Vegan Forum

The Peanut

Peanuts are food that is often thought of as a "nut," but are actually legumes. Though its casing is not dehiscent, its structure of a split pod and seeds most resembles that of the Leguminosae family. Its name alone (pea-nut) indicates the confusion that arises when trying to classify it, but in the end, its flowering plant wins out. As the Peanut Institute explains it: "While their physical structure and nutritional benefits more closely resemble that of other legumes, their use in diets and cuisines more closely resembles that of nuts."

VEGETABLE SPAGHETTI

VEGETABLE SPAGHETTI Vegetable spaghetti, vegetable marrow, spaghetti squash, noodle squash, and squaghetti. All are names for a variety of squash or marrow (Cucurbita pepo) that looks like a small yellow watermelon, with flesh composed of long thin spaghetti-like strings.
Most authorities agree it is an American native, but where in North or Central America it originated, no one knows. (Tracing its origin and travels around the world to China, Japan, Italy, etc. is also difficult, due to another relative of the Cucurbits, the Spaghetti Gourd, Lagenaria sicararia, which also has a similar stringy flesh.)They can be baked, boiled or steamed, and served with sauce as for any pasta.
Spaghetti squash, an oval-shaped yellow squash is also called the vegetable spaghetti. It averages 9 inches in length and may weigh 2 to 3 pounds. When cooked, the crisp, tender, spaghetti-like strands yield a mild lightly sweet and fresh taste. Keep in mind that the larger the vegetable, the thicker the strands and the more flavorful the taste.

TO-MAH-TO

What popular variety of tomatoes, whose name suggests meat, is commonly used in sandwich making?

beefsteak. Beefsteak tomatoes usually weigh in at one pound or more. The flesh of this variety is generally red, but sometimes is pink. Due to their thin skin, beefsteak tomatoes do not have a long shelf life and are therefore not as commercially-produced as some other varieties.

AN ONION

What herb should you eat to get rid of onion breath?

Parsley. To get rid of "onion breath" - eat a sprig or two of vinegar or salt-dipped parsley. You can also chew on fennel seeds or coffee beans.

GOING BANANAS

When do bananas taste best?

When allowed to ripen off the plant and then eaten. Bananas are unusual in that they taste best when allowed to ripen off the plant. Bananas are picked when they are still a hard green, and generally are shipped to stores when the are light green with 25-50% yellow. Most people prefer to eat their bananas when they are yellow with green tips or fully yellow. Much later, and they're still good for banana bread and shakes, but generally too ripe for individual consumption.

OH SO SLIMY VEGGIE "OKRA"

Some folks are turned off by the texture of the cooked pods - they're slimy! Why?

They're overcooked.. Okra is a fairly delicate vegetable, and doesn't need heavy duty cooking. They can be eaten raw, or lightly steamed or boiled. If the pods start breaking down, releasing the slime, it's time to take them off the heat.

GARLIC

Peeling individual cloves can be time consuming when busy cooking. The best way to solve this problem and still have the real flavor is:

Peel one or two heads of garlic, put the cloves in a jar in the fridge. Taking 10 minutes and peeling all the cloves in a head or two of garlic is a huge time saver. Once you put it in a jar with a lid, it will keep for quite a while and won't sprout. Just take out as many as you need for a recipe. Restaurants buy huge gallon jugs of peeled cloves.

CHICKPEA

In what country are the leaves of the chickpea plant eaten as a vegetable?

India. India grows the most chickpeas in the world. As such, the humble pea features prominently in Indian cuisine. Peas are ground up to make flour, eaten in salads and stews and fried as falafel. Seeds are eaten raw as a snack.

PO-TA-TO

The potato is not for just eating. What are they are also used for?

all of these (growing more potatoes, alcoholic beverages, folk remedies). Most potatoes are grown by placing another potato in the ground this is called the "Seed Potato". Each seed potato can produce up to twenty tubers. Folk remedies: Acne- wash face daily in cooled potato juice. Tooth Aches-put a potato in your pocket. Vodka, aquavit and poteen are some alcoholic beverages made from the potato.

KEROTZ

Carrots weren't always orange. What colour were they originally?

Purple. Carrots now come in many different colours. Keep your eyes open for red, black, yellow, pink and white carrots. The leaves of carrot plants are also edible, and so are those of the beet plant.

