The Mulberry Fruit at Neighborhood – Food 41

The ripen Mulberry’s fruit is almost the same color with Blackberry, but they are different in shape in which Mulberry is longer than Blackberry.

Image 1- Fruits of Mulberry tree

We have Blackberry plants as a bush which climbs our fences. We don’t have Mulberry tree.

We know one of our neighbors has a Mulberry tree. The tree has scientific name, Morus sp.

When the tree produces fruit, joggers and passerby’s to sneak a snack. The owner is quite welcome to everyone to tasted the fruit.

Sure, I tried one. I think the fruit sweetness is fairly, and quite similar dried figs. The dark Mulberry almost similar taste in some degree to blackberry.

Image 2- The powder of Mulberry fruit, sold in Walmart

We tried to find fresh Mulberry fruit in many grocery stores, but no ones sell the fresh Mulberry. Walmart just sell powder and jam.

Image 3- The Painting by Hai Anh Ton, illustration

After searching through internet, we find one of the reasons as reported by Janet Nguyen (2022: Why aren’t mulberries sold at grocery stores?) that “the fruit is difficult to harvest and has a refrigerated shelf life of two to four days.”

Image 4- The Mulberry tree belongs to a neighbor

Have you tried Mulberry fruit? What do you think?

# Previous postings:

- Rainbow Evening : I Got a Covid 19 Vaccine Shot Recently – Part 2
- Rainbow BeforeEvening : Wild Flowers in the Backyards – Nature 1
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Wreaths for Mardi Gras in Louisiana
- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Tropical Plant Called Pineapple – Food 1
- The Rainbow Before Evening : A chocolate as a Gift for Valentine’s Day

Do you Know Some People Eat Alligator Meat? - Part 2 – Food 40

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do you Know Some People Eat Alligator Meat? - Part 1 – Food 40

Image 1- The Alligator at neighborhood

Several other states have alligators as well, the number from several thousands to higher as millions, the states are:

- Florida
- Georgia
- Alabama
- Mississippi
- South Carolina and North Carolina
- Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas

Image 2- Just for illustration

You may notice that alligators mainly spreading in the warmer, southern states of the USA

When I asked friends of mind from Louisiana, they said that there are alligator burgers and cooked alligator sold in the certain seafood markets as well.

Image 3- Bags, Just for illustration

I tried to “googling” to find out Louisiana’s recipe for alligator meat. Unexpectedly that I found many recipes and dishes that relate to alligator meat.

It is mean Louisiana people enjoy with alligator meat.

Image 4- Sign of the Alligator meat at Tony’s Seafood

# To be continued to Part 3

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Do you Know Some People Eat Alligator Meat? - Part 1 – Food 40
- The Rainbow Before Evening : A Mother Duck with Her 8 Eggs – Nature 56
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Bonsai Show in Our City – Part 2 - Nature 51
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Minnie Winnie RV of Homeless People in Our City
- The Rainbow Before Evening : The Ghosts of Paris by Tara Moss – Part 2 – Reading 12

Do you Know Some People Eat Alligator Meat? - Part 1 – Food 40

I went to Walmart Neighborhood a couple days ago, a nearby grocery, just few minutes from my house.

Image 1- Alligator fillet sold in Walmart

I wanted to pick fish fillets, and surprisingly that I saw fillets of alligator in the cold room of the store.

I thought this kind of “meat” sold in the specific market only, never expected that they are available in grocery stores like Walmart.

Yes, Louisiana has a great number of alligators:

- 2 million wild alligators
- 300 thousand farming alligators.

Image 2- Just for illustration

In Louisiana, alligators may be found in any places such as lakes, canals, rivers and even small ponds.

Image 3- Recipe to cook alligator fillet (back packed).

