PHYSALIS OR 7ARANKASH
Physalis, groundberry, cape gooseberry, Chinese lantern, 7arankash, sett fil namoosseya (lady in mosqueeto net), awata and sitt meste7eya (shy lady).
All to name this exotic fruit that shows up in December in Egypt and lasts for a few weeks. A yellow orange round fruit full of tiny seeds and hiding inside a drab beige-colored husk or physalis- a Greek word meaning bladder; peaking out when you pull the sepals away and uncover the shy lady in hiding!
Since my childhood I have had a crush on the mysterious lady in hiding. Street vendors used to push their carts heaped up with physalis and often times they would braid the fruits into beautiful wreaths, just in time for Christmas. They still push their carts, but I have yet to spot the braids.
I love to peel away the dry husk and peak inside to find out if I am lucky enough to have a ripe berry or if I will have to discard it because it is still too green or has already turned bad. And when I find an orange one, I know I am in for a treat because it will be sweet and tart at the same time.
So who is 7arankash? Well, it belongs to the nightshade family of plants and is a distant relative of the tomato, eggplant and potato. In Egypt it is eaten right after peeling, but it also makes for an excellent pie or jam when we want to think we need to have real gooseberries.
Last year we tried our hand at drying the fruit in our solar tunnel and the result was a beautiful golden brown fruit. It is tarty and chewy and we use it just as we do raisins. This year we are drying larger quantities and you may want to try them they are so good.
(January 2014)
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Pink Grapefruit
Pink grapefruit is a winter fruit available now in the markets in Egypt. Grapefruit is a relative of the orange and is listed by nutritionists among the wonder foods. And if we go by its Latin name it is also a fruit from heaven: Citrus paradisi.
What is lycopene? Lycopene imparts the pink or red color to some fruits and vegetables. It is a carotenoid phytonutrient that seems to have a very high capacity in helping to fight oxygen free radicals, which are compounds that can damage human cells and cause cancer. Choosing to regularly eat lycopene-rich foods, such as pink grapefruit, tomatoes, watermelon may greatly reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer, suggests a research published the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Jian L, Lee AH, et al.) and other types of cancer as well.
Why is pink grapefruit such an important food? Well again, the magical lycopene is at work, eating up the free radicals. It is also very rich in vitamins A, B5, B9, C; it is low in calories; high in fibers, pectin and phytonutrients such as limonoids and potassium.
Grapefruit seed extract (GSE) is also coming into its own due to the extensive research conducted by Dr. Jacob Harich who first documented its medicinal uses in 1972. Click on this link to learn more about the benefits of GSE: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/benefits-of/grapefruit-seed-extract
Warning! Although Grapefruits are a wonder food, the downside of things is that they do interact with a long list of medications such as statin drugs, antihistamines, immune suppressants, pain medications, impotence drugs and a long list of other medications. They may reduce the potency of these drugs. For instance, if you are taking medication to control cholesterol you should consult with your doctor before eating grapefruit as this may interfere with the effect of the medication.
Read more: http://www.ehow.com/list_7258461_effects-grapefruits.html#ixzz2kE8ryYJL
What do you do with pink grapefruit?
Fresh, you can:
• cut it across and sprinkle a little brown sugar and enjoy the fruit from heaven
• peel and release the wedges of the fruit from the membranes that hold it together and throw them in a green salad, or gargeer salad laced with a citrus dressing
• squeeze the pink grapefruit juice and drink it alone or mixed with pomegranate juice
• use the peel to make candied grapefruit peel
• try Minnie's pink grapefruit marmalade that rivals the bitter orange marmalade in taste and color
Dried pink grapefruit slices are ruby red and are delicious eaten straight out of the box or dipped in chocolate or even crumbled over a salad. Drying grapefruit keeps its nutritional value as the process only reduces its water content.
So, there you are ! Enjoy in good health –bil hana wel shefa
(December 2013)
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The Tomato
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| Tomatoes on solar dryer |
Is it a vegetable or a fruit? It behaves like a vegetable, it is always found in the vegetable section of supermarkets and green grocers and it is called a vegetable by most people!! Yet, it is a fruit! The tasty tomato! Or as it is often referred to in Egypt the ‘crazy one’-el magnoona!
