamelon is known by many names, such as, Mexican sour gherkin, Mexican miniature watermelon, Mexican sour cucumber, mouse melon, or pepquino.  The taste is described as a cucumber with a touch of sour lime mixed in. Most people use it in salads, pickled or used in salsa. They are usually eaten raw, but you can cook them lightly and add them to a stir-fry. They can be refridgerated (will last up to 1 month) and frozen (will last up to 3 months).


Image credit:  Amazon.com


Links below supply some additional information and a few recipes you may want to try.


Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Food and Drink : Are You a Cheese Lover?

Have always been told that cheese is healthy eating. Haven't you? Unless you're lactose intolerant and have a hard time digesting dairy products, that is. But I received an article via eMail that said cheese might not be healthy. The headline was a shocker!

Cheese lover that I am!!   I respect the source, so I had to read further. Whew! I'm so relieved. They mentioned the “unhealthiest” cheeses to eat. Cheese singles, cheese spray and cheese dips. Had to laugh because I thought to myself: “Duh! Those products don't even count as cheese in my book!”  ☺



Nevertheless, the other information presented in the article about healthy cheeses and the diet tips made it a worthwhile read. This excerpt below quickly summarizes what the real aim of the article is.

“If you're a cheese lover, then there's good news for you. Not all cheese is bad for your diet. In fact, there are plenty of ways to include cheese in a weight loss or weight maintenance plan. You just need to be careful about what you buy and how much you eat.”

Here is a quick outline of the subtopics:
  • Healthiest Cheese Options
  • Unhealthiest Cheese Options
  • Health Benefits and Drawbacks of Cheese
  • Cheese and Weight Loss
  • Cheese Recipes


Reference:
Frey, Malia. “The Smartest Ways to Include Cheese in Your Diet.” Verywell, 28 June 2017, https://www.verywell.com/cheese-nutrition-facts-calories-and-health-benefits-4117668. Cheese Nutrition Facts: Calories in Cheese and Health Benefits ~ Content reviewed by a board-certified physician.



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Additional Comments:

I'm not sure if there is any style or form of cheese that doesn't taste good to me. Have heard people say they don't like the taste of goat cheese. Maybe if they ate it in the form of a cheesecake they'd change their mind.

Definitely never ate a piece of cheesecake that I didn't like!

People may not need to be told about this food blog and website: “Williams-Sonoma Taste”. It seems to be very popular (meaning it has a pretty high Alexa ranking). But in case you never heard of it, sharing a link below. You can sign up to receive their recipes via e-Mail.



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This content first appeared at ForumCoin under the same title “Food and Drink : Are You a Cheese Lover?









Saturday, June 4, 2022

5 Exotic Spices From Around the World by Melisa Marzett (Guest Post)

Even though many herbs and spices are now readily available in local grocery stores all around the world or can easily be purchased online, most of us don't know know the history of these marvelous cooking ingredients and which country is responsible for introducing these exciting flavors to the global community.  Sharing a brief introduction to five (5) exotic spices:

SPICE Spotlight: Juniper Berries

http://everydayspices.webs.com/apps/blog/show/6664512-spice-spotlight-juniper-berries


1. Asafetida. This is an Asian spice made from the roots of certain species of Ferula. It is a gum-like spice with a very strong and unpleasant smell.  Actually, the name of the spice has a Latin origin, which means “evil-smelling gum”.  Asafetida is common in Indian vegetarian cuisine and is often the main ingredient in rice and bean dishes. Additionally, it has a wide range of medicinal properties and is beneficial for people with digestive disorders, high cholesterol, and/or nervous disorders.  Asafetida is rich in minerals and nutrients, such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, and protein.  Although most chefs and cooks rarely prepare a dish without onion and garlic, some people do not eat onion or garlic.  Certain people are allergic to onions and for some people, garlic causes extreme heart burn.  Asafetida is an ideal spice for those people.  In fact, its smell is similar to both onion and garlic.






2. Dried Avocado Leaves.  This spice (or herb) originated in Mexico. It is one of the most popular spices in Mexican cuisine.  Avocado leaves have an aniseed fragrance; however, these dried leaves are odorless and have a pungent taste. Dried avocado leaves are added to bean or meat dishes. Regarding health benefits, they are useful for people who have kidney stones and hypertension. Noteworthy:  Only certain varieties of avocado leaves are to be used in cooking or for medicinal purposes because some kinds of avocado leaves can contain toxic substances.

