When old standby methods of preparation result in boring vegetable side dishes served over and over again, kick up the presentation and flavors with foil packet cooking.

Tomato paste and tomato puree are available commercially throughout the U.S., although home gardeners can also can or freeze these products at home. Both are made from tomatoes, with no added ingredients, but variances in cooking methods result in two completely different products.

Carrot cake is a soft and dense dessert made from a spiced batter that includes shredded carrots. The carrots soften during the baking process and become nearly the same consistency as the rest of the cake. While the cake bakes, it rises and nearly doubles in height.

While vegetables can be a way to incorporate fiber and a low-calorie food source into your daily diet, some vegetables come with an unwanted symptom: bloating. Vegetables can especially contribute to bloating because they contain carbohydrates, which break down as sugars.

An allergic reaction to tomatoes is often the result of oral allergy syndrome, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

Bananas offer several health benefits, providing you with essential potassium, vitamin C and vitamin A. They also contain fructose, a simple carbohydrate also called fruit sugar, that occurs naturally in many fruits and vegetables as well as in honey.

Electrolytes are minerals that use electric charges in the body to produce reactions such as muscle contraction, nerve movement and a regular heartbeat. Some electrolytes, such as calcium, also have other functions, including a role in bone strength.

Both blood oranges and common oranges are nutrient-rich citrus fruits that make them suitable additions to a well-rounded and healthful diet.

Black pepper is a favored spice, included in most recipes, making it a difficult allergen to avoid. Producers derive this spice from dried berries from pepper trees, known as peppercorns, growing primarily in southern India, Ceylon and Malaysia.

Prunes are marketed as a fruit snack, but you can use them in a variety of recipes ranging from soufflés and puddings to cakes and muffins. This unique-tasting fruit is well known as being an excellent source of fiber; however, prunes also provide other essential nutrients.

Apricots offer a succulent, sweet flesh with many vitamins and minerals, but the fruit is quite perishable. As a result, Americans often find Turkish apricots in dried form only.

The pomegranate is a fruit that is often known as a “superfood” thanks to its high antioxidant content. Originally native to Iran, the fruit is similar in dimension to a medium-sized orange, but has reddish-pink, leathery skin.