Coffee beans might be called “beans”, but are they actually nuts? Where do coffee beans come from? How does one classify this vital component to many people’s morning routine? The Short Answer No, coffee is actually a seed. The Long Answer Coffee beans are one of those items which are mis-categorized based on appearance. They […]
Is Watermelon a Squash?
Watermelon is a favorite summertime snack, but is it actually a squash? The Short Answer No, watermelon is not a squash. The Long Answer Watermelon is an interesting case in the fruit world. It’s scientifically a fruit, but it’s not quite a melon. It’s loosely considered a melon, but it is not a part of […]
Is Kale Lettuce?
They’re both leafy green vegetables that can be the base of a salad. So, Kale is just a snooty word for lettuce, right? The Short Answer No, kale and lettuce are two completely different vegetables. The Long Answer Are you sick of hearing about kale yet? It’s all my healthy friends ever talk about. What […]
Is Red Wine Vinegar Made From Red Wine?
Is red wine vinegar really made from red wine? If it is, what happened to the alcohol? The Short Answer Yes, red wine vinegar is made from red wine. The Long Answer Ok, so I love red wine vinegar. I need to just get that out there. I’m a sandwich nut, and red wine vinegar […]
Are Chocolate Truffles Made From Truffles?
Are chocolate truffles actually made from truffles? Does that mean this popular candy is a fungus? The Short Answer No, chocolate truffles are not made from real truffles. The Long Answer I adore chocolate truffles. They’re one of my favorite bite sized sweet treats. I also love truffles, a pricy type of fungus which greatly […]
Are Melons Squash?
Melons and squash might have more in common than you think. But are they the same thing?
Are Mushrooms Vegetables?
You might find mushrooms in your garden salad, but are they actually vegetables? The Short Answer No, mushrooms are not vegetables. The Long Answer Mushrooms are typically served alongside vegetables and have been a part of human diets for centuries. But while we might treat a mushroom the same as we would a vegetable, botanically […]
Are Pine Nuts Pignoli Nuts?
This Italian staple has an equally Italian name. But could pignoli nuts really just be pine nuts? The Short Answer Yes, Pine Nuts and Pignoli Nuts are the same thing. The Long Answer If you’re Italian, like me, you’ve likely eaten a pignoli nut or 50 at some point in your life. Italian grandmothers love […]
What’s the Difference Between Diced, Stewed, and Plum Tomatoes?
They are three of the most common ways to buy tomatoes, but are these three forms of tomato interchangeable? The Short Answer While all of these are tomatoes, they are prepared and canned differently. Diced tomatoes are chopped up, stewed tomatoes are chopped and cooked, and plum tomatoes are peeled whole tomatoes. The Long Answer Tomatoes […]
Is Cabbage Lettuce?
Cabbage and lettuce are both leafy greens, but aside from their aesthetic similarities, are they actually the same thing? The Short Answer: No, cabbage and lettuce are completely different plants. The Long Answer: Most leafy greens seem to get lumped together, but the majority of them are completely different from one another. While many American […]
What Category of Food is Milk?
Milk is a common part of most people’s diet. From cereal to a warm sleep aid, We enjoy milk all through our lives. But what category of food can we classify milk under? The Short Answer Milk is the main component of the dairy food group. The Long Answer Milk is the backbone of the […]
Are Polenta and Grits the Same?
They’re both ground and boiled corn, so are grits and polenta the same thing? The Short Answer No, grits and polenta are not the same. The Long Answer Two foods, two different continents, one common ingredient. Grits and polenta, on paper, look very much alike. So much so that many mistakenly believe they are the […]
Is Vegetable Oil Made From Vegetables?
It’s called vegetable oil, but does it actually contain vegetables? And if it does, which vegetables go into creating this flavorless oil? The Short Answer No, vegetable oil contains no actual vegetables. The Long Answer What’s in a name, anyway? Clearly, not much stock can be put into what we name our foods when […]
Is Celery Root the Root of Celery?
It’s called celery root, so is it the root of a celery plant? The Short Answer No, celery root is not the root of a celery plant. The Long Answer What’s in a name? That is a question I find myself pondering a lot through my writing for this site. So often, the names of […]
Is Cilantro Coriander?
Have you ever needed cilantro for a recipe, but someone calls it coriander instead? Are cilantro and coriander the same food? Are they interchangeable? The Short Answer Yes, cilantro and coriander leaves are the same thing. The Long Answer Cilantro is one of the more divisive foods I’ve found, both in preference to taste as […]
Is Tres Leches Actually Flan?
Both of these sweet desserts tend to be compared in a lot of the same circles. So, what’s the deal? Are tres leches and flan the same thing? The Short Answer No, tres leches and flan are not the same thing. The Long Answer I get the confusion here because in doing the research for this […]