Additional References:

Avocado Leaves: A Secret Mexican Ingredient

Avocado Leaves: A Secret Mexican Ingredient

Avocado Leaves: A Secret Mexican Ingredientby Victoria ChallancinLove at First Bite. Like any motivated foodie, I almost made myself sick sampling, musing, and guessing what unknown ingredient I was tasting in what appeared to be an ordinary black bean dip.


3. Epazote. This is another essential spice used in Mexican cuisine. Its extraordinary (or strange) scent can be described as a combination of kerosene, mint, and citrus. Epazote is made from the leaves of Mexican herb called dysphania ambrosioides (aka "Mexican tea").  It is used with bean and meat dishes. Additionally, it can be used in soups.

Additional Reading and Recipes:




4. Grains of Paradise. This delicious spice is an integral part of West African cuisine. It is obtained from a flower called Aframomum melegueta. Africans believed that this flower grew in Eden. Grains of paradise look like seeds and have jasmine, citrus, and hazelnut odor. It can be added to meat, fish, and potato dishes.

Link of Interest:
Find spices ordered according to the region:
GEOGRAPHIC SPICE INDEX


Ras El Hanout (4.0 Oz) By Zamouri Spices

Ingredients include over 30 different herbs and spices, such as: 

 Grains of Paradise, Lavender, turmeric, ajawan seeds, kalajeera, ginger, galangal, oris root, rose buds, monk's pepper, cinnamon and more!



5. Juniper Berries. Actually, juniper berries are more likely to be cones than berries. It has the smell of fir and is used for cooking meat dishes, especially stewed rabbit or beef. These “berries” grow on the juniper tree, are common throughout Europe,  included in ancient Greek recipes, and have been found in the Egyptian pyramids.  A wide range of German traditional dishes are cooked with juniper berries.



♦  Hope you enjoyed this intro.
About the writer:  Melisa Marzett works for: bigpaperwriter.com.  She does excellent research and can pen articles and supply blog publishers or website owners with quality content on almost any topic. 




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Looking for foodie friends? Have fun finding and sharing food-related content on Noise.Cash. It's a global social community. The PLUS is that you can make friends and earn Bitcoin Cash$.


Wednesday, May 18, 2022

A Cultural History Of The Kebab (Reblog)

Awesome article found at a site where I was not even looking for food-related content. Had to share. I'll give you a quick summary below, but by all means please read the article in its entirety.


Article LinkA Cultural History Of The Kebab

QUICK ARTICLE SUMMARY:

  • A kebab has its roots in Middle Eastern cuisine.
  • The word “kebab” reached the English-speaking world in the 17th century from the Arabic kabāb, in part via Hindustani, Persian and Turkish.
  • FYI. “Kebab is normally cooked on a skewer over a fire, but some kebab dishes are made in a pan, in the oven, or even as a stew...”
  • FOR THE VEGANS. No worries. There is a “Vebab”, a vegan kebab.
  • Gyros Or Kebab? A Lively Debate ~ Middle Eastern food OR Greek by way of Turkey
  • Where Did Döner Kebap Come From? 
FINAL QUESTION:  Which Is It, Kebab Or Kebap?

  • In Arabic-speaking countries, it's “kebab”.
  • In Turkey, it’s “kebap.”

ALL AROUND THE WORLD?? It's just plain old good food! ☺


https://myfoodieluv.tumblr.com/post/684628676916150272/amazing-food-history-a-cultural-history-of-the


Find lots of kebab recipes at My Foodie Luv Tumblr blog.

Friday, April 22, 2022

Foodie Friday : Figs ~ Enjoy a Raw Coconut Fig Slice ( and More Wonderful Way to Enjoy Figs)

It's another #FoodieFriday. Even though it's late in the day, this post will be published before midnight. If not, I might turn into fig! (Just kidding!) 

For this #FoodieFriday, the keyword is "fig".  (It was going to be "gumbo' but ... found this post about fig and went off in a completely different direction! :)  )  Before getting started, let me share this healthy tip.

TIP:  Need a pre-workout snack? Try figs! They are filled with calcium, magnesium and potassium.  (Source)

OK!  My first fig share is an awesome post found in a Google Plus Blogging community.  The G+ network was shut down do I'm glad I saved the link.



