Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
by Lois Ehlert
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt • Boston New York
Tell me what you eat,
and I will tell you what you are.
–Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
(1755 –1826)
Apple to Zucchini,
Children’s Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Pub-
lishing Company, 1989. HMH Books and the HMH Books logo are
trademarks of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
www.hmhbooks.com
ASPARAGUS asparagus
APRICOT apricot
B
BLUEBERRY BRUSSELS SPROUT BANANA
blueberry Brussels sprout banana
b
BEAN BEET
bean beet
BROCCOLI
broccoli
C
CABBAGE
CAULIFLOWER
CURRANT cabbage
c
currant
cauliflower
CARROT CHERRY
CORN
corn
cherry
CELERY
celery
carrot
CUCUMBER cucumber
Dd Ee
ENDIVE
EGGPLANT
eggplant Ff FIG fig
DATE endive
date
Gg Hh
GRAPEFRUIT GRAPES
grapefruit grapes
HUCKLEBERRY
GOOSEBERRY huckleberry
gooseberry
Ii K
INDIAN CORN KUMQUAT KIWIFRUIT kiwifruit
Indian corn kumquat
k
JALAPEÑO
jalapeño
JICAMA
jicama
Jj KOHLRABI kohlrabi
Ll
LETTUCE
lettuce
LIME
lime
LEEK
leek
LEMON
lemon
Mm NO
MANGO mango ORANGE
orange
MELON melon
n o
OKRA
okra
NECTARINE ONION
nectarine onion
Pp
PINEAPPLE PAPAYA PLUM
pineapple papaya plum
PEACH
POMEGRANATE
peach
pomegranate
PERSIMMON
persimmon
PEAR
pear
Pp
POTATO potato PUMPKIN
pumpkin
PARSNIP
parsnip
PEPPER
PEA pea pepper
Qq Rr
RUTABAGA RADICCHIO
rutabaga radicchio
QUINCE
quince
RHUBARB
rhubarb
RASPBERRY RADISH
raspberry radish
Ss Tt
STRAWBERRY TURNIP
strawberry turnip
SWISS CHARD
Swiss chard
Vv
WATERMELON
watermelon
marrow
vegetable
MARROW
VEGETABLE
X Zz
To learn more about the
fruits and vegetables in
x
this book, turn the page.
ZUCCHINI zucchini
XIGUA
xigua
Yy YAM yam
Glossary of Fruits and
Vegetables in This Book BLUEBERRY (BLOO-behr-ee) fruit The CUCUMBER (QUEW-kuhm-buhr) fruit/ H HUCKLEBERRY (HUHK-uhl-behr-ee) LETTUCE (LEHT-ihs or LEHT-uhs) PARSNIP (PAHR-snipp) vegetable The
blueberry first was a wild North American berry. It vegetable Native to southern Asia, the cucumber fruit The shiny, blue-black huckleberry, native to vegetable Lettuce, native to the Mediterranean parsnip, native to northern Europe, has been known
grows on a shrub. Native Americans taught settlers was known in the Thailand area nearly twelve thou- North America, grows on a shrub. It is related to the area, is a member of the chicory family. Its leaves for two thousand years. A member of the carrot fam-
how to dry the berries for use all winter long. sand years ago. Related to squash, it is a vine fruit blueberry but it is larger. Inside are ten hard seeds. may be tight (head lettuce) or loose (leaf lettuce). ily, it is an edible root that looks like a white carrot.
A APPLE (APP-uhl) fruit Thought to be the
BROCCOLI (BRAKH-uh-lee) vegetable Broc-
that is considered a vegetable.
I INDIAN CORN (INN-dih-an KORRN)
There are many popular varieties of lettuce. If it stays in the ground over winter, it is sweeter in
spring.
