Have You Ever Tasted a Paria? - Part 2 - Food Variety 31

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- Have You Ever Tasted a Paria? - Part 1 - Food Variety 31 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- Length of 3 “paria” in a plate

I read from several literature, this kind of vegetable is easy to grow in hot and humid areas.

Then, it is possible to grow “paria” during summer in American southern. After sowing the seed, we could harvest “paria” in 60 days.

Eating cooked or boiled “paria” could improve our appetite. It also has good nutritional values.

Just some of the nutritional benefits in the bitter gourd are: dietary fiber, protein, variety of minerals and vitamins.

Fig 02- The bitter gourd in the Asian Shop

Many people in Asian countries such as Japan, Korea and China used “paria” to cure several diseases.

Fig 03- The bitter gourd, sold in Walmart

Have you seen a “paria” (bitter gourd) in the market in your country or anywhere else?

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The Tamale is a Typical Mexican Dish – Part 1 – Food Variety 34

We “wrongly” called “Mexican foods” for traditional Mesoamericans or Latin American dishes. The reason, may be just for “simplicity.”

Fig 01- The Tamales, wrapped in banana leaves.

There are plenty of Mexican foods sold commercially in the USA. You probably know or ever consume some of them:

- Tamale

- Tacos

- Tostadas

- Chiles en nogada

- Enchiladas

- Nachos

Fig 02- A little building, Just for illustration

One of my favorites is a Tamale. The way its cook is interesting for me, it is steamed with wrapping.

The “material” for wrapping is taken from nature, it could be one of these natural materials:

- banana leaf

- corn husk

Fig 03 – Another type of Tamale, wrapped with corn husk

# To be continued to Part 2

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Is Tempeh Better than Tofu? - Part 2 – Food Variety 30

Like tofu, tempeh is also a good source of minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Fig 01- Thick slices of Tempeh

As you might know that these minerals are important to our body to have normal function and maintain our health.

Tempeh has contained a little higher in calories with about 160 in half a cup, which makes it perfect for a quick protein and caloric boost!

We hate to say it, as we love both tofu and tempeh, but tempeh is the winner of this health food match-up.

That’s not to say we’ll be cutting tofu anytime soon, though—it’s wonderfully (and arguably more) versatile and so delicious!

Fig 02- Tempe as snacks, favorite in many developing countries

But if you’re looking for a health boost, tempeh is definitely the better option.

Which soybean product do you prefer? Tofu or tempeh? Share with us your favorite recipes!

Fig 03- Tempeh are wrapped with banana’s leaf.

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A Wild Watermelon Growing at Yards – Food Variety 33

Nature works nicely and surprisingly where we may see many plants pop up in several places during Spring and Summer seasons.

Fig 01- A wild watermelon

Many people, include my neighbors have their our terms to refer to these kinds of plants, few of the terms are:

- rough plants

- volunteer plants

- seed dispersal plants

A little corner of our house just grown by an unexpected plant which produces a fruit, a watermelon.

Fig 02- Cardinal eating some seeds

In fact, this time around is a watermelon season in our areas.

We believe this “marvelous” was done by birds, since they consume this fruit and its seeds.

Fig 03- Climbing on the pole.

One of birds visits our yard frequently is cardinals. The birds love to eat watermelon and its seed as reported by Birdfact (2023: What Do Cardinals Eat? (Complete Guide)). Cardinals may help germination of plants.

Fig 04- Raccoon kids play around.

Another possible animal to disperse seeds is Raccoon. We have observed this animal in our backyard at a certain time.

Fig 05- A little wild watermelon

What do you think?

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Are Cage Free Eggs Healthier than Regular Ones? - Part 1 – Food Variety 32

I like the taste and flavor of cage free eggs than regular ones. Some people said the cage free eggs is the healthiest eggs, the other said no (nutritional) differences of the two.

Fig 01- Regular and cage free eggs

It is required that all groceries in the USA must sell cage free eggs by 2025, not so long time from now.

Some states require that groceries must sell cage free eggs by January, 2023 (Lyon Recorder, 2022: Effective January 2, 2023 grocery store eggs must come from cage-free farms). The sates are: “Utah, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Colorado, Massachusetts, California and Michigan.”

A cage free hen is not mean that hens are roaming around in the grass field or a very huge place.

Fig 02- Regular eggs packed

However, the hens are much more better live in the huge cage, hence, hens have good live than confined ones. 

Fig 03- Just for illustration

Advantages of cage free hens are following:

1) Consume organic feed

2) No antibiotics

3) No or less exposure to pesticides

Fig 04- A chicken, from previous photo

# To be continued to Part 2

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Homemade Local Pecan Candy - Part 2 - Food Variety 29

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Homemade Local Pecan Candy - Part 1 - Food Variety 29 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- Single candy is wrapped in the special plastic

As suggests by many recently “medical” reports that Pecan nuts are believed to have some health benefits (WebMD Editorial Contributors, 2022: Health Benefits of Pecans):

- anti-oxidants to lower hearth diseases risk

- lower risk of cancer

- anti-inflammatory

- to get better digestion

- boosts immunity

Fig 02- Pecan candies, ready to be wrapped

Pecan candy means candy with pecans (nuts) inside. Pecan nuts are cooked and stirred with:

- brown sugar and white sugar

- milk and butter

One of our neighbors sell homemade Pecan candies. We have software application called “next door” to communicate and posting relevant neighborhood issues.

We may order candies through online with bargaining prices and even ask for free. Wonderful neighborhood.

Fig 03- Special pecan candies, sold in the groceries

Have you tasted Pecan candies

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The Differences between Pink and Regular Salts - Part 2 - Food Variety 28

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- The Differences between Pink and Regular Salts - Part 1 - Food Variety 28 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- The Pink salt with coarse and finer sizes

Some advantages of pink salt are following (the info is based on Google searches recently):

# Used as sleep inducer because pink salt contains more mineral (up to 84 kind of minerals).

# Could improve a digestive problem by harmonize (balance) stomach acid and regulate metabolism.

# The Pink salt contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory which could clean up mucus in respiratory system, thus solve respiratory problems.

Fig 02- Red flowers in the city park, illustration only

People in many Asian countries believe that the pink salt have many health benefits, then no wonder why this salt so populer there.

Have you tried the pink salt ever?

Fig 03- The blooming in the garden, just illustration

However, this post is not encouraged to consume salt more, just info to let you know about “pink salt.”

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Have You Ever Tasted a Paria? - Part 1 - Food Variety 31

When I visited the Asian shop in my city, Baton Rouge, LA. I found a bitter fruit or vegetable called as “paria,” “peria” or “pariah in languages of South East Asian countries.

Fig 01- Paria from Asian Shop

In English, by searching through Google, It is refer to:

- a bitter gourd

- a bitter melon

- or a green gem.

Actually, some people categorized it as fruit, other said vegetable. I myself prefer to call it as the vegetable.

The size is not that long, around 12 cm, and weight is less than 1 pound. The color is green but change to yellow when ripe.

Fig 02- A bean, just illustration

Fig 03- The bitter gourd in the market

The price is quite reasonable in America, US$ 0.99 per-pound. Since I bought three pieces, I paid for US$ 2.71 only.

# To be continued to Part 2

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