the answer is....... THYME

I am a member of the Compositae family, but you will never guess what I am . Often thought to be a cross between lettuce and celery, this is simply not true.

My flavor, however, is reminiscent of a celery crunch and lettuce flavor. I have often been described as a nutty cucumber.

Relatively rare in North America (where I was introduced in the late nineteenth century, probably with missionaries returning from China), I am very well known in Asia, where my stems are consumed raw or lightly cooked like celery, but I do require a peeling of my outer bitter layer.

While my leaves are usually served cooked, I am usually cultivated for my tender stem. Rich in folic acid and water, I am very low in calories. My stem is greenish white, covered with leaves, and crowned with a tuft of small leaves.

My leaves can be narrow or broad, dull or glossy, smooth or crinkled. My leaves are usually green but some of us have red leaves. I am excellent in salads (cut matchstick style) with spicy dressing, soups, or boiled and served with cream sauce, but most often I am stir-fried with chicken, fish or other vegetables.

What am I?

the answer is..........

Celtuce

(From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Celtuce (Lactuca sativa var. asparagina, augustana, or angustata), also called stem lettuce, celery lettuce, asparagus lettuce, or Chinese lettuce, is a cultivar of lettuce grown primarily for its thick stem, used as a vegetable.

It is especially popular in China, where it is the most common form of lettuce, and is called wosun (Chinese: 莴笋; pinyin: wōsŭn) or woju (Chinese: 莴苣; pinyin: wōjù) (although the latter name may also be used to mean lettuce in general).

The stem is usually harvested at a length of around 15-20 cm and a diameter of around 3-4 cm. It is crisp, moist, and mildly flavored, and typically prepared by slicing and then stir frying with more strongly flavored ingredients.

When my coiled frond pokes through the soil it is a solid indication of SPRING! I am only available to harvest for about two weeks before I unfurl into graceful greenery of inedible plumes. The eastern United States is my prime terrain, but I am also harvested in the Pacific Northwest as well.

My taste is a cross between asparagus, green beans, and artichokes, with a very appealing chewy texture. I am an excellent source of vitamin A and a reasonably good source of vitamin C and fiber. I can be steamed, simmered, braised, sauteed, or boiled.

I am an excellent side dish with hollandaise, maltaise, or butter sauces. I can also be drizzled with any vinaigrette, or added to salads, raw.

WHAT AM I ?

You are a fern.

--M

(Fiddlehead) Fern is correct.

quote:

Originally posted by pollo_cilantro:
(Fiddlehead) Fern is correct.

Learned that one in Boy Scouts...

I come from the frost-proof hillside groves of Jamaica, mon. I am a late-ripening hybrid of unknown parentage, though thought to be a cross between an orange and a tangerine. I am very large (up to eight inches in diameter), bright orange, aromatic and sweet.

I am most popular for my very high juice content. I am a bit difficult to peel and I have many seeds. Not quite as grotesque as the Ugly Fruit, I still try to avoid mirrors. I am a member of the Rutaceae family. I grow on an evergreen tree with glossy leaves and green stems. I am formed from an intensely scented white flower.

I am excellent eaten out of hand, but you'll have to change your shirt once you've consumed me. I can be used as a dessert sauce or as a fruit sauce for game, but I am best when juiced. Isn't everyone? I am very high in vitamin C.


WHAT AM I ?

I do believe it's a ortanique...

correct

Thank you to everyone that has participated in this thread. I have assumed the duties of the FS Course/Exam Writer/Sibject Matter Specialist so I will no longer be posting questions on this thread in order to concentrate on future test questions. It has been fun and educational for me looking up the information to post in here, my hope is that one of you will take up the challange and continue the thread.

I hate to see this thread go away as it has a very large number of views and I would like to see that number increase as well as more good and informative quizzes posted.

Those of you on the intranet please take the time to visit the FS SMS website to stay current with what is going on in our great rating.

Don't go away completely! Thanks for your challenges (I suppose you could post sample test questions for us )

--M

quote:

Originally posted by 7555925:
Don't go away completely! Thanks for your challenges (I suppose you could post sample test questions for us )

--M

I'll still be around, just not posting questions,sorry no sample test questions.

Study the references listed on the EPQ's all the way back to E-4, that is about all the advice I can give.