Mustard in the Columbian Exchange

You don't have to travel far to come across the best condiment ever: mustard. This tangy concoction is created by grinding up mustard seeds and mixing the powder into a paste. It can then be added to literally anything for a sweet, pungent taste. Personally, I eat mustard with pretty much everything. However, non-mustard addicts usually eat mustard with hotdogs, hamburgers, sandwiches and other meats. Not only is mustard extremely tasty, it has many health benefits too. It has been known to prevent cancer, high blood pressure, migraines and asthma. Because of its abounding advantages, mustard has been assigned its own holiday. National Mustard Day is officially August 4^th.

The exact history of mustard is unknown. However, mustard seeds can be dated back to Stone Age civilizations. There is additional evidence that it was a primary spice used across ancient Europe, Asia and Egypt. The mustard that we eat with most of our foods today, also called 'white mustard' originated in the Mediterranean region. It made its way over to America through a massive exchange of food, animals and people across the Atlantic Ocean known as the Columbian Exchange. Cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and vanilla beans were also brought to the Americas from the Old World during this event. In return, the New World offered potatoes, chili peppers and tomatoes to the Old World. At first, these foods were not welcomed however, they eventually acclimated to the environment and were able to be grown successfully. We can all be thankful for the Columbian Exchange because without it, there would be no mustard and who could live in a world without mustard? I know I couldn't.

-Liz Kontyko

Coffee

Coffee Ingredients: • Sugar • Coffee • Milk • Water​​​​​​ Anahi Valdez- Gomez ​​​​​​​​ AP World History Mr. Benschine ​​​​​​ 13 December, 2013 Coffee traveling around the world! It was a cold and weary Monday morning. I was dreading writing a 5000 word essay on the Columbian exchange. I mean who cares about fruits and vegetables and animals and seeds and spices being exchanged around across the sea??! Nobody does! I took a deep breath and calmed down, I was freaking out! *breathes in and out* I took a second to think, I became even more tired and stressed out as I thought more and more about the essay. Therefore I did what I always do; I went and prepared myself a cup of coffee. 5 minutes later the smell of delicious coffee flourished throughout my house and filled the air with the rich smell of coffee. Then I realized it had been right under my nose the whole time! Coffee! It was a part of the Columbian exchange! Coffee comes from Africa. It was exchanged from the old world to the new world. Another ingredient is sugar. In order to create a zesty coffee you should add sugar which also comes from the old world to the new world. Another ingredient is milk! You can't have amazing coffee without milk. Milk comes from cows and cows were also involved in the Columbian Exchange from the old world to the new world. It seems so perfect the way coffee is made. The fact that every ingredient came from the old world to the new world seems amazing. Coffee is truly amazing and unique. No other ingredients from the Columbian exchange can come together and form one special treat. -Anahi Valdez Gomez

Alphonso's Deep Dish Last night, while watching the MTV, I found myself craving some pepperoni. I figured I could take a trip down to Alphonso’s Italian Pizza for a bite of real deep dish Italian Pizza. I called up my coolest friend Benschie to accompany me to the rab shack of a restaurant. When we arrived the waitress sat us at our table. Next to us sat an old man, at the age of 82, and his granddaughter. Benschie and I overheard the old man talking about the Columbian exchange. Benschie turned to the man to get his name. The old man said, “Well hello younging, I go by the name of Gus, and this is my granddaughter, Therese." Benschie decided to ask Gus what he knew of the Columbian Exchange silence he was a history Geek. Gus said he was a part of the Columbian Exchange. Meanwhile, I’m sitting at the table, in silence starring at the three converse. The waitress comes along and asks what I would like, since it seems like I am the only one starving I order without the others knowing. I order a deep dish pizza with extra tomato sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese. Gus over hears me ordering and yells, "Hey let me tell you all about pizza and its role in the Columbian Exchange!" I am not interested, but Benschie is all ears for this one. Gus starts off by explaining pizza's origin. Pizza is from Naples, a city in southern Italy. The story of pizza is not very interesting but it gets exciting when we reach the topic of pizza toppings. Gus says, "Let's talk about tomato sauce." Tomatoes are a New World food. It came from the Americas and was transferred to Europe, Asia, and Africa. Fun Facts: Europeans thought tomato was poisonous because many would eat the tomato off their pottery, and their pottery had lead in it. Gus also implied the history of peppers. Peppers originated in Central and South America. They traveled from the New world to the old. Benschie, cut Gus off and added that "peppers were an important crop because they could be used as a decorative item, spicy treat, and also for medical." In the midst of all the talk about the Columbian exchange. My yummy pizza arrived at the table. Everyone stop talking and glanced at my pizza. Everyone took a look and said, "Ewww Anchovies!" I laughed and said how about a little history on anchovies since we are making a late night bite for pizza, a AP World History class. -Tamiah