Asparagus

How long does the asparagus plant take to mature properly?

About 3 years. Asparagus is one of the most nutritious vegetables available. It contains a large amount of folic acid which can not be stored in the body so it has to be consumed daily.

"HOT HOT HOT"

What should you avoid drinking if you are trying to 'cool down' after eating chillies?

Alcohol. The part of the chilli that contains the 'heat' is not the flesh or the seeds, it is the white membrane that connects the seeds to the flesh. When you deseed a chilli, make sure you remove all of the white membrane as well as the seeds.

Guava

The guava also has an evil 'twin', the *censored due to first question* cattleianum, what is the English name of this evil twin?

(strawberry guava, purple guava, pineapple guava). Why is it evil? its fruits are sweet, but: 1. it produces toxic chemicals in its leaves that prevent the growth of other plants 2. It casts a shade with thick mats of surface feeder roots that makes life difficult for other plants talk about competition exterminating fruit eh

Which vegetable has three times as much vitamin C as an orange and twice as much iron as spinach?

The answer is……………………. peppers! You can incorporate more peppers in your diet by dicing and adding to an omelet or frittata or putting them on the grill for a nice char then drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

Which vegetable did the ancient Greeks hold sacred, using it to not only to adorn victors of athletic contests, but also for decorating the tombs of the deceased?

The answer is……………….. parsley! Parsley is more than just throwaway garnish. Chew on it for a fresher breath. Finely chopped parsley added to cous cous or rice pilaf adds color and texture.

Which vegetable comes in white, yellow, orange, green, and purple varieties?

The answer is…………………………. cauliflower! Try raw cauliflower, carrots, and tomatoes with a lowfat blue cheese dip for a healthy snack. You can steam or microwave cauliflower until soft and then mash. Add some chicken broth, vegetable broth, or low fat milk along with a dab of butter and some sea salt for mock mashed potatoes. Some people never miss the potatoes.

Which fruit is a member of the rose family?

The answer is…………………………pear! Who knew? Fresh pears with brie or Stilton cheese or white cheddar make a great snack. Add a bottle of chardonnay or champagne and some whole grain crackers for an elegant instant picnic under a shady tree.

TANGELOWWWW

Tangerines are a delicious citrus that adults and children alike enjoy. They are sweet in flavor and easy to peel. However there are several different cross overs in the tangerine family. What exactly is a tangelo?

A cross between a tangerine and a grapefruit. While there are several different varieties of tangerines, the most popular version is the tangelo. Tangelos are a cross between a grapefruit and a tangerine. Noted for their juiciness and mild sweet flavor, they make excellent after-school snacks for children and for anyone that has a busy schedule. Minneolas and Orlandos are the most popular in the tangelo family. Here is a cool summer treat for tangelos: Buy a three pound bag of tangelos, peel, section into quarters and remove the seeds. Place a small, thin wooden stick (like that found in ice cream bars) and place in the freezer until frozen. Take one out and enjoy a tangelo frozen fruit snack.

Wrinkles and bruises

When checking citrus in supermarkets and stores, you have to check for fruit that feels heavy for its category (such as, lemons, oranges, grapefruits and tangerines)?

True. When looking for any type of citrus, you have to check for fruits that are heavy for their size and category. You have to look for skins that are bright and colorful. It is best to avoid purchasing fruits that have bruises or have what is considered wrinkled skin, as this may be a sign that the fruit has been sitting at your grocer's for quite sometime.

"manGHOST"

Which part of the mango tree is toxic to animals?

Leaves. Mango leaves are considered toxic and can kill cattle or other grazing livestock. But Hindus have great faith on the leaves. They adorn their doorways with mango leaves durng festivities as it is considered healthy and auspicious.

LIMA BEANS

Lima beans must be cooked thoroughly to allow this poison to be extracted - what poison compound do they contain?

Cyanide. Lima beans originated in Central America and the common name comes from Lima, the Peruvian capital. The lima bean is large and flat with a creamy texture - and cyanide compounds.

Coolsalad

Which salad existed as early as the ancient Roman times and whose modern translation appears to have been derived from the Dutch term 'koolsalade'?

