Produce Planet

White Button Mushrooms

2012-02-23T18:52:00.005-08:00

HOW TO PICK FRESH WHITE BUTTON MUSHROOMS

LOOK FOR THESE:

Tightly closed caps (Check photo on the right)
Fresh looking stem ends

AVOID THESE:

Loose caps
With bruises, deep cuts or soft spots

HOW TO STORE FRESH WHITE BUTTON MUSHROOMS

IN THE FRIDGE: Fresh white button mushrooms can stay fresh in the fridge for about 4-5 days when stored in a paper bag.

HOW TO PREPARE FRESH WHITE BUTTON MUSHROOMS

I know most people say that there is no need to peel fresh white button mushrooms. However, I always peel mine with a knife, then trim off the stem end before slicing or dicing them.

FUN TO KNOW ABOUT FRESH WHITE BUTTON MUSHROOMS

White button mushrooms, when translated in Chinese, it is 白蘑菇. 白 means white. 蘑菇 means mushroom.

Beets

2012-02-23T17:59:00.003-08:00

HOW TO PICK FRESH BEETS

LOOK FOR THESE:

About 2-3 inches in diameter (These beets are still tender and quick to be cooked.)
Heavy for its size
Smooth skin
Feel hard when squeezed
Best to still have fresh greens or stems attached

AVOID THESE:

Wilted skin
Feel soft when squeezed
With soft or brown spots

HOW TO STORE FRESH BEETS

IN THE FRIDGE: Cut off the greens from the fresh beets, with about 2 inches of stems still attached to the beets. Beet greens are best used within 2-3 days in the crisper drawer in the fridge. Loose beet roots can last about 2-3 weeks in the fridge depends on their freshness. Always check their firmness before using.

HOW TO PREPARE FRESH BEETS

Fresh beets can be steamed, pickled or simply eating raw, or even make into soup.

Wash the beets thoroughly right before cooking them, but be try not to damage its thin skin. When steaming beets, you should leave the skin on to avoid losing the beet juice and nutrients. The skin can be easily peeled off once they are done. Steamed beets are tasty when served hot or cold. Add them to a Greek salad for a bunch of color, flavor and texture.

FUN TO KNOW ABOUT BEETS

Beet, when translated in Chinese, it is 甜菜. 甜 means sweet. 菜 means vegetable.

Beets can be in other colors other than red, such as orange and white. However, red color beets are the most commonly found in stores. It's much easier to find the other varieties when you visit your local farmers markets.

Be aware that, for some people, the red pigment from beets can cause their urine turn pink, similar to eating red yin choy.

Yuca Root/Cassava

2012-02-21T08:14:00.003-08:00

HOW TO PICK FRESH YUCA ROOT

LOOK FOR THESE:

Evenly shaped throughout besides the tapered ends
No soft, dark or moldy spots
White meat inside (Check out the photo on the right. Some stores cut the roots open, so you can see the meat inside. When sold as a whole root, you can always dig your finger underneath the rind to see the color inside.)
Feel rock hard when squeezed

AVOID THESE:

With blue spots inside the meat
Soft spots

HOW TO STORE FRESH YUCA ROOT

IN THE FRIDGE: Fresh yuca roots don't stay fresh very long. They can stay fresh in the fridge for about 2-3 days top.

IN THE FREEZER: Frozen yuca roots last for a few months.

HOW TO PREPARE FRESH YUCA ROOT

It's best to remove the rough rind from the yuca roots before cooking them. The rind can be easily removed with a knife. It's better safe than sorry when removing the rind, better to cut deeper into the meat than not cutting deep enough. =)

FUN TO KNOW ABOUT YUCA ROOT

Yuca root, when translated in Chinese, it is 木薯. 木 means wood. 薯 means potato. It is probably because yuca roots look like wood, but taste like potato.

Gai Lan/Kai Lan/Chinese Broccoli

2012-02-01T07:11:00.003-08:00

HOW TO PICK FRESH GAI LAN

LOOK FOR THESE:

With a long center/core stem (Like choy sum, its center/core stem is the part of the veggie people like the best. You might be surprise to hear that in some areas, locals will only eat the stem, and discard all the leaves. Not me. I love both the stems and the leaves.)
Bottom of its stalk should has a translucent white

AVOID THESE:

With a short center/core stem
Bottom of the stalk has a more solid white center

HOW TO STORE FRESH GAI LAN

IN THE FRIDGE: Once brought home, air dry the fresh gai lan a bit in room temperature if they have too much moisture on them. Unwrapped, fresh gai lan should stay fresh for ? days in the crisper drawer.