 

 

On a cold, rainy day, I was in desperate need of something to save my life. I needed something to help me quickly. I could feel myself slipping away. My life was flashing before my eyes. Then, a faint light emerged. I knew this light, whatever it was, could perhaps save me.  So I viciously crawled towards it. Then, I saw what I thought was a mermaid. I soon came to find out it was a Starbucks! I then crawled weakly inside and looked at the menu. The next thing I saw put me in awe. A Pumpkin Spice Latte, oh my goodness. I was seeing combinations never seen before! Old World to New, New World to Old. How was this possible? I thought I had found the holy grail of the Columbian Exchange.

All I had to do was just picture the ingredients in my head to know what they were. Pumpkin, a legendary delicacy from the wilds of the Americas, brought over to the imperial Old World. Vanilla extract, made from the vanilla in the deep tropics of Mexico, also brought over to the Old World. Sugar, hailing from the ragged badlands of Africa, brought over to Europe, and then traded to the New World. Coffee, brewed from the coffee beans in the tropical areas of the Americas.  I knew this was the end for me. But I was so close to making it. I then took out the little change I had left and ordered that grande sized pumpkin spice latte. It took about three minutes for the kind gentleman with dreadlocks to perfect the masterpiece. Despite Sharkeishawn (the gentleman with the dreads) spelling my name wrong on the cup, I was beyond delighted to realize that I would actually make it. I then grabbed a green straw and placed that bad boy and drank it up. At that moment, I knew everything was going to be all right. It was all over.

-Micah Howard

 

mustard in the columbian exchange

Fwd: Columbian Exchange

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tinashe Chitiyo <tinachitiyo@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, Dec 14, 2013 at 10:42 PM
Subject: Columbian Exchange
To: benschinef.columbian5@blogger.com

By: Tinashe Chitiyo

After the MTV awards last night, I couldn't help but feel my stomach grumbling. I decided to grab my bestfriend Gaga and hit up the coolest new restaurant in New York called Benchino's. As we walked in, we were greeted by a man wearing a fleece over a collard shirt. I've heard rumors that he's the ACTUAL owner of the restaurant, but he works in the restaurant as a waiter because he loves people. He offered that I order the Chef's Special, which was Parmeasian Sausuage Lasagna.

 

When he served us the food, he recognized us and immediately asked Gaga to sign his shoes. He then sat with us and began talking to us about his passion for food and his dream to tell the rest of the world about it on television. The Parmesian Sausage Lasagna was his favorite meal because it included many ingredients from his favorite historical event, The Columbian Exchange. The sausage which was in the lasagna originally came from the old world  to the new world (Americas), the pasta originated from the old world to the world, and the the parmesian cheese came from the old to new world.I was amazed because everything I put in my mouth had its own story of where it came from. The steaming white parmesian cheese melted into my mouth as the delicious juices of the sausage gushed out. The palatable pasta was so appetizing that I ended up asking for seconds !!

Benschino told me how he wanted to have his own TV show about the Columbian Exchange where he would teach people about the events that occured, but the best I could do was get him a job at some high school. I really appreciated him sharing his knowledge with me because in the past, I thought every food that went in my mouth originated in the Americas,but I was wrong. Who knows, maybe I might go back to high school to find out how the Columbian Exchange ended...