I don't know if the fig was really the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden. As far as I'm concerned it's a fruit that was heaven sent!

Here is a little bit about the fig. It's an excerpt from my article published at Wizzley.com


FIG TREES

Genus Ficus
The fig plant can be either a low-lying shrub or a tall tree.  They grow wild; or domesticated in the Mediterranean region and in California.  In Israel, the fig trees usually sprout buds in late spring; by the month of June (early summer) the tree is full of leaves; and in just a few more weeks, the figs are ready for picking.

...


An additional fact.  In the Bible, the fig has two symbolic meanings.  Hope (if the fig tree fruitful): Desolation (if the fig tree is barren).



Here are more shares.  Enjoy!

The humble Fig.

The Fig...You can get it dried almost anywhere in the world and fresh and luscious from September through to autumn. There is nought like the taste of a fresh fig and dried they are different but sweet, with a chewy flesh and crunchy edible seeds.The fig tree has no blossoms on their branches ...The blossoms are inside the fig.



Dalmatia Spread Fig, 8.5 oz


Bring Me Some Figgy Fig Recipes. (shewearsmanyhats.com)


 

Friday, April 1, 2022

Red Pepper Flakes Are a Secret Ingredient

Lidia Bastianich is an award-winning TV chef.  Her specialty is Italian food.  She says that the “secret ingredient” in Italian recipes is RED PEPPER FLAKES.  I did not know that.  I have tried to cook Italian food and never thought to add red pepper flakes.  Although I do sprinkle it on my pizza. 


I don't usually have red pepper flakes in my spice cabinet.  If you don't happen to have any, here are 6 alternatives or substitutes.

1. Ground cayenne pepper

2. Ground habañero pepper

3. Paprika 

4. Chile de Arbol powder

5. Hot sauce (Tabasco OR Sirachi)

6. Chili powder

REF:  Substitute For Red Pepper Flakes: 6 Fantastic Alternatives

Fortunately, I usually have Paprika OR Chili powder on hand.  

What about you?









Monday, March 21, 2022

A Memorable Party Favor

 In the USA, we have a practice at parties. We give what's called party favors to the guests.


* A party favor is a small gift given to the guests at the occasion. The host (person throwing the party) gives it to the guests as a token or a souvenir to take home with them, a gesture of thanks for their attendance, and a keepsake or memory of the event.

If you have this custom, what kind of party favors have you given away OR what particular party favor do you remember receiving?

I can't remember as it's been a while since I've been to a party; for myself or to take one of my kids. But I do know that I've never been to a party where one of the party favors was a fortune cookie.

If I can make a recommendation.

The next time you throw a social gathering, consider giving out fortune cookies. Homemade, ready-made or custom made

Most people like to read their fortune. Even if they don't believe it, it's amusing and fun. If by coincidence the fortune comes true, they will always remember where they got the cookie!! 

Image credit:  Amazon.com

Are you planning a party?

Chinese Fortune Cookies as American as Apple Pie



  

Saturday, March 5, 2022

Holi Festival Recipes ~ Sweets

Several years ago I was active in an online community which had many members who hail from India.  Many of them celebrate a festival called Holi which usually occurs during the month of March (although I have seen some say April).  Although I am not Hindu, I do like the idea behind this holiday tradition as it is a celebration of love, happiness, and colors.  Who wouldn't want to celebrate that, regardless of our diverse religious beliefs? 

I read some of the members' posts and noted that one writer expressed great enthusiasm about the “sweets” they enjoyed during this holiday. So? So you guessed it! I went on a hunt for Holi recipes. No surprise that I was able to find plenty at popular food blogs that I already like and follow from time to time. 


Celebrate Holi, the Festival of Colors, With These 20 Vegan Recipes

Celebrate Holi, the Festival of Colors, With These 20 Vegan Recipes

Holi, also known as the " Festival of Colors " is a Hindu festival that marks the arrival of spring. For two or three days, there is a celebration of color, music, fertility, love, and the victory of good over evil. Holi is an ancient holiday celebrated all over the world but mostly in parts of India and Nepal.



Holi Recipes, Holi festival 2017 Sweets Recipes - Rachna's Kitchen

Holi Recipes, Holi festival 2017 Sweets Recipes - Rachna's Kitchen

When I hear word "HOLI" , first thing that comes to my mind is color. Holi is an important festival of Hindu culture. It is known as the festival of happiness, love and brotherhood. In my childhood, I remember that me and my brothers used to wake up early in ...



