Tag Archives: Culinary

Cashew Nut

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Cashew Nut

Cashew… tree, apple or nut.  NUT!

  • Cashew nuts are native to north east Brazil, South America, although they are now grown in many tropical areas around the world.
  • Cashew nuts grow on 10-15 m (32-50 feet) evergreen trees known as a cashew tree, from the family Anacardiaceae, which is the family of drupe bearing plants.
  • A cashew nut is a seed or kernel, 1.8 – 2.5 cm (0.7 – 1 inch) long, that grows in a kidney shaped fruit called a cashew drupe, which grows at the bottom of an edible accessory fruit called a cashew apple.
  • In 2010, Nigeria was the top producer of cashew nuts, producing 650,000 tonnes (717,000 tons).
  • Whilst in their shell, cashew nuts are surrounded by a toxic oil or resin similar to urushiol called ‘anacardic acid’, which can burn or irritate the skin, and so they are nearly always treated by roasting, boiling or steaming before they are shelled.

Woolworths Select Brand Naturual Cashew Nuts, shelled, kidney shaped, lots, bowl, packet, halve, full, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Some people are allergic to cashew nuts as they are to other tree nuts, due to the proteins in the nuts, however others are allergic to them due to the trace irritants similar to ‘urushiol’, which is in poison ivy pistachios and mangos, all of which are related to cashews.
  • Cashew nuts contain many vitamins and minerals, and are a good source of antioxidants and copper, the antioxidants having many great health benefits including decreased likeliness of getting cardiovascular disease.
  • The starch content of cashew nuts is approximately 23%, which is significantly higher than most other nuts, and makes them suitable for thickening sauces.
  • Cashew nuts are eaten ‘raw’ – these have generally been heat treated, roasted, salted and as a spread; added to main meals like salads, stir-fries and curries in the form of a paste, chopped or used whole; and are also used in desserts and cakes.
  • People who have a tendency to get kidney stones or have gallbladder issues may need to avoid or reduce their intake of cashews as they contain oxalates which can make the condition worse.
Bibliography:
Cashew, 2013, Wikipedia, < https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cashew>
Cashews, 2013, The World’s Healthiest Foods, < http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=98>

 

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Granny Smiths

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Granny Smiths

Apples for Grannies!

  • One of the many apple cultivars is the Granny Smith apple, which is crisp and crunchy, and ripens to a bright green colour.
  • Granny Smiths were first grown in a Sydney suburb, Eastwood, in Australia in 1868 and were named after the first grower of the apples, Maria Ann ‘Granny’ Smith, who had migrated from Sussex, England to New South Wales, Australia.
  • Maria Smith discovered Granny Smith apples growing near a creek on her farm, after she threw out some French crab apples, that originated in Tasmania, in the spot.
  • Granny Smiths are believed to be a hybrid of the French crab apple from the Malus family of crab apples, but like other hybrid mutation plants, the seeds of Granny Smiths will produce a different type of apple, thus all Granny Smiths grown today are cuttings from the original Granny Smith apple tree.
  • The New South Wales Government started growing Granny Smith apples in 1895, and began promoting them as a good export apple due to their ability to be stored for long periods.

Granny Smith Apple Normal, One, Shiny, Plain, stalk, good, Ten Random Facts, Australia, Three

  • Granny Smith apples have a juicy tart and sweet taste, and are often eaten raw or in desserts, cider or salads.
  • Granny Smith apples are particularly high in antioxidants, compared with some other apples, while containing many other beneficial vitamins and minerals.
  • Granny Smiths are said to be the best apples to use in cooking, as they do not change their natural shape once cooked due to the high acid content.
  • Once cut, Granny Smiths are slow to turn brown, so the apples are often used in salads.
  • Granny Smiths were a major Australian export after World War 1, eventually becoming one of the most popular apples grown in Australia, and are now grown in countries around the world including New Zealand, Europe, South America and the United States.
Bibliography:
Granny Smith, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granny_Smith

 

Granny Smith Apples, 2013, Specialty Produce, < http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Granny_Smith_Apples_2021.php>

 

