After last year 's success with Stereoviews A-Z, I wasn't sure if I could come up with anything as entertaining and fun. Well, as is always the case in the blog world, I found something I could wrap my thoughts and (ahem) stomach around for 26 days.
Announcing YUMMY FRUITS A-Z!
Join me in April for a bit of fun, as I choose a representative fruit (out of many!). I guarantee a Free Recipe, some fruit facts and history, songs, books, and movies with said fruit in the titles, and even a joke or two. A light-hearted way to enjoy fruit, one of my favorite foods to eat....and hopefully yours, too! For those of you who have never done the A-Z before, hold onto your computer chairs. You are in for quite a ride. See you there!!
Thimbleberries are native to western and northern North America, and the U.S. Great Lakes region. At first glance, they look like raspberries, but without getting too complicated, there IS a difference between the two. Both are in the same genus (rubus), but of a different species entirely.
Thimbleberries grow on bushes without prickly thorns, while raspberries often grow on
canes with thorns. Thimbleberries are flatter and softer than raspberries, with more seeds. They do not store well either, which is why they have never been commercialized. The two, however, are quite similar in taste, and like the raspberry, the thimbleberry is NOT a true berry. Both are "aggregate fruits," which defines a fruit formed around a central core (note the hollow cavity when these berries are picked). They are more like peaches or apricots in that regard. The name "thimble" refers to the berry's resemblance to a "sewing thimble." As a young girl, I picked thimbleberries in the wild with my mother and aunt. I liked putting the berries on my fingers (like thimbles) and eating them one by one. These dear ladies also liked to mess with my hair (ha-ha....I had more than my share of frizzy perms back then). But I learned a lot from them, and picking berries at the base of beautiful Mount Rainier was one of many lessons. After an afternoon of picking we would go home and convert the berries into jams and yummy desserts. Thimbleberries are high in nutrition, something native tribes throughout Canada and the U.S. understood well in the past. The entire plant is edible, the berry, roots, stalks, leaves and flowers! Leaves were used to make a herbal tea or soups for treating diarrhea, vomiting and stomach illnesses, also for poultices in tending wounds or burns. Roots were used similarly, and stalks were a nutritious vegetable. Like the berries, they are especially high in Vitamin C. Berries in general are a healthy food source, and are a smart and delicious way to strengthen the body against cancer, heart disease, and arthritis. Some think that eating berries may even slow the aging process. All are pretty good reasons to eat more!
Thimbleberry Recipes
"Thimbleberry Cheesecake"
Crust 1 cup graham cracker crumbs 2 tablespoons sugar 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 cup butter
Filling 2-1/2 cups cottage cheese 1/2 cream 2 eggs 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2/3 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt Glaze: 1 cup thimbleberries (or raspberries) Juice of 1 lemon 1/2 cup white sugar 2 tablespoons cornstarch (dissolved in 1/4 cup water)
Preheat oven 325 degrees F.
Directions: Crust: Melt butter and mix with graham cracker crumbs, sugar (2 tbs), and cinnamon. Press into bottom and sides of spring form pan (or large deep dish pie pan). Set aside. Cheesecake Filling: In food processor, blend cottage cheese, cream, eggs, flour, lemon juice, vanilla, sugar (2/3 c), and salt. Mix until smooth. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 60 minutes (filling is done if firm). Cool cheesecake completely. Glaze: In medium saucepan add half of thimbleberries. Stir in cornstarch (dissolved), lemon juice, and sugar. Bring mixture to boil and continue stirring until liquid is clear and thick. Set glaze aside to cool (warm, but not hot). Arrange thimbleberries on top of cheesecake and slowly pour over glaze.
Thimbleberry Jokes
Thimbleberry Books
--Thimbleberries Big Book of Quilt Blocksby Lynette Jensen (2005)
--Thimbleberries Scrap Quilts by Lynette Jensen and Jeri Simon (2013)
--Thimbleberry Stories(2006) by Cynthia Rylant and Maggie Kneen
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 halfof 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).
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."
