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
The martini is a classic American cocktail with timeless popularity. Made with varying proportions of gin and dry vermouth, the martini is an alcoholic beverage with endless variations. Figures throughout history, both real and fictional, have been known to adopt martinis as their drink of choice. One of the most widely recognized examples of this … Read more
Unless you are a dedicated home gardener or horticulturist, the odds are pretty good that you don’t think a great deal about cucumbers. You see them pretty much year round in the produce section of the market, slice them for use in salads or maybe eat them raw as a snack or with dips, and … Read more
Believe it or not, there are over 1,000 known types of sweet potatoes in the world and that’s not even counting the different types of yams – with which the sweet potato is often confused, but which is, in reality, a completely different plant. There are over 100 varieties grown in the United States alone, … Read more
For many people, the first sure sign that summer is finally on its way is the appearance of fresh peaches at their local market. Normally available throughout North American and Western Europe spring, summer and fall, peaches are one of those special foods that make you feel good when you eat them … just because. … Read more
Though you might not realize it, beets are one of the most commercially important plants in the world today. Literally, hundreds of millions of tons of beets are cultivated across the globe on a yearly basis, and their production is of paramount importance to the agricultural economies of a number of countries in different parts … Read more
Carrots have got quite a bit going for them. They are relatively easy to grow; they will thrive in a number of different types of climates; they are very healthy to eat; and they are one of the longest lasting vegetables out there. There are also a number of misconceptions about carrots that many people … Read more
Eggplant is a food that you probably either love or hate – for most people, there is no in between. The early history of eggplant’s cultivation and use by humans is somewhat murky. The plant is believed to have originated in India where it grew (and still grows) wild, and there is some evidence that … Read more
No one knows for certain how many types of grapes there. Over 10,000 distinct varieties have been identified – and more are being developed on a regular basis. They are cultivated commercially in dozens of countries and grow wild on every continent except Antarctica. In the United States, they are cultivated and/or grow wild in … Read more
For many of us, the idea of starting our day without a cup of coffee to help us wake up is … well, unthinkable. Sweet, light or black; hot or iced; freshly brewed or instant; coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, and is consumed by people across the globe both … Read more