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Wednesday, January 1, 2025

January is National Soup Month But Let's Start Warming Up Now

Want to read a food quote? 

“Only the pure in heart can
make a good soup.” 

Guess who said that? 
- No it wasn't Jesus Christ. 
- No it wasn't Jacques Pepin

Beethoven! Yeah, the famous classical music composer, Ludwig van Beethoven said that! 

So not only was he a genius when it came to composing music, he was also smart when it came to knowing about comfort food


January is National Soup Month and in other months of the year, we celebrate days for various types of soups and chowders. Yes, it's September. But why wait until the winter months when you can start enjoying warm comforting soups in the fall?

Sunday, December 22, 2024

Holiday Food: A Collection of Recipes for the Celebration of Hanukkah

I am a Christian but I have many Jewish friends who are celebrating Hanukkah. It is a holiday celebration that lasts for eight (8) days, and it has been observed for more than 2000 years. The word Hanukkah means "dedication".  But it is also known as the Festival of Lights.

If you would like to know more about the holiday, My Jewish Learning published an excellent article: The History of Hanukkah.

Hanukkah

Like most holidays celebrated by any group of people, there is lots of wonderful food to be enjoyed. 
HAPPY HANUKKAH!!








Sunday, November 24, 2024

Customs, Traditions and Symbols : The Cornucopia

In the USA, since 1863, we have celebrated Thanksgiving Day on the last Thursday of November.



Here is a little bit of background information about this national holiday:

POTUS George Washington’s Thanksgiving Proclamation – Thursday, Nov 26, 1789 proclaimed a day of “public thanksgiving and prayer”. (* Source: The Heritage Foundation)


POTUS Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a National Day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens”, to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November, even though, at the time, the country was engaged in the Civil War. (** Source: National Archives)


Now to get the highlight of this post. The cornucopia. I love the cornucopia.

A cornucopia, also called “horn of plenty”, is a symbol of a harvest – usually pictured as a goat’s horn overflowing with various fruits like apples, grapes, oranges, etc.; corn on the cob; pumpkin; and some even have flowers.

In America, the cornucopia is a symbol included in our celebration of Thanksgiving Day. People don’t usually like to break with familiar customs and traditions that have been accepted and practiced for years. But if I could, I would champion a change to the traditional filling of the cornucopia. My horn of plenty would reflect a harvest that included exotic or tropical fruits. Pomegranates, mangoes, kiwis, and pineapples are at the top of my list.


As for vegetables? Haven’t really given them much thought. Maybe some zucchini and a bunch of collard greens, kale or Swiss chard! 

What about you? Ever give any thought to refilling a cornucopia? What fruits and/or veggies and/or flowers would go into your horn of plenty? Don’t you think it makes an excellent gift? A customized cornucopia for a friend or family member. A horn of plenty loaded with fresh fruits and veggies that they like!


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If your country does not celebrate a Thanksgiving Day, I’m sure there is a similar holiday where you take time to give thanks and show appreciation for the life you live. If you don’t use the cornucopia, do you have a symbol that represents the harvest of bountiful blessings of planet earth?




Link of Interest:
Cornucopia – American Thanksgiving


Waving flag image credit: glitter-graphics.com

* * Content first published at Literacy Base on April 9, 2017.



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Friday, November 22, 2024

Foodie Friday : Apples and Pumpkins

Autumn is the season for apples and pumpkins.  My favorite recipes are apple cobbler and pumpkin pie, which (in my humble opinion) are true American holiday cuisine.  I enjoy these desserts for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.