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Brazil Nut

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Brazil Nut

A nut case…

  • Brazil nuts are the edible nut of Bertholletia excelsa, a tree also known as a ‘Brazil nut tree’ or ‘Castanheiro do Para’ (Brazil), that are native to the South American Amazon forests.
  • Brazil nuts grow on the largest tree in the Amazon forest, that can grow up to 50 meters (160 feet) in height and has a tree trunk diameter of 1 to 2 meters (3.3 to 6.6 feet) and can live from 500 to 1000 years.
  • Brazil nut fruit grow in a large, round wooden pod, that are between 10 to 15 cm (3.9 to 5.9 inches) in diameter, almost the size of a coconut, and weigh up to 2.2 kg (5 pounds).
  • Brazil nut pods contains 10 to 25 seeds that have a hard, triangular shaped exterior that protect the edible Brazil nut inside, which are arranged like orange segments, and are usually 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2 inches) in length, with the nut being slightly smaller, 3 to 4 cm (1.2 – 1.6 inches) in length.
  • Falling Brazil nut tree pods can travel at speeds of 80 km/h (50 mph), and as a result can be fatal to humans, or can easily damage things like vehicles, although the act of cutting down the trees is illegal because they are becoming endangered, even though trees are found on household properties.

Brazil Nuts

  • Up to 113 kg (250 pounds) of Brazil nuts are produced each year from one Brazil nut tree, and each tree produces between 60 and 215 pods that take approximately 15 months to develop to maturity, which are harvested once they have fallen to the ground.
  • Brazil nuts are generally eaten raw and are a good source of magnesium, phosphorous, manganese, copper, thiamin and Vitamin E, and are a very rich source of selenium, an important antioxidant beneficial to the immune system and health of the heart, which is also said to hep prevent breast and prostrate cancer, with two Brazil nuts per day being sufficient to provide a human’s daily need of selenium.
  • It is believed that agoutis, a type of small rodent, are the only animal in the Amazon able to penetrate the 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) thick Brazil nut pod to access the nuts, which they eat, or bury in the ground for later use, although if the seed is forgotten about and the conditions are right, a new Brazil nut tree will sprout from it.
  • Purchased Brazil nuts generally come from undisturbed wild trees rather than cultivated ones, as there are very few Brazil nut plantations and they generally have a low production rate compared to wild trees.
  • It is possible to eat too many Brazil nuts, so eating no more than 2-3 per day is recommended, otherwise you may suffer from selenium poisoning, which can include, nausea, hair loss and fingernail damage and loss.
Bibligraphy:
Brazil Nut Tree (Bertholletia excelsa), 2013, Rainforest Alliance, <http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/kids/species-profiles/brazil-nut-tree>
Brazil Nut, 2013, Wikipedia, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil_nut>

Onion

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Onion

Sniff, Sniff – it’s the onions.

  • Most edible onions are from the family Allium cepa, which is from the family of Allium which is the family of onions, leeks, garlic and chives.
  • Onions are a type of bulb with fleshy layers, and are also known as ‘bulb onions’ and ‘common onions’, and range in size from 2.5 – 11.5 cm (1 – 4.5 inches).
  • Onions are a vegetable that are often used in stir-fries, stews, casseroles, soups, pasta dishes, and other main meals, and they can be eaten raw in salads, and can be included in sauces and condiments like gravy, chutney or pickles.
  • Onions have been cultivated and eaten for thousands of years, and it is thought that Ancient Egyptians believed that onions symbolised eternity, or eternal life, and so they were often used in burials, and have even been found in the eye sockets of the pharaoh Ramses IV.
  • Onions were thought to have raised a dog’s, cat’s or cattle’s fertility, however, it is dangerous to let some animals eat onions, including cats, dogs, guinea pigs and monkeys, as they are poisonous to them as they make the animal anemic, which can be fatal.

