Erik the Fruit, not the Man:)

Erik means plum in Turkish. Can (pronounced chan) Erik is a kind of plum which I've only seen in Turkey. They are not like any other kind of plum. Eric is an American name used for males, also the name of one of the vampires in True Blood. So you see Eric is Erik in my mind. They sound very similar. Whenever I hear the name Eric I automatically think of Erik and wish I had some to eat. Funny but it wasn't one of those American guy names I was fond of because I keep thinking of Erik the plum, not the guy. And they are so delicious, the fruit Erik I mean:) Especially the kind Can Erik is harvested only in early Spring for a short period. So in Turkey, we can eat it only once a year. I lived without Can Erik for 13 years in US, occasionally some Turkish markets would import it, but coming all that way it wouldn't taste the same really. Still was great to see the real Erik, not Eric or the regular plums in markets.
By the way I'm not the only one, most Turkish people I would say are fans of Can Erik and can't wait to have some once a year. They are sold in markets now, but also they're a great street food. You just pop it in your mouth, suck and swallow the juicy flesh and spit the pit out (I mean in a container to throw away later, not on the street). Of course best to wash them before eating since its hard to imagine organic and street food being related but while on the street I say it's ok to pop in some risk...
Once, one of my friends, even more of a Can Erik freak than me told me that she was bringing some Can Erik from Turkey and since plants including fruits are not allowed to pass through customs in US she was caught and was told to let them go! Oh No! She was so upset, she actually sat there at customs and tried to eat as much of Erik as possible before letting it go to waste. I mean come on! What else could she do, obviously she isn't a terrorist trying to bring in a toxic plant or something. It's food and it's going to waste!
Anyway, I wanted to write about Erik the plum, especially Can Erik before the plum season is over. There are no more Can Erik now, it was all eaten by June, but we still have some ripe red plums in season.
Note: I ate the most Can Erik I possibly can this year, the year I moved back to Turkey and had dreamed of Erik for 13 years:)
What is so special about Can Erik? These cute golf ball size green hard & juicy plums are not only nutritious but also delicious, full with a unique sour flavor. This Can kind of plum is actually the unripened plum which is why it's so tart and sour. But plums are one of those rare fruits that can be consumed before ripened. Best consumed when chilled and some people like it with salt (to try it with salt you would eat the plum as you dip it in a small container of salt with each bite). I personally like them the way they are, and would recommend eating without the salt or just a few with salt since too much salt can cause bloating, and worsen heart and lung problems.
The online Turkish store Tulumba describes it as: This special plum (Erik) is like nothing you had before. It has a unique tart and sour taste and, unlike other plums, it is very hard. Its fans can't wait for it to arrive each season which usually starts in mid-April and ends in mid-May. The April batches are smaller and the size grows gradually throughout the season.
So when April arrives you can order them from Tulumba or ask for them in a nearby Turkish store if you don't live in Tukey.
How nutritious? Well I actually couldn't find scientific facts on the nutritional quality of specifically Can Erik, but plums (Prunus domestica) in general are low in calories, high in vitamin C, fiber (with the skin of course), and is a good source of vitamin A, K, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), and potassium. They are also a good source of antioxidants which help prevent cancer and fight against anemia. The more ripe the more antioxidant. They shouldn't be eaten with current kidney or gallbladder problems because they are high in oxalate which can cause oxalate crystals related to kidney stones. There are 2000 varieties on this planet, mostly known as either Europe originating plums (originated near the Caspian Sea before the Romans) or Japanese originating plums (originated actually in China). They are relatives of the peach, nectarine and almond, and are considered "drupes," fruits that have a hard stone pit surrounding their seeds. They come in a range of colors, best known for red, green, or purple plums.
When plums are dried, they are known as prunes, and when dried they are more concentrated in fiber which can be more effective in treating constipation (with a glass of water).
So, enjoy a bowl of plums now...and remember April is the season for Can Erik, and check out your nearest Turkish source!
Plumy..

Grapefruit a Super Food

So I mentioned I'm loving organic grapefruits this month. Almost every week I get them fresh from the organic bazaar in Istanbul, Ferikoy (Note: to learn more about organic food in Turkey visit Bugday organization here). It's interesting that I didn't like the extreme tangy taste of grapefruits until I went to Kripalu (my fave yoga & wellness center so far), and a Dietitian there listed Grapefruits in his Super Food list, which helped me remember how nutritious they really are and the next morning and the others after that I started eating grapefruits, as most people in Kripalu were doing. Yes, it's really tangy, almost like a sharp bitter taste and some hidden sweetness in it, so it was difficult to get used to but I did it and now I love them. Organic tastes so much better and they have a sweet aroma. I eat the whole thing, including the pulp, except the thick outer skin. However, the skin and all can be used in marmalade making which I haven't tried yet, but thinking about it now...

It's funny that the latin name for grapefruits is citrus paradisi, meaning a citrus fruit that tastes like paradise. Maybe it did taste like paradise in the past with certainly less polluted soil and air, but I'm not sure it tastes like paradise nowadays, but it's certainly very healthy. These winter fruits were discovered in Barbados in the 18th century and are related to oranges, lemons and pomelo fruits, although some think they are a natural cross between an orange and a pomelo. Grapefruits come as pink/red inside or white (blond) inside and although there isn't a huge taste difference, there is a nutritional difference. The white ones are slightly higher in sugar, meaning they are slightly sweeter, and the pink ones are higher in Vitamin A and C, meaning they are much better for your eyes, skin and immune system. However, all kinds of grapefruits have at least some of it's nutritional qualities, so any grapefruit is better than eating none which you'll see why when you read the health benefits below. Also, try to eat the fruit rather than drinking just the juice because the juice will not give you the complete nutritional benefits. Grapefruit is a Super Food because of many goodies it provides for our bodies. Grapefruits:

- Help to fight against cold symptoms because of its high Vitamin C content.

