Fun Food Facts A-Z | C is for Cantaloupe + Recipe

Welcome to another Fun Food Facts A-Z! This week's letter is C! C is for...Cantaloupe! 

I have to admit I don't really like cantaloupe.  The only way that I do like cantaloupe is cantaloupe ice cream! My Grammy would make it every summer! Cantaloupe ice cream has a refreshing taste that is perfect for summer. With summer on my brain I can't stop thinking about all the summer food's I love. I will have to give my Grammy's cantaloupe ice cream recipe a try this summer! Be sure to pin the recipe so that you too can make this awesome ice cream! Now on to the fun facts!




Fun Food Facts:

• Cantaloupe was first grown in the Nile River Valley of Egypt.
• In the US sometimes Cantaloupe can be called muskmelon.
• Cantaloupe peaks in the summer.
• Cantaloupe does not ripen after you cut it off the vine.
• Store Cantaloupe at room temperature for no more then four days.
• Cantaloupes are related to cucumbers.
• Cantaloupes are packed with vitamins A & C.
• When shopping for Cantaloupe it is best to choice the one with the sweetest smell.

Next week's letter is D....what fun food starting with D would you like to learn about?

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups small diced Cantaloupe

2 1/4 cups Milk

1/2 cup Sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

Pinch of Salt

Direction:

1. Dice Cantaloupe and keep the juices.
2. Mix milk, sugar, vanilla and salt, until the sugar has dissolved.
3. Now add your cantaloupe with the juices to your milk and sugar mixture.
4. Put the mixture in the Fridge for 1 hour.
5. Pour your chilled mixture into a 2 qt. ice cream makers and let mix for 15 minutes.

Fun Food Facts A-Z | B is for...Broccoli

 I love to learn! I especially love learning about food. Last week I was exploring around the internet and learned some pretty cool things about artichokes and decided to share in a blog post. (Missed that post don't worry just click here!) Since I love learning and blogging I am going to combine the two each week. Fun Food Facts A-Z will highlight a fruit or vegetable each week. You will learn new fun facts and maybe even a recipe. 
Welcome to Fun Food Facts A-Z!
This week's letter: B..... is for Broccoli

Fun Facts:

• Broccoli as been eaten since the 6th century.
• The average American eats 4 lbs of Broccoli a year.
• Broccoli means "branch" or "arm".
• California produces 90% of the US Broccoli.
• Thomas Jefferson loved Broccoli! He used seeds from Italy to plant in Monticello. 
• Broccoli is high in vitamin A and Fiber.
• Fresh Broccoli will have dark green heads. 
• Try to stay away from stalks that bend or feel rubbery.

My family and I eat broccoli all the time! I always have it in my crisper or on my grocery list. Here is a quick and easy recipe that everyone will love.

Ingredients:

3 medium size Broccoli heads

1 tbsp of chopped Garlic

1 teaspoon of Lemon Pepper

2 tbsp Olive Oil

Dash of Salt

Direction:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Rinse the broccoli and cut into florets.
3. Add your broccoli and all the ingredients to a plastic bag and give it a few good shakes.
4. On a lined baking pan spread out the broccoli and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the broccoli is crisp.

Fun Facts about Artichokes

• Artichokes date back to 7 AD
• Italy is the largest producer of Artichokes.
• Artichokes are actually a flower bud.
• In 1948 Marilyn Monroe was crowned Castroville's artichoke queen.
• If you squeeze a fresh artichoke it will squeak.
• Artichokes should never be cooked in an aluminium pan. They will turn the pan grey.
• Artichokes can be made into an herbal tea. Artichoke herbal tea is popular in Vietnam. 

Have you ever cooked with a fresh artichoke?  Know any tips or tricks?

Oh and I need a little bit of your help, if you please.....Stop on over to Always Savory Facebook and like the page!

Food Challenge: Which country produces the most pineapples?

I love pineapples but I don't eat them!

I know that sounds weird, but I just don't like the taste of them.  What I do adore about pineapple is it's prickly shape.  I can't get enough pineapple decorations in my kitchen.  I have five different sets of pineapple S&P shakers! My most favorite pineapple of them all, is the tattoo I have on my wrist!

