Submitted by:
photopilot
03/12/11
Submitted by:
ldahlin
03/18/11
Submitted by:
jraymond
03/07/11
Submitted by:
eyemagination
03/10/11
Submitted by:
kate kremer
04/10/11
May 10, 2012
Or injustice?
There might have been a few other cases on the docket, but what could be more important?
On this very date in 1893:
Nix v. Hedden:
The Supreme Court of the United States affirms the lower court ruling that the tomato should be classified under customs regulations as a vegetable rather than a fruit.
The Court's unanimous opinion held that the Tariff Act of 1883 used the ordinary meaning of the words "fruit" and "vegetable," under which a tomato is classified as a vegetable, instead of the technical botanical meaning.
Any important decision, you can bet there was money involved.
The tariff act required a tax to be paid on imported vegetables, but not fruit.
So the Nixes, John Nix, John W. Nix, George W. Nix, and Frank W. Nix filed against Edward L. Hedden, Collector of the Port of New York, to recover back duties paid under protest.
At the trial the plaintiffs' counsel, after reading definitions of the words 'fruit' and 'vegetables' from Webster's Dictionary, Worcester's Dictionary, and the Imperial Dictionary, called two witnesses, who had been selling fruit and vegetables, for over 30 years, and asked them, after hearing these definitions, to say whether these words had "any special meaning in trade or commerce, different from those read."
One witness testified that in regard to the dictionary definition:
"[the dictionary] does not classify all things there, but they are correct as far as they go. It does not take all kinds of fruit or vegetables; it takes a portion of them. I think the words 'fruit' and 'vegetable' have the same meaning in trade today that they had on March 1, 1883. I understand that the term 'fruit' is applied in trade only to such plants or parts of plants as contain the seeds.”
Ambiguous to say the least.
Experts seem to feel that the tomato is technically the fruit of the tomato plant, but it's used as a vegetable in cooking.
In other words, if you think it's a vegetable, it's a vegetable.
I hope that clears it up.
I never have quite believed the definition that a fruit is that which contains seeds. I alw...
May. 10, 2012 7:35 AM
Submitted by:
serenabeeks
03/12/11
Submitted by:
jordanawright
03/16/11
Submitted by:
Nicole S. C.
03/13/11
Submitted by:
Paul Geller
03/20/11
Submitted by:
Fehlen88
03/19/11
Let others spend their time debating whether tomatoes are fruits or vegetables,
I will gladly spend my time just eating them.
Matter of fact, I just ate a handful of cherry tomatoes just a couple of hours ago.
I eat them almost daily in one form or another.
They taste like a vegetable to me.
But call 'em what you will, just leave some for me.
Eons ago, when I was a kid, I used to pick tomatoes for a few coins per basket.
I would pause now and then and eat one fresh off the vine.
I can taste them to this day.
Um, um, good.
Cheese & Crackers!
Standing out in the cold starlight waiting for the dog, the Great Horned Owl gave me a breezer so close his wings brushed both shoulders.
Could have sphincter-clipped a No.2 Eberhard-Faber except I don't carry one and if I did, it wouldn't be there.
do you say to-mate-oh, or to-maht-oh?...or deadly nightshade?
A local restaurant does fried green tomatoes in a crisp cornmeal crust w/ comeback sauce for dipping......................oh my........................mmmmmmmmmmmmmm (RY stole my tomato/tamato schtick, so I had to go w/ something else.)
I hope you fine gentlemen have a wonderful day!
Definitelety to-maht-oh and definitely a fruit. I thought deadly nightshade was more closely related to to poh tart o!
Mornin' HAZE!
STONEY..................I sharpened a dozen of those suckers yesterday...................sans owl sphincter............................that image will stay w/ me all day long........................
This identity crisis brought on by the human legal system had the once peaceful plants all red faced and they would not stand for it as we saw in Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and the breathtaking Return of the Killer Tomatoes. 1970's and 80's cinema at its finest. We learned about their violent side when a peaceful man dines with them and mistakenly asks one to pass the ketchup. Oh the humanity!!!
I never have quite believed the definition that a fruit is that which contains seeds. I always think of fruit as sweet stuff - oranges, apples, watermelon, etc. If you go by the dictionary definition that would suggest that an acorn squash is a fruit. I guess I think of fruit mostly as stuff that could go in a pie or flavor ice cream. I'm not sure what that says about olives. Confusing, that's what it is. And much too logical.
more on the honor rollThis seems like a garden path down which we have been previously led.