FUN FACTS:

Cobblers originated in the British American colonies.  "The earliest recipe dates from 1824. Apple Cobbler – Cobblers (stewed fruit topped with batter, biscuit, or dumplings) originated in the British American colonies with the term “cobbler” recorded in 1859. Cobblers can be made with any type of fruit or berry and are also known as slumps, grunts, and pandowdy." (SOURCE: M. E. Bond)

A cobbler is not the same as Crisp, Crumble, Betty, Or Buckle?  What's the difference?  "Cobblers are a fruit dessert baked with biscuit-style topping. It's called a cobbler because its top crust is not smooth like a pie crust but rather “cobbled” and coarse. It's usually dropped or spooned over the fruit, then baked. Individual fruit cobblers." (SOURCE: Farmers' Almanac)

"Northeastern Native American tribes grew squash and pumpkins. The Native Americans brought pumpkins as gifts to the first settlers, and taught them the many uses for pumpkin. This led to serving pumpkin pie at the first Thanksgiving in America about 50 years later." (SOURCE: The History Behind Pumpkin Pie)

Do you have a favorite recipe using these ingredients?

BONUS QUESTION:  Which do you prefer to top your apple cobbler or your pumpkin pie?

  • Scoop of vanilla ice cream
  • Huge squirt of whipped cream
  • Other topping


History of Baked Fruit Desserts Like Buckle, Pandowdy, and Cobbler

Pumpkin Pie! A History!


Previous 5 Foodie Friday Posts;

YACR (Yet Another Chili Recipe)

Figs ~ Enjoy a Coconut Fig Slice

Childhood Memories:  COTTON CANDY

Upside-Down Cakes

Dinner Idea: Chicken with Blackberry Salsa


Sunday, November 10, 2024

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

People (especially me) always associate healthy eating with salad. My mother rarely served salads with our meals. They were meat, starch, and vegetables. 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 of the few foods that I could eat a healthy amount of and I didn't gain weight.  

So whenever I gained a few extra pounds because I was wolfing down too many pizzas with my friends late at night, I went on a diet and ate salads for lunch and dinner for the next two weeks. 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. I 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


Similar Posts at This Blog:


"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!"


Sunday, November 3, 2024

My Foodie Shares Around the Web

Ever heard of myLot? It's one of those social networking sites that pay you for just having discussions and being friendly. It's a neat way to earn some extra income. You can start discussions or chime on discussions already going on. It's lots of fun. The discussions I initiate are varied but of course, several of them are about food and drink or something food-related.  (NOTE:  Some of my content was removed from myLot but the links have been updated.)

Here are a few examples.   But there are lots more!  Enjoy! 😊

Sushi vs. Sashimi - There's a Difference?

http://www.mylot.com/post/2966687/sushi-vs-sashimi-theres-a-difference

NOTE:  The Instagram post on the link above is broken so I'm sharing substitutes below.

There is no excuse for me not knowing this because the guy who decided to make sushi popular and a part of everyday American cuisine, started his business project in Texas. Yet I confess. I did not know. The shock for me was that even though I saw the word in my local grocery store, I never realized the word “sashimi” had any meaning. I thought it was a brand name. Duh! There is a difference between sushi and sashima. Did you know?






Life's Guilty Pleasures: French Fries


Life's Guilty Pleasures: French Fries

We probably all have our guilty pleasures don't we? Never prepared a list, but if I did, french fries would be on it! French fries, smothered with melted cheddar cheese, sprinkled with crispy bacon pieces. If I'm going to indulge myself, might as well go all the way! Right?



First Food Experiences – Zucchini Muffins

Years ago when I was a poor university student, a treat would be to catch a public bus and go to a mall, look in the stores and maybe grab a bite to eat somewhere. Somewhere ... cheap! One day at the mall there was this restaurant that had a wonderful aroma coming from it.

First Food Experiences: Zucchini Muffins


Root Veggies From Jupiter Taste Better!

Root Veggies From Jupiter Taste Better!

Sharing a tidbit from stuff that gets thrown into my "I would have never thunk it!" files. Have you ever thought that: "Plants grown on other planets...
Would You Eat Food Not Grown on Planet Earth?