HOW TO PREPARE FRESH GAI LAN

Preparing gai lan is very similar to preparing choy sum:

Get rid of the flowers
Soak the fresh gai lan in water for about half hour, or wash thoroughly with a good vegetable wash

For blanching or steaming: While still soaked in water, pick up the gai lan one at a time to break them off. Usually you break the stems into sections, each section with a leaf, as shown in the photos on the right. If the leaves are too big, break the leaves in halves. (Breaking gai lan this way can help you enjoy both the stem and the leaf together in every bite.)

For stir fry: Drain the gai lan well, break the leaves off the stems, then cut your the leaves and stems in small pieces or slices.

FUN TO KNOW ABOUT GAI LAN

Gai lan, when translated in Chinese, it is 芥蘭.

Papaya

2012-01-25T09:44:00.003-08:00

HOW TO PICK FRESH PAPAYA

LOOK FOR THESE:

A green and fresh stem end (It is also good if the flesh around the stem end has a yellow tin to it.)
Has a yellow/orange shade evenly throughout partially (This characteristic means the fresh papaya is ripen or partially ripen to some degree while on the tree before picked. Their flesh are more flavorful.)
With a more slender shape (These are the male papayas. They have less seeds and more meat.)
Heavy for size

AVOID THESE:

A wilting, browning or soft stem end
With soft or brown spots

HOW TO STORE FRESH PAPAYA

I never refrigerate a fresh papaya. The refrigeration process tend to remove its natural flavor and texture.

IN ROOM TEMPERATURE: When fully ripe, fresh papaya should be consume within a day or two once brought home. However, a partially ripen papaya can stay fresh for about 4-5 days, depends on how ripe it is. TRY NOT put anything heavy on top, a bruised papaya can spoil fast.

HOW TO PREPARE FRESH PAPAYA
Wash the papaya, then cut it in half lengthwise. The seeds in the core can be easily removed with a spoon. Do not be stingy when scraping the seeds off the core of a fresh papaya, because the thin whitish layer of flesh can be bitter sometimes. It's good to make sure to remove it completely.

CUT INTO SLICES (MORE CONVENIENT FOR EATING): Now you can cut them into slices as you would with a melon. The skin of a papaya is very thin and taste a bit bitter. So, just enjoy the flesh and discard the skin.

CUT INTO CUBES (GREAT FOR SOUP OR FRUIT SALADS): Peel off the skin with a knife or a vegetable peeler. Then cut into cubes.

FUN TO KNOW ABOUT PAPAYA
Papaya, when translated in Chinese, it is 木瓜. 木 means wood. 瓜 means squash or melon.

Green, unripe papayas (check out the photo on the right) do not taste very sweet. However, they are awesome for papaya soup.

Lotus Roots

2012-01-20T17:53:00.003-08:00

HOW TO PICK FRESH LOTUS ROOTS

Depends on what you are planning on doing with your lotus roots, there are different sections of lotus roots to choose from. The more elongated section of the lotus roots: They are crunchy when cooked, and are best for sauté or stir fry.

The shorter, rounder section of the lotus roots: They are softer in texture when cooked. They are best for soup or stew. (When see these different sections from the same root, you can simply break off the section you desire.)

LOOK FOR THESE:

Fresh looking beige skin throughout, with as little imperfection as possible (Fresh lotus roots bruise easily. Once bruised, that part of the skin turns darker beige or even black. You can test the flesh underneath that part of the skin by digging your fingernail under those bruised spots, to reveal the flesh color underneath. If the flesh underneath is the fresh looking beige color, then the lotus root is still fresh to buy.)
Beige color meat underneath the darker beige skin (When in doubt, you can always use your finger to dig into the skin of the lotus to check the color of the meat underneath.)
Beige color meat in the tubular structure and the cross section (You can simply break the section of the root you want apart from the root to double check that.)

AVOID THESE:

Dried up deeper brown color skin
With too many of deep cuts and brown patches
Brownish or even black meat underneath the skin
Mud or brown color meat in the tubular structure or the cross sections between sections of the root (The mud in these tubular structure will greatly comprise the flavor of these lotus roots.)

HOW TO STORE FRESH LOTUS ROOTS

IN THE FRIDGE: Unwashed fresh lotus roots, when wrapped in paper towels, can last for up to 10 days in the crisper drawer. Breaking up the the lotus root into sections can make it easier for storage.

IN THE FREEZER: Once the skin is peeled off with a vegetable peeler, the fresh lotus roots can be cut into any forms, and be frozen for up to 1 month. Make sure you soak the chopped lotus roots in water until they are all cut up.

