A-Z Theme Reveal: Yummy Fruits

A day late on my A-Z reveal. 

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!! 

A is for Apple

B is for Banana

C is for Cantaloupe

D is for Durian

E is for Elephant Apple

F is for Fig

G is for Grapefruit

H is for Huckleberry

I is for Ice Cream Bean

J is for Japanese Persimmon

K is for Kiwifruit

L is for Lime

M is for Mango

N is for Nutmeg

O is for Orange

P is for Peach

Q is for Quince

R is for Rhubarb

S is for Strawberry

T is for Thimbleberry

U is for Ugniberry

V is for Vanilla

W is for Wax Jambu

X is for Xigua

Y is for Yantok

Z is for Zig Zag Fruit

Sharon M. Himsl

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

Z is for Zig-zag Fruit: Yummy Fruits A-Z

The zig-zag vine, also known as "acid drop vine"and "wild banana,"
has a curious growth pattern. In the wild, it starts at the bottom of a host tree and zig-zags up the trunk until it reaches the sunlight at the top. 

In a controlled setting, the zig-zag vine makes a nice evergreen shrub, growing from three to twenty feet high, but in the wild, the sky is the limit.

Zig-zag fruit is the size of a peanut.

 






The Zig-zag vine is native to the rain forests of eastern Australia. It also grows in New Guinea, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Borneo, and Indonesia (Malesia).  

Zig-zag vine flower

When the zig-zag vine blossoms, it is a yummy soft yellow, and the rain forest is filled with the scent of ripe bananas, but the fruit is probably the best part of all. It tastes like orange sherbet, people say, a tangy flavor that is quite pleasant. Picked locally, it is sometimes used to flavor sauces and liqueurs. I'd like to taste this fruit. How about you?

"Orange sherbet anyone?"

Zig-zag Books

--Agent Zigzag: A True Story of Nazi Espionage, Love, and Betrayal
by Ben Macintyre (2009)

--Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity by Keith Sawyer (2013)

--Zigzag by Ellen Wittlinger (2012) (fiction)


--Zigzag: The Incredible Wartime Exploits of Double Agent Eddie Chapman  by Nicholas Booth (2007)

--The Zigzag Principle: The Goal Setting Strategy That Will Revolutionize Your Business and Your Life by Rich Christiansen (2011)

--Inga's Zigzags 
by Vica Miller (2014) (fiction)

--Architects Make Zigzags: Looking at Architecture  from A to Z 
by Diane Maddex (1986)

--Zigzag (2005) (picture book)
by Robert San Souci


Zig-zag Movies

--The Zigzag Kid (2012) 
(Nono wants to be like his father, the best police inspector in the world) (Adventure, family)


--Zig Zag (2002) (An autistic 15-year-old boy steals money from his boss to pay rent for his abusive father) (drama)



Zig Zag Story (1983) The lives of three parisians, a color-blind painter, a radio show host, and a perverted photographer interwine hilariously. (Comedy, Drama)



Zig-zag Song

"Zig Zag" by Miley Cyrus (video)

And so....ooo, Zig-zagging

to the END 

of a very long 

and interesting month. 

We did it everyone! Take a big BIG BOW!!!

http://fruitandnuttrees.com/acid-drop-vine-zig-zag-vine; http://www.drytropics.org.au/ArticlesSpeciesInfo.htm

http://keys.trin.org.au/key-server/data/0e0f0504-0103-430d-8004-060d07080d04/media/Html/taxon/Melodorum_leichhardtii.htm

http://www.brisrain.webcentral.com.au/01_cms/details_pop.asp?ID=88

http://toowoombaplants2008.blogspot.com/2010_02_01_archive.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melodorum_leichhardtii

Sharon M. Himsl

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

Y is for Yantok: Yummy Fruits A-Z

Yantok fruit is the
size of a small plum

Yantok trees (also known as rattan) are a native species of the palm family and grow in the mountains and tropical forests of the Philippines. The fruit, which has a funky snake-like covering as hard as an egg shell, is said to be plump with juice, but possibly the tartest fruit around. If you are craving something sour in the Philippines, yantok fruit is your 'go to' food, but it is too tart for some and an acquired taste. 

Do you ever crave
something sour?

