Wheat is a member of the family Poaceae ⁄ Gramineae or Grass family of the genus Triticum L. or wheat containing the species Triticum aestivum L. or common wheat. The plant is native to southwestern Asia and has been eaten for approximately 12,000 years. Wheat arrived in the western hemisphere in the late 15th century with Christopher Columbus and the pilgrims but it was not until the 19th century that the plant was cultivated.
Peas are a member of the family Fabaceae or Pea family of the genus Pisum L. or pea P containing the species Pisum sativum L. or garden pea P. Residue of peas were found in the teeth of Neanderthal dating to approximately 46000 years ago and it is believed peas were used as a staple food about 23000 years ago and domesticated about 11000 years ago.
Scarlet sage is a member of the family Lamiaceae or Mint family of the genus Salvia L. or sage P containing the species Salvia splendens Sellow ex Roem. & Schult. or scarlet sage. The plant is native to Brazil and is considered a warm weather annual in cooler climates but is classified as a perennial.
Hawthorn (Crataegus) is rich in magical lore and medicine. The name Hawthorn reflects the berries (haw) and thorns found on this tree. It’s a small tree with big thorns that will remind you if you’re being too greedy harvesting the flowers, and later in the summer, the berries.
Plumeria are a member of the family Apocynaceae or Dogbane family of the genus Plumeria L. or plumeria P. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) does not list any species for the genus. Though it is commonly thought that the plant is native to Hawaii, DNA testing has proven that its origin is in the southern forests of Mexico.
Tamarind is a member of the family Fabaceae ⁄ Leguminosae or Pea family of the genus Tamarindus L., commonly known as tamarind, containing the species Tamarindus indica L. or tamarind. The tree is native to Africa and was introduced to southern Asia in 2000 B.C.E. and arrived in the Americas in the 16th century.
Jaboticaba is a member of the family yrtaceae or Myrtle family of the genus Myrciaria Berg, also known as guava berry, containing the species Myrciaria cauliflora (Mart.) O. Berg or jaboticaba. The plant is native to Brazil and is also known as the Brazilian grape tree. For millennia the native peoples used jaboticaba as a snack and for making wine. Its nutritional value has made this fruit a valuable tool in their healing arsenal.
Acerola is a member of the Family Malpighiaceae or Barbados Cherry family of the genus Malpighia L., commonly known as malpighia P, containing eight species. It has several other common nomenclatures that include Barbados Cherry, West Indian Cherry, cereza, cerisier, and semeruco.
Acai berries are a member of the family Arecaceae or Palm family of the genus Euterpe Mart., commonly known as palm P, containing the species Euterpe oleracea Mart. or Assai palm P. The plant is native to the Amazon jungle and the people of the area have used the berries for medicinal purposes for millennia.
When you’re trying to eat healthy, one of the smartest things you can do is meal plan. Part of meal planning includes choosing dishes that can use the same ingredients so you don’t end up wasting food or having just a little bit of one thing left over.
These four recipes do just that: they take a basic ingredient and lay out three easy weeknight meal recipes—plus a lunch—based off that ingredient. This means fewer items to buy at the grocery store (which means a quicker trip) and also less food wasted.