Author Archives: Cris

Ketchup

By | |
Leave a comment
Ketchup

An Asian invention, an American condiment.

  • Ketchup is a condiment that has tomato as the main ingredient, and is typically used as a flavouring on food.
  • ‘Ketchup’ is also known as ‘tomato sauce’, ‘tomato ketchup’, ‘catsup’ and ‘red sauce’, and of all the households in the United States, 97% own a bottle of the sauce.
  • Modern ketchup is primarily made of tomato, sugar, vinegar and seasonings or spices and it often contains onion, although traditional base ingredients were mushrooms, seafood or walnuts, rather than tomato.
  • Ketchup is commonly eaten on hot food, such as burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, pies, sausage rolls, chips, eggs and meat, and can be made into other condiments.
  • Ketchup, was originally a fish sauce, that was from China and South East Asia, that became popular in England in the early 1700s, and eventually in America, due to its long shelf life.

Ketchup, Red, Tomato Sauce, Bowl, Black, Catsup, Homebrand, Australia

  • The earliest known use of tomatoes as the main ingredient for ketchup, was in the late 1700s in the United States of America, and during the 1800s, tomato based sauce became popular.
  • Ketchup is commonly found in supermarkets, in bottles of varying sizes, but it is also commonly available in single-serve mini packets and sachets in fast food outlets.
  • Commercial production of ketchup began in the early 1800s, and by the early to mid 1900s, commercial versions were preferred over those that were home-made, mostly because of the significant time involved to make the sauce at home, and the affordability of the store bought sauce.
  • Heinz, a leading ketchup brand, sells 650 million bottles of their condiment throughout the world, every year.
  • Ketchup has a very high content of sodium, a high content of vitamin C and vitamin A, and is a good source of copper.
Bibliography:
Gandhi L, Ketchup: The All-American Condiment that Comes from Asia, 2013, Codeswitch, http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/12/02/248195661/ketchup-the-all-american-condiment-that-comes-from-asia
Ketchup, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketchup
Swaby R, Ketchup Used to Be Made of Fish: The Crazy History of The World’s Greatest Condiment, 2012, Gizmodo, http://gizmodo.com/5907313/ketchup-used-to-be-made-of-fish-the-crazy-history-of-the-worlds-greatest-condiment
Smith A F, Pure Ketchup: A History of America’s National Condiment, with Recipes, 1996, http://books.google.com.au/books?id=hAq_EvcAIW4C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb#v=onepage&q&f=false

Amazon:     

Orca

By | |
Leave a comment
Orca

Orcas are beautiful, cheeky whales dolphins.

  • Orcas are mammals found in large ocean bodies that are from the Odontoceti suborder known as ‘toothed whales’, that also includes dolphins, sperm whales and other similar families and species that have teeth.
  • Orcas are also known as ‘killer whales’, ‘orca whales’ and ‘blackfish’, and are often misunderstood to be ferocious killers, but, in reality they rarely attack humans, although some of those kept in captivity have caused human fatalities.
  • Orcas have the scientific name Orcinus orca, and are from the family Delphinidae, the family of oceanic dolphins, and are therefore technically dolphins, even though they are referred to as whales.
  • Orcas were first documented scientifically in the mid 1500s, by Swiss naturalist Conrad Gessner, in the book called Fischbuch (Fish Book), after he analysed a dead killer whale.
  • There are ‘resident’, ‘transient’ and ‘offshore’ orcas, that are all slightly different in appearance, diet and behaviour, and the ‘residents’ are found near shore and tend not to roam; ‘transients’ tend to stay near the coast but move significant distances along it; and the ‘offshores’ travel long distances away from the coast.
Orca, Whale, Killer, Captive, Beached, Trick, Ten Random Facts, Marineland, Flickr
Orca
Image courtesy of Spencer Wright/Flickr
  • Orcas are coloured mainly black, with white patches, and can grow to be 5 to 9.8 metres (16 to 32 feet) in length, and weigh as much as 3 to 10 tonnes (3.3 to 11 tons).
  •  Each orca has a unique saddle patch design (the area around the dorsal fin) and a triangular dorsal fin, and the male’s is larger than the female, and can be as tall as 1.8 metres (5.9 feet).
  • Orcas have developed eyesight; an amazing echolocation system; and they vocalise with clicking sounds, whistles and pulses; and when underwater, their heart beats 30 beats per minute, while at the water surface, the heart beats 60 beats per minute.
  • Orcas live in ‘pods’ which are family groups, and have a typical lifespan ranging from 50 to 80 years in the wild, and up to 25 years in captivity, and the females give birth to a calf, on average, once every five years.
  • An orca’s diet varies among different groups, which can consist of 30 fish species, some whales and 32 aquatic mammal species, including seals, dolphins and porpoises, and they can consume 227 kilograms (500 pounds) of food per day.
Bibliography:
Killer Whale, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killer_whale
Killer Whale (Orca), 2014, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/killer-whale/