HOW TO PREPARE FRESH LOTUS ROOTS

Once chopped, lotus roots can turn color pretty quickly, a sort of bluish tint, unless you submerge them in a bowl of water until use. The water will keep them looking nice and white.

FUN TO KNOW ABOUT LOTUS ROOTS

Lotus roots, when translated in Chinese, it is 蓮藕. 蓮 means lotus. 藕 means lotus roots.

Lotus, in Asian culture, it has been a symbol of purity. It is because lotus grow from the mud in the bottom of a pond or lake, but the it grows tall, straight and unstained. In Chinese, it is 出淤泥而不染. 出淤 means came from. 泥 means mud. 而不染 means yet unstained.

藕断丝连, you might hear this saying sometimes if you spent any time watching Chinese television shows or stayed in China. 藕断 means broken lotus root. 丝连 means silk still connected. The phrase means Lingering connections.

煲老藕 is one of my favorite soup with mature lotus roots in them. In slangs thought, it means that young people who like to dating people who are a lot older than them, and I mean a lot older.

In Chinese New Year, when I was a kid, one of my favorite snacks is the candied lotus root slices, along side of candied lotus seeds and candied winter melon bits. Check out the photo below:

Pomelo

2012-01-19T09:16:00.002-08:00

Pomelo looks like a giant grapefruit with a thick rind. Their thick rind usually ranges from light yellow to light green. Inside, pomelo flesh smells, looks and even taste a bit a grapefruit, but much much sweeter. The big seeds inside should be discarded as you encounter them.  Check out the photos below:

An Opened Pomelo

Tasty Flesh Inside a Fresh Pomelo

HOW TO PICK FRESH POMELO

LOOK FOR THESE:

Heavy for its size
Still with a stem end attached (See picture on the right)

AVOID THESE:

Light for its size
Stem ends that's dried up and turning brown

HOW TO STORE FRESH POMELO

IN THE REFRIGERATOR: A Fresh pomelo can last about 1 month in the fridge.
IN ROOM TEMPERATURE: A Fresh pomelo can last about 2 weeks.

HOW TO PREPARE/EAT A FRESH POMELO
Peeling off the thick rind of a fresh pomelo is very similar to peeling off the rind of a grape fruit or an orange, except that the rind of a fresh pomelo is a lot thicker. One the rind is peeled off, you can enjoy the juicy, sweet flesh with a hint of tanginess. Check out the video below:

FUN TO KNOW ABOUT POMELO
Pomelo, when translated in Chinese, it is 柚子.

Do you know that the thick rind of pomelo is edible? They can be cooked in stews or soup once cleaned up. I have tried these dishes a few times in the past. Once cooked, they are soft like a sponge which soaks up all the wonderful flavors in the dish. Yum!

Ya Pear/Ya Li

2012-01-16T14:18:00.003-08:00

HOW TO PICK FRESH YA PEAR

LOOK FOR THESE:

A fresh looking stem end
Feel firm when gently squeezed
Heavy for its size and has a nice green throughout
The best to still have a green stem attached
With smooth skin

AVOID THESE:

With soft or brown spots
Stem end wilting, turned brown or turned soft
Liquid/Moisture coming off the stem end

HOW TO STORE FRESH YA PEAR

IN THE FRIDGE: When wrapped in paper towels, ya pears can stay fresh for 8-10 days in the crisper drawer. Try not to place anything too heavy on top because once bruised, ya pears can spoil quickly.

IN ROOM TEMPERTURE: Ya pear last for only about a day in room temperature. Any longer than that, its skin will shrivel. It's not recommended.

HOW TO ENJOY FRESH YA PEAR

When eaten fresh, ya pears can be enjoy the same way as Bosc pears.

FUN TO KNOW ABOUT YA PEAR

Ya pear, when translated in Chinese, it is 鸭梨. 鸭 means duck. 梨 means pear. Its name came from its similar shape to a ducks head and mouth.

Star Fruit/Starfruit

2012-01-16T08:09:00.003-08:00

The name star fruit comes from the shape of the cross-section shape of the fruit (check out the photo below), because the five ridges which run lengthwise on it side. Whenripe, star fruit is juicy with a sweet scent, sweet with a hint of tang.

Star Fruit Cross-Section Slices =)

HOW TO PICK FRESH STAR FRUIT

LOOK FOR THESE:

Nice orange color in the concave ridges that fade into a nice green color in the convex ridges, except the very top of the ridge which is usually more of a dark brown color (Star fruits with this color characteristic are ripen naturally. Hence, better texture and flavor. Check out the photo below)

Uglier the better with a twist or some type of deformation (This might sound odd because for most fruits, we look for more even and "prettier" shapes. However, for star fruit, it is best if its body is twisted some how. Check out the photos below for some examples.)

