Fish and Shellfish Sold by Local Groceries – Part 1- Food Variety 18

We have several groceries in our neighborhood to sell fresh seafood, caught by local fishermen.

When we visit one of groceries couple days ago, the seller said that the fish and shellfish come from Gulf of Mexico, American parts.

Fig 01- A sign at the seafood market.

The areas are quite huge, its spans about 2,700 km (1,680 miles) along the coastlines of 5 USA states, they are:

- Florida

- Alabama

- Mississippi

- Louisiana

- Texas.

In addition to oil and gas, the Gulf of Mexico is important habitat for fish and marine organisms.

Fig-02- Large size shrimp

Moreover, some of commercial marine organisms are:

- crabs

- shrimp

- fish

- mollusks

Fig 03- Small size shrimps

Shrimps from Gulf of Mexico have 3 different colors:

- white

- pink

- brown

Shrimp prize depend on size (large, medium or small) or count (number of shrimp per pound):

- US$ 9.99 per pound for shrimp with 9 – 12 count.

- US$ 7.99 per pound for shrimp with 10 – 15 count.

- US$ 5.99 per pound for shrimp with 16 – 20 count.

# To be continued to Part 2

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The Local Honey in the Farmer Market – Part 2 – Food Variety 17

You may read previous posting (Part 1):

- The Local Honey in the Farmer Market – Part 1 – Food Variety 17

Fig 01- Local brand sell raw honey

Natural honey is not processed such as not going through filtering and pasteurizing process.

I just repeat and remind myself that some benefit to consume natural honey are:

- improve our immune system

- better sleeping

- improve cholesterol

- lower blood pressure

Fig 02- Painting, just for illustration

Fig 03- Flowers Start to bloom

Fig 04- Spring flowers at the corner

The bees' industries provide quite significant to household’s income and job employments.

In term of revenues, Honey bee is estimated to contribute about US$ 24 billion to American economy.

USA produce 163,000,000 pound (74,000 ton) honey and provide 212,000 jobs for beekeepers, and million jobs honey relate industries and marketing.

As pollinators, be help to produce many commercials foods such as nuts, fruits and vegatbles.

Do you like to consume honey?

How often do you consume?

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The Local Honey in the Farmer Market – Part 1 – Food Variety 17

 We just visit farmer market, there were plenty of local honey on the shelves. I don’t know when they harvest this “healthy food.”

However, as a southern state, temperature getting warmer currently, could get above 20* C at mid-day.

Fig 01- Local honey in farmer market

As esxpected, a hot season is busy time for bees for secretion sweeter substances from flower then to produce honey.

At least there are four region as well known areas of honey bee production in Louisiana:

- Baton Rouge

- Northern Louisiana’s

- New Orleans and nearby areas

- Southwestern Louisiana

Fig 02- Just for illustration

Fig 03- Flowers of this wild plant could be source of nectar for bees

Fig 04- Flowers which attract bees

Fig 05- One of local honey product

We might know that honey is healthy foods due to its contain combinations of mineral, vitamins, enzymes and anti-oxidants.

Surprising facts for me that there are 4 different terms of honey sold in the farmer market:

- processed

- natural

- pure

- raw

# To be continued to Part 2

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What are Tempe Health Benefits? - Part 2 – Food Variety 16

 You may read the previous posting (Part 1):

- What are Tempe Health Benefits? - Part 1 – Food Variety 16

Tempe contains isoflavones which one of it functions to lower cholesterol levels in our blood.

Fig 01- Tempe made by an American company

Several other functions of Isoflavones (Sherry Christiansen, 2021: What Are Isoflavones?, Published in verywellhealth):

- similar to structure of estrogen hormone

- anti-oxidant, hence it may reduce damage because of oxygen.

- help to fight cancer

The study showed that Tempe is better than animal resources to manage cholesterol levels.

Fig 02- Nutrition content of Tempe

Fig 03- Tempe sold in Walmart grocery

Manganese in Tempe could be able to manage blood sugar in the body, and thus fight diabetes.

Manganese is compound to stimulate process called gluconeogenesis.

The process is important to maintain blood sugar in normal level as needed by our body.

Tempe could improve bone health due to calcium in its. Calcium with other mineral and vitamin prevent the bone (include teeth) from fracture and weak.

Have you seen Tempe sold in the market or Whole Foods market?

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What are Tempe Health Benefits? - Part 1 – Food Variety 16

Tempe or Tempeh is fermented cooked soybean, one of Indonesia traditional foods.

