Fun Trivia » Hobbies » Fruit and Vegetables » Vegetable Mixture

Spinach is a very healthy option for those who want to lose fat. Spinach is a green leafy veggie rich in iron, folate, manganese, copper, vitamin B3, and B6. You can light fry spinach in olive oil and add some egg whites to make a healthy diet with a good amount of protein. Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Kale, Kohlrabi, Cabbage

Try roasting poblano chilis on the grill until they are charred black, peel the burned skin under in cool water and use in fajitas or tacos. You can also eat a more healthy version of chiles rellenos by blanching the poblano, stuffing it with a filling, then baking it for 30 minutes on 375 F. This is a much healthier alternative to deep frying. On the Scoville Heat Scale (a scale that measures how hot peppers are), the Poblano rates in the 1,000-1,500 range. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Bell pepper, Guernica/Padron, Jalapeno

Parsnips are native to Europe and have been cultivated since ancient times; the Romans apparently believed they had aphrodisiac properties, and they were used as a sweetener before the importation of cane sugar into Europe.

Like potatoes, parsnips can be made into crisps.

Their sweetness, which is enhanced by frost converting the vegetable's starches into sugars, gives parsnip wine (yes, it does exist!) a sherry-like taste. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Arracacha, Turnip, Kolhrabi

The humble radish is mentioned in numerous literary works, including works by Sir Francis Bacon, Mark Twain and Alexandere Dumas. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Potato, Jicama, Carrot

Queen Anne's Lace has leaves very similar to the garden carrot and has a white tap root that both smells and tastes like a carrot. It is not a naturally occurring plant as are wildflowers. Carrots were originally grown in the mideast in the 7th century and came in many color varieties from red to purple to black. It was the Dutch who bred the orange carrot but it took the French to give it the long shape. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Dandelion, Poppy, Violet

Broccoli was a main staple food during the 16th century in Italy. That is until the marriage of Catherine de Medici to Henry II of France brought the colorful veggie to France.

In the United States children and adults alike love Broccoli with hot melted cheese drizzled over the crowns and stems...yummmy! However, the most common way to eat this truly delectable veggie is with hot melted butter or with Hollandaise sauce. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Green kale, Bok choy, Leek

NASA astronauts harvested the crop August 10, 2015 after growing it in special chambers. I wonder how lettuce can be eaten in a gravity free environment. Difficulty: Hard.

 

It's the oldest cultivated variety of lettuce., Romaine is the most widely grown variety of lettuce., Snails don't like it so pesticides are not necessary.

Cannonball cabbage, also known as green cabbage, is the most popular cabbage variety. Napa cabbage has yellowish-green leaves and is a bit sweeter than other companions and is generally cultivated in Asian countries. The leaves of Savoy cabbage are looser bound than cannonball which gives it less shelf life than a cannonball cabbage. Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Broccoli, Cauliflower, Radish

Radicchio is sometimes called Italian chicory. It is initially harvested in the winter after several hard frosts and actually finishes its growing in tubs of water in the dark. It is this unique form of farming that gives it a dark red coloring and a thin, yet tender, texture. In Italy, where it originated, radicchio is often served simply grilled with olive oil. This food, high in antioxidants and vitamins, is also delicious in a salad, in a pasta dish, roasted, or sauteed. Difficulty: Average.

 

Blood sorrel, Mesculn, Red chard

Beetroot, or garden beet in North America, is the variety of Beta vulgaris cultivated for culinary purposes. It contains a red dye which is used as food colouring in products such as strawberry ice cream and tomato paste, and was also used in the past as a type of hair dye.

Beetroot juice can be used in litmus tests; it turns pink when added to an acidic solution, and yellow when added to an alkaline one.

In some countries, such as Australia, hamburgers are served with slices of beetroot inside. Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Rutabaga, Horseradish, Onion

Usually the proportions are around fifty percent onions and twenty-five percent each of carrots and celery. Mirepoix can be lightly sauteed before adding to the stock, or added raw. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Julienne, Tapenade, Bain Marie

Mexicans eat about 400 pounds of corn per person each year. Just think about those tortillas that they love! Americans eat about 140 pounds a year while in India, they only eat about 15 pounds per person per year. Livestock love corn too. Over half of the United States corn harvested goes to animal feed. Difficulty: Hard.