- Help lower Cholesterol and may lower Triglycerides too. This seems to be because of the soluble fiber, pectin in grapefruit which helps the body to absorb less fat from foods.

- Help protect against some Cancers (especially, prostate, breast, lung, colon) because its ranked among the highest in antioxidants. Lycopene is one of the antioxidants found in grapefruits, also in tomatoes. It gives the fruit its pink/red color. Limonin is another one. These antioxidants/phytonutritients work against tumor formation in the body, helping to prevent cancer. Their antioxidant level also seem to stay active for 24 hours after consumption which is higher than some other foods with antioxidant activity. This means better protection against cancer.
- Also seem to help in detoxification of the liver which is the main organ that carries toxins in our body.
- They are low in calorie, high in fiber and nutritional value which means they are perfect snacks to add to a day that will keep you full and help you maintain a healthy weight.

However, I have to note that if you are using any type of medication for heart problems, or blood pressure issues DO NOT eat grapefruits or drink grapefruit juice until you consult your doctor or a Dietitian as some of these meds are affected by grapefruits.

To choose the one that tastes like paradise and has the most antioxidant activity: The fruits should be heavy for their size as this usually indicates that they feature thin skins and therefore a higher concentration of juicier flesh. Those that have overly rough or wrinkled skin or soft spots usually tend to be thick skinned and should be avoided. Choose the fully ripened ones.
Then for a creative tangy salsa, try mixing chopped grapefruit pieces with chopped avocado, chilli peppers and cilantro or parsley. Hey this is perfect for a Christmas theme inspired appetizer since it's green & red. So hope you go and choose some beautiful juicy grapefruits and join my Eat-A-Grapefruit-Every-Winter-Day Club:)

Would you like a Tangerine or Mandarin or Mandalina?

Tangerine, also known as Mandarin and Mandalina in Turkish is this very tasty citrus fruit, bigger than lemon and smaller than orange that come out especially in autumn and right now Bodrum is sparkling with orange lights from tangerine trees. It is grown on a citrus tree, Citrus reticulata, cultivated for its small edible orange-like fruits. End of October to November is the time for Tangerines. They especially smell and taste best picked right off the tree which I had the pleasure to experience this past week with some friends. See pictures.

What was interesting to find out that Tangerine also means a native of inhabitant of Tangier and it has originated in 1842, from tangerine orange  (1841) "an orange from Tangier,"  seaport in northern Morocco, from which it was originally imported to Britain. The place name is from L. Tinge . As a color name, attested from 1899. On the other hand, Mandarin which is supposed to be the same fruit is also known to have originated in China since Mandarin is the Northern Chinese dialect, spoken in and around Beijing and some places its called an Asian citrus fruit bearing lance-shaped leaves and flattish, orange-yellow to deep-orange loose-skinned fruit, some varieties of which are called tangerines. In the Chinese Empire, Mandarin was a member of any of the nine ranks of public officials, each distinguished by a particular kind of button worn on the cap. My favorite meaning: Mandarin is a person of standing and influence, as in literary or intellectual circles. So they all resemble each  other, possibly Morocco and China had some similar citrus trees that produced similar fruits and they were dispersed into our world in variety of kinds known as Tangerines and Mandarines and Mandalina.
And more interestingly and a quite amusing find is that there are about 18 varieties of Mandalina in Turkey which include names such as Nova, Okitsu, Satsuma, Ankor, Clemantin, Yerli, Fairchild, Minneola, Marisol and Ovari. Wow! Who thought of the name Ovari for a Tangerine:)) Hey would you like an Ovari?..:) Apparently, they originated in Japan in 1878 and I think the ones we picked and I'm eating right now are also Ovari kind and Satsuma kind, because this website says the Satsuma is very common in Aegean region of Turkey and they are in the same group as Ovari and both are seedless. Some great info in this Turkish website about citrus fruits, the varieties and where they come from and more: http://www.turuncgiller.com/

Well, in terms of nutritional value (of course I have to mention this since I am a Dietitian after all:)), these juicy fruits are a rich source of Vitamin A, which is important for eye, and skin health and it helps protect you from cancer. They're also good source of potassium, good source of vitamin C, which helps protect you from infections, helps to keep your skin smooth, heals wounds and cuts and helps to renew your red blood cells and repair them, and are good sources of soluble and insoluble fiber important for a healthy digestion and bowel. And 1 Tangerine is only 37 Calories! So you can eat many in confidence and increase the nutritional benefits. (Of course there can be slight variation in nutritional quality depending on if they are organic, which soil it grew with and what environment it grew in which is true for all foods we consume by the way!). Oh! Almost forgot, don't forget to get organic, you don't want to poison yourself do you, instead of protecting yourself with vitamins to fight the flu season! They also stay well in room temperature. If you have a yard full of these trees or actually they are like bushes, small trees, and can't possible eat them all before they fall of the trees or are bitten by worms or bugs you can try to add them to your cooking...For example, try to add peeled slices into salads, or vegetable dishes such as mixing it with cooked green beans and olive oil. You can peel the thin inside membrane or skin as well when adding to dishes but I recommend try it all natural, just peel the outside soft orange skin and pull apart the segments and add the segments to your dish. The skin and the inside membrane is full of fiber, both soluble and insoluble. You can eat the outside skin as well, you can cut it into small cubes and use it in marmalade or jelly making or in a marinade or you can zest it and add pieces of the skin to salads or dishes too.

Have a delicious and Tangy month:)