Amazon:      

Chittorgarh Fort

By | |
Leave a comment
Chittorgarh Fort

Hold out the invaders with these Chittorgarh Fort facts.

  • Chittorgarh Fort is a fort located in the city of the same name, in Asia’s India, and it contains 65 notable buildings, including 4 memorials, 4 palaces and 19 temples.
  • Chittorgarh Fort is the biggest Indian fort in terms of area, and is often stated to be the most impressive fort in the Indian state Rajasthan.
  • Chittorgarh Fort covers an area of 2.8 square kilometres (1.1 square miles), has a perimetre of 13 km (8 miles), and is situated on a 180 metre (890.6 feet) high hill.
  • In 2013, Chittorgarh Fort became part of a group of forts known as the ‘Hill Forts of Rajasthan’, that was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage serial site in that year.
  • Chittorgarh Fort is known by a number of different names and spellings, as does the city above which it sits, and these include ‘Chittaur’, ‘Chittaurgarh’, ‘Chitaurgarh’, ‘Chittor’, ‘Chitorgarh’.

Chittorgarh Fort, Ruins, Part, Veiw, Grass, Vegetation, Flickr, India, Ten Random Facts, Flickr

Chittorgarh Fort
Image courtesy of Milo & Silvia/Flickr
  • The Chittorgarh Fort was built sometime in the 7th century AD by the Mauryans and was named after the Mauryan ruler Chitrangada Mori, and was used until 1568.
  • Approximately 40% of Chittorgarh Fort’s area was used for collecting or storing billions of litres of water, and 22 of the 84 areas are still used today.
  • Throughout its history, Chittorgarh Fort was mostly controlled by the Rajput clan, Sisodia, although it was sieged three times – first in 1303, next in 1535 and finally in 1568.
  • Chittorgarh Fort is shaped like a fish when seen at a bird’s-eye view, and to access the fort, one has to pass through seven gates on the way up the hill.
  • Chittorgarh Fort symbolises the virtues of courage, nobility, sacrifice and chivalry, of the prominent fort controllers, the Rajputs.
Bibliography:
Chittorgarh Fort, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chittorgarh_Fort
Chittorgarh Fort, n.d, Udaipur, http://www.udaipur.org.uk/excursions/chittorgarh-fort.html

Amazon:      

Laundry Detergent

By | |
Leave a comment
Laundry Detergent

Clean knowledgeably with these laundry detergent facts.

  • Laundry detergent is a compound typically used in conjunction with water, to clean articles of clothing, towels, sheets, and other linen, most often in washing machines.
  • ‘Laundry detergent’ is also known as ‘washing powder’ and ‘laundry powder’.
  • Laundry detergent is most commonly available in the form of a powder, but it is also readily available as a liquid.
  • Laundry detergent was historically made of a combination of charcoal, water, ash, sulphur and silicates, and at different times, only some of these ingredients were used.
  • Soap was the traditional and most common cleaning agent for cleaning laundry items, up until the late 1940s.

Laundry Detegent, Tide, Box, Cardboard, Coloured, White, Powder, Ten Random Facts

  • Chemical laundry detergent has been manufactured since 1916, first in Germany due to the lack of soap available as a result of World War I.
  • Laundry detergent became popularised in 1950, due to the increased use of washing machines, and was primarily made of branched alkylbenzenesulfonates, which were not environmentally friendly, until the improved, linear alkylbenzenesulfonates, were used.
  • Laundry detergent is typically made of alkylbenzenesulfonate, although other surfactants may be used, water softener, bleach and enzymes.
  • Modern laundry detergent often contains phosphates, that can cause significant ecological issues, and for this reason are currently being removed from most detergents.
  • Laundry detergent helps to remove dirt and other particles from materials, mainly by suspending them in water, which prevents them from reattaching themselves to the fabric.