Star Fruit with a Twist_01

Star Fruit with a Twist_02

Feel firm when gently squeezed
Free of soft or brown spots

AVOID THESE:

With brown or soft spots
Majority of the fruit being green (These star fruits are not ripe enough. They won't taste very sweet.)

HOW TO STORE FRESH STAR FRUIT

IN THE FRIDGE: When wrapped in paper towels, fresh star fruits can about 3-4 days when store in the crisper drawer.

IN ROOM TEMPERATURE: When wrapped in paper towels, they can about 2-3 days. Try not to put anything heavy on top.

HOW TO PREPAR/EAT FRESH STAR FRUIT

After a thorough wash, you can use a knife to trim of the brown edges, and the two ends. Then, you can slice it any way you want or eat them whole. For better presentation, star fruits should be sliced widthwise to reveal the star shape. Check out the video below:

FUN TO KNOW STAR FRUIT

Star fruit, when translated in Chinese, it is 楊桃.

Saan Choy/Saan Choi

2012-01-14T07:01:00.003-08:00

HOW TO PICK FRESH SAAN CHOY

LOOK FOR THESE:

With a healthy green color throughout
With fresh looking stems
With a healthy gloss throughout

AVOID THESE:

With wilting leaves
Browning stems

HOW TO STORE FRESH SAAN CHOY

IN THE FRIDGE: Fresh saan choy should stay fresh for about 2-3 days in a bag when stored in the crisper drawer. However, they are best consumed within a day or two.

HOW TO PREPARE FRESH SAAN CHOY

Washing saan choy is quite easy.

Break the saan choy plants into smaller chunks. I've been trained to break them up into little pieces, with a leave or two attached to a chunk of the main stem. This way, every bite of the cooked saan choy will have the texture of both the leaves and the stems.
Soak these smaller chunks of saan choy in water for about 10 minutes.
Rinse well, then drain.

FUN TO KNOW ABOUT SAAN CHOY

Saan choy, when translated in Chinese, it is 潺菜. 潺 means slippery or slimy. 菜 means vegetable.

Jicama

2012-01-13T20:57:00.003-08:00

HOW TO PICK FRESH JICAMA

LOOK FOR THESE:

Reasonably smooth skin
Free of or minimum patches of brown spots
White flesh under the paper like skin
Heavy for its size
Feel firm when squeezed

AVOID THESE:

With soft spots
Rough skin
Brown or black flesh under the skin
Feel slimy to the touch

HOW TO STORE FRESH JICAMA

IN THE FRIDGE: Fresh jicama can mold easily when wet. So, make sure your fresh jicama is dry before refrigeration. When wrapped in paper towels, they can last for about 3-5 days in the crisper drawer. And be sure to avoid getting the jicama wet when store with other veggies.

HOW TO PREPARE FRESH JICAMA

The only part of jicama that is not edible is the paper like skin. It can be peel off with a vegetable peeler. After that, its white flesh is all yours. =)

FUN TO KNOW ABOUT JICAMA
Jicama can be eaten raw. Its juicy flesh taste kind of pear like, but less sweet and more dense.

Jicama is a popular vegetable to be cooked in diced vegetables because of its crunchy, and lightly sweet flavor.

Napa/Napa Cabbage/Celery Cabbage

2012-01-13T20:29:00.002-08:00

HOW TO PICK FRESH NAPA

LOOK FOR THESE:

Fresh and healthy yellow color on the leaves (The most yellow the leaves are, the more mature the napa will be, which means more of that delicate sweet flavor.)
Free of soft or brown spots
Fresh looking stems that have a translucent white throughout
Heavy for its size

AVOID THESE:

With tiny holes that go through many layers of leaves
Wilting stems (Wilting napa stems have a more solid white color than a fresh translucent stem, and with the top skin start to wrinkle.)
Browning leaves
Too loosely packed leaves

HOW TO STORE FRESH NAPA

IN THE FRIDGE: Always air dry the fresh napa if they have too much moisture on the leaves. This will prevent the napa from rotting too fast. Once air dried, DO NOT peel off the outmost leaves. Those outmost leaves can keep the inner, younger leaves protected.
Then, you can simply leave the whole napa in the crisper drawer, and it should last for about 7 days.

FUN TO KNOW ABOUT NAPA
Napa, when translated in Chinese, it is 黃芽白 in Cantonese, and 大白菜 in Mandarin. 黃 means yellow. 芽 means tip or sprout. 白 means white. 大 means big. 白 means white. 菜 means vegetable.