Why is it called ‘crazy tomato’? Because it is very unpredictable, its price fluctuates daily. One day it will cost as little as a half a pound a kilo and the next it will jump to 8 pounds a kilo. So when you find it reasonably priced, buy it and prepare your best homemade sauce or salsa!
Why is it a fruit? Because a tomato contains seeds, therefore taxonomically it is classified as a fruit, much like the cucumber, the pumpkin and the corn. On a culinary level it is known as a vegetable because it is used mostly in savory dishes: soups, sauces, juices, appetizers, pizza, ketchup etc… And one of the nicest things about tomatoes is that you can have them for breakfast lunch and dinner, in an omelet, a salad and a soup or sauce. Very very seldom is it ever used in dessert dishes.
Tomatoes come in a variety of shapes and color. They are equally as nutritious fresh as when they are cooked or dried. In fact, the longer you cook the tomatoes the more benefit you get from its anti-oxidant power.
What makes the tomato such a vital food? Tomatoes are rich in vitamins A, C and K; they contain the minerals, potassium, manganese, magnesium and chromium. They are also very rich in lycopene, a form of beta-carotene which according to Webmed is “a naturally occurring chemical that gives fruits and vegetables a red color. It is one of a number of pigments called carotenoids. Lycopene is found in watermelons, pink grapefruits, apricots, and pink guavas…and in particularly high amounts in tomatoes.”
Lycopene is a powerful anti-oxidant that helps in the fight against the formation of cancerous cells as well as other kinds of health complications and diseases (http://healthfood-guide.com/tomatohealthbenefits.aspx)
Its bioavailability increases with heat, so the longer you cook the tomatoes the more benefit you will gain from the lycopene. Yellow tomatoes too are very healthy as they contain a different form of lycopene: http://organiceyourlife.com/lycopene-and-yellow-tomatoes/
Growing your own tomatoes in a pot on your balcony or window sill may be a challenge, but picking a tomato off its vine and eating it is worth every effort spent in nurturing it.
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MUSHROOM
August 2013
A shift this time! I am not going to talk about a fruit, but rather about a fungus!! Yup! A fungus! A good one, one you can eat, one that has many benefits, one that is available here: White Button Mushrooms.
Fresh or dried MUSHROOMS are a Super Food!
Edible mushrooms are low in calorie, carbohydrates and sodium. They are high in fiber, protein and water content, and contain at least 13 vitamins and minerals. They are cholesterol and fat free. In short they are a great food for a healthy diet.
I will highlight just a few of their benefits and if you like to read more about them, you can google: mushrooms.
Potassium: a very important element for the balance of salts in the body. It helps lower elevated blood pressure. And weight for weight mushrooms outrank bananas in the amount of potassium they offer. Great isn’t it?!
Copper: you don't hear too much about this very important mineral, which our bodies cannot manufacture. Copper helps protect our cardiovascular, skeletal and nervous systems. It also is very important for the maintenance of healthy skin and hair. One small serving of mushrooms contains more than 20 percent of daily intake of copper. How about that?!
Anti-oxidants and Selenium: All mushrooms are an excellent source of the antioxidant Selenium which works with vitamin E to protect cells from the damaging effect of free radicals. Like almonds, mushrooms are becoming more popular for their cancer fighting and disease protecting properties. Regular eating of mushrooms also helps prevent the increase of cancerous cells and tumors in the body.
In conclusion: One cup of mushrooms contains 20 calories and a 3-ounce serving contains 3 grams of protein and 3 grams of carbohydrates.
Using Dried Mushrooms:
In soups and tomato sauces
In veggie burgers and as a vegetarian sloppy Joe.
CLICK ON RECIPES FOR A DELICIOUS MUSHROOM RECIPE
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May 2013 Article in Evetalk on Line
Guava
Is it a pear, a strawberry or maybe a mango? No…
It is a Guava!! A tropical fruit that grows abundantly in Egypt.
Guavas look like pears, but bite into one and you will immediately realize that the texture and taste are very different. Egyptian guavas are usually oval fruits with a thin yellow skin when ripe and a creamy or pink flesh (yes there are pink guavas in Egypt) with lots of seeds, even the seedless ones have a few. They have a very characteristic sweet smell that permeates your car when you bring them home, and your kitchen and your fridge! The smell is so pungent that you must cover and seal everything in the fridge even the water bottles lest they become guava flavored.