Now days, Tempeh easily found at commercial markets in America and some European countries.

Fig 01- Sliced of Tempe

It is believed Tempe has many health benefits as suggested by Keri Wiginton (2021: The Health Benefits of Tempeh).

Some of Tempeh health benefits are:

1. Help to reduce cholesterol

2. Maintain blood sugar

3. Improve bone health

4. Reduce heart diseases risk

5. Improve metabolism

Fig 02- Tempe sold in the USA market

Fig 03- a kind of bean, just for illustration

Fig 04- Tempeh was made from these soybeans 

(credit to Subagja Hamara).

Since Tempe contains niacin, omega 3 and 6, and polyunsaturated fat thus able to lower heart diseases risk include heart attacks.

Vitamin B-12 in Tempe has functions which are relating to red blood cell in our body:

- the vitamin could improve metabolism of red blood

- and essential for production of red blood.

# To be continued to Part 2

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Local Jelly at the Farmer Market – Part 2 - Food Variety 15

Jellies in the jar at the farmer market

Previous post (Part 1):

It is a kind of dressing which is combines of a jam and a sauce or a seasoning. A typical classic product from southern states of America.

A pepper jelly is a vinegar or pectin base preserve, made with:

- hot peppers

- sugar and salt

So, you may guess the taste, yes, mix of sweet and spice of hot peppers which may include:

- Jalapeno

- Habanero

- Serrano

The makers of Bulldog Pepper Jelly from city of New Orleans, Louisiana claimed that their assorted jellies are locally grown, not imported from other states or other foreign countries.

A sign of farmer market

Pepper jelly was popular in America during 1980s to 1990s.

The product is consumed or used for multiple purposes such as:

- glaze on meats, chicken wings, fish and on vegetables.

- topping for crackers, ice cream, cheesecake, cheese and waffles

- using as sauce and dipping

- using as spread to sandwich, turkey slices and hamburger.

- using as appetizer

- mixing with yogurt

Have you tried pepper jelly? What do you think?

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Local Jelly at the Farmer Market – Part 1 - Food Variety 15

Pepper Jelly, the local product

Bulldog Pepper Jelly is a brand name only. It is homemade jelly which I believe to be produced and sold in our state only, Louisiana, so far.

Quite difficult to find this brand in groceries across our city, but, luckily I found it in the one of farmer markets close to our home.

There are four types of jellies in the market:

- Roasted Garlic Pepper Jelly

- Jalapeno Pepper Jelly

- Strawberry Pepper Jelly

- Roasted Pecan Pepper Jelly

The price is US$1.62 per ounce (28 gram), expensive compared to manufactured jelly sold in:

- groceries

- supermarket

- Amazon

Jars of pepper jellies on the shelves

However, Bulldog Pepper Jelly is made traditionally, hence fresh and high quality product. I think.

International friends might wonder: what is pepper jelly? What its taste like?

# To be continued to part 2

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- Do You Know a Prickly Cactus Pear? - Food Variety 5

Have You Tried Jalapeno Cheese Poppers? - Food Variety 14

Fig 01- Jalapeno chili, sold in many groceries.

You might know Jalapeno, Capsicum annuum, quite hot spicy for me, but medium compared to other chilies for many people.

Some hotter chilies than Jalapeno:

- Serrano
- Red Habanero
- Cayenne peppers

Almost all groceries across USA sell Jalapeno with reasonable price

I always see this pepper and used it for cooking while peppers in green color.

They could turn red when ripen. Both red and green can be eaten.

The red is less spicy and grassy.

Sure, Jalapeno has several health benefits, the most important one that Jalapeno may be used for migraine relief due to it contains the capsaicin.

Other health benefits are anti inflammatory, improve our immune system and improve our nervous system.

Research has been done to use Jalapeno as an anti cancer drug.

Fig 02- Spicy vegetable for illustration

Fig 03- Jalapeno cheese poppers

We just went to a grocery, and the first time, we noticed a Jalapeno Cheese Popper.

We bought several of poppers to try their taste.

Since I like cheese, the taste of poppers is not bad, a quite delicious.

It seems that chef uses cheddar cheese inside poppers. I think the cheddar cheese is quite sharper.

Fine shred of cheddar was fit in the hallow of a half jalapeno chili, and then insert inside popper. Cheese makes smell delicious.

Have you tried Jalapeno Cheese Poppers?