Showing posts with label Food Variety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food Variety. Show all posts

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

Sunday, May 21, 2023

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?


# Previous postings:

- Storing Firearms Securely to Prevent Suicide – Sign 27 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Do you Want to Have Forever Puppies? - Part 1 – Critter 27 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Bell-Shaped Flowers of Alligator Plants - Gardening and Hobby 28 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Have You ever Tasted Banana Pepper? - Part 1 - Food Variety 26 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Yaupon Holly Plants Produce Attractive Berries – Sign 28 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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

Saturday, May 13, 2023

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


# Previous postings:

- Injured Hawk on the Yard – Critter 24 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Why does Oil Price Go Negative in the Market? - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Public Education from the Rose Society – Sign 25 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Do You Know that Your Cat Love you? - Part 2 - Critter 20 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Hibiscus Blooming in December - Gardening and Hobby 27 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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

Saturday, April 29, 2023

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.


# Previous postings:

- Snails as One of Popular Seafood – Sign 21 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- May Yogurt Reduce Risk of Heart Diseases? - Part 1 – Heart 11 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- From Caterpillar to Monarch Butterfly – Critter 18 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- May Drink Coffee Regularly Improve Healthy Heart? - Part 2 - Heart 8 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Jersey Giant Roosters Look Like Hens – Critter 19 | Tanza Erlambang Update

A Wild Watermelon Growing at Yards – Food Variety 33

Thursday, April 20, 2023

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?


# Previous postings:

- The Orb Weaver Spider in the Yard – Critter 14

- Demanding of Tofu was Increasing During Covid 19 Pandemic – Part 1 – Food Variety 21 |

- Drinking Problem in the USA – Sign 18 |

- Blooming of Freesia Flowers – Part 1 - Gardening and Hobby 25 |

- Peanuts in the Farmer Market – Part 2 - Food Variety 20 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

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


## Previous postings:

- Declining Population of Mammals with Cube Feces | Tanza Erlambang

- Small Business at Nearby Neighborhood – Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang

- The Attractive Flower to Butterflies and Bees | Tanza Erlambang

- Less Books in the Box – Sign 17 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Homemade Local Pecan Candy - Part 2 - Food Variety 29

Tuesday, March 21, 2023

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


# Previous postings:

- Increasing of Suicide Rate in America | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Free Meal Register for Students in Our City – Sign 9 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Green Lizard on the Window Screen – Critter 6 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- High Occupancy Vehicle Parking Only - Sign 10 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Social Range in the Bird of Guinean Cock of the Rock | Tanza Erlambang Update

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

Friday, March 17, 2023

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.”


# Previous postings:

- When Will We Have an Emperor in the Mars? - Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Have you Tasted Alligator Meat? - Part 2 – Sgn 7 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Increasing of Suicide Rate in America | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Free Meal Register for Students in Our City – Sign 9 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Green Lizard on the Window Screen – Critter 6 | Tanza Erlambang Update

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

Friday, March 3, 2023

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


## Previous postings:

- Why Turtles Produce almost All Female Hatchlings Recently? - Part 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- The Local Honey in the Farmer Market – Part 1 – Food Variety 17 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- A Little dog on the Street – Critters 2 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Lighthouse for Helping People with Disabilities – Sign 4 | Tanza Erlambang Update

- Do You Know that Plants can Memorize Information? - Part 1 | Tanza Erlambang Update