Fudging a bit here, because technically rhubarb is a vegetable, but here in the U.S. most of us know it as a fruit. I always have. Have you? We have a New York court decision in 1947 to thank for the confusion. They ruled that since all of us were using rhubarb as a fruit anyway, the designation should be changed. (I'm guessing there was also some monetary motivation). So although rhubarb is technically a vegetable, for all tariff and regulation purposes it is "officially" a fruit.
Rhubarb is grown all over the world, often in hothouses, which has increased its availability. Hothouse rhubarb also tends to be sweeter and more tender. Other areas can grow rhubarb year round. The Chinese have been growing rhubarb for thousands of years. There it was commonly used for medical purposes. Medieval Europeans and Arabs also used rhubarb in this way. The leaves are quite toxic. During World War II, British citizens were ill-advised they could eat these leaves, and there were reported fatalities. On the other hand, the stalks are rich in vitamin C and dietary fiber. But other vitamin and mineral content is small, since stalks average 95% water. I happen to like rhubarb, but with all the added sugar we need to enjoy this (very tart) fruit, it might make sense to use a sugar substitute like Stevia or Splenda to sweeten. Nevertheless, the health claims are impressive: anti-cancer properties; aiding indigestion; lowering blood pressure; diminishing hot flashes; lowering high cholesterol; and anti- oxidant, inflammatory, and allergy properties.
Rhubarb Recipes
"Rhubarb Custard Pie"
3 cups rhubarb, cut up 1 pie shell, unbaked
Custard: 2 egg yolks, beaten 1/2 cup milk 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon flour 1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
Meringue:
2 egg whites, beaten stiff
Pinch of salt
2 tablespoons sugar
Fill pie shell with cut rhubarb. Mix together all custard ingredients and pour over rhubarb. Bake at 425 degrees F for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake until rhubarb is tender.
For meringue, add sugar and salt to stiff egg whites, Blend with beater. When custard is set, spread meringue around edge of pie and return to oven for 12 to 15 minutes to brown lightly.
I also found this Icelandic recipe online for rhubarb jam. Have never had one for jam. (It works with other recipes, too).
"Rhubarb Jam"
rhubarb (6 oz.), cut into small pieces
granulated sugar (6 oz.)
In medium sauce pan, bring sugar and rhubarb to a boil over medium high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until rhubarb falls apart and is pureed. Transfer to bowl and cool. Rhubarb Jokes:
Q: "What kind of socks do you need to plant rhubarb?"
A: "Garden hose!"
Q: "Have you heard the one about the rhubarb who robbed a shop?"
A: "He got taken into custardy!"
Rhubarb Books
--Rhubarb by M.H. Van Keuren (2012) (Sci-Fi)
--The Joy of Rhubarb: The Versatile Summer Delight by Theresa Millang (nonfiction) (2004)
--Rhubarbby Craig Silvey (2004) (fiction)
--Rhubarb (1946) (fiction) by A. Allen Smith and Leo Herschfield --Rhubarb in the Catbird Seat by Red Barber and Robert W. Creamer (nonfiction) (story of baseball radio voice Red Barber) (1997)
Rhubarb Movie
--Rhubarbthe Millionaire Cat (1951) (Comedy; A rich eccentric dies and leaves inheritance to a feral cat)
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)
Oranges. If you have never eaten an orange, I'll bet a bottle of vitamin C you have had orange juice. Oranges, next to apples, are probably the most common fruit around, and it is hard for me to talk about oranges without adding a personal note from my past.
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest (the Tacoma-Seattle area) in a blue-collar family of five in the 1960s. Dad was self-employed and Mom worked part-time in retail. Mom had a strict food budget in those days....$100 a month, which was not much, even then, but she knew how to stretch a dollar. She filled our freezer full with loaves of day-old bread, chicken, and other meat on sale. Dad fished in his spare time and the family went clam-digging and oyster hunting every season. Fruit (also vegetables and eggs) came from my grandparent's farm, where apples, pears, raspberries, and rhubarb grew in abundance. Mom faithfully canned most of this fruit.