World Cuisine: Spotlight on Jordan

World Cuisine: Spotlight on Jordan

Yielding to temptation again. Have to share something foodie oriented. A famous athlete was a guest on a TV cooking show and he was being interviewed by the host who asked him, since he had traveled so many places around the world, what type of food did he like the most.



Thursday, October 17, 2024

World Cuisine: Easy Dessert Recipe: Malpua

Do you love experimenting and tasting the food of other countries? Especially the desserts. Yum!

I'm sure I'm not the only foodie out there who loves global flavors. So I'll share this delightful recipe. It's a sweet treat popular in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Malpua is often served at holidays or festivals like Holi and Diwali.

You can find lots of variations of this recipe online. There is malpua served with rose and saffron syrup. There’s Bengali style. There’s banana malpua. There’s Mawa Malpua. (Image below.)





Cooking video: How To Make Malpua - Dessert Recipes



Related Link: How to make mawa - 5 ways of making mawa.


If You Like This You Might Also Like:





Monday, October 7, 2024

7 Natural Aphrodisiacs to Spice Up Your Sex Life! by Melisa Marzett (Guest Post)

Spices are a real treasure. They excite the taste buds, add an interesting taste to food, and remind us of other worlds and the existence of miracles and beauty. Many spices are known for their stimulating effect. It is difficult to explain the nature and origin of this effect, but it exists. Spices are very strong natural aphrodisiacs. They are able to awaken desire and passion. Use spices and color your sexual life!


  • Saffron. This spice adds new flavors and colors in dishes cooked from rice. Saffron is very expensive as it is difficult to collect and ship this precious spice. However, you will need just a tiny bit of this spice, two or three stamens will be enough in order to make your dish incredibly delicious! Excessive use of saffron can actually ruin the dish. Scientists say that even a tiny amount of this spice increases sexual desire. In addition, saffron contains zinc, selenium, potassium, magnesium, and has antioxidant properties.
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SPICE Spotlight: Saffron

Everyday spices for everyday cooking. Use of the right herbs and spices can turn a bland meal into a sumptuous dining experience.

  • Fenugreek. Fenugreek seeds are popular in eastern ethnic cuisines. It is impossible to imagine many Indian dishes without this spice with intriguing flavor. Recent research showed that fenugreek is an aphrodisiac, thus, it is able to increase sexual desire in men with low libido. In addition, fenugreek contains elements that help to reduce sugar levels in blood and to enhance lactation.
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Fenugreek Leaves


  • Fennel. This plant looks a bit like celery, but the taste is quite different. Fennel successfully helps to cope with digestive problems, stimulates lactation and helps to clean bronchial passages of mucus. Many people do not like fennel because of its specific flavor and sweetish taste, but maybe you will risk to try it if you take into account the fact that the ancient Egyptians used the fennel to increase women’s libido. (Fennel for womenFennel for men.)  Try to grind fennel seeds and add them to your food, its active chemicals that increase sexual desire are found in the seeds of this plant.
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SPICE Spotlight: Fennel

Use of the right herbs and spices can turn a bland meal into a sumptuous dining experience. Shop for exotic herbs and spices online 24/7.

  • Cloves. This slightly sweet spice increases blood flow to organs and slightly raises the body temperature. Eastern medicine claims that cloves can increase the body's energy, and its flavor cleans breath. The strong and sensual fragrance is the feature which brightens sexual life.
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Organic Cloves 

  • Garlic. Not many people will appreciate "garlic" breath which can ruin the whole date. Nevertheless, regardless of the fact that garlic makes your breath unfresh, it contains a lot of allicin, a substance that enforces blood flow in the genitals, this quality actually makes garlic an aphrodisiac. And parsley easily eliminates the smell of garlic breath.
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SPICE SPOTLIGHT: Garlic

Everyday spices for everyday cooking. Use of the right herbs and spices can turn a bland meal into a sumptuous dining experience.