Some claim that pickled yantok addresses the 'too sour' problem. This seems rather odd to me, since pickling requires adding a lot of vinegar and salt, which I'm thinking would increase the tartness...but maybe not. The result (it is claimed) is a tasty appetizer (see recipe). One person online also suggested dipping the fruit in equal amounts of salt and sugar. Others claim that smaller yantok fruit is sweeter in taste. Hmm....good to know if I visit the Philippines. 

Yantok ripening on the vine.

Yantok fruit comes from a tropical palm more known for the (rattan) furniture and handiwork made from the plant's wood canes than anything else. However, the tree is also harvested for the fruit. In addition to a food source, dyes and varnishes can be made from the fruit, which contains a red resin called Dragon's Blood (a dye also used in violin construction).

Dried yantok/rattan canes

Yantok fruit is grown in home 
gardens, sold in local markets, and considered a Filipino delicacy. But unless you have been to the Philippines, it is not likely you have tried this fruit. However, this type of palm fruit in general is grown all over Southeast Asia, with native varieties in Africa, Asia and Australia.

Nutritionally, yantok fruit contains vitamin C, calcium, and iron. Other claims are its use as a treatment for diarrhea and cure against coughing.

Yantok Recipe

"Watch those fingers!"

"Pickled Yantok"

1-2 cups yantok fruit

1 cup vinegar

1/4 cup salt

1 jar

Peel yantok fruit carefully. That hard snake-like skin can make your fingers bleed! Wash fruit in cold running water. Set aside.

In bowl, dissolve salt in vinegar. Then pour into jar. Add fruit to jar and seal tightly. Let stand 1 to 2 days. Serve as appetizer. 

"Pucker up for yantok!"

Sources: http://www.choosephilippines.com/eat/exotic/651/Squirm-your-way-to-your-first-Yantok/

http://jennibailey.com/philippine-lifestyle/yantok/; http://www.marketmanila.com/archives/littuko-rattan-fruit; http://casaveneracion.com/rattan-fruit/; https://www.google.com/#q=Calamus+manillensis+is+native+to

http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/y2783e/y2783e15.htm 

Sharon M. Himsl

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

X is for Xigua: Yummy Fruits A-Z

Xigua (Chinese watermelon)

 Okay, definitely cheating here, I admit. Xigua is Chinese for watermelon. Pronounced She-Gwah, the rind is darker (almost black) in the photo on the left, compared to watermelon I'm familiar with, but the photo below is more like the U.S. version. Black, dark green, or light green with yellow markings, all have that wonderful red, sweet flesh and look absolutely yummy. (Some varieties have orange or yellow flesh, which is sweeter yet).

Watermelon is one of my favorite fruits. 

Enjoying fresh xigua in China

China is the largest producer of watermelons in the world, next to Turkey, Iran, Brazil, and Egypt. There are 1,200 known varieties (including seedless types), and it is the most popular melon in the U.S. 

Watermelons grow on vines

Not all watermelons are edible, although in general, they have been consumed for thousands of years, and are known by different names. In Australia, one variety is still considered a "pest plant" in parts. 



The origin of watermelons can be traced to southern Africa, and there is evidence watermelons were cultivated in ancient Egypt as well. By the 10th century they were being grown in China and in the 13th century also in Europe. Historians also know that Native Americans were growing watermelons in the U.S. Mississippi valley in the 1500s. Today watermelon is grown all over the U.S., but mainly in Florida, Texas, Georgia, and Arizona

1990, Bill Carson of Arrington, TN
 (1998, Guinness Book of Records)

Watermelon can be eaten in entirety, the flesh, the rind, and even the seeds (yes, even the seeds). Enjoyed as a fruit in the U.S. and elsewhere, in China the flesh and rind are eaten as a vegetable and only the seeds are considered a snack. 

Watermelon size can vary a lot, as you can see on the right. In 2013 the record was beaten by yet another man in Tennessee (Chris Kent of Sevierville), who grew a whopping 350.5 pounder! Anyone out there in Tennessee ever grow one of these giants?