 

Until then .. xoxo -GOSSIP GIRL

Columbian Exchange

After the MTV awards last night, I couldn't help but feel my stomach grumbling. I decided to grab my bestfriend Gaga and hit up the coolest new restaurant in New York called Benchino's. As we walked in, we were greeted by a man wearing a fleece over a collard shirt. I've heard rumors that he's the ACTUAL owner of the restaurant, but he works in the restaurant as a waiter because he loves people. He offered that I order the Chef's Special, which was Parmeasian Sausuage Lasagna.

 

When he served us the food, he recognized us and immediately asked Gaga to sign his shoes. He then sat with us and began talking to us about his passion for food and his dream to tell the rest of the world about it on television. The Parmesian Sausage Lasagna was his favorite meal because it included many ingredients from his favorite historical event, The Columbian Exchange. The sausage which was in the lasagna originally came from the old world  to the new world (Americas), the pasta originated from the old world to the world, and the the parmesian cheese came from the old to new world.I was amazed because everything I put in my mouth had its own story of where it came from. The steaming white parmesian cheese melted into my mouth as the delicious juices of the sausage gushed out. The palatable pasta was so appetizing that I ended up asking for seconds !!

Benschino told me how he wanted to have his own TV show about the Columbian Exchange where he would teach people about the events that occured, but the best I could do was get him a job at some high school. I really appreciated him sharing his knowledge with me because in the past, I thought every food that went in my mouth originated in the Americas,but I was wrong. Who knows, maybe I might go back to high school to find out how the Columbian Exchange ended...

 

Until then .. xoxo -GOSSIP GIRL

Enjoying Sweet Traditions (Natalia)

 

For many years, I have traveled the world tasting foods from different cultures and origins of the world, but who would have thought that I could find a new favorite food right here at home. When I was asked to critique a food for a blog, I jumped out of my chair with excitement. I wasn't sure if my love for writing was the reason for my smile or how much I absolutely LOVE food.  I was on my way to the mall, when I realized my stomach growling. I looked over and saw a restaurant with a long line of people waiting to be invited in. I parked my car and walked in to the Southern Bells restaurant and while I was there I had the greatest sweet potato casserole ever!

It was absolutely delicious with it contents of warm sweet potatoes and soft marshmallows on top.  As I enjoyed the wonderful meal, an elderly man, probably in his near 80s, asked me if he could join, as he said "a pretty young lady", and of course I said yes. The two of us talked about his past and how he was born in Europe and moved to America as a teenager.  He explained that many of the foods we eat in America were brought to us by the Afro-Eurasia in the Columbian Exchange.  He continued to exaggerate how many animals were brought to the New World and how much they helped us with our diet. Finally, I jumped in and explained to him that my jaw dropping casserole was provided by the Americas. I explained to him that sweet potatoes were not brought to America but instead was brought to the Old world because of its origin in the New World. I told him that the fluffy, tasty marshmallows did however come from the Old World because it contains the ingredient gelatin which in other words is disgustingly pig or pork. Animals like pork, and cattle may have come from the Old World but I had to inform him that not all foods came from Europe.  The New World provided the Old World with many contributions of crop plants and my very meal justified as an example.

The man was amazed on my knowledge of the Columbian Exchange and I told him I had my high school world history teacher to thank for that. As we continued, to talk about my favorite subject, food, I made sure to order seconds of the luxurious, sugary, breathtaking sweet potato casserole. I was surprised myself at how much I knew about the Colombian Exchange. And trust me before I left I made sure to take a box of the yummy casserole to go!

 

 

Columbian Exchange food blog

Sorry for getting this to you so late. My phone ran out of battery at school so I was unable to finish it there.