Coleslaw. 'Koolsalade' translates to cabbage salad, cabbage being the base ingredient for coleslaw. This base can be complimented with grated carrot, cheese, onion, pineapple and red cabbage. To finalise the coleslaw it can be dressed with a vinaigrette or mayonnaise, though it's highly unlikely that the ancient Romans used the latter dressing as mayonnaise did not appear until sometime in the eighteenth century.

LEFTOVERS???

This popular summer salad originates from the Tuscany and Umbria regions of Italy. It is a bread salad, sometimes called the 'leftover' salad. What is its correct name?

Panzanella. Nowadays, the base of this simple salad is tomatoes and stale bread. This is complimented by basil with olive oil and vinegar. Any array of fresh garden vegetables can then be added to this. I've used the term 'nowadays' in respect to tomatoes being used in the recipe. The reason for this is that the salad is an Italian salad and was described in a poem by Bronzino that dates back to the early sixteenth century. There is argument as to whether or not tomatoes had been introduced to Italy at that point in time. Regardless the salad stands as a testament to the frugality of the cooks and their desire not to waste food.

Mushroom to die for....

Black trumpet mushrooms, related to the chanterelle, are also known by which fearsome name?

Trumpets of death. Fortunately, they are also known by the more fortuitous name 'horns of plenty'. I'm thinking that whomever came up with the 'trumpets of death' name probably regretted that decision afterward. Happy eating!

Berry Banana???

Technically, the banana is a berry. Berries are identified as having a fleshy pericarp, though the skin is sometimes tough, and as having one or more seeds. Although modern cultivars are largely seedless, bananas were originally many-seeded fruit. They are sometimes termed 'baccate' (berry-like). The modern banana fruit is a seedless, parthenocarpic (produced without pollination and fertilization) berry. Apples and pears, and other members of the Rose family, are classified as pome, citrus fruits as hesperidium, and stone fruit (e.g. peaches and plums) as drupe.

Why are pistachio nuts dyed red?
In the 1930s people bought cashews, peanuts and pistachios from vending machines. Competition was hot among the nut purveyors, and those selling pistachios played a little shell game, dying their product a bright red to make it stand out. First they caught your eye, and then they messed up your hands as the dye transferred from the nuts to your fingers. The custom has held.
In truth, pistachios needed some dressing up because, compared to other kinds of nuts, they were quite ugly.
The nut pickers harvested pistachios from trees by knocking them off with poles. Then the nuts were tossed into burlap bags and later, their outside hull was ground off. By then they looked ready for the nut hospital. Say, maybe that red is really blood.
(Source: IMPONDERABLES: THE SOLUTION TO THE MYSTERY OF EVERYDAY LIFE by David Feldman)

Developed countries typically import bananas from the tropics, and account for over 80 percent of world banana imports. Growing bananas commercially is generally limited to areas closer to the equator. What is the only (physiogeographically) European country to grow bananas commercially?

Iceland. Iceland's banana crops are grown in biospheres or greenhouses heated by water from geothermal springs. The warm water is used to heat the soil. Geothermal energy is also harnessed to power the greenhouses (for lighting during the dark winter months). Hveragerdi is particularly well-known for its banana farms and exports.

Kumquat Fruit

* The name kumquat is derived from Cantonese and means 'golden orange' in Chinese. It was named so because of its golden orange like appearance.
* Kumquat bonsai trees are popular in Vietnam and used as decoration for the Lunar New Year.
* The kumquat fruit resembles an orange and is often thought to belong to the citrus family. But it is not a citrus fruit and actually belongs to the genus Fortunella.
* The kumquat tree produces about 30 to 50 kumquat fruits in one year.
* The ripe kumquat is a symbol of prosperity according to the Chinese.
* Hybrids of kumquats with lime, mandarin, oranges and other citrus fruits are also produced and the fruits are known by names like limequats, mandarinquats, orangequats, etc.
* Kumquats are reverse of the orange, that is, they have a sweet outer skin, but the pulp is sour and has small edible seeds. The whole fruit is edible and can be eaten at once.
* In early days, the kumquat plants were given as presents to guests and so they were also called as "Chi k'o che'ng", which means "give guest orange".

