Have You Tasted Fruits Called as Muscadine? - Part 1 – Food Variety 19

We buy grapes in the farmer market sometimes, especially on Tuesday market close to home.

Unexpectedly, we noticed the grape like fruit recently.

Fig 01- The grape like fruits, Muscadine

The shape are similar to grapes, its called as Muscadine with scientific name is Vitis rotundifolia. Common grape for wine has scientific name Vitis vinifera. So, both Muscadine and grape have the same genus, Vitis.

Then, few differences of Muscadine compared to grapes are:

- rounder or oval berry shape

- thicker and tougher skin

- contain about 5 seeds in each fruit.

- flesh is clear and translucent

Fig 02- A statue, just for illustration

Fig 03- Plants, just for illustration

Fig 04- Muscadine jelly, sold in Walmart

I bought one color only, but many colors are found in the market, we believe common colors are:

- light bronze

- pink

- purple

- black

- light green

This fruit is native to America, grows mainly in the areas of southeastern and south central USA.

# To be continued to Part 2

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Fish and Shellfish Sold by Local Groceries – Part 2 - Food Variety 18

You may read previous posting (Part 1):

- Fish and Shellfish Sold by Local Groceries – Part 1- Food Variety 18 | Tanza Erlambang Update

Fig 01- Medium size shrimp

Shrimp landing about 100 millions pound at previous years, but less than 30% in recent years.

Surprisingly, the size of shrimp getting smaller as well.

Less landing due to some factors such as:

- Lower fishing activities due to lower price of import shrimp

- Flooding rains from nearby river

Fig 02- Non frozen Crab, shrimp and fish

Fig 03- Flounder at seafood market

Illegal import is increasing without control. Unfortunately, the import is lower quality due to using of :

- antibiotic

- and certain chemical substances

Law enforcement seem lack of resources to check illegal foreign shrimps. Thus, consumers need to rely on basic information before buying somethings.

It is important to know where our seafood come from and quality of what of food will we consume.

Buy local, help neighbors.

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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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