Imagine being one of those unlucky persons who cannot or thinks he cannot eat tomatoes… it is usually expressed as an acid issue as though stomach acid were not much more powerful.
They miss out on so much if you let yourself think about it.
bebe ~
The sparrow hawk does that to a squirrel on the fence just for fun and to watch the reaction.
The nice looking quiet woman with lovely hands came by. She wonders how I know to take the dog out of an early morning to greet her with no advance notice.
I don't know so I lied and said we keep watch... which we don't.
Maryland tomatoes will be here in a couple of months.....wonderful. When I was a kid I would eat them with mayo lime an apple or maybe just a little salt. More recently (while waiting for those Maryland tomatoes) I've been loving Campari tomatoes. BLT's even without the l and the b.
Many years ago, before we were using plastic bags for our trash, but paper grocery bags, my garbage can got knocked over. Tomato seeds landed between the cracks in the walk, took root and started growing. .................. It was a very fertile place, I had kids 2, 3 and 4 there.
Andy~ that must be the garden path to which Stoney referred.
Tomato seeds are tough. They will travel right through the human digestive system and germinate happily in the sludge beds of sewerage treatment works. I know this thing because one of my schoolfriends Dads worked at the sewage place and supplied the entire neighborhood with tomatos.
Hazel- that IS interesting.
Didn't our own President Reagan, I think it was, decree that a tomato is a vegetable and so, ergo, ketchup was considered a vegetable for school lunches.
Notwithstanding what lawyers of the Reagan administration may have determined, it is WRONG to classify "catsup" as a vegetable for classification purposes in the public school lunch program.....
In case you have been wondering...
http://www.petermanseye.com/photos/597351
Yesterday, while the Beauty was out walking, a big white van pulled up across our driveway.
After a while, I walked out to see what was up.
Out of the big sliding door stepped Shannon: tall, a little tough looking but very well put together, pretty and a bit sleazy in her dress. What's not to like.
I know her from the dog park and her invitation: "Hey Mister, got a minute?" could have appeared to a nosy neighbor to have a commercial dimension if you know what I mean.
Inside her two year old twins, Nick and Lily, were out of their seats playing with a couple of small spaniel puppies.
If I am good at anything it is acting goofy for tots: puppies in my shirt "Whoo! that tickles," and it did.
We had a high old time and after about fifteen crazy minutes, their mom looked at her watch. Hugs from the kids, back in their car seats. Cuddle the pups, back in their box.
Outside: "C'mere you," big hug, "thanks for that."
"We'll do it again," she said.
A guy could do a lot worse than to be loved back by young women, children and puppies.
It's like a preview of one of heaven's more popular departments.
This article was in our local paper last month, http://news.hjnews.com/cache_magazine/article_e368402c-8afc-11e1-a4fc-0019bb2963f4.html And then I found out that strawberries aren't true berries, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fragaria It's been a rough month for me horticulturally speaking. Just goes to show there is still so much to learn and so little time to do it in.
Stoney better acid issues than actually believing tomatoes are poisonous as has historically been known to happen. Whatever you call them, I call them good.
Nachista ~
Some have a little better luck with pomodoro, a quick cooked, fresh tomato pan sauce that is light on garlic and basil but molto buona.
When it comes to pasta, I use only about a tablespoon or so of marinara for whole serving.
A nice, light white clam sauce ain't bad either.
My answer depends on what the meaning of 'is' is?
Stoney lighter is better, agreed.
Nachista ~
I'm hungry. You?
George Hall ~
We know what is was and what was is but...
Stoney~ you post about two puppies up your shirt puts me in mind of comments made about well endowed ladies.
Stoney, I'm famished...sadly I didn't get around to planting any tomatoes this spring and the ones in my parents garden haven't fruited yet. What did you have in mind? Pasta & sauce? Tomato Pie? BLT? Grilled cheese n' tomato n' avocado? Tomato cumcumber salas? Roasted tomato and red pepper soup? A nice caprese? Pico with chips?
Ok we've established that it can be referred to as a vegetable or fruit, but what about projectile weapon? One of these days I want to make it to La Tomatina Valencia in Spain, sounds like a lot more fun than the running of the bulls. Has anyone here been to this festival? When there are cherry tomatoes that we can't use or give away we have a mini tomato war in my parents garden.
