Food, Recipe, and Activity of the Week - August 30, 2009
This week's features include:
Food - Tomatoes
Recipe - Cabbage slaw w/tomato, red onion, cilantro, lime
Activity - Hopscotch
History
It is believed that the tomato is native to the America's. Its origins trace back to the early Aztecs in South America around 700 A.D. It was not until the 16th century that Europeans were introduced to the tomato. The tomato was quickly accepted into kitchens throughout Southern Europe, but there was more resistance in the north. The British, for example, believed the tomato to be poisonous, as its appearance was similar to that of the wolf peach. Also adding to this belief was the fact that rich people used flatware made of pewter, which had a high lead content. When foods high in acid, like the tomato, were eaten with the flatware, the lead would leech out into the food, resulting in lead poisoning and death.
In the 1880's, the tomato started gaining popularity. The primary reason for this was the invention of pizza around Naples in the late 1880's. The first pizza was made with three ingredients: tomato sauce, basil, and mozzarella cheese.
It was also in the late 1800's that the classification of the tomato was changed. Before this time, it was classified as a fruit to avoid taxation, but after a Supreme Court ruling it became classified as a vegetable and was taxed accordingly.
From a short time preceding the Civil War Period in the United States until the present, the tomato has become a staple in the kitchen throughout the world. In fact, Americans consume over 12 million tons of tomatoes each year.
Facts
Today the tomato is the most popular garden vegetable in America. Tomatoes are usually easy to grow and just a few plants can provide an adequate supply for most families. There are a wide variety of tomatoes to either purchase in the grocery store or grow in a garden. Large round varieties are slicing tomatoes. They hold more juice and seeds and are good to eat raw in a variety of ways. Plum tomatoes are meaty, eggplant shaped, and can be either red or yellow. These are good for making sauce, canning, or to use on pizza. Cherry-type tomatoes are usually served whole, but may be cut in half when added to dishes. They contain a great deal of seeds and juice.
Fresh ripe tomatoes should not be stored in the refrigerator as their flavor and texture will begin to deteriorate at temperatures below 54ºF. Tomatoes should be stored at room temperature for 2 to 3 days, away from direct sunlight until ready to use. Refrigeration will slow the ripening of tomatoes, so only refrigerate extra-ripe tomatoes you want to keep from ripening further. To ripen tomatoes, place them in a paper bag, stem up. Punch several holes all around the bag and fold the top over. This will hold in some of the naturally occurring ethylene gas in place, which aids in the ripening process.
Nutritionally, tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body. Tomatoes also contain lycopene, a carotenoid responsible for the red pigment of tomatoes, watermelon, and grapefruit. Researchers believe lycopene may play a role in the fight against cancer, especially prostate cancer. Lycopene is more readily available to the body in cooked tomatoes.
Tomatoes can be consumed in a number of ways including tomato sauce, tomato juice, tomato soup, salsa, salads, stir-fry, grilled, stewed, and in vegetable soups. Or if preferred, eat it alone, like an apple!
Nutritional Information (per one cup chopped raw): 24 calories, 1.1 g protein, 5.3 g carbohydrates, 1 g dietary fiber, 254 mg potassium, 22 mg vitamin C, 1,133 IU vitamin A
For more information on growing tomatoes, visit www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/veggies/tomato1.html
Makes 8 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 head green cabbage, shredded (I used a food processor with the shredder attachment)
- 1 tomato, seeded and diced
- 1/2 red onion, diced
- 1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro (about 1/3 of a bunch)
- 1/3 cup lime juice, (juice from 3-4 limes)
- Salt to taste
Instructions:
- Toss all the veggies in a large bowl and chill in refrigerator.
- Add the lime juice and salt to taste just before serving.
Nutrition Information: 36 calories, 0 grams total fat, 9 grams carbohydrate, 2 gram protein, 3 grams fiber, 94 milligrams sodium, 0 milligrams cholesterol.
Courtesy of the Kaiser Permanente website. For more recipes and access to the recipe’s full nutritional profile, visit http://recipe.kaiser-permanente.org/kp/maring.
Today when we think of hopscotch we think of children at recess hopping through squares drawn on the sidewalk with chalk, but when hopscotch was developed thousands of years ago Roman foot-soldiers were the ones “playing the game”. Hopscotch began in ancient Britain during the early Roman Empire. The courts were over 100 feet long and used for military training purposes. Later Roman children drew their own smaller courts, added a scoring system and “Hopscotch” spread throughout Europe and eventually around the world.
Hopscotch is a versatile game that can be played indoors or outside and requires little equipment. To play you need either masking tape or chalk to draw the pattern on the ground and markers such as beanbags, stones, or buttons.
To begin playing the first player tosses his marker into square one. The marker must land completely within the square or the player forfeits his turn. If the toss is successful, the player hops through the court being sure to hop over square one where his marker is. After reaching the last square the player turns around and hops back through the court pausing to pick up his marker and then hopping into square one and out. The first player continues to toss his marker into each succeeding numbered square and hopping through the court. Only one foot can be in a square at one time. A players turn ends if his marker fails to land on the proper square, he steps on a line, he loses balance when picking up his marker and falls, he goes into a square where a marker is, or puts two feet in a single square. When this happens the player does not get credit for the current sequence and must do the same sequence on his next turn. Sometimes a “rest” square is added at the top of the hopscotch pattern where a player can rest a second or two before hopping back through the court. The first player to complete one course for every numbered square on the court wins!
Hopscotch is a good cardiovascular exercise and playing for just 15 minutes burns 150 calories-plus. Because of hopping on one leg and bending down to pick up a marker, hopscotch also works the legs, bottom, and calves. To work both legs, be sure to alternate legs when hopping through the court.
Above information adapted from:
Hopscotch by Dagonell the Juggler and Better Homes and Gardens: Easy as child's play