Watermelon is good for us, as you might have guessed. Since it is 91% water, consider it one of the best liquid vitamin drinks around, with vitamins C, B, and A....and lycopene. Lycopene is good for our heart and may be important for bone health. High also in citruline (an amino acid), scientists are still studying the benefits, but believe it may prevent excess fat accumulation in the body (now, wouldn't that be nice?) and improve blood flow, aiding the heart. 

Watermelon seeds are also good for us. They contain iron, zinc and protein. Guess I don't have to worry about swallowing those seeds anymore. Did you ever worry about this?

Ever wonder about the ripeness of watermelon? Did you know that the riper a watermelon is, the more nutritious it becomes? I found some good tips on how to buy and store:

• When buying pre-cut watermelon, sliced or halved, make sure the flesh is the deepest color. Seeds should be dark, too, not white. 
• When buying a whole watermelon, check the weight and surface of the skin. A fully ripened watermelon will be heavy with juice. Next, check the top and bottom. The bottom is the part that was resting on the ground. If fully ripened, it will be creamy yellow in color, not green or white. Now check the top. If fully ripened, the top will look dull, not shiny.
• Thumping the watermelon also works (at least according to some). A fully ripened watermelon has a deeper, hollower, bass-like sound.
• Uncut watermelon is best stored at room temperatures 50-60 degrees F. Unfortunately, a watermelon stops ripening after it's been picked. I didn't know this. Did you?

Watermelon Recipe

"Watermelon Salsa"

3 cups finely diced seeded watermelon
1 jalapeno, seeded
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt

In medium bowl, combine watermelon, jalapeno, onion, cilantro, lime juice, honey, and garlic salt. Mix well. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Serve with tortilla chips. 

Watermelon Jokes

Q: Why do watermelons 

have fancy weddings?

A: Because they cantaloupe!

Q: What do you call fruit that commits egregious crimes?

A: A Waterfelon!

Watermelon Song

"Watermelon Man" by Herbie Hancock (video)

Sources: http://www.jokes4us.com/miscellaneousjokes/foodjokes/watermelonjokes.html

http://pick-news.com/detail187097.html; http://www.dietvsdiet.com/xigua/

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/2000/heaviest-watermelon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermelon; http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=31

Sharon M. Himsl

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

W is for Wax Jambu: Yummy Fruits A-Z

The color of wax jambu ranges
from pale pink to red and purple.

Wax Jambu (or wax apple) is an exotic fruit native to the Philippines, India, Indonesia and Malaysia. Common throughout Southeast Asia, it is also found in Australia, Africa, Central and South America, and the U.S. (mainly Florida and Southern California).

Wax Jambu trees grow to 35 feet.

 
Wax jambu is mostly used in Asian salads, as in a popular
Thai shrimp salad, but the fruit is also enjoyed plain. The wax-like skin makes it an especially attractive fruit sliced. 

 

Paler is sweeter

Despite its alternate name, wax apple, wax jambu does not taste like an apple, but more like a snow pear. The texture is crisp like watermelon (but less juicy), and the taste is slightly sour. Some are sweeter than others, depending on the variety. The paler the color, the sweeter it is. 

Some of the nutritional benefits are wax jambu's effectiveness against dysentery and use as a diuretic. Interestingly, it has zero vitamin C or vitamin A, although it is high in potassium and has some calcium and protein.

Have you ever eaten wax jambu?

Wax Jambu Recipe

"Wax Jambu Salsa"

4 wax jambus, chopped
1/4 cup onions, chopped
2 tablespoon fresh mint, chopped
2 chili peppers, chopped
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 red pepper, finely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Pinch of ground fennel

Mix well and let sit 2 hours before serving.

Wax Jambu Music

Some nice guitar at the popular Wax Jambu Restaurant
(London - 2009) "Waiting for Breakfast" (video)

Sources: http://www.specialtyproduce.com/produce/Thai_Wax_Apple_7608.php; http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Wax_Apple; http://www.fruitsinfo.com/Wax-jambu-Exotic-fruits.php; http://www.tropicalfruit.com/Wax-Jambu-Java-Apple-tree-3-Gallon_p_185.html; http://www.thirdage.com/nc/f-127403/wax-jambu-rose-apple-edible-portion-fresh-fruit; http://www.fruitsinfo.com/Wax-jambu-Exotic-fruits.php;

Sharon M. Himsl

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

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