 

England, United States, Brazil

It's quite the little powerhouse. Vitamin K aids in clotting of the blood. The darker leaves provide the most nutrients. Apparently the Chinese believe lettuce brings good luck and eat it on special occasions. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Fat, but only in butter lettuce, Protein, Calcium, but only in coral lettuce

Kale is a descendant of the wild cabbage and grows best in colder temperatures where it prefers a light frost. It comes in several different varieties including curly kale, dinosaur kale, and ornamental kale. Each of these kinds have varying shades of green and offers tastes from a slight bitterness to a hint of sweetness. No matter the variety, kale is packed full of nutritional benefits. It contains over 100% of the recommended daily dosage of Vitamins A, K, and C. It also has powerful antioxidants and contains cancer-fighting minerals and substances. Kale can be eaten raw, can be steamed, can be included in a variety of dishes, and can even be eaten as a fun snack chip! Difficulty: Easy.

 

Skyphos lettuce, Spinach, Wood sorrel

The jalapeño is the go-to spicy pepper in the United States and Mexico. It is difficult to find a restaurant these days that does not have jalapeños available for customers to spice up their dishes. I enjoy grilling mine before slicing them and placing on a hamburger. As hot as they are, they only rate about an average of 3,500 on the Scoville scale. I have seen the number as high as 20,000, but most aren't nearly that hot. Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Serrano, Anaheim, Banana

Turnip leaves (known as turnip tops in the UK) taste similar to collard greens; Chinese cabbage is a variant of Brassica rapa developed specifically for its leaves.

Salgam sayu, meaning 'turnip juice', is a popular drink in Turkey - it has a dark red colour, and is made of pickled purple or black carrots and flavoured with the juice of fermented turnips.

Baby turnips can be eaten raw, as part of a salad, but do not keep as well as their bigger relatives. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Kohlrabi, Artichoke, Potato

Corn will not grow properly without an abundance of water. The state of Florida grew over seven hundred and fifty thousand acres of corn in the seventies. It is considered as a grain as well. Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery

Schi is a cabbage soup; Rassolnik is made from pickles, usually cucumbers; and Ukha is a fish-based soup with lots of spices added. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Schi, Rassolnik, Ukha

Hint: "see"? Eyes of potatoes? Any help? The Incas ate potatoes for thousands of years. The Spaniards brought potatoes back from exploratory voyages in the 1500s and it is said that potatoes washed ashore in Ireland from wrecked ships (some say the Spanish Armada) The lowly potato was a gift from God for the Irish as their land was so poor but the potato flourished and could even be harvested with bare hands. It took a man by the name of Antoine-Augustin Parmentier to convince the French that they had been missing a wonderful vegetable for far too long. Antoine had been a prisoner of the Prussians during the Seven Years War and had eaten them with no ill effects. In fact it was his favorite vegetable. Difficulty: Hard.

 

squash, beet, radish

The eggplant is one of the most underappreciated veggie. The eggplant is closely related to the tomato, potato and pepper, as all are considered to be part of the deadly nightshade family.

The eggplant nicknamed "Mad Apple" until a few centuries ago, when it was discovered the unique taste that came from it. The eggplant or aubergine as it is known in the United Kingdom is considered an acquired taste.

An interesting fact about the eggplant is that it was introduced in the United States by Thomas Jefferson in 1806. A friend of his from France loved the veggie and Jefferson figured if his friend liked it, well he may as well give it a try! Jefferson liked it so much that he started growing the veggie in his garden at his Monticello estate in Virgina. In fact, the eggplant is still grown there! Even though Jefferson was the first in the States to bring the unique veggie to life, it was widely considered a decoration veggie until about 50 years ago! Difficulty: Easy.

The Daikon radish can grow up to 3 feet long and weigh up to 100 pounds! Radishes are popular in Oaxaca, Mexico, on Christmas Eve, which is also known as the Night of the Radishes; Mexicans carve large ones into animals shapes, much like people carve pumpkins into faces on Halloween. By the way, "eructation" is belching. Difficulty: Hard.