  • Nutmeg. Fragrant nutmeg has long been used in India as a natural aphrodisiac, in Africa it is also known as "Viagra for women". Studies have shown that it really affects people's sexual behavior.
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Spice Farming in Zanzibar

Mzee Foum Garu is a descendant of slaves and comes from a long line of spice farmers. He is the founder of Zanzibar Organic Spice Products; a small plantation, three acres that yields cardamom, vanilla, betel nut, turmeric, cinnamon and two very potent spices - curry leaves and nutmeg.

  • Basil. This plant has a sweet taste and aroma, and that is what is known to be the simplest means to stimulate the libido. In fact, the Italians call basil the grass of kisses, and ancient Greeks fed stallions with basil before the "date". Try to add some basil to the salad wait for a pleasant surprise!
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Large Leaf Italian Basil Heirloom Seeds


Yes, spices have many useful qualities. Use them and enjoy nights (or days) full of passion and romance!

About the author: Melisa Marzett whose current activity is writing for Pure writing company always welcome a new writing challenge. She is passionate about writing, which is why what comes out is interesting to read.

* (Information above is general and not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice.)



English: Spices in Mapusa Market, Goa, India. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)


Natural aphrodisiacs for women



Sunday, September 15, 2024

Diet and Nutrition: Do You Know What Gives You Energy?

When it comes to being health and fitness conscious, making quality of life choices, and developing healthy living habits, citizens of Austin, Texas, set the example for everyone else to follow; including the Californians. { IMHO ☺}


Do you know which foods give you energy or what you can do to get more energy?

(No. Eating donuts and watching TV are not on the list.)

Sharing a recap of key facts to pique your interest and some information links on health, wellness, fitness, diet, nutrition, and exercise for further reading and research.


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According to Tori Jarzabkowski, Austin Fit Magazine, there are five foods that fuel the body or give you energy. 
(1) Matcha Tea 
(2) Bone Broth 
(3) Fermented Foods 
(4) Coconut Sugar 
(5) Seaweed Snacks

REFERENCE: Jarzabkowski, Tori. "Nutrition Trends for 2015." Austin Fit Magazine: Best of 2014 Issue Jan. 2015: 22-23. Print. AFM Issue #207. Est. 1997. Official website: https://www.austinfitmagazine.com/ 


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Lynnis Woods-Mullins, CEO of Praiseworks, Inc. offers her advice on ways you can get more energy.
(1) Water-hydration 
(2) Exercise (just a brisk walk) 
(3) Super foods 
(4) Detox green smoothies 
(5) Aromatherapy  

REFERENCE: 5 Ways To Get More Energy - NOW! 





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I don't know about you but it would be very easy to get into the healthy habit of drinking green smoothies (or any smoothie for that matter) in the morning for breakfast and then enjoying a delightful cup of green tea in the afternoon or the evenings.

RAW VEGAN On The Fast Lane: The 60-Second Power Smoothie Handbook

Similar or Related articles:


Friday, September 13, 2024

Foodie Nuggets: The Key Ingredient in Nigerian Food

I love watching cooking shows on television. There is this one show where the host goes all over America and shines a spotlight on the various ethnic cuisines. I once lived in Houston, Texas and I wish I had know this but I did not. As most people do, whenever they move to a new place, they bring their customs and traditions with them. They especially bring their food. Because there nothing better than the taste of home when you are now living in a foreign land. It turns out that many Nigerians relocated from their country and there is a thriving community in Houston, Texas. There are some popular restaurants in Houston that serve Nigerian cuisine.


A key ingredient in many Nigerian #recipes are peppers. Here is link to an article that explains "The different types of peppers in Nigeria | Pulse Nigeria"


Taste of Nigeria was featured on "No Passport Required", a food show which airs on PBS.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Foodie Nuggets: Herbs and Spices: Angelica keiskei

I love watching Korean drama and love to learn about the teas they drink. In one K-drama, there was a lady who worked at the Commoners' Clinic, and she offered a man a tea called Angelica keiskei. Did you know:

~ Angelica keiskei, commonly known under the Japanese name of ashitaba (アシタバ or 明日葉), literally "tomorrow's leaf", is a species of flowering plant in the carrot family. It is native to Japan ...” (Per Wikipedia); AND

~ Some strawberry growers have shifted to growing ashitaba (or Angelica keiskei) because they say it's a better money-maker and easier to cultivate.


