By Admin, on January 10th, 2012% 
"Chayote" Water Squash, Costa Rica (Photo: Margarita Persico) By Margarita Persico Chayote (Sechium edule) is really a fruit used as a vegetable. It is in the Cucurbitaceae family and is of Mesoamerican origin. Chayote is known throughout Latin America and Brazil by numerous names. It was first cultivated by the Aztecs in Mexico during pre-Colombian times. During this time it was grown between Mexico and Guatemala. Cultivation of chayote in South America and the Caribbean islands began . . . → Read More: Chayote — Vegetable Pear (Sechium edule) Chayote — Vegetable Pear (Sechium edule)
By Admin, on January 3rd, 2012% 
Ginger (Photo: Margarita Persico) Ginger root, zingiber officinale, is a rhizome native to the Asian, Arabic and Indian regions. This spice has been used in culinary and medicinal uses for thousands of years. Traditionally the herb has been used as a digestant and as a spice in many Chinese and Indian dishes. In the West it has been used in desserts, in syrups, and for medicinal concoctions in addition to ethnic dishes. My fondest childhood memories . . . → Read More: Ginger Root Ginger Root
By Admin, on October 17th, 2011% 
Pumpkins and Gourds (Photo: Margarita Persico) Pumpkins are believed to have originated in Mexico, though no one knows exactly where. They come from the Cucurbitaceae family, which has over 800 species, for example, squashes and cucumbers. Pumpkins, the skin, seeds and flower are all eatable. The pumpkin’s strong orange color is perhaps an indicator of how rich it is in vitamin A and carotenes (beta, alpha), cryptoxanthin (beta), and Lutein and zeaxanthin, according to USDA National Nutrient . . . → Read More: Pumpkins Pumpkins
By Admin, on September 30th, 2011% 
Turnip (Photo Adam Rice Flickr) NYC's Meatpacking District (Photo: Margarita Persico) By Margarita Persico When it comes to grading food that could be a tricky question. But Whole Foods Market, Inc., the largest retailer of natural and organic foods, has been doing that, labeling food’s nutrients. They teamed up with Joel Fuhrman, M.D., a family physician and researcher, to create Whole Foods Market’s (WFM) Health Starts . . . → Read More: What does a turnip has over a beef top? What does a turnip has over a beef top?
By Admin, on September 26th, 2011% 
Pomegranate (Photo: Tony Hisgett, Flickr) Pomegranate, known also as “the jewel of autumn,” is truly a gem. The fruit has many seeds that resemble crystals, which are filled with a ruby red juice. The beauty, the color and the flavor of pomegranate have enamored many for centuries. But some studies suggest that there might be more to love about this fruit than taste or just for decorating a table centerpiece. It has many properties. “Pomegranate juice . . . → Read More: Pomegranate, a health and culinary jewel Pomegranate, a health and culinary jewel
By Admin, on September 18th, 2011% 
#gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 50%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } Avocados are a fruit, not a vegetable. They grow on trees and are native to central Mexico, some say to the region of Puebla. The fruit with a rough green skin is not appealing, no wonder it is also known as alligator pear. But . . . → Read More: Avocados Avocados
By Admin, on August 28th, 2011% 
Arugula (Photo: Margarita Persico)Arugula, cultivated by the Romans for thousands of years and known as rocket, roquette, rugula and rucola, was considered an aphrodisiac food during the first century. Jonny Bowden the author of “The 150 healthiest foods on earth,” wrote that one cup of arugula has very few calories, but it is loaded with nutrients: folic acid, vitamin A, K, carotenoids, calcium, lutein and zeaxanthin. The Framingham Heart Study revealed that a low consumption . . . → Read More: Arugula: famed aphrodisiac or just nutrient rich Arugula: famed aphrodisiac or just nutrient rich
By Admin, on August 9th, 2011% 
Potatoes (Photo: Margarita Persico) Nearly everyone knows the potato, famous throughout Europe and the Americas. After all what would lunch be without French fries to accompany the lonely sandwich or burger? What many didn’t know was specifically where in the Andes did it originate. A question that caused many debates between Peru and Chili, both claimed to own the potato. Where did it originated? Those were questions in debate a few years ago where two countries . . . → Read More: The Potatoes Debated Origines The Potatoes Debated Origines
By Admin, on August 6th, 2011% 
Qui what? Pronounced “kee-NO-wah”, and it’s not just food for birds. Red Quinoa (Photo: Margarita Persico) “Quinoa … considered a pseudocereal or pseudograin, has been recognized as a complete food due to its protein quality,” reported Lilian E. Abugoch James of the University of Chile in an abstract on her research adding that besides its 15 percent protein content and balanced amino acid, it is a rich source of minerals, vitamins, polyphenols, phytosterols, flavonoids and oils . . . → Read More: Quinoa, the high protein grain from the Andes. Quinoa, the high protein grain from the Andes.
By Admin, on July 31st, 2011% 
Turmeric tuber (Photo: Margarita Persico) By Margarita Persico For thousands of years in India turmeric (Curcuma longa) has been used as food, medicine and dye. It is an important culinary spice in India and the main ingredient in a curry (coriander, turmeric, cumin, fenugreek and pepper). “In India, it has been used traditionally as a remedy for stomach and liver ailments, as well as topically to heal sores. Ancient Indian medicine has touted turmeric as . . . → Read More: The Amazing Turmeric, a culinary spice for health The Amazing Turmeric, a culinary spice for health
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