How to Connoisseur a Food Cart for Dummies

December 13, 2013

            It was a cold and windy evening in Manhattan as I ran down to the subway from my apartment. I pulled out my metro card and headed down to catch the N-R-Q headed north, it was a nice night to head up to Times Square to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the world renowned area. But for some reason I had an urge to get off at 34^th and 6^th (two stops before Times Square). As I emerged on the side walk from underground substation the cold wind stung at my face and blew through my hair. I was drawn into the flow of people and the smells of New York began to envelope my senses. The first thing that hit me was the grease stench slowly seeping from a customer less food cart and the normal scent of the gum ridden sidewalks, I hurried past towards the Macy's to see the Christmas decorations, as I continued up the side walk I looked up and realized that I had reached Rockefeller Center. On my way to see the giant Christmas tree around the other side, a scent wafted across my radar.

            Next thing I know I am standing in a seven person long line at a food cart known as the Halal Guys. The delicious scent awakened a hunger in me that I was not about to ignore. Plus, there is always time to try new things. After I finally got up and began to order I quickly realized that they served lamb, so I had to get a chicken only dish. I was then handed a plate of warm food steaming in the cold air the delicious scent of chicken and rice filled the air. My plate had chicken and rice with a side salad and some pita bread. The meal was so delicious I had to ask what was in it. The rice had: basmati rice, butter, and spices. The chicken: lemon juice, spices, olive oil, and boneless skinless chicken. Lastly, the white sauce had: Mayonnaise, yogurt, sugar, and lemon juice.

            While in Times Square I heard a group of teens babbling about an AP World History final and the Colombian Exchange. So I decided to see what that was all about. It was the foods and culture exchanged between the old and new world. Turns out my meal had some of those shared components. In my meal from the old to new world there was: lemons, rice, butter (cows), olive oil (olives), chicken, mayonnaise (eggs/chicken), yogurt (cow), sugar (sugar cane), spices, lettuce, and pita (wheat). So basically my entire meal went old to new world across the Columbian Exchange. But overall my evening was eventful with good food and new information. But my tip of the day is don't go to a food cart without a line.

Until Next Time,

Elizabeth Gilbert

Columbian Exchange Food Blog

Laverne Kelley's Miraculous Burger

Laverne Kelley's Miraculous Encounter

 

Last summer I went on a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. While on the cruise, I came across THE best dish that ANYONE can come across, which is the dish containing a miraculous burger and some incredible fries. I came across this dish while visiting a restaurant called "Burger Joint". The burger does not have to be bland. You have the choice to dress it up with things such as onions, peppers, tomatoes and more. Even the bread can be made of different products. For example, the bread could be wheat. The fries could also have things put on top of them for better taste, such as peppers. All of these products were used in the Columbian Exchange. The burger and wheat came from the Old World to the New World. The fries, tomatoes, peppers, and potatoes went from the new world to the old word.

 

Ingredients

-          Cow (for the burger)

-          Potatoes (for the fries)

 

 

Alexa's Subway Excursion

   It was a dark, cold evening that night. The night my life changed forever. I had only glanced at the neon sign before making the decision that would alter my future: I'm eating at Subway tonight.

     I opened the door in a dramatic, slow-motion fashion, and I heard the sweet tinkle of the bell. I was instantly submerged in the appeasing perfume of baking bread. Now I had to make my next colassal decision of the evening: What am I going to eat?

    I perused the colorful menu, but I soon became overwhelmed by the vast amount options available to me. I walked down the line and delicately traced the window that separated me and the ingredients. As I peered down at the vibrant food items, I pondered an essential question: Where the heck did this come from?

    I started with the whole wheat crust, toasted of course. The rich scent of grains of the Old World never gets old to me. Ha. I pointed towards the heap of questionable cold cuts. Dubious of the animal source, I reasoned that it must be native to the Old World as well. I gazed at the ripening tomato slices and peppers. The New World has really outdone itself this time. The glistening onions called out for me next. These onions spoke to me, explaining their perilous travels to get to Subway from the Old World. Before I could hand over the crisp five dollar bill, I requested one olive  from the Old World to be placed inside this wonderful concoction. I sat down at the uneven table and took one bite of the glorious sandwich. Than everything went wrong.