Various healthcare websites offer information about this plant's medicinal value. Of course, this is yet another one of those plants that holds the "key to extended youth".

ASHITABA: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews  

It's edible and here is a video on ways to eat it. 






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Sunday, September 8, 2024

Foodie Nuggets: Herbs and Spices: 5 Exotic Spices

Asafetida, dried avocado leaves, epazote, grains of paradise, and juniper berries are 5 wonderful cooking ingredients. Which country should we thank for introducing these 5 exotic spices to the global community of food lovers?

  • "Asafoetida was familiar in the early Mediterranean, having come by land across Iran." (Source)
  • Dried avocado leaves are a secret Mexican ingredient.  (Source)
  • "The epazote herb is commonly used in the cuisines and traditional medicines of central and southern Mexico and Guatemala." (Source)








Source: Virily.com

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Mushroom: Real Food of Fantasy and Fairy Tales

When one says the word “mushroom” it might provoke various thoughts. Psychedelic dreams.  Fantasy and fairy tales.  Tiny homes for whimsical creatures.  A meat substitute for vegans and vegetarians.

For me, it provokes a memory of a romantic dinner date.  My first experience tasting a mushroom was when my late husband (my fiancé at the time) prepared dinner for me.  Steak with mushroom gravy. 

Before meeting my husband, I avoided mushrooms for two reasons.

~Number 1:  My mother never used them in any of her recipes.  Mom didn’t cook them. (???)  Maybe they don’t taste good.  (O.o)

~Number 2:  The way people describe mushrooms.  Fungus.  Toadstool.  They don’t make the mushroom sound appetizing or visually appealing.


However, many cooks and chefs use the mushroom as the main ingredient in their recipes.  Foodies are happy to share photos of amazing dishes where mushrooms are the star of the show.  

As for being visually appealing, mushrooms are quite beautiful. 

Artists often use them to illustrate fantasies. 

Nature photographers go insane! They capture incredible pics just roaming through the woods or the fields.

My first time eating mushrooms was over 40 years.  But from that day forward, I didn’t need convincing to make mushrooms a part of my diet.  However, in case you do, perhaps this health article by Popular Science will persuade you.  “4 reasons you should eat more mushrooms”.


It's good to know these reasons why, but the most important thing everybody needs to know about mushrooms is that some of them are NOT edible.  No doubt you will find these information links useful.

10 of the World's Deadliest Mushrooms - WorldAtlas.com


  • 14 Types of Mushrooms and their Uses – Epicurious


  • glitter-graphics.com


    SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL MUSHROOM MONTH!

    Content first appeared at Virily.com

    Foodie Nuggets: Much Ado About Mushrooms

    If you have been following this foodie blog then you know that my love affair with mushrooms began the same time that I started dating my late husband, I shared those details in this blog post:
    This short post (or food blurb) is just an add-on to tell you more things I have discovered about this wonderful fungi!  Did you know that there is such a thing as a Mushroom of Immortality?


    “Reishi/lingzhi has been referenced as far back as 100 B.C. as a supplement used to improve human health.” It is called a Mushroom of Immortality and you can grow it on your own. They're quite tasty. Just don't believe for one minute that they will make you live forever.  




    Here is a wonderful veggie soup will get you through the winter months. Totally comfort food!  It includes a variety of mushrooms:  cremini, shiitake, and reishi. 


    Also, if you love Asian noodles, you'll love this Reishi Mushroom Ramen Bowl.





    SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL MUSHROOM MONTH!

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