Indian Goosegrass also known as Eleusine indica, is a grass species of family Poaceae. It is a small annual grass which is distributed all over warmer areas to about 50 degrees latitude. In some areas, it might intrusive areas. Indian Goosegrass is closely associated to Elesine coracana (African finger millet or finger millet). The seeds are edible and also consumed as a famine food but have low yields. The plant thrives well in disturbed areas having compacted soils in full sun. Eleusine indica is an annual plant which grows to the height of 1/2-2 feet tall. Leaves are placed towards…

Stachys Affinis is a perennial, erect or inclined and deciduous herb which grows to the height of 30 to 120 cm. It has soft and quadrangular stems with base furnished having short rhizomes. Rhizomes are white, fleshy and fusiform worm like tubers measuring 3 to 5 cm long and 1 to 1.2 cm wide which has constricted slightly at nodes that resembles witchetty grub. Leaves are green, opposite which varies in shape as well as size. Leaves are ovate-cordate to ovate oblong about 2.5 to 9.5 cm by 1.5 to 3.5 cm wide. Petioles of leaves are 1 to 2…

With the scientific name Iris x germanica, Bearded Iris is a rhizomatous and perennial herb which grows upto 120 cm high by forming a large clump of 30 cm wide. The homogenous rhizomes are creeping on soil surface and are usually light brown, many branched, smooth measuring 1.2 to 2 cm in diameter having nodal rings. Stems are 2-3 branched, green, glaucous measuring 60-120 cm × 1-1.5 cm. The leaves have purplish base and folded midrib to base, ensiform, glaucous about 45 cm long and 3.5 cm wide. An inflorescence having terminal unit are 2 to 3 flowered and with…

Tahini also called Ardeh or Sesame seed paste is a condiment which is prepared from toasted hulled sesame seeds. It is served in its own as a dip or as a major constituent of baba ghanoush, hummus and halva. It is used in the cuisines of Eastern Mediterranean region from South Caucasus, Balkans, Middle East to Northern Africa. Notably, it is also used in Southeast Asian and Chinese cuisines. Actually, Tahini is a brownish to creamy paste which is made from toasted sesame seeds. In United States, tahini is used like dips in hummus. Tahini which is store bought is…

Chorizo is a form of pork sausage which uses natural casings that are made from intestines. It is a common method used since the time of Romans. Chorizo in Europe is fermented, smoked and cured which is sliced and consumed without cooking or added as an ingredient for adding flavor to other dishes. In some places, sausages sold as chorizo may not be cured and fermented and needs proper cooking before consumption. Portuguese chourico and Spanish chorizo gets its distinctive smokiness and also deep red color from smoked, dried and red peppers. Due to the high cost of imported Spanish…

Bread crumb also known as breadcrumbs are residue of sliced dry bread which is used for crumbing or breading foods, stuffing poultry, topping casseroles, meatloaves, thickening stews, inexpensive bulk to soups and to make a crisp or crunchy covering for fried foods notably breaded cutlets such as schnitzel and tonkatsu. A bread crumb of Japanese variety is called panko. It could be made with various bread varieties and are grounded more fine in comparison to flakier panko. Homemade breadcrumbs could be processed into larger grain but still lack distinct flaky texture that makes panko apart. Breadcrumbs are used as a…

Cocoa powder is extracted from cocoa beans that grow in pods on cacao tree. Beans are fermented, dried, cracked and roasted in high temperatures. Nibs are grounded in order to extract 75% of cocoa butter remaining a dark brown paste known as chocolate liquor. It is dried again and the mass is grounded into powder which is an unsweetened cocoa. Roasting modifies molecular structure of cocoa bean lowering the enzyme content and also reducing overall nutritional value. Two types of cocoa powder are available: Dutch-processed cocoa powder: It is also called dark cocoa. It undergoes additional processing accompanying an alkalized…

Agave is a rosette of leathery succulent leaves which ranges more than 2.5 meters long that depends on species. The spines are found along edges and tip of the leaf. Leaves are pale green to blue-grey that could be striped or variegated. Most of the species reproduce vegetatively and creates clonal rosettes at the base of main stem or by underground rhizomes. Some species might produce bulbils on inflorescence. Generally the plants are monocarpic which means each rosette dies after flowering and fruiting. This plant has the lifespan of 30 years. Flowers are red, pale green, yellow which are borne…

Pork is the culinary term used for the meat of domestic pig (scientific name Sus scrofa domesticus). It is commonly consumed meat worldwide having the evidence of pig husbandry that dates back to 5000 BC. Pork could be consumed freshly cooked and also preserved. The curing increases the shelf life of the products made from pork. Some examples of preserved pork are bacon, sausage, gammon, smoked pork and ham. Pork is widely consumed in Eastern and Southeastern Asia and is also common in Central Europe of Western World. It is highly valued in Asian cuisines for the content of its…

In North America, Swiss cheese resembles Emmental cheese which is yellow and medium to hard cheese which is originated in area around Emmental, in Switzerland. This cheese has specific appearance as the blocks of the cheese are riddled with holes which are called eyes. The Swiss cheese without eyes is called blind. It is the group of cheese having holes in them. They got its name as its look resembles Swiss Emmental cheese. The holes in this cheese are formed by bacteria that turn milk to Swiss cheese. The lactic acid is used by Propionibacter which is produced by other…