Holi Recipes - 80 Holi Special Recipes 2014 - Holi Sweets - Holi Snacks - Blend with Spices

Holi Recipes - 80 Holi Special Recipes 2014 - Holi Sweets - Holi Snacks - Blend with Spices

Holi Festival Special Recipes / Holi Sweets Recipes / Holi Snacks Recipes Holi Sweets Mawa Coconut Jaggery Laddu Doda Burfi Gulab Jamun Kova Kajjikayalu Mawa Til Ladoo Chocolate Mawa Burfi Gur Para Mohanthal Rooh Afza Lemon Sharbat 7 Cup Burfi Microwave Besan Laddu Khoya Besan Laddu Phool Makane Kheer Kakara Pitha Rajgira Burfi Aate Ke...



Aam Ka Panna Recipe | Raw Green Mango Drink - Sharmis Passions

Aam Ka Panna Recipe | Raw Green Mango Drink - Sharmis Passions

Aam Ka Panna,a refreshing summer juice made with raw green mangoes.This scorching summer makes me crave for juices often, I loved this idea of storing the preserve and making the juice as and when we want sure better than the store bought juice mixes / squashes with loads of preservatives.


NOTE:  Sharmis Passions has a treasure trove of Holi recipes, in addition to the mango drink shared above.




Tuesday, March 1, 2022

Monday, February 21, 2022

Food Blog Spotlight: Dinner Ideas: Duck with Star Anise Broth – Chef Kevin Ashton

Have you ever tasted duck?  I have only had one food-tasting experience with duck. Wish I could have had more. Nevertheless, that one experience was more than enough to condition me. Now every time I even see a duck recipe or cooking video, I start salivating.

My Facebook Memories reminded that I shared this recipe with my network of followers several years ago.  It's an awesome duck recipe from a food blog published by a chef based in the UK.  He uses star anise, one of my favorite exotic spices.



English: Ilicium verum, Schisandraceae, Star A...
English: Ilicium verum, Schisandraceae, Star Anise, Atar Aniseed, Badiane, Chinese Star Anise, fruits. The dried ripe fruits are used in homeopathy as remedy: Anisum stellatum (Anis.) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The spice star anise is distilled to make star...
The spice star anise is distilled to make star anise oil (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

SPICE SPOTLIGHT: Star Anise

Widely used in Chinese and Indian cuisine, this whole spice resembles anise in flavor. Some stars may be broken and not entirely whole.


See also: SPICE SPOTLIGHT: Peppercorns


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MORE FROM KEVIN'S FOOD BLOG







Friday, February 18, 2022

Inexpensive Meals: Lentils are Hearty, Healthy and a Small Bag Can Feed a Crowd

LEBANESE RECIPE: Mujaddara

I did not start eating lentils until I got married back in the 70s. It was never served in my mom's house. I learned how to cook them because my husband liked them. I usually seasoned them with smoked turkey and added diced carrots, onions, and celery. Learned that lentils are a common dish in the Middle East. They are legumes and they come in different colors: black, brown, red, and yellow. They can not be eaten RAW. Also, you don't have to soak them before cooking.


Mujaddara is a dish of cooked lentils together with groats, generally rice, and garnished with sautéed onions.

Mujadara is served across the Middle East in various forms and goes by differing names, depending on where you are. It has many spelling variations: mujadarra, mujadarah, majadra, mejadra, moujadara, mudardara, and megadarra.”

The good thing about lentils is that they are very inexpensive and one small bag (16 oz.) can make a big pot to feed a lot of people.



Original source

Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Grilled Peach Salad / Solata s pečenimi breskvami (Reblog)

I love peaches and I especially love them in salads. I love this food blog because it shares wonderful recipes like this one. Grilled Peach Salad / Solata s pečenimi breskvami

Archived posts date back to 2012. Check out more content from this blog:


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Friday, January 21, 2022

Foodie Friday: Childhood Memories: COTTON CANDY!

Cotton candy is a treat that I only used to eat whenever carnivals came to town. I found this article and it provoked some nostalgic thoughts. It also shared some food history.

~ Cotton candy originated in Italy in the 1400s.