The pineapple is an international sign of hospitality. If you used to have a pineapple in your window, passing travelers took that as a sign of an inn. Early American hostesses use to use them as a warm and welcoming dinner table center piece. This tropical fruit is used in so many different recipes, from desserts to pizzas!! This weeks food challenge has to do with this juicy fruit.  Lets see if you can answer this pineapple trivia.

Which country produces the most pineapples?

What is on my Wine Rack?

I am definitely a Wino!

When it comes to wine I know my stuff.  While studying restaurant management, I also study for the C.S.W.  (Certified Specialist of Wines).  There were many sleepless nights studying for that test. 

There is always something interesting on my wine rack.  Lets take a look at some of my new additions.

From Left to Right
This Pouilly-Fuisse is a great example of what a Chardonnay grape can do.  This wine is crisp with tones of minerals.  I love this wine because it is refreshing and well balanced.  This wine would pair great with seafood, like raw oysters. 

Poizin's wine bottle caught my eye.  I normally would pass right over a wine bottle that was labeled like this, but after reading that it was a Zinfandel I change my mind.  I am in a Zinfandel phase right now, I can't get enough of it.  This wine has solid tannins and notes of cherry and chocolate. The label and deep red color make it perfect for my Halloween party!

From Left to right 
The Chateauneuf-Du-Pape is one of the most famous winery in France. Some of their wines can be pretty expensive.  There are some white varieties that are hard to find. But this red grenache blend is fulled body and spicy! Yum!  When paring this wine, I would go with a veal dish.

This Paso Robles is a red wine blend of grenache, zinfandel, petite sirah and mourvedre.  The bottle sports one of those new rubber corks, which makes it much easier to open. This wine is intense with hints of dark fruit and jam. I purchase this bottle for around $12.  The price and complexity of the wine make a great find!

So what is on your wine rack?

My Most Used Kitchen Tools

When it comes to working in the kitchen there are many different tools that I use.  I love them all, but here are the five that I use the most!

1.       Food Tongs.-  These OXO 12" softworks nylon-head tongs are used almost every day in my kitchen.  They have a locking feature that makes it easy to place in your kitchen utensil holder or hang them up.  The soft nylon ends of these tongs can take high heat and they are non-stick!  With these tongs also being dishwasher safe and around $10 you can’t beat them.

2.       Chef knife-  I love my Wüsthof Classic 8" Hollow-Ground Chef’s Knife!  This professional grade chef knife makes it easy to chop anything.  It is a little pricy but well worth it!  I have been using Wüsthof knives since culinary school and I would not buy anything else.

3.       Wooden cutting board-  A cutting board is essential in any kitchen. I like wooden cutting boards because they are easy on my chef knives and they are easy to clean and sanitize

4.       Mixer-  I am currently working on my baking skills so my Kitchenaid mixer has been getting a lot of play time   I bought this mixer because of the endless attachments.  You can get attachments for this mixer like a pasta press, shredder or even sausage stuffer.

5.       Food processor- This Ninja Pulse kitchen system get used for so many things in my house.  We make tons of smoothies!  One reason I love this system is because of the single severing blending cups.  They will come in handy when I start making my own baby food.

Kitchen tools are what makes my kitchen go round and I get good use out of these five!

                                                What are some of your most used kitchen gadgets?

Food Challenge: Can you guess this pepper?

  

Hello! I am so happy that you decided to stop by Always Savory.  As you can see we are under a bit of construction at the moment.  Please excuse our mess.  But don’t worry Always Savory will be up and running very soon.  I am currently in the kitchen experimenting with some exciting recipes!  I am even experimenting with my very own recipes.  And soon I will be cooking up some of my own baby food.  Stop on back very soon to read some of my food tips.  The food tips and skill section of my blog will feature some easy and every day advice for when you are in the kitchen. 

But while we are waiting why don’t we have a challenge!  Can you guess which pepper this is (I took the picture this morning in my back yard garden.)?  What can you make with this pepper? Maybe I will cook up one of your creative pepper dishes with this little guy!