(That's me on left with my dad,
baby sister and brother)
Oranges, on the other hand, were a special treat. I do not think they were available year round. Mom bought a huge bag (I'm guessing a 5-10 pound bag) at the first of the month, and by the end of that month I was craving oranges again. My favorite way to eat an orange was to cut a whole on top and squeeze out all the juice (like the mango I described yesterday). After, I would rip the orange apart and eat the flesh. I even ate the white pulp on the inside of the rind. I was pretty skinny in those days and ate like my dad, Mom said. He had the appetite of a horse!
So....back to the subject of oranges. Their origin is somewhat vague. Southeast Asia, northeastern India, or southern China are the most likely regions. Researchers know that oranges were first cultivated in China around 2500 BC. In the 11th century, oranges appeared in Italy, where they were used to treat illness. (I'm thinking the common cold here). By the late 15th century, oranges had become an edible fruit in the Mediterranean area.
Oranges were introduced to America in the mid-1500s by Spanish explorers. Christopher Columbus supposedly brought orange seeds on his second voyage. Today Brazil and the U.S. (California and Florida) are the top producers of oranges, but they are grown elsewhere around the world and there are many varieties. Most people know about the high content of vitamin C in oranges, but there is plenty more to applaud this healthy fruit. Here is a brief list: reduced risk of colon cancer; reduced inflammation conditions (e.g. asthma and osteoarthritis); increased immunity; reduced heart disease, strokes and other cancers.....and reduced cholesterol. Research has shown that oranges could lower levels as effectively as statins in some individual. The secret ingredient? The compounds in the orange peel called PMFs. The orange peel claim is new to me. The recommended dose is one tablespoon grated orange peel a day. Anyone else heard of this?
Orange Recipe "Orange-Chocolate Delight" 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 3/4 cup granulated sugar 2-1/4 cups milk (1-2% fat), divided 3 tablespoons freshly brewed espresso (note: 1-1/2 teaspoons instant espresso added to 3 tablespoons boiling water can be substituted). 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon 1-1/2 teaspoons grated orange peel (or orange zest) --In medium saucepan mix cocoa and sugar together. Add 1 cup milk and stir until smooth. Add espresso, cinnamon, and 1 cup more milk (reserve 1/4 cup for later). Heat and stir mixture over low heat until sugar dissolves, stirring frequently. --Pour mixture into ice cube tray (leave dividers in place). Freeze for at least 8 hours. --Remove frozen cubes from tray, place in food processor, add 1/4 cup remaining milk, and process until smooth. Add grated orange peel, mix lightly and serve at once. Yield: 4-6 servings (This recipe is a bit complicated but so worth it!)
Orange Jokes
Q: What does an orange sweat?
A: Orange juice!
Q: What did the apple say to the orange?
A: Nothing. Apples don't talk!
Orange Books
--Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison by Piper Kerman (2011)
--Under the Orange Moon by Adrienne Frances (2014)
--It's an Orange Aardvark! by Michel Hall (2014) (picture book) --Oranges by John McPhee (1975) (nonfiction) --The Big Orange Splot by D. Manus Pinkwater and Daniel Manus Pinkwater (1993) (picture book) --Think Orange: Imagine the Impact When Church and Family Collide by Reggie Joiner (2009) (nonfiction) --A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (1995) Orange Movies --Orange County (2002) (comedy/drama; guidance counselor sends out wrong transcripts to Standford)
--Oranges and Sunshine (drama/history; 1980s; British social worker tries to reunite children w/parents) (2010)
--Orange Love Story (2005) (Stories of love from a small town point of view; Australian)
--Soldier of Orange (1977) (Drama; WWII changes the lives of a group of Dutch law students)
--A Clockwork Orange(1971)
(story of sociopathic delinquent in dystopian future Britain)
You could call me an eternal optimist, but I'm really just a dreamer. l believe in dream fulfillment, because 'sometimes' dreams come true. This is a blog about my journey as a writer and things that inspire and motivate me.
Join me in April for a bit of fun, as I choose a representative fruit (out of many!). I guarantee a Free Recipe, some fruit facts and history, songs, books, and movies with said fruit in the titles, and even a joke or two. A light-hearted way to enjoy fruit, one of my favorite foods to eat....and hopefully yours, too! For those of you who have never done the A-Z before, hold onto your computer chairs. You are in for quite a ride. See you there!! 