Guavas leaves and guava fruits have great medicinal value to the extent that some researchers tend to replace the old adage: “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” “with “a few guavas a season will keep the doctors at bay”.
Guavas are very versatile. They can be eaten fresh as a ripe fruit, or dried, in jams, as a juice, as a compote (fruit salad), or as a condiment. The leaves can be steeped or infused depending on what you use them for.
The fruit itself is very rich in fiber, vitamins A, B, C and K, minerals (calcium and iron) and proteins. And the beauty of it is that it has no cholesterol, and very few caloriesl! Even the seeds when ingested whole act as natural laxatives. Guavas are full of ant-oxidants and astringents which are great in detox diets and in improving the quality of our skin.
Guava leaves (fresh or dried) can be steeped or infused to make tea. This is great to ease discomfort from a sore throat, or ulcers in the mouth. It is also a powerful antibacterial drink, which is helpful in treating diarrhea. I posted a homeopathic recipe on my blog site cut-and-dried on how to make a concoction for the throat using guava leaves.
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April 2013 Article in Evetalk on line
CANTALOUPE
Cantaloupe, is sometimes called “ananas” in Egypt for its sweet taste.
Cantaloupe, ‘ananas’, melon! Call it what you like, it is a melon, from the gourd family, a cousin of the squash and the cucumber, one variety among hundreds! It originated in the Middle East and apparently Ancient Egyptians and Romans ate these fruits.
My favorite is the early melon that comes from Sinai and is called “cantaloupe 3arayshee,” or cantaloupe from El Arish, the area on the Mediterranean Sea, North of Sinai.
It is round and small and its skin is rough with a pattern called netting and its color is beige with a tinge of green.
Once the knife splits it in half, it releases a cream colored inner flesh, ringed with green, and a unique fragrance. The hollow middle is full of seeds and juice and once emptied out, I dig my spoon into it and scoop out the most delicious spring fruit.
Not only are they one of the best sources of natural water because of their high water content, but melons are also low in calories and low in cholesterol and fat free. They provide us with potassium, that mineral so important in salt balance in the body. Cantaloupes are also rich in vitamins A and C. What more can I ask for?
Fresh melons can be eaten alone, cut up, diced or scooped out into small balls. Add a sprig of mint to them for a change. I like to mix them with strawberries too and the mix of colors, taste and fragrances is a delight to the eye as well as the palate.
In Egypt, the arayshee melon has a relatively short season, so in order to enjoy it for a longer period I dry it in our solar tunnel.First we wash them well under running water, we peel them and split them in half scooping out the seeds and then we slice them. The beautiful green circles are placed on the trays and covered. And the sun goes to work! It heats up the air in the tunnel, which is blown over the fruit and in a day or two the slices are dried to a crisp and ready to be packed.
What do you do with dried melon you will ask? Well, they are great to take on a trip, to put in a lunch box or to save for later when they are no more. I eat them as a snack right out of the bag when I need an instant energy boost as the sweetness is now concentrated! I also use them in combination with Minnie’s dried strawberries and oranges sprinkled over an arugula (gargeer) salad and a vinaigrette dressing. Sometimes when I am in the mood, I melt a square of dark chocolate and dip the melon circle in it and again, color, and taste combinations are such a pleasure.
Recipes for a great dessert fresh or dried:
Minnie’s Dried Fruits:
½ bag of dried cantaloupe slices
½ bag of dried strawberries
½ bag of dried Egyptian bananas
1 or 2 cups of fresh orange juice to reconstitute the dried fruits
1 teaspoon of Minnie’s dried mint.
Mix all together, let stand for 30 minutes, mix together and enjoy eating!
Fresh Fruits:
1 cantaloupe 3arayshee
1 cup of fresh strawberries, hulled
1 banana, Egyptian is better for the flavor
A sprig of mint
Wash and peel the cantaloupe, cut in half, spoon out the seeds. Then with a round spoon or the ice cream scoop, begin to form small balls of melon and dish them out in a bowl. Add the washed strawberries, and cut up banana. Decorate with a few leaves of mint. Bil hana wel shefa!
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