rhamphotheca:

The Secret History of the Domesticated Apple

by Sam Kean

Nearly every child has bitten into a crabapple (left) at some point and spit it back out—yuck! But a new study in PLoS Genetics shows that modern supermarket apples (right) are more closely related to crabapples than to other, better-tasting ancient species.

Apples originated in Kazakhstan, where they show incredible variety in taste and size, then spread along the Silk Road trading route thousands of years ago. The Romans brought sweet apples from western Asia into Europe (Europeans previously used the fruit for cider), but the domesticated apple’s history was murky after that. The new study looked at rapidly evolving DNA regions known as microsatellites in 839 apple samples representing five species ranging from Spain to China. Testing these microsatellites allowed scientists to tease out the impact of recent crossings with wild apples.

The researchers confirmed that modern apples were first domesticated from wild Asian apples, but they found that subsequent crosses with European crabapples—possibly selected for disease resistance, hardiness, or other traits—contributed the most DNA to modern domesticated apples. The scientists also found no evidence of genetic bottlenecks—a severe narrowing of genetic diversity—in domesticated apples, a pattern that contrasts with the earliest domesticated crops like barley, millet, and wheat. 

(via: Science NOW)      

(image: (left) Benjamin Cody/Wikipedia;(right) Éamonn Ó Muirí/Wikipedia)

magicfran:

Biscuits by kileyvictoria on Flickr.

nevver:

Cake Pie Chart

margueritemoulin:

karlaakins:

Use food coloring for stamp ink.

Best idea I think I’ve ever seen. Stunning.

I tried once to make these at home, but the recice was totally wrong!

saycreative:

(via Delicious Pantone Swatch Tarts | WANKEN - The Art & Design blog of Shelby White)

drawingdetail:

Jacques le Moyne de Morgues (c. 1533-1588), Lemon and Seville Orange Fruits. Water- and body-colour, 22.2 x 16.8 cm.

yellowandotherinspiringstuff:

Van Gogh inspired cake!

(Source: fckyeaharthistory)

imgoingtobeacook:

Angel Chiffon Cake

click image for recipe

Vanilla planifolia - Baunilha

Aproveitando a paixão por orquideas, resolvi comprar meu primeiro exemplar de Vanilla planifolia, uma das espécies mais antigas de orquideas (+-120 milhões de anos). A baunilha é uma trepadeira tropical da mesma família das orquídeas, encontrada em áreas tropicais, e inclusive bastante presente no Brasil. As flores se desenvolvem em frutos ou favas, dos quais se obtém os cristais de vanila, que originam a essência natural de baunilha, muito utilizada no preparo de doces, principalmente doces finos e chocolates produzidos em países europeus, sendo assim muito exportada para a Europa. A essência natural, embora trabalhosa para ser obtida, tanto no aspecto de cultivo como no processamento para obtenção dos cristais de vanila, atinge bom valor comercial. É também utilizada na indústria farmacêutica e produção de perfumes. Para o plantio comercial, cultiva-se a Vanilla planifolia andrews, uma variedade originária do México.

Não sei se conseguirei obter favas, mas se assim for,certamente não pretendo cultivar quantidades comerciais. Apenas gostaria de poder “tentar” e, de repente, preparar meus pudins, cremes e bolos usando minhas proprias sementes. Quem sabe em um ou dois anos…