Posts for 'Fruits' Category

A garden without viburnum is akin to life without music and art." So says well-known horticulturalist Michael Dirr, Ph.D., and who am I to argue? Since declaring his love of viburnums, Dirr has gone one step further and devoted one of this many books entirely to this shrub, titled "Viburnums, Flowering Shrubs for Every Season.

The cover notes say it all: "With their abundance of flower, handsome foliage, robust constitution, and frequently stunning fruits, viburnums are among the most beautiful and versatile hardy shrubs available to gardeners."

As a landscape designer I can tell you that if you need a shrub for a problem area, be it wet, dry, sunny or shady, a viburnum is likely to come to the rescue. They excel as specimen plants or as anchors in a mixed border. They are wonderful for hedges or for massing in groups, since they have four-season interest.

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'Why did you steal the plums?' I asked my eleven-year-old son. 'To stop the wasps getting them', he replied, poker-faced. Quick wit saved his bacon but the real reason for scrumping my prize fruits was that ripe plums are just too delicious to resist.

Pick them when soft and plump, with a flawless bloom over their translucent skins, eat them on the spot, under the laden tree and you get an impression of what life might have been like for Adam and Eve. You can buy plums anywhere, of course, and at most times of year. But in shops and markets, British plums will have been picked semi-ripe, bundled into boxes and transported for miles. They'll mature on the shelf, but look and taste completely different from the beauties my son pinched.

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Keremeos is remembered annually by the vacationing public for the gauntlet of fruit stands that have lined Highway 3 for decades.

In the Okanagan, Kaleden’s section of Highway 97 used to be known as “fruit stand alley” when half a dozen outlets once lined the straight stretch of roadway in front of the old game farm.

The fruit stand is a welcome stop on a journey through the southern interior, especially when fruits are in season. They are places of nostalgia, rekindling summer memories of family vacations from years past for younger parents. The traditional fruit stand is open aired, with fresh daily produce and fruit, rustic surroundings, antique collections and displays of memorabilia. Several have been around for generations.

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I managed to go 16 years of having my own kitchen without ever getting a single fruit fly. Two weeks ago I left some cantaloupe rinds in a bowl on the kitchen counter all day, and my 16-year streak ended. Ewwww.

I thought of the nasty, yellow sticky strips that my mom used to hang in our kitchen when fruit flies would appear, and I decided there must be a better way. So I did a little research and found out how to get rid of the fruit flies naturally. I'm happy to say, I am now fruit fly free.

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Everyone knows that fruit and vegetables are important, as essential building blocks of any diet. Not only are they loaded with vitamins and minerals which are essential for healthy living, but they also help fill you up, as part of a balanced diet. By increasing your intake of fruit and vegetables, you will benefit your health no end, and will boost your immune system, as well as building resistance to common illnesses and infections. Furthermore, fruit and vegetables can leave you looking better and feeling great, as part of a healthy diet, which can be an all round improvement for your well-being.

Experts suggest that we should all consumer five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. This may sound initially like a large proportion of your daily overall intake, although it is essential that you strive to meet this target most days, for the benefit of your physical and mental health. Additionally, by filling out meals and increasing satisfaction at meal times. On top of that, the natural goodness contained within these ultimate healthy foods will provide the necessary energy to fuel you through the day, and give you the drive and determination to progress through a course of exercise to improve overall fitness.

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Looking for something to turn back your internal clock by increasing your vitality and improving your appearance? Of course there's no Fountain of Youth, but research suggests that nature has provided us with an answer that comes very close -- fruit. It almost seems too simple: Eat fruit; fool Mother Nature. Yet studies show that by eating four to five servings of fruit each day, you can improve your chances of staying healthy and vibrant as you age. That's because fruit is loaded with phytochemicals, which are natural compounds that may help slow the aging process and reduce the risk of many diseases.

Phytochemicals fight to protect your overall health by providing antioxidant effects, stimulating your immune system, modulating the metabolism of your hormones, and acting as antibacterial and antiviral agents. Get too few of these marvelous compounds and you set yourself up for premature aging, as well as placing yourself at risk for some cancers, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, cataracts, osteoporosis and urinary tract infections. But if you eat the recommended amount of fruit each day, you improve your odds for a healthier life.

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Happy Tuesday, everyone.  I’m starting to feel a bit better today – I went to work which was an accomplishment.  This morning I also realized that I had part of my appetite back.  I went across the street to Bread & Chocolate for breakfast and decided on a lemon blueberry scone  My ol’ classic / favorite!  I searched through my old blog pictures to find a pic of this lovely scone, but did not seem to have one on file – how strange!  I guess we’ll just have to use our imagination – it was wonderful!

Before lunch I had to stop for a morning snack – thankfully I had packed a banana… it really saved the day. After eating next to nothing for the last couple of days, I was definitely hungry today.  I’m thinking this is a good sign?  The banana helped me get through the rest of the morning.For lunch I just had to have soup… do you ever find that when you’re sick with a cold you just need soup?  I do! Today I went to AuBon Pain and got medium (they did not have the small size option today – what the heck is up with that?!) chicken and wild rice soup and a piece of bread.  It was a good meal and really hit the spot on a cold, rainy and sick day.

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Deciding a healthy diet can be difficult as every single person is different who likes different things. For example, even though a healthy diet may consist of sprouts, there are some people who just cannot stand them so there has to be an alternative. That means that every single person’s diet will be different and what all experts can do is to show us which foods are healthier than others so that we can make our own decision based upon our preferences.

So just what are the principles of healthy eating?Knowing what Healthy Food Is and How You Should Eat.When following a healthy eating plan, there is various things which you should keep in mind. Some of these include:• Try and Eat a Variety of Different Colored Food.

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Fresh salsa is one of my favorite foods. For many years, my father and I practiced and practiced perfecting our salsa recipes. It became part of our bonding time together. Does it need more green chilies? Does it need more jalapeno? Ah, the secret ingredient —cilantro!
For this summer, I decided to modify the recipe a bit—and just in time for outdoor barbeques and hot summer days. I recently used my family as guinea pigs for this recipe at a barbeque, and it was a hit.My favorite ingredient in any salsa is cilantro— the leaves of the coriander plant. You can purchase cilantro at most grocery stores by the parsley.  Tip: If you leave the cilantro in the plastic bag in the refrigerator it will only last a few days before beginning to decompose.  I suggest placing it in a glass of water (stems down) in the refrigerator replacing the water every few days.  You will see that your cilantro will last much longer.

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Strawberries or apples for making jams and pies at home which in the past were not available because of cosmetic imperfections will now be sold despite their misshapen appearance.
New EU marketing regulations come into force on July 1 which clarify the rules relating to wonky fruit and vegetables.Until now, there has often been a misconception that anything which does not look "perfect" cannot be sold by retailers. But the new rules simplify how retailers can market produce without misleading consumers.Jim Fitzpatrick, Food and Farming Minister, said: "The new marketing regulations will help supermarkets and greengrocers label their fruit and vegetables correctly, and will provide more choice for people who aren't bothered by what shape their five a day comes in.
"It also means that producers and suppliers won't be stuck with as many leftovers, so there'll be less food waste."

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