 Onion, Cut, Halve, Brown, Orange, Skin, Rings, Australia, three, Ten Random Facts

  • Onions are yellow/brown, red/purple or white in colour, and their skins can be used to make a dye, and onion juices can be used to make a repellent against moths.
  • Onions have large cells, so they are sometimes used for scientific purposes as a teaching tool about cell structure.
  • Onions contain approximately 89% water and are a good source of fibre and manganese, and are very high in vitamins C and B6, as well as folic acid.
  • Red onions, known as Spanish onions, generally have a milder flavour than other varieties, and for this reason are often used raw as a garnish or in salads.
  • Onions are said to lower insulin levels in diabetics, help maintain good healthy bones, have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, help protect the body from some common cancers,  have cardiovascular benefits, and reduce cholesterol.
Bibliography:
Onion, 2013, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion>

Dates

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Sugary juicy dates.

  • Dates are a small fruit of the date palm tree, Phoenix dactylifera and are said to be native to Northern Africa and the Middle East.
  • Dates range from red, yellow and brown in colour and grow to 2.5 – 7 cm (1 – 2.7 inches) in length and have a large seed inside which is often removed, and this is called a pitted date.
  • Dates have been eaten for thousands of years, and are referred to in the Christian Bible.
  • Dates contain up to 85% sugar, and contain many vitamins and minerals, including significant amounts of potassium, Vitamin B, magnesium and manganese.
  • One date palm can produce 80 to 120kg (176 to 264 pounds) of dates each year, although younger plants do not produce as many.

Dates, Brown, Dried,Bowl, Lots, Yummy, Sweet, White, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Dates have four different stages of ripening, known as kimri (unripe), khalal or khalaal (crunchy), rutab (soft), tamr or tamar (chewy) and are eaten at the khalal, rutab and tamr stages.
  • In 2009, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Iran produced about 3.5 million tonnes (3.9 million tons) of dates out of the worldwide production of over 7.4 million tonnes (8 million tons).
  • Dates can be eaten raw, dried, softened, stuffed with nuts or other items, made into a paste, used in desserts or savoury meals, stored in the freezer for use at a later date, and when dried they can be kept almost indefinitely because of their high sugar content.
  • There are three main varieties of dates grown:  ‘soft’, when the date skin is soft, the date is moist and has lower sugar content; ‘semi-dry’, when the date skin is firm, not very moist and high sugar content; and lastly ‘dry’ when the date skin is leathery and the date has barely any moisture and has high sugar content.
  • Dates are said to assist the growth of good intestinal bacteria and are a great food to eat when hungry or commonly used when breaking a fast due to the sugar content which quickly re-energises the body.
Bibliography:
Date Features and Facts, n.d., Gurra Downs, <http://www.gurradowns.com.au/Datefacts.php>
Johnson, P 2013, Date Fruit Benefits, Buzzle, <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/date-fruit-benefits.html>

Bread

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Bread

Bread for breakfast, bread for lunch, bread for dinner.

  • Bread is a very common meal, snack or ingredient, and has become one of the staples of billions of people’s diets around the world.
  • Bread is mainly made from wheat flour, although many other flours can be used, and water, and often yeast is added so the bread will rise.
  • Different quantities of each ingredient creates a different type of bread texture, size, colour and shape, and this has resulted in endless varieties of bread around the world.
  • Bread has a very long history, and was originally made without yeast, resulting in relatively flat breads, although yeast was used as early as 4000 BC in Ancient Egypt.
  • Bread is normally made by baking it an oven, but it can be steamed or fried to make different varieties.

Bread, White, Homebrand, Bread Rolls, Woolworths, Pita Bread, Tortilla, Lots, Varities, Ten Random Facts

  • A natural preservative made from lactic acid bacteria, similar to those found in yoghurt and cheese, was discovered in 2004, and was patented in 2009, and  is used to increase the shelf life of bread from a few days to two weeks, and is said to be good for you.
  • Eating bread crusts is said to make your hair grow curly, although this isn’t true, and it has been proven that it is one of the healthiest parts of the bread, due to the increased dietary fibre and antioxidants that can help prevent cancer, contained in the crust.
  • Many religious communities use bread for religious celebrations such as the Jewish Passover.
  • Fruits, nuts, herbs, seeds, spices, vegetables and other flavourings are sometimes added to bread to make it more interesting or different.
  • It has been said that the making of bread changed ancient society, as it enabled people to remain in one location, without the need for hunting and gathering, and made farming popular.
Bibliography:
Bread, 2013, Wikipedia, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread>
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