S is for Strawberry: Yummy Fruits A-Z

Wild strawberries have been around for at least 2,200 years ago. Researchers know that Italy had strawberries in 234 BC, where ancient Romans used strawberries to make different types of medicines.

We also know that French kings planted strawberries in their royal gardens in the 14th century and European monks (15th century) wrote of strawberries in their manuscripts. Flemish, German, Italian, and English artists depicted strawberries in their work, while instructions on how to grow strawberries were described in England in 1578. Cultivation of non-wild strawberries followed in the 1750s in Brittany, France. After a period of cross-breeding with a native Chilean strawberry from Chile, a large, juicy and sweet strawberry was developed that became quite popular in Europe.

Meanwhile, settlers who had left for America in the late 1500s discovered native wild strawberries in Virginia and Massachusetts, a berry long since enjoyed by area Indians. Its popularity spread from there. Today the U.S. is the largest producer of strawberries in the world, with California producing the most (Florida second). Spain is the second largest producer, and also the largest exporter of strawberries.

Besides being high in vitamin C and dietary fiber, the health claims for eating strawberries are mainly: 1) support of cardiovascular health & disease prevention; 2) decreased type 2 diabetes risk, help regulating blood sugar; 3) prevention of certain cancers - breast, cervical, colon and esophageal. A word of caution would be the concern for those with gall bladder or untreated kidney problems. The oxalates in strawberries may interfere with calcium absorption. Other than that, enjoy this yummy fruit with gusto! I slice these on my oatmeal with nuts almost daily.

Strawberry Recipes

FRESH: The best way 
to enjoy strawberries!

But for that special occasion try:


"Easy Strawberry Trifle"


2 cups fresh strawberries

2 tablespoons sugar
2 cups homemade vanilla pudding (or store-bought pudding)
1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
2 cups pre-baked angel food cake, cut in one-inch cubes (shortcake or pound cake also works)

--(Reserve 3 or 4 berries for garnish). Hull and slice 1 cup strawberries. Arrange berries along the sides of a clear, glass serving dish (1-1/2 quart size). 

--Place remaining strawberries and sugar in blender container and process until pureed. 

--In mixing bowl, mix pudding and cream cheese with electric mixer and blend well. 

--Place half of cake in bottom of serving dish. Pour half of pureed strawberries over cake, and top with half of pudding mixture.
--Repeat layer. Cover and chill for up to 24 hours. Before serving stop with reserved berries. Yield: 6 to 8 servings. 


Strawberry Jokes

Q: Why were the little strawberries upset?



A: Because their parents were in a jam!




Q: What did one strawberry say to the other strawberry?

A: If you weren’t so sweet, we wouldn’t be in this jam!

 

"Rock Berries"

Strawberry Books

--Strawberry Girl (1945) (ages 8-12)

by Lois Lenski (a Newbery Medal book)

--Freckleface Strawberry (2007)
 (ages 3-8) by Julianne Moore & LeUyen Pham 

--Strawberry Hill (2010) (ages 8-12) 
by Mary Ann Hoberman 

"Strawberry
Shortcake"

--Strawberry Shortcake (various titles) (2003-2014) A popular series for ages 2 to 6 years; I counted 131 books online! 
Note: the American Greetings character "Strawberry Shortcake" evolved commercially 
to include: dolls, toys, songs, posters, movies, TV series, video games, cartoons, and books. Lawsuits regarding ownership of this character and related continue to this day.

--The Strawberry Statement by James Simon Kunen (1969) (nonfiction) (Chronicles a student's experience at Columbia University; counterculture and student revolts, 1960s).

Strawberry Movies

--Strawberry Blonde (1941)  

James Cagney and Olivia DeHaviland

--Strawberry Summer (2012)  

Julie Mond and Trevor Donovan



--The Strawberry Statement (1970)
Bruce Davison and Kim Darby 
(Based on Kunen's book; Winner at Jury Prize Cannes Film Festival, 1970)

Strawberry Songs

--Strawberry Wine - Deana Carter (1996)

--Strawberry Letter 23 - The Brothers Johnson (1977)

--Strawberry Roan - Ed McCurdy (a cowboy song) 
(written by Curley Fletcher, first published 1936)

--Raspberries Strawberries - Kingston Trio
(first released, 1960)

--Strawberry Swing - Coldplay (released 2009)

--Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles (1967)

Although credited to both John Lennon and Paul McCartney, the story behind this song is that John was inspired by a garden he had played in as a child near his home. The garden was located at a Salvation Army children's home called "Strawberry Field."