When steaming salty dough buns, napa leaves can be used to line the steamer to avoid the buns sticking to the steamer. If you don't have napa handy, lettuce leaves can be used as well.

Chinese Bitter Melon

2012-01-11T06:52:00.002-08:00

HOW TO PICK FRESH FRESH CHINESE BITTER MELON

LOOK FOR THESE:

Uglier the better! It means with more raised and big bumps (You should be able to feel most of the bumps when you run your hand across the surface.)
With a vibrant green throughout
Feel firm when gently squeezed

AVOID THESE:

With small and flat bumps
With a yellowish green color throughout
Free of blemishes
Free of soft or brown spots

HOW TO STORE FRESH CHINESE BITTER MELON

IN THE FRIDGE: When wrapped in a paper towel, or placed in a paper bag in the crisper drawer, they can last for about 4 days.

HOW TO PREPARE FRESH CHINESE BITTER MELON

For bitter melons, closer to the core of the melon, the bitter it tastes, and softer the texture. If you would like to get rid of some of the bitterness, there are a few ways you can try. You can use one of the three, or combinations of these techniques:

Remove the core and the seeds
Use salt to squeeze out a lot of the liquids from the bitter melon
Blanch the chopped bitter melons before cooking

FUN TO KNOW ABOUT CHINESE BITTER MELON
Bitter melon, when translated in Chinese is 苦瓜. 苦 means bitter. 瓜 means squash. It is a very popular vegetables in the Summertime for its "cooling" quality.

In China, if you are being called 苦瓜, it means you always look depressed, bitter and miserable, basically lack of happiness. So, not a good nick name.

Head Cabbage Varieties

2012-01-05T18:03:00.000-08:00

More head cabbage varieties to come...
Click on the name of the cabbage variety to find out how to select them in the store. =)

Red cabbages are very similar to green cabbages. Once cooked though, red cabbages tin everything with a blueish color. In soup, I think they make my favorite Russian soup more distinctive. However, it can be an undesirable effects in stir fries. Shredded red cabbage can also be a nice addition to a salad.

Green cabbages and red cabbages are quite similar, as mentioned above. I love using these cabbages in stir fries and soups. When shredded, they are an awesome addition to any dumpling fillings.

Curly/savory cabbages are pretty to look at, and have the best texture when stir fried. However, when cook in soup, the leaves tend to be a bit rougher than the green and red varieties, unless cook for a much longer period of time.

Brussels sprouts are one of the cutest looking vegetable. You have got to try them baked with chopped carrots, olive oil, salt and pepper. They taste so sweet and fresh that way. I made a believe out of my husband. Hopefully, I can make a believer out of you too. =)

Napa/Napa Cabbage/Celery Cabbage are one of the more wildly used head cabbage variety in Asian countries. They can be pickled, braised, stir fried or cooked in soup. Personally, I prefer them stir fried with chopped ginger and salt.

Brussels Sprouts

2012-01-04T10:32:00.001-08:00

Brussels sprouts don't just look like miniature green head cabbages. They are head cabbages.

They are one of the most adorable vegetables to look at. However, I couldn't get pass the odor of cooked Brussels sprouts for years, despite the fact that these cute little cabbages are very healthy for me.

Can something look this cute, and be so healthy for me, also taste good?!

Recently, I found out that it can be done with Brussels sprouts. You can bake Brussels sprouts with carrots, olive oil and salt, covered with tin foil for about 25-30 minutes in a 400 degree (Celsius) oven. These Brussels sprouts can come out taste fresh and sweet, and most importantly, no yucky odor. =)

Brussels sprouts can be found in loose form, or as a stalk that cab be about 2-3 feet tall. I heard it's much economical to get a stalk than buying them by the pounds in loose form. Now that I have successfully converted myself and my hubby into eating Brussels sprouts, I can't wait to buy one of those stalks.

HOW TO PICK FRESH BRUSSELS SPROUTS

LOOK FOR THESE:

Rich and bright green color throughout
Tightly packed leaves that feel firm when squeezed gently
Heavy for its size

AVOID THESE:

Yellow leaves
Loosely packed leaves that feel puffy when squeezed gently
Tiny holes and brown/black spots

HOW TO STORE FRESH BRUSSELS SPROUTS

IN THE FRIDGE: Feel free to pick off the Brussels sprouts off the stalk before refrigeration. Fresh Brussels sprouts can last for weeks when refrigerated in an open container. It is okay if the top leaf becomes yellow and wilted, as long as the leaves underneath it are still green and fresh once it is peeled off.