 

Bibliography:
Laundry Detergent, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laundry_detergent
Long H, Laundry Detergent History, 2014, Love to Know, http://cleaning.lovetoknow.com/Laundry_Detergent_History

Amazon:      

Gerbera

By | |
2 Comments
Gerbera

Gerberas are the perfect cut flowers.

  • Gerberas are 30 or more species of perennial plants native to Africa, South America, and Asia.
  • Gerberas are from the family Asteraceae, the family of sunflowers and daisies and most of the commonly grown hybrids come from a cross of the jamesonii and the viridifolia species.
  • Gerberas are named after Trauggott Gerber, a botanist and physician from the 1700s, from Germany, and it is not certain as to why botanist Jan Frederik Gronovius, a Dutchman, named the plant after him, as much of Gerber’s work was done in Russia.
  • Gerberas are also known as ‘African daisies’, ‘Barberton daisies’, ‘gerber daisies’, ‘Transvaal daisies’ and’gerbera daisies’, although some of these names specifically refer to the jamesonii species.
  • Gerbera flowers can be coloured pink, red, orange, yellow, cream and white or variegated and can have wide or narrow petals in single or double layers.

Gerbera, Purple, Red, Flower, Daisy, Ten Random Facts, Plant, Australia

  • Gerberas have one large ‘head’ per stem, that is typically called the ‘flower’, however each head actually contains numerous small flowers.
  • Gerbera flowers have a diameter of 7 to 12 centimetres (2.8 to 4.7 inches), and bloom in spring to autumn, depending on the species and growing conditions.
  • Gerberas are commonly grown as ornamental garden plants and are very popular as cut flowers due to their ability to last up to two weeks in a vase.
  • Gerberas grow best in warm climates, in sunny areas, and in moist soil that has good drainage.
  • Gerbera plants grow from 15 to 76 centimetres (6 to 30 inches) in height, and have green leaves.

 

Bibliography:
Gerbera, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerbera
Gerberas 2014, Burke’s Backyard, http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/1998/archives/26/in_the_garden/flowering_plants_and_shrubs/gerberas
Gerbera daisy, 2014, Better Homes and Gardens, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/annual/gerbera-daisy/

Amazon:     

Rockmelon

By | |
1 Comment
Rockmelon

These facts are as hard as a rockmelon.

  • Rockmelons are spherical fruit, or melons, that are from the family Cucurbitaceae, the family of gourds.
  • Rockmelons’ are also known as ‘cantaloupes’, ‘canteloupes’, ‘cantaloups’, ‘mushmelons’, ‘sweet melons’, ‘Persian melons’, ‘spanspeks’, ‘Garmas’ and ‘muskmelons’.
  • A rockmelon has the scientific name Cucimis melo var. cantalupensis, and is one of the varieties of the Cucumis melo or ‘melon’ species.
  • Rockmelons grow on large vines that have big hairy leaves, and the actual melon can weigh 0.5 to 5 kilograms (1 to 10 pounds).
  • Rockmelons are native to Africa, the Middle East’s Iran and Asia’s India.

Rockmelon, Mushmelon, Orange, Green, Cut, Australia, Seeds, Ten Random Facts

  • Rockmelons are often harvested nearly ripe, although rockmelons do not continue to ripen once picked, and the skin is often covered in bleach wash or sodium hypochlorite to inhibit mould growth.
  • Rockmelons are commonly eaten fresh or raw, such as in fruit salad, or with custard, ice cream or pavlova, and are often included in antipasto platters, and are sometimes found in salads.
  • Even though the skin of a rockmelon is not eaten, it can be the foundation for dangerous bacteria, so it is suggested that it be washed before preparation.
  • Rockmelons have a strong bumpy or net-like skin texture, sometimes with significant grooves, and are coloured green, cream or brown, with yellow, orange, or peach coloured flesh
  • Rockmelons have a sweet taste, are extremely high in vitamin A and vitamin C, are high in potassium, and have a water content that can reach 90%.
Bibliography: Cantaloupe, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantaloupe
Rockmelon, 2011, Fresh for Kids, http://www.freshforkids.com.au/fruit_pages/rockmelon/rockmelon.html
Rota G, 9 Benefits of Eating Rockmelon, 2014, Popsugar, http://www.popsugar.com.au/fitness/Health-Benefits-Rockmelon-Fibre-Vitamin-C-Potassium-33541917

Amazon:     

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...