Goat cheese is made from goat’s milk. Though goat’s milk and cow’s milk have identical fat contents yet goat’s milk has high rate of medium chain fatty acids such as caprylic, caprioc and capric acid which provides tart flavor. It has been made for thousands of years and is probably it is the earliest made dairy products. Simply goat cheese is allowed raw milk to curdle and then drained and pressed the curds. Other techniques might use acid such as lemon juice or vinegar or rennet to coagulate milk. Soft goat cheese could be made in kitchen in the world…

Couscous is a dish of Maghrebi of small steamed balls of crushed durum wheat semolina which is traditionally offered with stew spooned on top. In Sahel, sorghum and pearl millet as well as other cereals are prepared in similar way and the dishes resulted from it are called couscous. It has become a predominant food in North African cuisines of Morocco, Algeria, Mauritania, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Sicily. In western, it is served on its own as main dish or side dish. Traditionally, it was made from hard part of durum, a part of grain which resists the grinding of…

Tapioca is a starch which is extracted from cassava root scientifically known as Manihot esculenta. It is inherent to northeast region of Brazil and its use has been spread throughout South America. The plant was brought by Spanish and Portuguese explorers to West Indies, Asia and Africa. It is a perennial and tropical shrub which is less cultivated in temperate climate zones. It thrives in poor soils than many other food plants. It has become a staple food for millions of people in tropical countries. It is low in vitamins, protein and minerals and provides only carbohydrate food value. It…

It is known as a Prodotto agroalimentare tradizionale which is a traditional regional food product. It is a cream cheese which is acquired by boiling milk and curdling through the addition of citric acid or lemon juice. Due to the similar preparation process, it is generally confused with cottage cheese or ricotta but Mascarpone cheese is a double or triple cream cheese that possess sweeter taste. Mascarpone cheese is a fresh cheese made from cultured cream, native to the northern Italian region of Lombardy. Rather than beginning with milk, mascarpone starts with full-fat cream. This is gently acidified and cooked…

Almond flour is the nut flour which is free from gluten that consists of ground blanched almonds. Generally it is used as low carb substitute for wheat flour in bread and other baked goods. It is usually made with blanched almonds and lack dark flecks of skin. It is the vital ingredient in French macarons and also used for airy cakes, quick breads and cookies. It is readily available in grocery stores and is labeled as ground almonds, almond meal and almond powder. It could also be made at home. The people who are sensitive to grains or on GAPS…

Chicken broth is the liquid part of chicken soup which is made from meat. It is a health food which is packed with gelatin, chondroitin, assortment of minerals and protein. It could be served as a soup with noodles. It is somewhat mild than stock and also not needed to be boiled as long and is made with meatier chicken parts. It has thin texture but is rich in protein and have light flavor. Health Benefits of Chicken Broth Gut Health Healthy gut indicates healthy body. A gut lining is the vital barriers to eliminate unwanted intruders. The western diet…

Paprika is a red powder which is made from grinding dried sweet red peppers. It is used for seasoning and to garnish. Its color differs from bright orange-red to deep red that depends on the peppers used. Seeds are discarded from pods, pods dried and then grounded. As pods are tough, assorted grindings are essential for producing powder with proper texture. Commercially paprika comes from Spain, California, South America and Hungary. There are six types of paprika in Hungary that ranges from delicate to hot. In order to maintain stronger taste of the expectation of consumers, spice companies may add…

Coconut flour is spreading popularly as people have discovered various health benefits of coconut flour. It is delicious, gluten free and alternative to other flours. Coconut flour is rich in protein, fiber and healthy fats and is also free from wheat as well as other grains. It has low content of sugar, digestible calories and carbohydrates and has low glycemic index. Coconut flour could also be used by gluten free eaters, paleo dieters and those with gluten sensitivity of celiac disease, digestive problems such as leaky gut syndrome, diabetes, nut allergy and vegetarians. This flour is derived from ground and…

White pepper is the solely of seed of pepper plant. The dark colored skin of fruit of pepper is removed. Usually it is obtained by process known as retting. Fully ripe red berries are soaked for a week in water during that time the flesh of the pepper softens as well as decomposes. Rubbing then removes outer pepper from seed and only the seed is dried. Alternative process such as chemical, mechanical and biological methods could be used. The white pepper in grounded form is used in Thai and Chinese cuisines and also used in cream sauces, salads, mashed potatoes…

It is a sour liquid which consists of water and acetic acid. Red wine vinegar is widely spread in Mediterranean region. It is predominant in Italian, French and Spanish cuisine. This vinegar has various uses as condiment from cooking to vinaigrette for salad dressings. It consists of compounds such as probiotics, acetic acid and polyphenols which have positive effect on health. Red wine vinegar starts its life as red wine. Initially, the wine is left to ferment till it sours and become acidic. By this stage, it is either left to age or bottled. At early stage, producers bottle cheap…