Head Cabbage

2012-01-03T06:51:00.001-08:00

There are many different types of head cabbage which are commonly found in the stores. Check out the photos below:

Red Cabbage

Green Cabbage

Curly Cabbage/Savoy cabbage

There are more head cabbage varieties than the ones I have listed above, such as Napa and Brussels sprouts, to just name a couple. Since the techniques for selecting and storing those other varieties can be quite different, they are going to have a page of their own.

HOW TO PICK FRESH HEAD CABBAGE IN THE STORE

LOOK FOR THESE:

Heavy for its size
Tightly packed leaves that look fresh, and rich in its color
A fresh looking stem end

AVOID THESE:

Wrinkled and browning leaves beyond the top layer of leaves
Tiny holes that go through many layers of leaves

HOW TO STORE FRESH HEAD CABBAGE

IN THE FRIDGE (WHOLE CABBAGE): The fresh cabbage can last for about a week or two if you leave it in a sealed plastic bag.

IN THE FRIDGE (PART OF THE CABBAGE): If you only used up part of the cabbage, the remaining cabbage should be sealed in a plastic bag also. Just remember that, once cut, the remaining cabbage will only stay fresh for a few more days.

IN THE FREEZER: I use this method a lot for radish greens. Not a lot for cabbage because they are easy to find year round. However, if you would like to, you can simply blench the chopped cabbage, chill, then seal them in a freezer bag for later use. I usually discard them after 6 months if left unused.

Chinese White Radish/Daikon Radish/Lo Bok

2011-11-19T11:40:00.001-08:00

Chinese white radish looks like a large white carrot. It is sweet and mild flavored. It is one of the many varieties of radish. They are great when braised, picked, or make into turnip cake, stews and soups.

Their leafy greens taste great in soup. They are high in fiber and have a mildly fragrant when cooked. Since they turn yellow and wilt quickly even when stored in the fridge, they should be consumed as soon as possible.

One fair warning: Hot Chinese white radishes have a particular smell that could be quite weird to others. So, it might not be a good idea to bring a hot Chinese white radish dish to a party or work. You might not want to be the person who stink up the room. =)

HOW TO PICK FRESH CHINESE WHITE RADISH

LOOK FOR THESE:

A Chinese White Radish Shape Like a Ginseng

White and spotless
Firm skin
Heavy for its size
DO NOT WORRY when you find the stem end of the white radish being green. The green portion simply means that part of the white radish was exposed to the sun when growing.
The straight looking Chinese white radishes are more common. However, they taste the best when they look more like a ginseng (see the photo on the right).
The last tip is quite interesting. It is just like the technique used on picking a crisp apple. Flick the radish with your finger a few times prior to making the selection. If the sound comes out clean and loud, the radish will be fresh, and with thinner skin.

AVOID THESE:

Wrinkled skin
With brown and soft spots
Deep tiny little holes
Deep cuts

HOW TO STORE FRESH CHINESE WHITE RADISH

IN THE FRIDGE: Last for a couple of weeks

DEHYDRATED: Last for years if stored in the fridge within a sealed container

Pineapple

2011-10-27T11:53:00.002-07:00

Pineapple is a tropical fruit which can be easily found in the stores. They come in many different sizes. When ripe, it has sweet and juicy flesh. They are awesome when eating raw, juiced or cooked. I've seen them in cakes, sweet and sour dishes and fruit salads, just to name a few.

When eating raw though, make sure to dip them in salt water first before eating them, it will help you avoid those nasty "blisters" on your tongue. =)

Have you seen a small size pineapple called Zululand Queen pineapple? I saw them in Nino Salvaggio. They are about the size of a large grapefruit (check out the photo below). I've got to try one.

Zululand Queen Pineapple

HOW TO PICK A FRESH PINEAPPLE

LOOK FOR THESE:

A crown with fresh looking spiky leaves (Try pulling a leaf off the crown of the pineapple, if it can be easily pulled off the pineapple is ripe. Some say the method does not work. However, my mom and I have been using this method for a long time, and it hasn't failed us yet.)
Fresh looking shell that feel firm
Fresh looking fruitlets (the pineapple eyes) which look like a smiley face, best to be about the size of a quarter
A light sweet scent coming off the pineapple when you smell it

Notice the color difference
between the bases of these two pineapple

When ripe, the base of a pineapple turns yellow color from green (as seen in the photo above)

AVOID THESE:

A crown with dry, yellow and wilting leaves
Sad face looking fruitlets that are wet, soft or moldy
A dull looking pineapple shell that have soft/moldy spots

HOW TO STORE A FRESH PINEAPPLE

IN ROOM TEMPERATURE: Last about 2 days

IN THE FRIDGE: Last about a week

Chayote Squash

2011-10-19T12:29:00.001-07:00

Chayote squash is such a cool looking squash, with a pretty light green color. Inside these squash is a large, soft and flattened pit inside which normally white in color.