CHERRIES

* The Cherry fruit is known to grow in many areas of the United States. It is noticed that sweet cherries prove to be difficult to grow. Sour cherries are grown mainly in the Eastern side.
* Cherries are very easily perishable and they rarely ripen after harvest. Therefore, you need to refrigerate them soon after their purchase. These can remain fresh in the fridge for at least 2 days.
* The German word Kirsch-the cherry liqueur comes from the word karshu. This is the name given to the cherries that were first cultivated in Mesopotamia in 8 BC.
* Cherries are very versatile fruits and can be a part of any meal or dessert. From breakfast to soups and salads, these find their way into any food item easily! Being delicious, these can be frozen and devoured whenever you wish!
* Studies have shown the cherry fruit to have plenty of health benefits. These are known to provide pain relief for people who suffer from arthritis. It is said that eating 20 tart cherries in a day can prove to fight inflammation effectively.
* Red cherries are also very high in melatonin. These are known to destroy the toxins that cause diseases. The cherry fruit is also high in antioxidants that help to fight cancer and heart disease.
* The cherry fruits are low in cholesterol, fat and sodium. They are also a very good source of fiber and Vitamin C.
* Since the cherry fruit bruises easily, you need to handle them with care. When buying cherries, look for a bright color and those with a supple exterior. Cherries, which are plump and firm, are very good to taste. If you are looking for good quality cherries, try to go in for cherries with their green stems attached.
* Tart cherries and tart cherry juice are known to reduce the urate levels in the body. These are also known to reduce muscle pain and back pain. The benefits of tart cherries are also found even if they are frozen, in the form of juice or canned. Sweet cherries as well as tart cherries have very high levels of anthocyanins. This is the red pigment in the cherries, which helps to reduce the inflammation.
* Sweet as well as sour cherries can be used for jams. Sour cherries are used more often as an ingredient in pies and are suitable for making soufflés, cooked fruit compotes etc.
* Cherries are also known to have a very short fruiting season. It is during the Christmas time, one sees these plants at their peak, especially in Australia. Areas of Northern America see these cherries as the first ones to ripen amongst other trees; therefore the term ‘in cherry condition’ has been derived which means something new.
* Michigan has around 35,000 acres of tart cherry trees. This place grows almost 75% of the tart cherries, which are produced in the United States. The Traverse City is therefore called the Cherry Capital of the World. The sweet cherries are grown in large numbers in Washington.
* The cherry fruit extract contains antioxidant flavanoids and are used in many tablets and capsules. These capsules are used to support the pH levels of the body.

WATERMELON

* Watermelon is actually a vegetable and not a fruit. It is also related to the pumpkin, cucumber and the squash.
* The watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus) are the natives of the Kalahari desert found in Southern Africa.
* Watermelon consists of 92% water and 8% sugar.
* The watermelons were brought to China across the Mediterranean sea in merchant ships. Incidentally, China is the largest producer of watermelons in the world today.
* The watermelon was brought into America across the Atlantic oceans by African slaves.
* As watermelon is about 92% water, early explorers used watermelons as a canteen.
* Every part of the watermelon, including the seeds and the rind is edible.
* Watermelons are ideal for the health as they do not contain any fat or cholesterol and are high in fiber content and vitamins A and C and are also a good source of potassium.
* Over 1200 varieties of watermelon are grown in approximately 100 countries across the world.
* Watermelons are very fragile and cannot be harvested with the help of machines. Instead they are carefully tossed by workers on a relay that runs between the fields and the truck.
* Unripe watermelons should be avoided as they can be slightly acidic.
* The first recorded watermelon harvest was in Egypt and it took place nearly 5000 years ago. This is depicted in the Egyptian hieroglyphics that is found in ancient buildings. As a matter of fact, watermelons were also placed in the tombs of kings to help them nourish in the after life.
* The largest consumption of watermelon is in the United States when considered by the weight of the watermelon.
* The first cookbook that was published in the United States in 1176 contained a recipe for watermelon rind pickles.
* Watermelon is a popular gift for the host In China and Japan.
* In Israel and Egypt, the sweet of watermelon
* Bill Carson of Arrington, Tennessee grew a 262 pound watermelon in 1990. This feat found a place in the 1998 edition of the Guinness World Book of Records.
* Watermelon became a part of the dictionary in 1615.