Cornflour is a flour powder made of finely ground cornmeal but not to be confused with cornstarch. In British and Australian recipes, the word “cornflour” is used as synonymous with U.S. word cornstarch. Cornflour is white and yellow and usually used for breading and also combined with other flours in baked goods. This flour is derived from whole kernel. Corn flour could be blended with wheat flour to lower gluten for cookies, cakes, crackers and pastries. Corn flour is used as binder, filler and thickener in pastry, cookie and meat industries. It is gluten-free and processed corn product in which…

Margarine resemble butter spread which is used for baking, flavoring and cooking. It was created by Hippolyte Mege-Mouries in 1869 in France which was responding to a challenge kept by Emperor Napoleon III to make a butter substitute for beef tallow for lower classes and armed forces. It was firstly named as oleomargarine derived from Latin oleum which refers beef fat and Greek for margarite which refers pearl indicating luster. Later it was named as margarine. As butter is made from butterfat of milk, margarine is made up of water and refined vegetable oil and might contain milk as well.…

Sunflower seeds are the bonus of beautiful sunflower which is a plant with yellow petals rays that arise from bright yellow seed studded center. Helianthus annuus reflects the solar appearance. Helios is the Greek word for sun and anthos is the Greek word for flower. Sunflower produce grayish to green or black seeds which is encased in tear dropped shaped gray or black shells which features white and black stripes. These seeds are rich in oil and are the main sources of polyunsaturated oil. The shelled sunflower seeds possess mild nutty taste and firm texture. The annual species of Sunflower…

Mozzarella cheese is a traditionally Southern Italian cheese made from Italian buffalo’s milk with the use of pasta filata method. When fresh, Mozzarella is white but may be slightly yellow that depends on animal’s diet. It has high content of moisture so is served the day after it is made. It could be kept in brine for a week or longer when sold in vacuum sealed packages. Mozzarella with low moisture could be refrigerated for a month though shredded low moisture mozzarella is sold having shelf life up to six months. Mozzarella is used for various pizza and pasta dishes…

Wheat rolls are soft and fluffy dinner rolls which is made up of only whole wheat. It does not need butter. It could be made with spelt flour but it’s the butter, eggs and honey which make these so good. How to make? Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of yeast 1/4 cup honey ½ cup lukewarm water 2 eggs Warmed buttermilk (or milk) 1-1/2 tsp. of salt 4-1/2 cups of whole wheat flour 2 teaspoons salt Softened butter Directions: Firstly dissolve the yeast in ½ cup of warm water (not hot). Use the measuring cup to measure water. Stir after adding yeast…

In Greek, pita is called Pitta and also called Lebanese bread, Arabic bread or Syrian bread. It is a soft and slightly leavened flatbread which is baked from wheat flour and is originated in Western Asia. It is used in many Balkan, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines and resembles other slightly leavened flatbreads such as Central and South Asian flatbreads and Iranian and pizza crust. Archeologists figure out that pita bread stemmed from groups of people from west of the Mediterranean. It is not clear that it was Bedouins or Amorites who were pioneers. Both desert and farming society separately…

Parmesan is familiar to most people as a sharp, hard cheese, usually shredded or grated and used as a garnish or accent. The long aging period develops the flavor. True Parmesan cheese possess hard, gritty texture and has fruity and nutty taste. Inferior Parmesan may have a bitter taste. Parmesan simply means a dry cheese that’s often used for grating, with a nutty, salty flavor and a crystalline, granular texture that distinguishes it from Cheddar. It is sweeter; its texture moister and mealier; and, ultimately, it has far less acid (sharpness, or piquancy) than Parmigiano-Reggiano. Parmesan cheeses are more like…

Bacon grease is the bacon dripping when the bacon fat is heated. It is flavorful which is usually used for the cooking purposes. In Southern US and British cuisine, it is preserved and used to enhance flavor to the cornbread, gravy and salad dressing. It has high melting temperatures. About 38 calories are found in bacon grease. It contains about 40 percent of saturated fat. Though it has side effects, it is widely used in the cuisines of American South. Nutritional Value One teaspoon of Bacon grease grants 39 calories, 4.28 g of total lipid fat, 1.8 mg of choline,…

Bacon is salt cured pork that is prepared from various cuts of meat typically including the pork belly, back cuts which contains less fat in comparison to belly. It is consumed as a side dish, or on its own and also used as an ingredient to flavor dishes such as club sandwich. It is also used for larding and barding roasts including pheasant and venison. The term is derived from Old High German bacho that means buttock, side of bacon, ham and is associated with Old French bacon. The meat obtained from other animals such as chicken, lamb, beef, turkey…

Botanically called Capsicum annuum is also known from various names such as chili pepper, sweet pepper or bell pepper. It is a perennial and herbaceous plant that belongs to nightshade family Solanaceae which was originated in Central and South America and Caribbean. It was domesticated over 5000 years ago. Various varieties of C. annuum have been developed and is now cultivated around the world for its hot and sweet varieties of red and green bell peppers and chili peppers. The mostly used spices in the world with dried forms are chili powder, paprika and cayenne. The perennial plant Capsicum annuum…