I've heard that you don't need to peel the chayote squash, but I normally do as a habit. If you decide to peel the quash, peel it under running water. So that the stickiness from the peel won't stuck to your hands.

They can be served both raw and cooked. When served cooked, they are usually quick sautéd. So that their crisp texture and sweet flavor can be preserved. I have tried them a few times when they are cooked till soft. They are still very sweet and tasty that way.

Chayote squash can vary in sizes. Sometimes, they can be quite huge. Just take a look at the photo below.

HOW TO PICK FRESH CHAYOTE SQUASH

LOOK FOR THESE:

A nice green color over all
Fresh looking stem end
Smooth and taunt skin
Feel firm when squeezed

AVOID THESE:

Deep cuts and brown spots
Feel soft and squishy when squeezed

HOW TO STORE FRESH CHAYOTE SQUASH

IN THE FRIDGE: If kept in a sealed plastic bag, fresh, unwashed chayote squash can last about 3 weeks.

Cilantro/Chinese Parsley/Coriander

2011-10-17T16:46:00.000-07:00

Cilantro, also referred to as coriander or Chinese parsley. They are great when they are served fresh as a garnish, pretty, crunchy and fragrant. However, once cooked, their flavor and texture are not the same.

I haven't met many people who do not like cilantro. Have you?

Cilantro have been a stable in my parents garden, ever since they have a garden. They are great as ground cover plants when they are nice and green. If you just leave the cilantro plants grow, eventually they will have pretty white and pink flowers.They look like baby's breath when put in a bouquet.

Cilantro Flowers_01

Cilantro Flowers_02

HOW TO PICK FRESH CILANTRO IN THE STORE

LOOK FOR THESE:

Look fresh and green throughout

AVOID THESE:

Look wilting, or turning yellow
With reddish stems (It is a sign that the cilantro plants are getting too mature. They can be pretty stringy.)

HOW TO STORE FRESH CILANTRO

IN THE FRIDGE: You can keep fresh cilantro in the crisp draw for a week. However, with a little extra work, they can stay fresh for another extra week:

Remember, ONLY wash the cilantro before eating them, NOT before storing.
Remove the rubber band that tie the cilantro together
Hold the bunch of cilantro together by the stems and shake to loose leaves out
Remove all the yellowing, wilting stems and leaves
Put the cilantro in a seal container prior to putting them in the fridge (The container will help the cilantro to stay fresh and moist for longer.)

A Pretty & Fragrant Bouquet from My Parent's Garden

2011-10-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

As my mom and I wondered around the garden today, we saw so many pretty flower blooming. The most interesting flowers are the ones from the radish plants, common rue plants, honeysuckle plants and the cilantro plants. They look so delicate. We can't help but trimmed a few of those flower branches. The bouquet look so great and smell so good. I wish you can smell it. =) Below are some photos of the bouquet, hope you will like it.

Garden Bouquet_01

Garden Bouquet_02

Garden Bouquet_03

Garden Bouquet_04_Closeup of Rue Flowers

Garden Bouquet_05_Closeup of Cilantro Flowers

Garden Bouquet_06_Closeup of Cilantro Flowers

Next time you get some herbs and produce, don't forget the possibilities of adding them to a bouquet. I certainly will now. =)

Prune Plums/Empress Plums

2011-10-11T08:17:00.002-07:00

HOW TO PICK FRESH PRUNE PLUMS
LOOK FOR THESE:

Fresh looking, smooth and taunt skin
With fresh looking stem still attached
Yield slightly evenly when squeezed gently (As I mentioned before, these prune plums bruise easily. Even though the softer prune plums are probably ready to be eaten right away, it is hard to know if it has been bruised. It's better to pick the ones that only yield slightly, and leave them ripen further after you bring them home.)

AVOID THESE:

Seem to have goo coming out of the stem end, or look wet
Squishy when gently squeezed

HOW TO STORE FRESH PRUNE PLUMS
You can leave prune plums on the counter to ripen further in room temperature. Try not to put anything heavy on top of them to avoid any bruising. They should be ripe enough after about two days. Check them by squeezing them gently, eat the ones which are the softest first.

IN ROOM TEMPERATURE: Once ripen, it's best to consume prune plum within 2-3 days for optimum freshness, if you decide to leave them in room temperature.

IN THE FRIDGE: Try not to refrigerate the prune plum until they are ripe. Once ripen, you can prolong their freshness for an extra few days longer than leaving them in room temperature.

