If you know me, you know how much I like trying out different dishes, especially those that are not too popular. Crocodile meat happens to be one of those dishes that I just had to try and satisfy my curiosity. I have come across several restaurants that have crocodile meat on the menu. If you…
First things first, what is grenadine? Grenadine is a pomegranate syrup (usually non-alcoholic) that is deep red in color and has a sweet flavor. Originally, grenadine was made from reduced pomegranate juice, sugar, and water. Currently, store-bought grenadine has additional ingredients including corn syrup, sodium benzoate, and artificial colors. The most common use of grenadine…
First things first, what is lard? Lard is a semi-solid ingredient that is made by rendering the fat tissue of the pig. During the rendering process, manufacturers separate the pork fat from portions of a hog, the pork belly, or the pork shoulder. Lard has been in existence since time immemorial. You are likely to…
Soy sauce is a very popular ingredient, it is a must have in my kitchen. There are three main varieties of soy sauce available in the market; light soy sauce, regular soy sauce, and dark soy sauce. Dark soy sauce is a dark-colored sauce that is mostly used in Chinese cuisine. Compared to light soy…
First things first, what is cognac? Cognac is a wine grape brandy that is exclusively made in the Cognac region of France. There are very strict regulations regarding the production of brandy, and all manufacturers use a specific type of grapes. Once cognac is made into brandy, manufacturers age it in oak barrels for at…
Longan and lychee are some of the tropical fruits that are hard to tell apart, especially if you do not interact with them often. I admit that I could hardly tell them apart at the beginning, but over time it got easier. Longan and lychee are closely related, and they have several similarities. However, they…
There are so many tropical fruits out there, and noni is one of them. This fruit is native to Indonesia and Australia, but it is currently grown in areas that have a warm climate across the globe. Noni fruit has bright green skin that is normally dimpled. It also has a unique shape that somewhat…
Exotic fruits always entice me, and kiwano melons happen to be one of them. A kiwano melon is native to the sub-Saharan regions of Africa. It is bright orange in color with spiky thorn-like projections. Of late, kiwanos have become popular in the United States. They are also grown in Europe and New Zealand. If…
I love tropical fruits, and Longan just happens to be one of my favorites. The longan belongs to the soapberry family and its origin can be traced back to Southeast Asia. The Chinese call this fruit dragon’s eye due to the fact that once you remove the outer casing of the longan, its seed surrounded…