 

carrot, rhubarb, asparagus

Spinach originated in ancient Persia and has been popular through the ages. In fact, Catherine de Medici brought some to France with her from Florence, Italy which contributed to the term "Florentine" when something is served on a bed of spinach. The leaves are a dark green in color and can be eaten raw in a salad or cooked either in a dish or alone. Spinach offers many health benefits with its high volumes of vitamins, magnesium, and calcium. It also contains more potassium per serving than does a banana. Popeye may have eaten it out of a can, but it is also found in wraps, smoothies, omelettes, and dips! Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Cabbage, Rapunzel, Rutabega

Sweet potato, as its name suggests, can be used in desserts such as sweet potato pie in the southern US, or dulce de batata in some Latin American countries. Dulce de batata is a jelly-like pudding made of sweet potatoes, and sometimes chocolate.

It is the state vegetable of North Carolina, and is a popular Thanksgiving side dish in the US, either mashed or prepared with sweet ingredients such as marshmallows or molasses.

Like beetroot, the juice of the sweet potato can be used as a dye. Purple sweet potato extract, for instance, can be used as a food colouring that turns the food pink, red or purple, depending on its acidity. Red sweet potato juice can be mixed with lime juice to make a dye for cloth. Difficulty: Average.

 

Plantain, Yam , Taro

Dandelion is a perennial plant native to Europe and also a cool seasonal vegetable. Dandelion seeds can be sown in all seasons but Summer. Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Dill , Dasheen, Daikon

I know, bad joke..."spin"ach! Though not as rich in iron as Popeye thought, it's a nutritious veg that shouldn't be neglected. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Corn, Eggplant, Parsnips

Here the lowly potato comes again---at Number One! Americans eat about 145 pounds per person per year (I probably eat more). Worldwide the potato is the 4th best source of food following wheat, rice and corn. 35% of potatoes sold are frozen and only 26% fresh. Does this mean we don't like peeling potatoes?

And now for Number Two: Lettuce! We eat about 30 pounds a year which is 5 times the amount we ate 100 years ago. It is one of the few vegetables that must be eaten fresh. You can't stew it, boil it, can it or freeze it. What is America's favorite type of lettuce? You guessed it right....iceberg lettuce. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Carrots and Peas, Onions and Green Bell Peppers, Celery and Radishes

This quote about the wonderful green vegetable, by US President George H. W. Bush, has gone down in history:
"I do not like broccoli. And I haven't liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I'm President of the United States and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli."
George Bush, U.S. President (1990) Difficulty: Hard.

Full of starch to fill you up, potatoes are one of the most under rated vegetables. They can be cooked in may ways and come in many shapes and sizes. They are a good source of vitamin C and fibre. Difficulty: Very Easy.

Do you think it's because rabbits like them? Lettuce was also thought to help induce sleep. Not bad for a plant that started life as a weed. Adonis was killed in a bed of lettuce by a boar sent by Artemis to avenge his jealousy of Aphrodite. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Good health, Wealth, Poverty

Called "rocket", from the French word "roquette", the plant has its history in the Mediterranean. Ancient Romans considered it both a delicacy and a type of aphrodisiac. It is considered an annual herb and has long green leaves with lobes similar to a dandelion leaf. Along with a list of vitamins and minerals it contains a high amount of plant compounds called flavonoids which are linked to lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol, and improving blood flow through the body. Arugula's slight peppery flavor makes a great addition to a salad, to pizza toppings, to pesto, or to a sandwich. Difficulty: Average.

 

Bok choy, Mizzuna, Savoy cabbage

Other names for the swede / rutabaga include 'neep' in Scotland, and 'Swedish turnip' in the US. 'Neeps and tatties' is a Scottish dish traditionally served on Burns Night, featuring mashed swede and potatoes, and served with that 'great chieftain o' the puddin' race', the haggis.

At the Ithaca Farmer's Market in New York, there is an annual International Rutabaga Curling Championship. It began in 1997, after bored vendors started a game using any produce they had to hand, including frozen chickens. Nowadays, only rutabagas are permitted, and contestants are encouraged to bring their own, though the market does supply its own rutabagas. The use of turnips is not permitted.