Prune Plum Cut in Half Lengthwise

HOW TO ENJOY FRESH PRUNE PLUMS

Once washed thoroughly, you can simply bite into them, or you can cut them in halves lengthwise. Its yellow flesh should be nicely soft and wonderfully sweet. My husband love to peel its skin off before eating them. It does preserve its texture and taste better, I have to admit.

Westview Orchards Trip - The Perfect Day to Pick Some Perfect Apples =)

2011-10-08T17:15:00.000-07:00

Today is about 61 degrees, sunny with a light breeze. It is a perfect day to pick some apples. We decided to go to Westview Orchards in Washington Twp., Michigan, pick some fresh apples and enjoy some cider and donuts. =)

It's the first time for us to Westview Orchards. It is much bigger than we think. There are something for everyone. There areas designated for Family Fun, Bakery, Farmers Market and the U-Pick Farms.

Westview Orchards Parking Lot (It Is Huge)

Decor Around The Orchard

Cider and Donuts Area

The Two Beautiful Horses For The Hay Ride

Entrance For Family Fun And U-Pick Farms

After about 6 minutes of wagon ride, we reach the section of the orchards for picking apples. There are four varieties available at the moment: Red Delicious, Yellow Delicious/Golden Delicious, Jonagold and Cortland.

Red Delicious Apples

Red Delicious Apples_01

Red Delicious Apples_02

Red Delicious Apples_03

Red Delicious Apples_04

Red Delicious Apples_05

Red Delicious Apples_06

Yellow/Golden Delicious Apples

Yellow/Golden Delicious Apples_01

Yellow/Golden Delicious Apples_02

Jonagold Apples

Jonagold Apples_01

Jonagold Apples_02

Jonagold Apples_03

Cortland Apples

Cortland Apples_01

Cortland Apples_02

After all the hard work of picking apples, we settle down for some cold cider and donuts.

Look at How Much Apples We Brought Home =)

Donut with Icing and Sprinkles (Not my favorite, but my husband loves it.)

Donut with Sprinkle Sugar

We have so much fun. Can't wait to go back to the orchards for some Fuji apples. =) Below are some more random photos from our trip. Hope you will be making your trip to an orchard soon.

Farmers Market Section of the Orchard_01

Farmers Market Section of the Orchard_02

Farmers Market Section of the Orchard_03

Apple Varieties - More to come...

2011-10-06T08:11:00.000-07:00

More apple varieties to come...

Gala apples have yellow or yellowish-green vertical stripes on their skin. Its skin has a mix of red, yellowish-green and orange colors. Its clean, crisp, sweet and mild flavor flesh has a hint of tartness.

Ginger Gold Apples have sweet flesh with a tiny bit of tartness. It has a soft pear texture, unlike the crisp texture most apples provide.

Honeycrisp Apples have whitish flesh, sweet with a hint of tang. They are very crisp and light.

Sansa Apple is a new found variety for me this year. It is mostly sweet with a hint of tartness, with very crisp flesh. The best part of eating these apples is the light soothing scent which accompanies with each bite.

Grapes

2011-09-26T07:49:00.002-07:00

HOW TO PICK FRESH GRAPES

LOOK FOR THESE:

Rich in its color, regardless of its variety
Plump with fresh and smooth skin
Feel firm when gently squeezed with your thumb and index finger
With fresh looking stem still attached

AVOID THESE:

Wrinkle skin
Feel soft when gently squeezed with your thumb and index finger
Loose grapes without stem attached (Grapes can turn bad quickly without their stem attached.)

HOW TO STORE FRESH GRAPES
Do not wash grapes before you store them. It will help to lengthen the storage time.

IN THE FRIDGE: I usually store grapes in plastic container to prevent further bruising. In order to preserve space, the stems attached to the grapes can be trimmed, leaving just a little bit attached (as shown in the photo on the right). Remember, do not compact the grapes in the container, as they can bruise each other.

HOW TO WASH FRESH GRAPES

Grapes should be consumed quickly once they are washed because it will speed up their decay process. Here is how you can wash them thoroughly prior to consumption. I heard it from a Hong Kong TV program once, mentioned not to use salt solution to soak grapes. It is much better to use vinegar solution instead. So in the following steps, I am using vinegar solution.

Put the grapes in a bowl under running water
Rinse the grapes thoroughly, then drain
Put the grapes back in the bowl, fill the bowl with water. Pour a little vinegar into the water, and let the grapes soak in the vinegar solution for a few minutes.
Drain the grapes well, rinse thoroughly, drain again, then serve