Mom’s epiphyllum have been blooming all summer. This one is much more fleeting. It blooms for a day and sometimes just half the day. It’s just a matter of when I get to snap a photo of it. Lucky me, it was blooming on Labor Day.
They are epiphyllums but also known as Orchid cactus, night blooming Cereus, Queen of the Night and Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus.
It gets full sunlight most of the day. But there is a large tree that provides some shade later in the day.
The epiphyllum tend to fall over if you don’t tie them to a stake. As the leaves are long and narrow. The smaller variety would probably be nice grown as a hanging plant.
Click on photo for larger view of the blooming orchid cactus.
These are the buds from my earlier photo taken back in the end of May.
This variety has tiny little prickly spikes. It grows along the edges and is almost invisible. So be careful when handling them !
My favorite version is the large pink variety that bloom for days. They should call these “Joy” flowers since that’s pretty much how I feel when I see them blooming.
This is my very first dish of black Japonica rice risotto. Black rice is very nutritious and I’m starting to eat more of it now.
The black rice gives off a nice chewy and nutty addition. All I did was add chicken broth, olive oil, rosemary, and sea salt. Next time I’ll add some walnuts and carrots for extra crunch.
The rice is from Lundberg Farms. It’s a mixed of black & mahogany rice. Lundberg is a family-owned and operated business from California’s fertile Sacramento Valley. They’ve been rice farming since 1937.
Lundberg notes, “The third generation carries on the family heritage by using eco-positive farming methods that produce wholesome, healthful rice, rice cakes, rice chips and risottos while improving and protecting the environment for generations to come.”
Another great thing about Lundberg Family Farms is that their rice is non-GMO. Which means it has not been genetically modified. They are an official participant of the Non-GMO Project. For more information visit Non-GMO Project.
I also picked up some Lundberg Farms organic California Brown Jasmine. I haven’t had the chance to cook that one yet.
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Another favorite garden produce coming from mom’s kitchen garden is Lao-Thai chili peppers. Peppers are normally divided into three categories: hot peppers, bell peppers, and sweet peppers.
These are considered hot peppers. It could all ripen as soon as next month.
When these young chili start to turn red, they will be harvested and dried in the sun. Then they will be roasted and turn to chili powder.
Summer time seem to be the best time to cook with chili peppers, whether it’s in soup or salads.
Chili peppers contain capsaicin (the stuff that makes them HOT). Capsaicin help stimulate the region of the brain responsible for cooling the body. You would think the heat would make you feel hotter, but in reality the pepper actually help lower body temperatures.
For those interested in weight loss, researchers coming out of South Korea found that capsaicin triggers proteins that help fight obesity by decreasing calorie intake, shrinking fat tissue and lowering fat levels in the blood.
However, they say, it is not known exactly how capsaicin might trigger such beneficial effects. (United Press International 07-28-10).
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I’ve been planning on visiting California Academy of Science since it’s re-opening on September 27th, 2008 and now it’s already 2010. It’s amazing how time flies! But I think this year I’ll have to put the extra effort and mark my calendar.
I’m planning on September 25th. As this will be the 6th annual FREE museum day sponsored by Smithsonian Magazine and Toyota Avalon.
Regular admission is pricey (and it’s gone up since the 2008 opening). So this is a great chance for people to visit for free.
The Academy is one of the most memorable Bay Area attractions, and is a great place to bring friends and family.
General Admission
Adult $29.95
Senior (ages 65 and over) $24.95
Student $24.95
Youth (ages 12-17) $24.95
Child (ages 4-11) $19.95
Ages 3 and under FREE
Before you can get in, you’ll have to go to the Smithsonian website and fill out a form to download your free ticket. It is valid for two people and one ticket per household.
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When we think of super food, we usually think of blueberries or even exotic fruits such as acai berries coming from Brazil.
Dr. Zhimin Xu of Louisiana State University Agricultural Center in Baton Rouge has new promising research on the health benefits of black rice.
He stated, “Just a spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanin antioxidants than are found in a spoonful of blueberries, but with less sugar and more fiber and vitamin E antioxidants.”
Anthocyanin antioxidants are commonly found in such foods that are red, purple, or blue in color. Such as strawberries, grapes, red onion, and more.
These antioxidants have been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
The only black rice I’m familiar with is Japonica Black rice and Chinese Black rice. We usually refer to them as purple rice. And it’s best cooked as rice pudding or other desserts.
Photo above is Lundberg’s Black Japonica rice, which is a mix of mahogany and black rice.
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