forbidden fruit of the Bible, the apple has been grown
for at least six thousand years. It is the most widely coli is native to the eastern Mediterranean area and CURRANT (KUHR-ant) fruit The tart cur- vegetable Indian corn grows on “ears” that de- LIME (lym) fruit The lime probably origi-
grown fruit of temperate areas. It grows on a tree and Asia Minor. It is related to cabbage and cauliflower rant berry was cultivated around the Baltic Sea. velop on a tall plant, a type of Native American cereal nated in southeastern Asia. It grows on a small tree. PEA (peee) vegetable The pea, one of the old-
may be red, yellow, or green when ripe. and grows on a plant. The floweret is a cluster of Popular in Europe and the United States, it grows grass. Indian corn is dried, not eaten fresh. The dried Smaller than a lemon, it is also tart but has its own est cultivated vegetables, was known in southeastern
green buds picked and eaten before the flowers open. on a shrub. Red, black, or white, it is often used to kernels are ground and used as grain. (See also corn.) special flavor. Asia nearly twelve thousand years ago. It grows in
make jelly. all temperate areas. The pea is a seed inside a pod on
APRICOT (AY-prih-kott or APP-rih-kott)
BRUSSELS SPROUT (BRUSS-uhlz SPROWT) J JALAPEÑO (hah-lah-PAY-nyoh) fruit/ M MANGO (MANG-goh) fruit The mango, na- a vine. In new varieties, both pea and pod are tender.
fruit The apricot is probably native to China and
has grown in central Asia and Europe for centuries.
vegetable Native to Europe, this vegetable is a D
DATE (dayt) fruit The date, which has been vegetable The jalapeño is a hot pepper, probably
native to Mexico. It grows on a plant. The jalapeño
tive to tropical areas of Asia, was probably cultivated
The peachlike, plum-sized fruit grows on a tree.
type of miniature cabbage. Sprouts cluster along the known since prehistoric times, came from the Middle approximately four thousand years ago. The oval PEACH (peeech) fruit The peach probably
stalk of the plant. East and northern Africa. Now it also is grown in makes food spicy. Note: Wash your hands after cut- fruit grows on a tree. Firm but juicy, it tastes like a originated in China at least four thousand years ago.
California and Arizona. It grows on the date palm ting a jalapeño, or you’ll cry if you touch your eyes. spicy peach. Some call it “king of the tropical fruits.” Now it grows in temperate climates throughout the
ARTICHOKE (AHR-tih-chohwk) vegetable
The artichoke is native to the Mediterranean area. C CABBAGE
(KAB-ihj) vegetable Cabbage tree and is often dried. (See also pepper.) world. It grows on a tree. The sweet, juicy flesh is a
covering for the hard seed, or pit, inside.
grew in Europe and probably Asia in prehistoric MELON (MEHL-uhn) fruit The melon is na-
Also called globe artichoke, it is the unopened flower
head of a thistlelike plant. It is not related to Jerusa- times. Now it grows in temperate areas throughout E
EGGPLANT (EHG-plant) fruit/vegetable JICAMA (HEE-cah-mah) vegetable The tive to central Asia, and it grows on a vine. There are
the world. There are many types, both green and red. Eggplant is probably native to India. It has been jicama is native to Mexico and Central and South many different types. Some melons, like cantaloupe, PEAR (pair) fruit The pear is probably of Euro-
lem artichoke, the tuber of another plant.
The cabbage head grows in the center of the plant. grown in Asia since ancient times on a plantlike America and later became popular in the Orient. It have orange flesh, and some, like honeydew, have pean origin and has grown in Asia for more than two
bush. It can be purple, white, or yellow. White egg- is a tuberous root—a thick, fleshy storage root that green flesh. thousand years. Related to the apple, it grows on a tree.
ASPARAGUS (as-PAIR-ah-guss) vegetable plants look like eggs. Really a fruit, it is considered grows underground. It is turnip-shaped, white in- New to the United States is the crunchy Asian pear.
Asparagus may have originated in the Mediter- CARROT (KAIR-uht) vegetable The car-
ranean area and now grows in most temperate and rot is native to Europe and was cultivated in the
Mediterranean area two thousand years ago. Now it
a vegetable. side, and has a sweet, crunchy taste.