    What I had believed to be lettuce must have been mold, and that "olive" was most certainly a living spider. I spewed that garbage all over the place and sprinted hastily to bathroom, where I ran my mouth under the grimy tap. So much regret.

    Two weeks later, the doctor gave me the prognosis: the smallpox gave me three months to live. Thank you Subway, and thank you Old World for the smallpox.

 

"Hide yo' kids, hide yo' wife, and hide yo' Subway sandwiches."

 

by: Alexa R

 

Disclaimer: This article is 100% not true.

Amber's Journey to Korea

As I walked in the korean resturant with my grandma, a nice old korean lady greeted me. I sat down and the waitress came in with my hot tea and my appetizers. She gave me rice, bean sprouts, and some weird mysterious brown gelatin substance. As I started playing with the mysterious subtance, I looked at the menu to see what I wanted. There were so many things to chose from, but finally I decieded to get the spicy sundae soup. The lady came over and I took my order. As I waited for my soup, I started watching a very dramatic korean drama. Even though I had no clue what they were saying.... Finally the waitress came and said, "Here is the best soup ever. It has the good sausage that make you smarter!"

As I was enjoying my delicous soup, I realized that most of these ingredients were part of the Columbian Exchange. The sausage was mostly made up of beef blood, rice, and green onions which went from the Old World to the New World. And the potatoes and corn transferred from the New World to the Old World. The most important indgredient that flavored the whole entire soup were the peppers, and they transferred from the New World to the Old World. And the hot and delicous tea transferred the Old World to the New World, and the so did the rice. The salty bean sprouts travelled from the New to the Old World. And the brown gelatin substance..... Im not exactly sure..

Hmm.. I know a lot about the Colombian Exchange.. Maybe the sausage does make you smarter..

James Mckennie: Dessert Connoisseur Extraordinaire

James Mckennie: Dessert Connoisseur Extraordinaire

                The past weekend I was traveling through Macon, Georgia. I don't remember exactly why I was(I had a lot of drinks) , but it was probably for a good reason. While I was there, I happened to come across this nice little diner spot called, A taste of Macon. Normally I don't do diners but at this point I was desperate at 2:00 in the morning. The menu had a variety of choices which was good. But every single item had SWEET POTATOES in them! Things like chips, fries, chicken, and even soda(which was surprisingly good) had it. After contemplating my choices, I decided to just to get a 24 inch Sweet Potato Pie. THAT WAS THE BEST CHOICE OF MY LIFE(Besides my wife). Everything was perfect in it. At this point  I had to talk to whoever made it.

                After hours of talking with the cook( she wanted to be called Aunt Jemima) , I learned a lot of things from her. When we started, she began telling how most of the ingredients in sweet potato pie came from the Old World to the New World.  Eggs came from chicken which came from Africa. Butter and Milk which came from the cow came from Africa. Sugar, spices , and sweet potato came from Africa. The only thing she said that came from the New World to Africa was Vanilla.  Aunt Jemima also reminded me that the dish came from Africa in the slave trade. But anyway, if your ever in Macon, Georgia,  have a bite there. Hey you never know, I might be there(but I don't do autographs).

Corned Beef Sandwich = Columbian Exchange?

The other day I went to my local deli to get a corned beef sandwich and I wondered if any of these ingredients were goods that were traded in the Columbian Exchange. The Columbian Exchange is a period of cultural and biological exchanges between the New and Old Worlds. Exchanges of plants, animals, diseases and technology transformed European and Native American ways of life. Corned beef sandwiches are usually made out of corned beef, Jewish rye or onion bread, mustard, Swiss cheese, and sometimes coleslaw. Corned beef is made out of the lower front part of the cow. The cow was a part of the Columbian Exchange and was brought from Europe to the Americas. Onion bread is made out of onions of course and onions were brought from Europe to the Americas via the Columbian Exchange. The ingredients in Jewish rye bread weren't exchanged in the Columbian Exchange but is still wonderful anyway. Swiss cheese comes from the cow also and as was stated earlier, was brought from Europe to the Americas. Coleslaw is made out of green cabbage, carrots, mayonnaise, sour cream, Spanish onion, Sugar, white vinegar, dry mustard, celery salt, salt and pepper. Out of all those ingredients, sour cream, which is made by the cow, is the only ingredient you can say was traded indirectly in the Columbian Exchange. The bottom line is, without the Columbian Exchange, my favorite food probably would've been foreign.

