The Last Tree on Earth Tells Its Story Imagine a world, parched and barren, a silent world where you never hear the chirping of birds or the rustling of leaves, and in the midst of this depressing landscape stands a lone tree, weathered and wise. If it could speak, what would it say? The tree would tell a sorrowful tale.   “I once belonged to an endless grove of trees. Tall and sturdy, with thick woody, leafy branches and roots firmly grounded in the soil, our leaves were different shades of green, forming a magnificent sight. We were the lungs of the earth, the source of balance. Children climbed and swung from our branches and played in the shade we provided. We were home to the birds, and squirrels happily scampered up and down our trunks. Our wrinkled bark held the secrets of lovers.  We witnessed the changing seasons—the joys of spring, the warmth of the summer, the freshness and cleansing of the rain the golden splendour of autumn, and the quietude of winte...

  Mighty is the Tiny Mustard Seed.   Both, the leaves and seeds of the Mustard plant are edible. While the leaves make a great leafy vegetable, rich in vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, the mustard seeds are nutritive in their own right.  The Mustard plant belongs to the Brassicaceae family together with cabbage cauliflower and other crucifers. The leaves of the plant are long and bristly and the plant bears small yellow flowers with 4 petals. The word mustard comes from the Middle English 'mustard meaning condiment which comes from the old French word Mostarda.   § There are 40 different species of mustard plants but the ones used commercially are Black, Brown, White/yellow varieties. §   Used as a spice since ancient times. It is said to be native to Europe, Siberia and China and was grown by the Greeks in the 5 th century BCE and by the Romans in the 4 th century BCE. §   The mustard seed is mentioned in the Bible and symbolizes faith in ...

  Bonding with beetroot   The beetroot is a root vegetable grown all over the world. The botanical name of beetroot is Beta vulgaris.  It is either deep red or purple. Americans know it as ‘beet’ while the English refer to the vegetable as ‘beetroot.’ On Your plate: Every part of the beetroot from the stem to the bulb is edible. It is the deep red or purple root of the beetroots that are generally steamed, boiled, roasted or added to salads in their raw form. The young leaves are also added to salads, while the more mature ones are boiled or steamed.  The beetroot is also juiced or used to make a tasty beetroot soup. Indian cuisine turns the beetroot into a lip-smacking side dish. Beetroot pachadi is one such dish. A salad I enjoy: One grated beetroot A handful of freshly grated coconut 2 tomatoes Salt Dates to sweeten as per your taste or jaggery Juice of a lime The first four ingredients are to be ground to a paste and mixed with the grated...