N NECTARINE (nehk-teh-REEN) fruit The
PEPPER (PEHP-uhr) fruit/vegetable
subtropical areas. Individual stalks, which grow out
of the ground, are one of the first vegetables of spring. grows in many temperate areas and is very popular ENDIVE (EHN-dyv or AHN-deev) vegetable K KIWIFRUIT (KEE-wee-froot) fruit Kiwi-
nectarine, known for more than two thousand years,
grows in many temperate areas. Closely related to Native to the tropical Americas, the pepper can be
in the United States. It is an edible root. Endive probably came from southern Asia or Egypt. fruit is probably native to China and was developed the peach, it has been called a fuzzless peach because traced back to prehistoric times. It is a podlike fruit
It is an herb plant with curly, edible leaves. Some- in New Zealand in the early 1900s. Fuzzy like the of its smooth skin. Like a peach, it grows on a tree. commonly considered a vegetable. Peppers can be
AVOCADO (av-oh-CAH-doh) fruit/vegetable times called chicory, it has a sharper flavor than most kiwi bird, it grows on a vine. Another name for it is red, yellow, green, or purple. Hot peppers are often
The avocado grows on a tree that is native to Mexico CAULIFLOWER (KAW-lih-flouw-uhr)
and Central and South America. It is also called al- vegetable Cauliflower probably developed in Eu-
rope and the Middle East. The compact head, which
salad greens. Chinese gooseberry.
O OKRA (OH-krah) fruit/vegetable Okra,
dried. (See also jalapeño.)
ligator pear. Although it is a fruit, it is often thought
to be a vegetable. is partially developed flowers, grows in the center of F FIG
(fihg) fruit The fig is native to Asia Mi- KOHLRABI (kohwl-RAH-bee) vegetable
Kohlrabi originated in Europe. Related to cabbage,
native to Africa, grows on a tall plant. The small, un-
ripe pod is eaten. When cooked, the pod gives out a PERSIMMON (puhr-SIMM-uhn) fruit
the plant. nor. It was one of the first cultivated fruits. It is now sticky juice that thickens liquids. Sometimes okra is The persimmon is native to China and Japan. The
kohlrabi is the enlarged part of a stem, growing part-
B BANANA (bah-NANN-ah) fruit The ba-
CELERY (SELL-uhr-ee) vegetable Cel-
grown throughout the Mediterranean and in Cali-
fornia. It grows on a bush or small tree and is often ly aboveground. It can be white or purple. The young,
called gumbo, the name used for okra stew. American persimmon grows wild and is native to the
southern United States. The fruit grows on a tree.
nana, probably native to Asia, was known in India dried. tender leaves can be eaten as well. Persimmon pudding was a favorite Early American
four thousand years ago. It grows in a cluster on a ery is native to the Mediterranean area and the Mid- ONION (UHN-yuhn) vegetable The onion, dessert.
dle East and was cultivated by the Romans. Related
treelike plant. Because it grows year-round, it is one
of the world’s most popular and important crops. to the carrot, it has a stalk that grows aboveground. G GOOSEBERRY
(GOOZ-behr-ee) fruit KUMQUAT (KUHM-kwaht) fruit The
native to central or southwestern Asia, is part of the
lily family. The edible bulb grows underground. It
The gooseberry is probably native to northern Eu- kumquat is native to eastern Asia, probably China.
can be yellow, white, or red. The green onion, or scal- PINEAPPLE (PYN-app-uhl) fruit The pine-
rope. It is related to the currant and can be green, Something like a tart miniature orange, it grows on apple originated in the tropical Americas. It grows on
BEAN (beeen) vegetable The bean has been CHERRY (CHAIR-ee) fruit The cherry is lion, is a young onion picked early.
white, yellow, or red. It grows on a shrub. Very tart, it a small tree. It is often preserved whole or used to a plant and was given its name because it looks like
grown throughout the world since prehistoric times. probably native to western Asia and eastern Europe. make jam. The thin rind is edible.
is often used to make jam and pastry. a pine cone. The pineapple is a dense flower head.
The seed (dried bean) or seed pod (string bean) grows Now it grows in almost all temperate areas. There ORANGE (OHR-inj) fruit The orange, one
on a plant. Some dried beans are lima and kidney.
The wax bean is a yellow string bean.
are three types: sweet (often dark), for eating; sour
(often bright red), for baking pies and other dishes; GRAPE (grayp) fruit The grape, known in L LEEK (leeek) vegetable In ancient times the
of the oldest cultivated fruits, probably originated in
southwestern Asia. It grows on a tree and is really a PLUM (pluhm) fruit The plum probably origi-
and sweet-sour hybrids. ancient times, is probably native to western Asia. It leek was grown in the Near East. It grows as an un- nated in the Middle East near the Caspian Sea. It
berry. Some oranges are sour.
grows in a cluster on a vine. Seedless types have been derground bulb. Part of the onion family, it looks like grows on a small tree and is related to the cherry and
BEET (beeet) vegetable The beet, a culti-
vated version of a plant that grew wild in the Medi- CORN (korrn) vegetable Corn, native to the
Americas, has been used as food for almost ten thou-
developed. The raisin is a dried grape. a large green onion but has a milder flavor.
