bakingmommy

Garlic is one of the most popular and widely used seasonings on the planet, and while most people don’t realize it there are over 600 different types of garlic out there to choose from – and more being added to this number regularly. Garlic is quite versatile and has been used in culinary, medicinal and … Read more

Cauliflower is one of those vegetables about which most people have a strong opinion one way or the other. While it is very versatile in terms of what you can do with it, and it is quite healthy to eat, both its look and its flavor simply rub many people the wrong way and have … Read more

Although it might come as something of a surprise, if you count both wild varieties and cultivars that have been developed by man there over 1,000 types of pecans currently in existence, and more are being worked on by horticulturists even as you read these words. Botanically, the pecan tree (Carya illinoinensis) is a member … Read more

For many people, nothing announces the advent of summer more cheerfully than the appearance of fresh strawberries in their local market or garden. One of the most well-loved and versatile fruits out there, strawberries are a favorite throughout the planet and are an economically important plant in many parts of the world. Including both wild … Read more

Basil is one of the most commonly used culinary herbs on earth, and most of us are familiar with it due to its use in popular recipes such as Italian pesto. However, throughout its long history with mankind, fresh basil has been used (and in some cases is still used) in a wide variety of … Read more

Mushrooms – or at the very least something very close to mushrooms – are believed to have existed on the earth long before even the dinosaurs evolved. Some paleontologists believe that, at one time, relatives of today’s mushrooms might have been the largest living things on planet. Though somewhat unappetizing-sounding, mushrooms are botanically classified as … Read more

While it has been a popular fruit for decades – primarily as the basic component in guacamole and other dips – the avocado has undergone a surge of popularity in recent years; so much so that there are actual avocado shortages from time to time. Its relatively recent designation (at least for marketing purposes) as … Read more

When most people in the United States – and some other parts of the world – think of a tomato, the picture that first comes to mind is of a large, red, succulent, round vegetable. In actuality, however, tomatoes come in a very diverse assortment of shapes, sizes, and colors – including white, yellow, orange, … Read more

While not a particularly important crop commercially or economically in most parts of the world (and certainly nowhere near as widely cultivated as bulb or ‘standard’ onions), green onions are grown on every continent with the exception of Antarctica, and are a favorite component of many and varied cuisines. They are most widely used in … Read more

It is really pretty hard to find a vegetable that is more versatile than the potato. Potatoes can be baked, boiled, mashed, fried, roasted, steamed, broiled, grilled, sautéed; they can be served whole, cubed, sliced, julienned (or cut into strips), stuffed; they can be made into salads, French fries, home fries, chips, puffs, and sticks. … Read more