# To be continued to Part 2

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Leprosy is One of the Oldest Ancient Diseases - Part 1 - Healthy Life 27
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Local Coffee Shop in Our City, Baton Rouge
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Mediterranean Diet and Alzheimer's Prevention – Part 2 - Alzheimer's 11
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Paintings of Elementary School’s Students - Art 9
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Learning Process Based on My Own Experienced – Part 1 – Science 28

Have you Tasted Broad Beans? - Food 39

I knew broad beans in the 4 forms that are baked, roasted, fried and dried. When I visit an ethnic grocery, I saw fresh broad beans, look like a long bean with green color.

Image 1- Dried broad beans

Americans call broad beans with other names, some of them are English bean, Faba bean, Windsor bean, Tick bean, field bean, Horse bean, Pigeon bean, Fava bean and Bell bean.

People eat broad beans with some reasons:

- source of nutrients
- weight loss
- improve immune system
- a lot of health benefits

Image 2- A single broad bean

# Important postings:

- How often Should we Consume Blueberries? - Part 2 – Food 35
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Brain Changes during Reproduction Process – Part 1 – Brain Plasticity 2
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Black Cobra Chili Plants – Food 31
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Sweet Tangerine at Backyard – Food 26

Image 3- Fried broad beans

As suggested by Rumwell (2021: Brilliant benefits of broad beans) that broad beans rich in vitamins and minerals.

Some important vitamins include vitamin C and B. Moreover, few examples of minerals in the broad bean are copper, zinc, iron and magnesium.

Fig 04- Fresh broad beans, sold in the grocery

Have you tasted broad beans? If so, do you like its?

# Previous postings:

- Rainbow Evening : Paintings Show in Mini Maker Faire– Art 5
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- The Rainbow Before Evening : Differences between American and Italian Mozzarella Cheeses – Food 28

The Crazy Chicken Pollo Loco at Neighborhood – Food 38

As you know that Pollo Loco is a Spanish word for crazy chicken in English. We have the franchise restaurant called as “El Pollo Loco.”

Image 1- Food truck of Crazy chicken.

The “El Pollo Loco” has headquarter in California with about 500 branches all over the USA.

A food truck called as “My PolloLoco” always visit our neighborhood from afternoon (around 5 PM) until night (before 10 PM).

We believe that “My PolloLoco” is not part of “El Pollo Loco” franchises. It is a local owner, a kind of small business to sell Mexican foods with Louisiana or American flavors.

Sure, the price is quite reasonable.

Image 2- Grilled chicken, one of menus

Food trucks like restaurants must pass inspections from relevant agencies for their cleanliness, food qualities and even locations or hours of business.

We have been eating from variety of local food trucks for over 15 years; never had cleanliness and food quality issues.

In addition to grilled chicken, I love several menus such as Taco, Quesadilla and many other Mexican cuisines.

Image 3- Quesadilla, other menus.

Have you this kind of food truck in your areas?

# Previous postings:

- Young Coconut Water as Folk Remedies – Part2
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Tax Free Outlets in the Special Area of Our State
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Using of Cordless Electrostatic Sprayer for Killing Virus - Part 1 – Science 21
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The United States Produces and Exports Dates Fruit – Food 37

I know the Middle East countries are the main producers and exporters of dates fruit in the world. In fact top 5 producers come from this region.

Image 1- Dates sold in the American grocery.

Here the top 5 dates producers in the world, data from FAO (2019):

- Egypt, 1.60 million tons
- Saudi Arabia, 1.54 million tons
- Iran, 1.31 million tons
- Algeria, 1.14 million tons
- Iraq, 0.64 million tons

What surprising me that USA not only produces dates, but also exports the fruit to some other countries.

Image 2- Dates in the boxes

America is ranked 15th as world date producer. Total production was 56,000 ton in 2019.

The production is quite higher compared to other middle east countries such as Israel, Qatar and Jordan.

In term of export, USA sent dates fruit to Canada, Australia and Mexico in 2021 to 2022.

Image 3- Dates, ready to be consumed

Have you tasted dates?