P PAPAYA (pah-PY-ah) fruit The papaya is na-
peach. It can be red, purple, or yellow-green. Some
varieties are dried as prunes.
terranean area, now is grown throughout Europe tive to the Central American region. The oblong fruit,
and North America. It is an edible root. The young sand years. It is also called sweet corn or maize. The GRAPEFRUIT (GRAYP-froot) fruit The LEMON (LEHM-uhn) fruit The lemon,
firm but juicy, grows on a large, palmlike plant. It has
green leaves can be eaten as well. corn kernel is a seed, grown on “ears” on a tall plant. grapefruit is a relatively new fruit. It probably origi- probably native to India, grows on a small, thorny
spicy black seeds that can be eaten.
POMEGRANATE (PAHM-a-gran-it) fruit
Corn is a very important grain crop. nated in the West Indies in the 1700s as a new va- tree. The oval citrus fruit is very tart. The juice, when The pomegranate is probably native to Persia. It is
riety of the pomelo, a coarser citrus fruit. It grows sweetened, makes refreshing lemonade. named in ancient myths and the Old Testament. It
on a tree in grapelike clusters. The tart pulp can be grows on a shrub or small tree. A large berry (the size
white or pink. of an orange), it is prized for its red pulp and seeds.
POTATO (poh-TAY-toh) vegetable The S SPINACH (SPINN-ihch) vegetable Spin- W WATERCRESS (WAH-tuhr-kress) vegetable
potato, native to the Andes mountains of Peru and ach is native to southeastern Asia, probably Persia. Watercress, probably native to Europe and Asia Mi-
Bolivia, is the world’s most widely grown vegetable. Related to the beet, it has edible leaves. Fresh, un- nor, was known four thousand years ago. A pungent
Red- or brown-skinned, it is an underground tuber— cooked spinach is popular in salads. mustard plant with edible leaves and stems, it grows
a short, fleshy stem that has buds and can produce in ponds and streams.
new plants. The sweet potato is the tuberous root of STAR FRUIT (stahr froot) fruit The star
another plant, a tropical American vine. fruit was common in Portugal at least three hundred WATERMELON (WAH-turh-mehl-uhn)
years ago. Both sweet and sour types grow in warm fruit Watermelon, native to Africa, has been
PUMPKIN (PUHMP-kin) fruit/vegetable areas of Asia and the Americas. It is also called car- known for four thousand years and is now grown
The pumpkin, probably a native of North America, ambola. The slices look like stars. worldwide. It is an oblong or round gourd that grows
grows on a vine. Some squashes are called pumpkins. on a vine and has pink, red, or yellow flesh.
Considered a vegetable by most people, it is really a STRAWBERRY (STRAHW-behr-ee) fruit
fruit. In the United States, pumpkins are tradition-
ally cooked into pies at Thanksgiving and carved into
The wild strawberry, known in ancient Rome, is na- X XIGUA (she-gwah) fruit Xigua is the Chi-
tive to temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere. nese name for watermelon. The seeds are sometimes
jack-o-lanterns at Halloween. It grows on a low plant of the rose family. dried like pumpkin seeds, then cracked open and the
centers eaten.
Q QUINCE (kwinss) fruit The quince is prob- SWISS CHARD (swihss chahrd) vegetable
ably native to the Middle East. It can be found in
Greek mythology. The applelike fruit grows on a
Swiss chard was known in the Mediterranean area
more than two thousand years ago. Now it is grown
Y YAM (yamm) vegetable In the United States,
an orange-fleshed sweet potato is called a yam. The
small tree and is often used to make marmalade. The throughout Europe, the United States, and South true yam, native to warm areas of Africa and the Ori-
golden flesh becomes pinkish when cooked. America. Although it is a type of beet, it is grown for ent, is a large, starchy tuberous root. It is eaten like
its leaves and stems, not its roots.
R RADICCHIO (rah-DEEK-ee-oh) vegetable
a potato.