James Mckennie: Dessert Connoisseur Extraordinaire

                The past weekend I was traveling through Macon, Georgia. I don't remember exactly why I was(I had a lot of drinks) , but it was probably for a good reason. While I was there, I happened to come across this nice little diner spot called, A taste of Macon. Normally I don't do diners but at this point I was desperate at 2:00 in the morning. The menu had a variety of choices which was good. But every single item had SWEET POTATOES in them! Things like chips, fries, chicken, and even soda(which was surprisingly good) had it. After contemplating my choices, I decided to just to get a 24 inch Sweet Potato Pie. THAT WAS THE BEST CHOICE OF MY LIFE(Besides my wife). Everything was perfect in it. At this point  I had to talk to whoever made it.

                After hours of talking with the cook( she wanted to be called Aunt Jemima) , I learned a lot of things from her. When we started, she began telling how most of the ingredients in sweet potato pie came from the Old World to the New World.  Eggs came from chicken which came from Africa. Butter and Milk which came from the cow came from Africa. Sugar, spices , and sweet potato came from Africa. The only thing she said that came from the New World to Africa was Vanilla.  Aunt Jemima also reminded me that the dish came from Africa in the slave trade. But anyway, if your ever in Macon, Georgia,  have a bite there. Hey you never know, I might be there(but I don't do autographs).

Coctail

                                On the first day of school in the year 2013 the lunch bell rang and as waiting in line for my food to be served I saw that one of the dishes was a fruit cocktail. Of course I was going to eat the school version of this wondrous dish, from fear that it might turn out not be fruit at all, but it did get me thinking about what a fruit cocktail is and where the ingredients come from.  Today all the fruits can be collected from a single trip to the store, but my knowledge of the origins of the fruits was limited, that is until we learned about the Columbian Exchange in AP World History.

                After learning about the Columbian Exchange I found out that the fruits varied greatly from where they are cultivated. The pineapple was originally from South America, more specifically Brazil, during the Columbian Exchange it was transferred from the New World to the Old World. It is a tropical fruit that grows in the center of a bush-like plant that looks like the top of the pineapple. The next fruit is the grape which is originally from Georgia in Europe, but it spread and was eventually grown in the New World as well. The grape was also used in the making of wine. The pear, which is an essential part of the fruit cocktail, come from the Old World, England, and was transferred to the New World. Peaches are also used in the making of the wondrous fruit cocktail. It is from china and spread along trade routes until reaching the New World. The final ingredient in making a fruit cocktail is the cherry. It was cultivated in Slavic countries and transferred to the New World.

 

 

-Kevin Santillan

Panini's mon'

The other day I had the pleasure of tasting the best Panini ever. It was a Jerk chicken Panini. I went to Carina's Jamaican grille and I wasn't sure what to get. I was in the mood for something new and that I've never even heard of before.   When the waitress came to me and asked what I wanted I said, "I have no idea what do you recommend." She said, "I personally like the pizza but there is also the jerk chicken Panini." I ordered it and was very nervous, because what if I didn't like it, and I wasted my mom's money. When the waitress came 20 minutes with later with my food I was pretty starving, so I ate it and it was amazing.

The jerk chicken Panini is originally a Jamaican dish called Jerk chicken that was changed to a modern dish that everyone enjoys.The Panini was filled with perfectly seasoned Jerk chicken, wonderfully aged pepper Jack cheese, the most ripe tomatoes, and bread that were both soft and crunchy. The chicken came from the old world to the new world. The cheese was made from cow milk and cows came from the old world to the new world. Tomatoes came from the new world to the old world, and bread is made from gains and wheat and those came from the old world to the new world.

From fellow food Blogger

                                -Aya J