# Previous postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Asparagus Contains High Dietary Fiber – Food 23
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Why Should not We Take Aspirin Daily? - Part 2 - Healthy Life 24
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Dungeness Crabs from Gulf of Mexico – Science 19
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How often Should we Consume Blueberries? - Part 2 – Food 35

You may read the previous post about blueberries and berries:

- The Rainbow : Blueberry is One of Fruits Rich in Antioxidants– Food 13
- How often Should we Consume Blueberries? - Part 1 – Food 35

Image 1- Blueberries, ready to be consumed

It is because they are healthiest berries. I have mentioned 3 kinds (excluded blackberry) of berries. Then, other 5 kinds of berries are:

- Goji berries
- Bilberries
- Acai berries
- Cranberries
- Grapes

Image 2- Magnolia, Illustration only

In case of blueberry, there are a lot of health benefits, just some (Megan Ware, written in MedicalNewsToday, 2017):

- Lowering blood pressure
- Managing diabetes
- Protecting against heart disease
- Preventing cancer
- Healthy digestion, weight loss, and feeling full

Image 3- Butterfly, just for illustration

The question then: How often Should we Consume Blueberries?

As recommended by Harvard Health Publishing (June 17, 2020): “Eat blueberries three times per week.”

Image 4- Blueberries sold in Walmart, US$6.97

# Previous Postings:

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Does Red Bell Pepper Contain more Vitamin C than Orange? - Part 2– Food 21
- The Rainbow Before Evening : Flooding after Raining in Our Neighborhood – Nature 37
- The Rainbow Before Evening : What does Hypertension Mean? - Part 2 – Cardiovascular 3
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Sugarcane Sticks Sold in the Mexican Grocery – Food 36

I used to chew sugarcane sticks, off course after removing its outer layers, when I was a kid long time ago.

Image 1- Sugarcane sticks sold in the grocery.

Fun memory to select a good tree, cut tree with proper sizes, peel off the outer layers, and chewing its. Tastes so sweet.

I loved to drink sugarcane juice as well. As suggested by Raw Pressery (2021: 13 Amazing Health Benefits of Sugarcane Juice) that sugarcane juice has plenty of health benefits.

Just for few examples, sugarcane juice contains highly minerals, high source of vitamin C, low fats and low Glycemic index.

Image 2- Pine fruits, illustration only

By the way, when we visited an ethnic, Mexican grocery recently, we found sticks of sugarcane on the shelves.

Image 3- Sugarcane juice, sold in Walmart

Yes, USA has sugarcane farmings which produce millions ton of sugars, but first time saw sugarcane sticks on the market.

Have you chewed sugarcane sticks?

# Previous postings:

- Lantana for Summer Project in My Backyard– Nature 34
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- The Rainbow Before Evening : Why does Gum Disease cause Alzheimer's?- Part 1 - Alzheimer's 8
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White Hominy Pearls Tossed with Coconut Shreds – Part 3 – Food 32

You may read previous posting (Part 1):

- White Hominy Pearls Tossed with Coconut Shreds – Part 1 – Food 32
- White Hominy Pearls Tossed with Coconut Shreds – Part 2 – Food 32

Image 1- Sweet white hominy pearls tossed with coconut shreds

Hominy is a product of corn, so it is free from gluten, high fiber, low fat and low carb.

Just for your illustration that one cup (165 g) of hominy contents about 120 calories, and 4 g(16% daily value) of fibers.

For today consumption, I use hominy from Juanita's. I empty hominy into the pot, rinse, and cover with water. 

Image 2- A nutcracker, illustration only

Image 3- The raw corn, illustration

Put the pot on medium high and bring to boil, then add some sugar, stir a few times. When the texture is softer, we should drain, and toss with coconut shreds. Ready to enjoy!

Do you like hominy? What is your favorite hominy recipe?

# Previous postings:

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