I wonder if anyone ever debates whether to call tomatillos fruits or vegetables. They are a nightshade also and techinically a fruit, but I've always used them in savory dishes. I love to add tomatillo, avocado, and lime to ranch dressing.
One of my favorite salads is spring mix, tomatoes, mangoes, blue cheese and a light vinaigrette.
Just yummy!!!
Aaaahhh! but, nachista ~ if you layer thinly sliced tomato, thin sliced red onion and thin sliced cucumber, adding salt and sugar between the layers ... yum yum. O. a few toasted pine nuts or prawns makes it even yummier!
Fried Green Tomatoes BEBE! The best! but sooo difficult to get in these parts. Non existent in restaurants or markets, it becomes one of the best reasons to grow one's own even if one is not horticulturally talented.
This time of year the local grocery store that caters to the to=mahto crowd puts a display of "Fried Green Tomato" seasoning packets in the produce department. And every year when I inquire if they have green tomatoes they look at me as if I am insane.
Grew up with a Dad who kept a salt shaker in the garden for eating tomatoes in hand. Can't think of a vegetable/fruit I llke better. Seeing STONEY"S tomato server reminds me of so many summers when a platter of thick sliced tomatoes with basil sprinkled on top was a nightly fixture on the dinner table.
White bread, mayo (Hellman's), tomatoes & salt=bliss.
STONEY you eat pasta like an Italian.
Hazel, We do that but we also add thinly sliced bell peppers and cover it with equal parts evaporated milk and vinegar, then season with a little bit of sugar, celery seed, tumeric, and mustard seed. Pop that in the fridge for an hour of two and then serve. Mmmm summer pickles, ice box preserves, vinegar relishes, whatever you call them they are delicious!
When I worked at my uncle's pizza restaurant he used to bring us fresh tomatoes from his garden when they were in season to use in the staff meal we had every day between lunch and dinner shifts. One of our favorites was to slice them thick, sprinkle with salt and pepper, add cheese and any toppings you like, then wrap them up in a thin layer of pizza dough and dip them in the fryer until golden brown. Heavenly.
Bert ... I do agree. It was so ridiculous, that I actually remembered it.
The tomatoey Bloody Mary has Mr. T operating outside the arena of food group distinctions and into the category of physical and mental restoration transcending Freud. I have shakily stepped up to the #1 Tee Box @ 8 a.m. still crunching on the red stained celery stalk after a night of carousing at Fudpucker's or Pineapple Willy's and felt that the hair on my tongue and the spiderwebs in my noggin would give way to Tomato Crate Art. Ol Willy sings of such thangs.
ANDY I remember the ketchup thing as Nixon. Maybe I am confusing it with his favorite lunch of cottage cheese and ketchup.
If you ever make it to "middle Georgia ", you should stop by the Whistle Stop Cafe of " Fried Green Tomatoes " fame. It is indeed a real place and FGT's are as good as the movie.
On the other hand, a fresh loaf of Colonial White bread, Hellman's mayonnaise, salt and pepper, and a big ole beef eater tomato sliced thin...now that is one awesome Sammich.
Balsamic vinegar bleu cheese hunks onyun on salty beefsteak tomato with crisp Chardonnay and a few anchovies- By the beard of Zeus!
nachista~ Wicked!
Deb... You're probably right. I remember it was a president and it was the ridiculous idea of counting ketchup as a vegetable for school lunches. And yes, now I remember, cottage cheese and ketchup! I guess he heard it was a fruit.
Anyone had tomato jam? I had it in Italy one summer as a teenager and have never forgotten it. One of my part time jobs is working for a woman who has a small gourmet preserves company. I made the suggestion to her and she is working on her own version now, can't give away any secrets but it is going to be a tomato, onion, citrus preserve...and I am loving the test batches.
Tomato chutney, right Hazel?
Fruit or veggie..........hhmmmmmmmm?
The answer is likely the same as if you were to truly love somebody, and she is in your minds eye, which listens to your heart, a real tomato..........then nothing else really matters.
I also think that if you are very worried about it's proper classification, and are obsessed and determined to be correct......then you should be denied the juicy joy of eating any.
Tomato jam/chutney ~ O yes!!
OK boys, brace yourselves - nothing like the ejaculaion of warm tomato seeds when you bite into one.
