(cucurbita pepo) Spaghetti squash is a relative of the cucumber and the melon. The squash is botanically classified as a fruit although it is considered a vegetable in cooking. Also known as vegetable spaghetti and noodle squash, spaghetti squash is a variety of winter squash. Spaghetti squash has an oblong shape and averages… Continue Reading
potassium
Acorn Squash
(Cucurbita pepo) A member of the Cucurbitaceae family, acorn squash is a relative of the melon and cucumber and is botanically classified as a fruit. Acorn squash along with butternut, spaghetti, pumpkin and hubbard are considered winter squashes. Unlike summer squash, winter squash are characterized by a hard outer skin that can’t be eaten…. Continue Reading
Cantaloupe
(Cucumis melo) Although it’s the most popular melon in the United States, cantaloupe as we know it is not really a cantaloupe at all it is a muskmelon. True cantaloupes are primarily grown in France and are rarely found stateside. The variety most Americans enjoy is a hybrid between muskmelons and cantaloupes and exhibits… Continue Reading
Spinach
(Spinacia oleracea) Spinach is one of the most popular leaf vegetables in the United States. A member of the same family as Swiss chard and beets, spinach shares the same taste profile – mildly sweet flavor when raw and a slightly salty, bitter flavor when cooked. Spinach is native to an area near… Continue Reading
Cucumbers
(Cucumis sativus) Cucumbers are a member of the gourd family. Other members include watermelon, zucchini, pumpkin and squash. Although botanically classified as a fruit, cucumbers are often perceived and prepared as a vegetable. Cucumbers originated in India and have been cultivated there for over 3,000 years. From India their cultivation spread throughout Western… Continue Reading
Potassium
Potassium helps maintain fluid and electrolyte balance in the body. This mineral is important for a healthy nervous system and a regular heartbeat. Potassium also keeps your muscles and nerves functioning properly. A diet low in fruits and vegetables accompanied by a diet high in processed, packaged foods typically results in a potassium deficiency. … Continue Reading
Sweet Bell Peppers
(Capsicum annuum) Sweet peppers, also known as bell peppers, are members of the nightshade family, which also includes potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant. It’s easy to see why sweet peppers acquired the nickname “bell” – their lobed shape is quite reminiscent. Sweet peppers can be traced back thousands of years to their wild origins… Continue Reading
Papaya
(Carica Papaya) Reputably referred to by Christopher Columbus as the “fruit of the angels”, papayas have long been revered for their sweet, musky taste and ample health benefits. Papayas are spherical fruits with a buttery flesh, similar to that of a soft melon. Papaya skin ranges in color from green–orange to red–yellow. The… Continue Reading
Cherries
(Prunus avium/Prunus cerasus) Cherries are drupe, or stone fruit, aptly named because their juicy flesh surrounds a hard center seed. Members of the Rosaceae family, genus Prunus, cherries are a distant relative to peaches, plums, and apricots. Interestingly, the term “cherry tree” can be applied to all members of the genus Prunus, no matter… Continue Reading
Kiwifruit
(Actinidia Deliciosa) Kiwifruit is so-named in tribute to the fuzzy brown Kiwi bird native to New Zealand. Originally discovered in China, returning missionaries brought the fruit to New Zealand. For centuries, kiwifruit were known as Chinese gooseberries and made their debut as such in the United States in the early 1960s. They were subsequently… Continue Reading