Before the introduction of pumpkins to Europe, rutabagas were carved to make lanterns to defend households from evil spirits on All Hallows' Eve. The idea comes from the tale of Stingy Jack, a manipulative drunkard who was forbidden from entering both Heaven and Hell after repeatedly deceiving the Devil and living a lifetime of sin. He was forced to wander the earth, using a hollowed turnip with an ember inside it for a light (hence the name 'jack-o'-lantern'). Difficulty: Hard.

Chard is also called Silver Beet, leaf beet,and seakettle beet and can have white, yellow or red stalks. All the leafy part is a dark green regardless of the stalk colour. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Scard, Clard, Caurd

When Popeye introduced spinach in the comic strip "Thimble Theater" in 1929, sales of spinach rose by a third. Kids rated it as third of their favorite foods following turkey and ice cream. Can you imagine? I guess they wanted to be like Popeye who said "I'm strong to the finish, 'cause I eats me spinach." The spinach growers loved Popeye and even erected a statue of him in Crystal City, Texas in 1937. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Lima Beans, Celery, Tomatoes

I'd like to see that. Perhaps it was more of a monument. Lettuce supposedly cured him of a dreadful illness. Eat your greens people. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Gordon Ramsay, Bill Clinton, Johnny Appleseed

Onions have a pungent smell and are known to make a person cry whoever cuts it. It is due to the presence of sulfur in onion, which reacts with water in our eyes to produce acid just like it happens during the production of acid rain. The acid irritates the eyes and we start crying. Difficulty: Very Easy.

Cabbage has a long history throughout the world. The ancient Greeks thought wild cabbage aided in health problems. The cultivation of this hearty vegetable spread across Europe through the centuries and became a staple of many diets. There are three main varieties of it which include green, red, and Savoy. Cabbage is extremely rich in Vitamin C and fiber; in fact, it has more Vitamin C per serving than does an orange! Its fiber content is also an aid in fighting digestive issues. Although it is most often found in the form of salads such as a slaw, it can also be used in soups, as a braised side dish, as an addition to stir fry, or in a juicer! Difficulty: Very Easy.

 

Leaf lettuce, Collard greens, Chives

"Chipotle" is an Aztec word for smoked chili. Jalapeños that are picked for the chipotle market are not the green variety, but the sweeter, ripened, and more flavorful red jalapeño. Popular in Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking, most stores now carry either dried chipotles, or chipotles in a can in a red sauce. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Smoked, dried habanero pepper, Smoked, dried poblano pepper, Smoked, dried red pepper

Why does horseradish become bitter when you grate it? It's because it contains a substance called sinigrin. When horseradish is exposed to air via grating, the sinigrin is broken down by enzymes into mustard oil, giving the horseradish a pungent taste if not eaten immediately.

Grated horseradish forms a part of the traditional seder plate at the Jewish festival of Passover. It is supposed to represent the bitterness of slavery, and it is customary to make a 'Hillel sandwich' of two bits of matzo, with horseradish and charoset (a sweet mixture - I make mine with apples, kosher wine, walnuts, dried fruit and cinnamon). A bottled variety is tinted red with beetroot juice.

Horseradish is often used as a substitute for the wasabi plant in the green 'wasabi paste' served with sashimi, as actual wasabi plants are harder to come by. The real thing is traditionally grated on a sharkskin grater called an oroshi, and is said to have anti-bacterial properties. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Jerusalem artichoke, Fennel, Celeriac

Queen Anne's Lace is known in some places as 'Wild Carrot' and when crushed, the roots have a strong smell of carrots. Careful, though, not to mistake hemlock for Queen Anne's Lace, which has a similar appearance, but a quite different smell. Difficulty: Hard.

 

Tomato, Cucumber, Pumpkin

Columbus brought it on his second voyage in 1494. Lettuce seeds came to Australia with Captain Cook and the First Fleet. Difficulty: Easy.

 

Simon Bolivar, Julia Child, Pierre Trudeau