One of these days I'm going to make this again http://www.thetomatotart.com/recipe/the-tomato-tarts-tomato-tart/ ; So simple and so good!
Today-JP Morgan make be taking a $4 billion loss this qtr?
USPS may take $13 billion loss?
No reforms No cuts No shit
This tomato & garlic bread eatin American thinks they continue to gamble with our future.
Okay, where is PARK-O-RAMA??????????????
HAZEL.................Oh my!
PL.....................stop it, seriously....................I am trying to get into relaxation mode...........how can I when I am laughing so hard?
CHEFD................that is just the BEST sandwich ever...................ever..................I'm coming over tomorrow for one................................
KORTHAL.......................your salad sounds so good...............anything w/ bluecheese is wunnerful...................
NACHISTA........................the fried pizza dough wrapped tomato thingy...........................mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.......................................
STONEY................your dog park friend's puppies sound adorable.................very charmacious you are!
“You should never hesitate to trade your cow for a handful of magic beans.” wrote Tom Robbins years ago -or- a paper bag of fresh tomatoes for BLT's writes this Tom right now.
Ha ha Hazel! I almost swallowed my vintage grape juice down the wrong pipe. Boyz? No comments? Hmmm?
seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed
I knew a girl who dated Tom Robbins, TT. She said he was just like his books .. arrogant and shallow ... the precursor to Confederacy of Dunces author, Toole. I still wave at the ANOTHER ROADSIDE ATTRACTION location just off I-5, and dream of Haberman's pregnancy tattoo in 1979. Mercy!
Hazel, you had me at "brace yourselves". The ejaculation part was gravy ...
I guess an attempt to rephrase at this juncture is pointless.
The biting part was not enough to deter me from smoking my first cigarrette in a couple of decades. I can see again!
LITTLE TOWN ... CENTRAL MARKET .. 14th Cgothic baroque rococoburned in 1415 ... another Luther ... 15thC astronomical clock ... death tips is hour glass ... don giovani premiered .. Hotel Julian .. good king W .. stop me .. ESPECIALLY here
PL, the last and only cigarette I've had was when I was 12; my lips turned green and I haven't had one since. A couple of days ago I smoked my first cigar. It was a lot different than my cigarette experience. The scent was that of perfume, and for a woman who has been square for most her life; I felt kind of dangerous.
over
Aloha L- as Brian Wilson would sing Love and mercy to you and your friends tonight. I shall switch to Tommy McGuane “It don't do you no nevermind to tell nobody nothing.” or as I say 100% of nothing is nothing. That's why my next tone may be 300 blank pages but good paper mind you thick bleached matte finish with illustrations of polar bears in snowstorms eating white seedless tomatoes. Mahalo.
A good cigar, after a great tomahto drink with all the proper vegies,and a cheese curd,oive,clam,pickle,shrimp,venison sausage,and a snood...but the cigar has to be outside - laws,ya know - and outside you need the plastic cups...even so, fresh kilt tomato juice Bloodies are worth it. (for those that do not know, a snood in this case is a very short beer chaser)
TT~ were those the Albino Polar bears?
Penn, sweetly, softly, kindly, and subtley dangerous in your creative unpredictabilty has always, i think, been simmering nicely. I think exhaling the smoke of a fine cigar sets some of the dangerousness free.
P.s., after all this time, if i were to actually try to smoke a cigarette, i would be dizzy and green for a week.
Be well
Stoney, one of my favorites is spaghetti pomodoro...excellent.
ChefDeb and bebe...I'm with you...I love tomato sandwiches...so simple and so delicious. Fried green tomatoes remind me of my mother...she always made them. I have some green tomato slices in my freezer where they'll priobably stay forever, because I'm not likely to fry them up.
I've been making a lot of salsa fresca lately...tomatoes, onions, jalapenos and lots of cilantro .... sooo good.
Korthal, your salad sounds very delicious and like bebe. ...anything with bleu cheese!
Nachista, I'm having second thoughts about ranch dressing which I've never cared for...but your additions make make my mouth water....yummmmm
ChefDeb and Andy, I'm thinking Nixon was the cottage cheese and ketchup lover and Reagan was the ketchup counts as a vegetable for school lunches Prez...I remember thinking it was rather funny at the time, but I can also remember eating cottage cheese with ketchup and liking it.
Tommy...mmmmmmm...anchovies, bleu cheese, tomatoes, wine.....