~ In the mid 18th century, spun sugar was used in the U.S. and Europe but cotton candy was only available to wealthy people.

~ In the late 19th century, confectioners John C. Wharton and William Morrison created a special machine that would quickly melt sugar and generate a centrifugal force to shoot it through a screen.

~ In the 1920s, this sugary snack was officially known in the US as “cotton candy.”

~ In the USA, two national food days are dedicated to cotton candy: July 31 and December 2.


I can't remember the last time I had cotton candy. It's been so long. Carnivals don't come to town like they used to. When was the last time you had cotton candy?

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Celebrities Who are Vegan

It's the New Year.  Everybody is thinking about making changes to their diet.  Right?  Well!   Most people are thinking that.  Sharing a link to an interesting article.

Plant-Based and Loving It! Here Are 50 Celebrities Who Went #Vegan (and MightInspire You to Do the Same)

vegan celebrities

Frankly, I could never become vegan. But I have cut down on meat and I am eating lots more fruits and veggies these days. I don't know about where you live but Where I live food prices are going up and the grocery store shelves are kind of bare. You could say my change in diet was simply adapting to whatever food is available and reasonably priced.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends eating a minimum of 400g of fruit and vegetables a day to lower the risk of serious health problems. They say you should eat That's 5 portions of fruit and vegetables per day. A portion of fruit or vegetables is 80g.


** Do you follow the “5 a Day” rule? 

This year I am going to try to DRINK my fruits and veggies, using my blender and making smoothies.


** Do you have a favorite healthy drink recipe?











Food Blog Spotlight: Vegan and Vegetarian Blogs: The Flaming Vegan (UPDATED Jan 2022)

Many celebrities have gone the way of the vegan. Common and Miley Cyrus to name just two (see "Links of Interest" below). Taking the leap and plunging myself into a vegan diet would be unrealistic. Taking baby steps toward modifying my diet to incorporate vegan food into my meals is a much more reasonable and sensible approach. That's why it gives me great pleasure to shine the spotlight on:

UPDATE:  Jan 2022: Sadly this domain name has expired and is now parked. Courtesy of GoDaddy.  Broken links below in this post have been replaced with archived links or suitable substitute links from other food blogger.


The Flaming Vegan (Domain parked free)


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The publishers describe their site as a “vegan and vegetarian blogging extravaganza”. Not only does this food blog provide recipes, but also answers to questions that didn't even cross my mind. Should have asked. Just didn't know any better. 


Below are few selected posts that ought to get you curious to know more. You may end up scratching your head and wondering why you're not already converted. Somebody preached the vegan gospel to rappers and they're repenting! :)







The Best Vegan Holiday Cookies. Seriously.


The Best Vegan Holiday Cookies. Seriously.

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 12 minutes Nothing says fall like pumpkin. Pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin bread, pumpkin popcorn, pumpkin flavored nuts, ice cream, oreos, granola bars; you name it! How about some vegan marshmallow stuffed pumpkin cookies? We usually go to Trader Joe's once a week.



 


Our 8 Favorite Vegan Online Resources - Purple Carrot



 

How Does The Change of Life Affect Vegan Women?


How Does The Change of Life Affect Vegan Women?

I am sure it won't be news to anyone following a purely plant-based diet that this regime benefits your health in numerous ways. However, there is one particular health perk of being vegan which may be quite a surprise to most people, as it was to me...



 

4 Fantastic Ways to Get All the Vitamins You Need


4 Fantastic Ways to Get All the Vitamins You Need

Whether you are a vegan for ethical reasons or dietary concerns, the bottom line is that you would like to be the healthiest vegan that you can. There is a common misconception that those who follow a vegan diet do not get enough essential vitamins and...



 

Your Quick Guide to Vegan Baking Substitutes


Your Quick Guide to Vegan Baking Substitutes

This article is designed to help new vegans and anyone else interested in reducing their consumption of animal products. It presents easy and effective alternatives to common ingredients such as dairy products and eggs in baking. If you are new to ...



 

Getting Picky Eaters to Eat with the Rainbow Method


Getting Picky Eaters to Eat with the Rainbow Method

I don't know about you, but I have picky eaters in my house. Oh, they're better now than they used to be, but back when they were small, mealtimes were battles to be fought. Many parents today face the same issue and it can be a big one. At one point...



 

Links of Interest:






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