Coachella Trading Company - recent posts from Home & Family community

Ice Cream Ball Fun

2009-12-14T20:08:34-08:00

I had the pleasure of watching my great nephew and niece this past Saturday evening. In planning on how I was going to fill several hours with a 3 year old and an 8 month old, I decided Ice cream making would be fun. At least it would keep the older one occupied and hopefully tire him out a bit, so that he would fall fast asleep and I could rest and enjoy my evening. Well as the pictures will show he had a blast! He ( Jayden) decided we should have Chocolate and Banana in our ice cream! He mushed the 1/2 of banana and ate the other 1/2, which is good because he would not eat the chicken I cooked for him and only about 3 bites of the Mac and Cheese! He mixed it all up with a little whisk I had picked up for him at Target. Then I put one of my zip up sweatshirts on him, he already had a t-shirt and a sweatshirt on but I was taking no chances! We went out to the balcony and rolled the ball around for about 30 min. We of course had several breaks, we live above a trolley station and he is fascinated with trains so as each trolley came thru we had to cheer them on. Finally Ice Cream was done! I have never seen anyone enjoy his ice cream as much as Jayden did. Hopefully you will all enjoy the pics!! Now if only the 8 Month old was as cooperative! I will have you know it did not tire him out! We still sat up till after 11 watching Curious George, with Jatden telling me that he was not tired!

Get ready

2009-10-28T10:40:01-07:00

Last night the wind blew like 60. The power went out and again the Neighbors were running around using their cell phones as flash lights. Be ready buy your flash lights from Cotradeco.
baddog

Indonesian Art Shop

2009-10-20T00:25:49-07:00

Come and join my gallery for unique and antique reproduction wooden furniture from Indonesia.

Infinite Solutions: How to keep your produce fresh

2009-09-27T17:34:06-07:00

Learn a little known trick for using your microwave to keep your produce fresh.

From the description at YouTube:

Would you like to extend the life of your fruits, vegetables, and grains? In this episode of Infinite Solutions, I along with special guest Chef Bonnie Keach will show you a simple tip that could save you tons of money and trips to the supermarket.

Need more help? Contact me at www.marksinfinitesolutions.com

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Gardening with Tammy: Know your plants: Cilantro (or is it?)

2009-09-20T13:38:26-07:00

It’s a Schizocarp!!! Cilantro is growing! Let’s eat guacamole in the shade of the avocado tree while watching the fine, feathery leaves of the cilantro plant sway in the breeze.

Cilantro (or Coriander as it is more commonly referred to)

Order: Apiales
Genus: Coriandrum
Species: C. sativum

From the wiki:

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. It is also known as cilantro, particularly in the Americas. Coriander is native to southern Europe and North Africa to southwestern Asia. It is a soft, hairless plant growing to 50 cm [20 in.] tall. The leaves are variable in shape, broadly lobed at the base of the plant, and slender and feathery higher on the flowering stems. The flowers are borne in small umbels, white or very pale pink, asymmetrical, with the petals pointing away from the centre of the umbel longer (5-6 mm) than those pointing towards it (only 1-3 mm long). The fruit is a globular dry schizocarp 3-5 mm diameter.

Growing cilantro

Sow your cilantro seeds about 1/2” deep in a sunny spot where you want to have cilantro around for awhile. The seeds will germinate in about ten days and when the plants are around four inches tall you can begin harvesting leaves to use in your favorite recipes.

Cilantro is an annual herb with a long tap root, so don’t expect it to take kindly to being transplanted.

To have a continuous harvest of cilantro sow seed every two weeks.

This lovely little plant will self seed if you let the flowers develop and soon you will have a self propagating cilantro garden, which is really a good thing isn’t it?

Apparently, too much nitrogen in the soil produces a less flavorful plant, so if your cilantro is lacking in flavor, you may want to cut back on the fertilizer. Also, in companion planting, cilantro is reputed to be complimentary with anise, but harmful to fennel.

About cilantro

According to the wiki, all parts of the plant are edible, but the fresh leaves and the dried seeds are commonly used in cooking. Coriander is common in Middle Eastern, Central Asian, Mediterranean, Indian, South Asian, Mexican, Texan, Latin American, Chinese, African and Southeast Asian cuisine.

Cilantro seeds, usually referred to as coriander, are the schizocarps which provide the essential oil linalool and the terpenes (pinenes, ϒ-terpinene, myrcene, camphene, phellandrenes, α-terpinene, limonene, cymene). The total essential oil content in the seed is less than 1% with linalool being 50%-60% and the terpenes around 20%. According to Gernot Katzers spice pages, “in toasted coriander fruits, pyrazines are formed as the main flavour compounds.”

Healing properties

One of the most fascinating healing properties of cilantro according to Ed Smith’s Theapeutic Herb Manual is its ability to, “inhibit the deposition of mercury and lead into the bone and other tissues.” Without the presence of cilantro, the heavy metals in the body were able to hide the diseases from the medication. Diseases which had been “healed” would recur within about two months. After being put on a regime of cilantro, the diseases were completely wiped out. It was a synchronistic event unveiled to Dr. Omura which led to the discovery that people who ate ‘vietnamese soup loaded with cilantro leaves or coriander, as it is also called,’ were able to free their bodies from ‘the diseases trachoma (a type of conjunctivitis), herpes simplex, and chronic fatigue.’

Eating fresh cilantro seems to be a wonderful way to gain the benefits of this tasty herb. Cilantro loses much of its appeal if dried.

If you prefer you could also try making a liquid herbal extract .

Recipes with cilantro/coriander

Happy Gardening!

References

Schizocarp diagram from Integrative Biology 335 Systematics of Plants at the University of Illinois
Ed Smith’s Theapeutic Herb Manual: A Guide to the Safe and Effective Use of Liquid Herbal Extracts
Coriander at wikipedia
Cilantro blooming from Javier Koehn at Flickr (CC-SHARE-ALIKE)
Garden fresh cilantro from Qfamily at FLICKER (CC-ATTRIBUTION)
Cilantro from JP Puerta at Flickr (CC-ATTRIBUTION)
Veins of cilantro from ingridtaylar at Flickr (CC-ATTRIBUTION)

How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meat: How to Shop by Seasons (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:43:57-07:00

Great tips for choosing seasonally and getting fresh food at the grocery store.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn tips for shopping by seasons, dates, and temperatures at the grocery store in this free video clip about finding fresh food and produce.

Expert: Christi Ferretti
Bio: Christi Ferretti is currently the co-owner of Pine Valley Market in Wilmington, North Carolina. She has prepared style-food featured in major motion pictures as part of the set.
Filmmaker: Reggie Hayes

More tips for buying fresh produce and meat with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Store Food

How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meat: How to Pick Fresh Asparagus (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:41:24-07:00

Some people wonder how you pick asparagus. I was wondering what you do with it.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn how to buy asparagus at the grocery store with expert healthy eating tips in this free online grocery shopping video clip

More tips for buying fresh produce and meat with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Store Food

How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meat: How to Pick Fresh Carrots (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:39:20-07:00

What’s up doc?

From the description at Youtube:

Learn how to buy fresh carrots at the grocery store with expert healthy eating tips in this free online grocery shopping video clip.

More tips for buying fresh produce and meat with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Store Food

How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meat: How to Pick Ripe Melons (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:37:45-07:00

Don’t shake it like your mom did! And try to shop seasonally.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn how to buy fresh melons at the grocery store with expert healthy eating tips in this free online grocery shopping video clip.

More tips for buying fresh produce and meat with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Store Food

How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meat: General Tips (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:35:28-07:00

Remember FIFO and shop at stores in order for when you are going home based on temperature.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn how to pick up the freshest items by pulling from the back with expert healthy eating tips in this free online grocery shopping video clip.

More tips for buying fresh produce and meat with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Store Food

How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meat: How to Pick Nutritional Cucumbers (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:32:58-07:00

Get the facts on the flavor and nutrition when purchasing a cucumber.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn how to buy fresh cucumbers at the grocery store with expert healthy eating tips in this free online grocery shopping video clip.

More tips for buying fresh produce and meat with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Store Food

How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meat: How to Buy the Best Steak (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:29:09-07:00

I knew it! Buying the bright red ultra-lean meat isn’t right! A little fat. A lot of flavor. Hoorah!

From the description at Youtube:

Learn how to buy the best marble steak at the grocery store with expert healthy eating tips in this free online grocery shopping video clip.

More tips for buying fresh produce and meat with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Store Food

How to Store Food : How to Store Meats (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:25:14-07:00

Where and how to store beef and chicken at home.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn from our expert and find out where to store meats and how to prevent cross-contamination in this free health video on how to store food.

More food storage tips with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meats at the grocery store

How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meat: How to Pick Fresh Bag Lettuce (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:22:05-07:00

How many bags of “convenient” pre-cut packaged lettuce have you thrown away?

From the description at Youtube:

Learn how to buy the best bag of lettuce at the grocery store with expert healthy eating tips in this free online grocery shopping video clip.

More tips for buying fresh produce and meat with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Store Food

How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meat: Tips for Buying Garlic (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:19:50-07:00

She’s italian so you can trust her on this one!

From the description at Youtube:

bq.

More tips for buying fresh produce and meat with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Store Food

How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meat: How to Pick Fresh Mushrooms (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:17:35-07:00

Check the gills when selecting a fancy mushroom or check the stems otherwise. Be leery of plastic packaged and cut mushrooms.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn how to buy fresh mushrooms at the grocery store with expert healthy eating tips in this free online grocery shopping video clip.

More tips for buying fresh produce and meat with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Store Food

How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meat: How to Pick Ripe Pineapples & Bananas (eHow & Christi F

2009-09-13T18:15:02-07:00

I’ve always wondered how to buy a pineapple.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn how to buy fresh pineapples and bananas at the grocery store with expert healthy eating tips in this free online grocery shopping video clip.

More tips for buying fresh produce and meat with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Store Food

How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meat: Picking Fresh Leafy Vegetables (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:10:17-07:00

Nobody likes mushy watery lettuce.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn how to buy nutritious, fresh leafy vegetables at the grocery store with expert healthy eating tips in this free online grocery shopping video clip.

More tips for buying fresh produce and meat with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Store Food

How to Store Food : Keeping Food From Spoiling (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:07:29-07:00

General tips for storing cooked foods.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn some great tips on how to avoid rapid spoilage and cross-contamination of food with proper storage in this free health video on how to store food.

More food storage tips with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meats at the grocery store

How to Store Food : How to Ripen & Store Avocados (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:05:28-07:00

Tropical and warm weather fruits and vegetables want to be kept out of the fridge. But with some you can actually speed up the ripening process by putting them in the fridge.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn from our expert some tips on how to ripen a green avocado with proper storage in this free health video on how to store food.

More food storage tips with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meats at the grocery store

How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meat: How to Pick Ripe Tomatoes (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T18:01:49-07:00

Did you know most tomatoes are picked green and gassed to ripen at the store. Shopping locally will give you fresher vine ripened tomatoes.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn how to buy fresh tomatoes at the grocery store with expert healthy eating tips in this free online grocery shopping video clip.

More tips for buying fresh produce and meat with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Store Food

How to Store Food : Knowing Temperature Zones of a Fridge (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T17:56:54-07:00

Fridge temperatures vary from 35 degrees up to 59 degrees. Safe handling for most food is 40 degrees. So you want to make sure that you store the right things in the right place.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn about temperature zones to help you store and save food, ripen food, and keep meats, fruits, and vegetables from spoiling in this free health video on how to store food.

More food storage tips with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meats at the grocery store

How to Store Food : How to Store Tomatoes (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T17:53:20-07:00

Never refrigerate! And obviously don’t guy tomatoes from a store that keeps them cool.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn from our expert some of the common misconceptions about storing tomatoes in this free health video on how to store food.

More food storage tips with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meats at the grocery store

How to Store Food : How to Keep Bananas From Turning Rotten (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T17:51:11-07:00

Consider when and how you are going to use it while purchasing bananas. Don’t refrigerate unless you need to ripen green bananas really overnight.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn how you can keep bananas from turning rapidly or becoming rotten from our expert in this free health video on how to store food.

More food storage tips with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meats at the grocery store

How to Store Food : How to Wash & Store Berries (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T17:48:40-07:00

Keeping the berries unwashed in the plastic containers or cartons in a brown paper bag in the fridge (not the crisper drawer). Washed berries start going bad, even in the fridge.

From the description at Youtube:

Watch and learn some great tips on knowing when to wash and when not to wash various berries in this free health video on how to store food.

More food storage tips with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meats at the grocery store

How to Store Food : How to Store Soups & Stews (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T17:45:24-07:00

Just dumping it in a bowl and sticking it in the fridge isn’t the answer.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn how to store hot soups without disrupting the temperature in the refrigerator from our expert in this free health video on how to store food.

More food storage tips with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meats at the grocery store

How to Store Food : How to Store Apples (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T17:43:40-07:00

Sick of mushy apples? Brown paper bag in the crisper drawer does the trick.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn an excellent way to keep apples from getting soft for weeks with proper storage from our expert in this free health video on how to store food.

More food storage tips with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meats at the grocery store

How to Store Food : How to Store Cucumbers (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T17:41:44-07:00

Not all vegetables go in that “crisper” drawer. Christi Ferretti discusses where and how to store a cucumber.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn how you can keep a cucumber firm, which is how they should stay, with proper storage in this free health video on how to store food.

More food storage tips with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meats at the grocery store

How to Store Food : How to Freeze Food for Storage (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T17:39:19-07:00

Keep food in it’s original packaging even when packing it further for the freezer. Don’t forget first in first out and labeling.

Store things like meat in the freezer for up to 2 months.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn some great tips on how to know your leftover food still okay to eat from our expert in this free health video on how to store food.

More food storage tips with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meats at the grocery store

How to Store Food : How to Store Fresh Herbs (eHow & Christi Ferretti)

2009-09-13T17:34:59-07:00

Whether you grown your own herbs in backyard garden or buy them at the grocery store, make sure you keep them fresh.

From the description at Youtube:

Learn from our expert how to use a plastic bag to preserve the freshness of herbs for storage in this free health video on how to store food.

More food storage tips with Christi Ferretti:

Also see Christi Ferretti discuss How to Buy Fresh Produce & Meats at the grocery store