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry; http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=32

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strawberry_Shortcake; http://www.berries4u.com/history.htm; http://www.strawberries-for-strawberry-lovers.com/where-are-strawberries-grown.html#sthash.3SVXz5SO.dpbs

P is for Peach: Yummy Fruits A-Z

Peaches most likely originated in China. Chinese manuscripts mention peaches as far back at the 10th century. Peaches played a huge role in Chinese culture and were regarded highly, as giving a person vitality and warding off evil. Peach wood bows and arrows and wands, and pits, therefore were thought to have special powers. 

Legends and similar cultural significance existed in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam as well, and elsewhere around the world. Famous artists in Europe, for instance, depicted peaches' positive influence on one's life. A peach was viewed as a symbol of good health.  

Spanish explorers introduced peaches to the Americas in the 16th century. Later, President Thomas Jefferson planted peach trees at his home, Monticello, but commercial production in the U.S. did not begin until the 19th century - in the states of Maryland, Delaware, Georgia and Virginia. Today the three largest peach-producing states are California, South Carolina, and Georgia.  

Historically, Georgia has a long relationship with peaches. It is known as the "peach state," and having lived there for a year and a half early in my marriage, I am kind of proud of the fact I gave birth to a "Georgia peach." Our daughter was born in Georgia! The song below is cute. Give it a listen if you have time and want to know what it means to be a "Georgia peach."

There are two main varieties of peaches: clingstone (the flesh sticks to stone) and freestone (the flesh separates from stone).

The peach stone (pit/seed) is toxic and peach allergies do exist, but for most of us, peaches are a delicious way to get vitamins A and C. Other health benefits include: high potassium; low glycemic load (no sudden blood sugar spikes); cholesterol-lowering high fiber; cancer and heart disease prevention.     

This evening I was catching up on some newspaper reading and was surprised to read on the front page an article about cancer and peaches! A food scientist (Giuliana Noratto) at Washington State University in the town were I live has been researching the effect of chemicals in peaches on breast cancer growth. (Moscow-Pullman Daily News, April 11, 2014)

To test, she fed peaches to mice with implanted breast cancer. The tumor growth was slowed, but what was more surprising is that the cancer cells died off. She recommends women with breast cancer add peaches to their diet. "This is equivalent to a 132-pound human eating three peaches a day," she said. The article goes on to say that Noratto is a firm believer the right nutrition can go a long way in treating ailments. I couldn't agree more!

Peach Recipe

"Peach Coffee Cake"

4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup milk
3 large peaches, peeled and sliced

Cake:
--Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease heavy 9-inch baking pan (2 quart size).
--Cream butter and sugar until light (blended well). Beat in egg.
Sift dry ingredients together (a wire whisk is good for this). Beat half of dry mixture into creamed mixture, then beat in half of milk. Repeat with rest, beating well.
--Pour batter in prepare pan. Arrange peach slices on top. Bake 25 minutes.

Topping:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger (or nutmeg)
4 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped

Cut ingredients together with pastry blender, fork, or wire whisk, until mixture is crumbly. Remove prepared cake from oven and immediately crumble topping over peaches. Bake for 8 minutes, or until cake is done. (Cake will pull away from edges when firm).
Yield: 8 servings. Best served warm. 

Peach Jokes

Did you hear the joke about a peach? 
It's pit-iful! 

Peach Books

--Peach 
by Elizabeth Adler (1989)  


--The Peach Keeper 
by Sarah Addison Allen (2012)

--Lucky Peach, Issue 9 

by David Chang, Chris Ying, and

Peter Meehan (2013) (nonfiction)

--The Peaches Monroe Trilogy 
by Mimi Strong (2014)

--Peaches (2006)
by Jodi Lynn Anderson 

--James and the Giant Peach
by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake 
(2007) (ages 7 up)

Peach Movies

--James and the Giant Peach (1996)

--Peaches (2004) (drama)

--Eat the Peach (1986) (comedy)


Peach Songs

"Georgia Peaches" by Lauren Alaina (2011)

--"I Can't Grow Peaches on a Cherry Tree" 

by Nancy Sinatra

--"Peaches" - Presidents of the USA

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peach
http://www.pearsonfarm.com/peaches/peach-nutrition-facts.html

Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing