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Making Preserves at a Public Fruit Jam

YumSugar — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 05:50:57 -0800

Last weekend, I attended a collective canning event. Sponsored by Fallen Fruit, an activist group that promotes the planting of public fruit trees, the public fruit jam was a free, communal jam-making session where participants shared fruit and jam-making tips. I arrived with empty jars and lots of plums, and left with new friends, half a dozen jars of different kinds of jam, and the know-how to make fruit preserves. To see how it went down, read on.

Do You Eat the Seeds of Pomegranates?

YumSugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 06:45:12 -0800

A coworker and I recently got into a discussion about eating pomegranates. I grew up eating the juicy pulp surrounding each pomegranate seed, and then spitting out its remains, but she loves eating the entire seed and can't imagine going through the hassle of spitting them out. What about you?

Do You Eat the Seeds of Pomegranates?

Yes. Who would take the time to spit them all out?!

Sometimes, depending on whether I want some texture.

No. It just doesn't taste right!

No — I don't eat pomegranates.

What Would You Make? Apples

partysugar — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:16:46 -0700

We know that apples are in season, and we can even identify one variety from the next, but how do you use apples? They're delicious raw and equally tasty cooked down to butter. The versatile fruit adds crunch to salads and classically fills a pie. But I want to know: If you were given a bushel of fresh-picked apples, what would you make? I'll start off by saying I've been dying to make this apple cake! How about you? Leave your ideas or your favorite recipe below.

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Yummy Links: From Pawpaws to Patching Pie Crust

YumSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:45:00 -0700

Legendary Queen's grocer Fortnum & Mason is now available on this side of the pond. — Serious Eats
Learn all about the fruit known as the pawpaw. — The Kitchn
Why foodies should care about the election. — The Epi-Log
How to patch up that hole or tear in your homemade pie crust. — Baking Bites
What to look out for when selecting brown mushrooms. — Chow
Will eating your favorite cheese help prevent cavities? — FitSugar
Whip up a batch of tomatillo salsa in no time at all. — Cookthink
This Halloween, treat yourself to grown-up versions of your favorite childhood candies. — Bon Appétit

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'Wich of the Week: Fall Gouda-ness Grilled Cheese

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:00:39 -0700

When the produce bins brim with Fall bounty, I love to swap out the tomatoes on my sammies for sliced apple. Together with melted cheese, the slightly sweet, slightly tart fruit makes for a hearty autumnal meal.

Though apple and cheddar is always a safe bet, last night I whipped up a grilled ham and cheese with one of my favorite indulgences: smoked gouda. With the condiments, I created two versions: one with just sweet mustard and another with mustard and Branston Pickle relish. I actually preferred the robust, saltier sandwich with the Branston, but if you don't like (or can't find) this popular British spread, sweet mustard will do just fine. For vegetarians, just subtract the ham. To get the recipe and see how I made it,

Get to Know Pear Varieties

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:30:00 -0700

We're well into pear season, and if it wasn't obvious to you already, pears — much like apples — come in many different shapes and colors. Can you tell one from the other? I'll walk you through the different varieties of pears and their differences in taste, texture, and flavor. Let's begin!

Would You Rather Eat Apples or Pears?

partysugar — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 01:30:02 -0700

Source

Would You Rather Eat Apples or Pears?

Apples

Pears

Neither; I prefer ______ (fill in the blank below).

I love both!

How Do You Like Them Apples?

YumSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:15:36 -0700

Now that the new season is well underway, I'm going nuts here over Fall produce. That, of course, includes my year-round favorite, the apple. You may eat one a day to keep the doctor away, but can you identify the fruit's many varieties?

Here's the deal: I'm going to flash you a picture of an apple, and you're going to guess the variety. Can you get all my questions right? There's only one way to find out!

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Do You Know Your Fall Produce?

partysugar — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:30:50 -0700

Happy Fall! To encourage the consumption of the fabulous fruits and vegetables of Fall, we're making this week all about Fall produce. Our recipes, tips, and ideas will incorporate seasonal crops. To kick things off, I've put together this fun little quiz. I'll name a fruit or vegetable and you have to decide its season. Ready?

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Come Party With Me: Tailgate — Menu

partysugar — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:00:01 -0700

Instead of serving dessert separate at my tailgate, I plan to serve it with the rest of the menu. Guests can enjoy a bite of sweetness with their savory nibbles. The dip theme will continue with this delectable white chocolate mascarpone dip. Served with fresh fruit, it's decadent, but not heavy. To get this lovely recipe — that also makes a great after-school snack for little ones,

Get Excited for Fall Foods

partysugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 09:00:15 -0700

The first official day of Fall was over the weekend and with the cooler weather and shorter days comes a bounty of fresh, crunchy fruit and hearty vegetables. While apples and pumpkins are commonly consumed in large quantities, this year the Wall Street Journal has published a list of 10 other foods to consider for Fall cooking. To check out their delicious suggestions,

Come Party With Me: Heroes Season Premiere — Dessert

partysugar — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:00:29 -0700

No dessert says TV dinner more than a dish that features warm fruit and cool ice cream. While a pie or cobbler are delicious selections, wow guests at a season premiere party (or any party for that matter!) with this to-die-for apple cake.

Complete with toffee crust, fresh apple filling, and rich butterscotch sauce, it's luxurious and comforting — sort of like a glam, grown-up sister to apple pie. Although the recipe requires patience and a bit of skill, the finished cake is a worthy reward of the time and work put into it. To look at the steps involved,

Throw Some Fruit on the Barbie

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:15:41 -0700

I've always loved barbecued fruit, such as grilled pineapples and peaches. So for a recent dinner party, I fused shish-kebab style skewers with fruit to create a warm, juicy dessert! I used figs, nectarines, and pineapple, but other fruit such as apricots, mangoes, and cantaloupe would be equally delicious. As the fruit grills, the natural sugar caramelizes, enhancing the sweetness and creating perfect grill marks.

My guests gobbled up all of the kebabs. They were such a hit that my next gathering is going to be a three-course skewered meal!

I'll start with Party's Caprese skewers, follow with a simple meat and veggie kebab, and finish with these scrumptious fruit kebabs! To throw a little fruit of your own on the barbie,

Plum Delicious Crumble With Pistachios

YumSugar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:00:21 -0700

One of my favorite things about Summer is when friends occasionally stop by with a large bag of freshly picked fruit from their gardens. This past weekend, my dear friend bestowed on me a basket full of fresh plums. I could have made a pie, but I was in the mood for an easy, yet delicious crumble.
Crumbles are stewed fruit with a mixture of butter, flour, and sugar to make a crisp topping once baked. I added pistachios to the topping for extra crunch and spicy fresh ginger to the plum filling. Combine with a scoop of ice cream or dollop of whipped cream to make this fruity, nutty, and crunchy crumble the perfect Summer dessert. Crumbles are easily altered to suit just about any taste, so to learn how to make one,

Come Party With Me: Campfire Fiesta — Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:15:51 -0700

After a long day of pitching tents, cooking food, and preparing dessert, the gang at your campfire fiesta definitely deserves a drink. No camping trip is complete without beer, so fill a cooler with plenty of ice and ask guests to bring their own brews. I'll also pick up a few bottles of red and white wine.

As the host of this fireside fete, you can also offer a fun addition to the bar menu. Since you probably won't have the time or energy to whip up something like a guavarita, opt for spiking a watermelon with rum. It's summery and refreshing, it will go great with the Mexican-inspired main courses, and it's easy to eat around the campfire. Just consume with caution, since it will undoubtedly be strong! To find out how to make it,

Icy, Spicy Cantaloupe and Cucumber Paletas

YumSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:15:56 -0700

With the end of Summer fast approaching, I made a Popsicle inspired by Mexican paletas, a mostly pureed frozen fruit dessert that's either ice- or cream-based. After chopping up a cantaloupe last week, I wanted to combine it with a crisp cucumber and spicy jalapeño to create a refreshing yet snappy paleta.Zealous with my jalapeño, I chopped up an entire thing, seeds and all, and threw it in the blender. The result was too spicy for my taste, so I balanced the heat by adding a touch of sugar. Depending on your personal taste, I would recommend removing the seeds and the white flesh, the spiciest part of a jalapeño, before blending. These peppery paletas are perfect for a scorching hot day, so to learn how to make them,

How to Prepare Cantaloupe

YumSugar — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:30:19 -0700

Cantaloupe is one of those things that I see a lot in salad bars and packaged fruit salads but rarely in bagged lunches or at friends' homes. Perhaps if more people knew the right way to cut this fragrant melon, it would be more of a household staple. View this slideshow to learn how simple cantaloupe is to prepare.

7 Fearless Fig Recipes

YumSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:15:36 -0700

Are you afraid of figs? If you've never tried one, I liken them to nature's candy, because they're so sweet and have a firm texture on the outside and a soft, crunchy inside. They are in season and delicious at this time of year — don't miss them! Don't know how to cook with them? Here are seven different suggestions.

What Is Your Favorite Summer Fruit Pie?

partysugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:15:40 -0700

Rice Pudding: A Perfect Dessert For Your Summer Fruits

YumSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 07:45:02 -0700

During a recent endeavor to make peach rice pudding popsicles, I loved the rice pudding so much (a good amount of it wound up in my stomach instead of the freezer!) that I decided it was time to make a batch.

Enter this rice pudding recipe, which highlights all the freshest Summer fruits. It's comfort food to the max, with a glutinous bite and creamy, vanilla undertones. Make sure you keep the saucepan at arm's length and stir the rice continuously. I got distracted watching the Olympics, and my saucepan overflowed on me! To get this simple recipe,

Off to Market Recap: Fruit Bowl

partysugar — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 05:30:41 -0700

Citrus fruit used to mean cocktails should be kept at room temperature. However, fruit left to roll around on the counter will only end up bruised or on the floor. A fruit bowl is necessary to properly hold (and display) the citrus. Thus, you headed off to market in search of pretty, stylish bowls that are large enough to fit several limes, lemons, or oranges, but small enough to sit on the kitchen counter without taking up too much space. You bookmarked the bowls in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Fruit Bowl.

Check out this incredibly cool bubblicious fruit bowl that jspeed found! Sure to be a conversation starter, it holds all types of spherical fruits and can be changed to rest on any equilibrium. For more bowls, scroll the collection below.

To learn more about the bookmarking feature please read geeksugar's explanation.
Don't know where to start searching? Check out a list of my favorite online stores when you,

Off to Market: Fruit Bowl

partysugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 05:30:00 -0700

According to Tony Abou-Ganim, citrus fruit used to make cocktails should be kept at room temperature. However, a bunch of citrus fruit rolling around on the counter while I cook is not pretty. Thus, I've decided to invest in a fruit bowl to properly hold (and display) the citrus. Can you help me find the perfect bowl? Look for pretty, stylish bowls that are large enough to fit several limes, lemons, or oranges, but small enough to sit on the kitchen counter without taking up too much space. Bookmark the bowls in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Fruit Bowl. Happy Hunting!

To learn more about the bookmarking feature please read geeksugar's explanation.
Don't know where to start searching? Check out a list of my favorite online stores when you,

Definition: Cherimoya

YumSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 03:00:05 -0700

Cherimoya
Also called a "custard apple," the cherimoya is a heart-shaped fruit with a fragrant, sweet, custard-like flesh. It tastes like a blend of pineapple, mango, and strawberry. This exotic fruit has a multifaceted green exterior, and a cream-colored interior filled with large black seeds.

Originally native to the Andes mountains, the cherimoya, which grows on an evergreen tree, is now popular everywhere.

When left at room temperature, the fruit will ripen within two to seven days, and can be enjoyed on its own, in smoothies, or as a topping on ice cream.

Source

It's Blackberry Season!

YumSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:00:44 -0700

Since we're in the midst of prime blackberry season, I recently went blackberry picking! Some wild blackberry brambles grow near my house, so I decided to harvest my own crop. If you have blackberries growing nearby or plan to visit a u-pick farm, be sure to check out my blackberry pointers when you

Do You Like Watermelon?

YumSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:15:17 -0700

Before this weekend, I would have thought "do you like watermelon?" was a silly question. After all, everyone likes watermelon, right? Apparently not. At my Fourth of July party — which, like all good July 4th parties, featured watermelon — there were three people who claimed to dislike watermelon. I was shocked that such people existed. They complained that the fruit tastes watered down, whereas I think it's sweet as candy. So how about you?Source

Do You Like Watermelon?

Yes! How could anyone not like watermelon?!

It's not my favorite, but I enjoy it.

I could take it or leave it.

No. I just don't get what all the fuss is about.

Other — Share your comment below.

Peachy Keen Pound Cake

YumSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 05:30:09 -0700

A few weeks ago, a large bag of ripe white peaches arrived at the Sugar HQ. We ate as many as we could, but on Friday afternoon I noticed that there were quite a few left. Knowing that they wouldn't last the weekend, I brought them home and decided to make a sweet breakfast treat for the office.I found a recipe for a peach pound cake, and while not particularly healthy, it was absolutely delicious. The peaches added a nice fragrant flavor, and the yogurt allowed for a perfectly moist crumb. To get the recipe, just

Think You Know Mangoes?

YumSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 05:30:35 -0700

I don't know how I missed this earlier, but June is Mango Month. Not that I need an excuse to devour mangoes. I can't get enough of this juicy sweet fruit, and I'm convinced that anyone who doesn't like mangoes has simply never had a good one. In fact, I joked to PartySugar that the last question on this quiz should be "Do you like mangoes?" and that "yes" would be the only correct answer.

But I decided to be nice instead, so I've rounded up some fun facts about this ubiquitous, delicious fruit. Find out how much you know about mangoes!

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Would You Rather Eat Cherries or Strawberries?

YumSugar — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 01:30:51 -0700

Both cherries and strawberries are in season and juicy-sweet delicious right now. Since they won't be this perfect for long, I can't help but buy bunches of both every time I go to the market. But if given the choice to eat just one for the rest of my life, I'd definitely choose strawberries. How about you?Source

Would You Rather Eat Cherries or Strawberries?

Strawberries

Cherries

Neither — I'd take another type of fruit any day.

Learn How to Cut a Pineapple

YumSugar — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:15:31 -0700

Pineapple is one of my favorite fruits. However, I used to be intimidated by the spiky outside and would sometimes just buy the plastic containers full of precut pineapple. I always felt guilty, those plastic containers are a waste, and they cost a lot more than a whole pineapple would. So a few years ago, I decided to pony-up and learn how to cut one properly. It was a little awkward at first, but now it is a breeze. If you want to learn an easy way to do it, then click the "Start" button.

Would You Eat This Strawberry Pizza?

YumSugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:15:16 -0700

It's a strawberry pie, but not the kind you're thinking of. Since I'm all about finding new ways to enjoy strawberries, I recently ordered a cornmeal-crusted pizza topped with classic tomato sauce, sweet berries, feta cheese, and mint. Admittedly, the flavor combo was a bit incongruous on a pizza, but I'd definitely order it again. My only complaint was that the delicate strawberries were nearly overwhelmed in the context. Would you give it a try?

Would You Eat This Strawberry Pizza?

Yes! It sounds delicious.

Seems like a weird idea, but I'd try it.

No thanks! I don't want strawberries on my pizza.

Other — tell us below

How Do You Feel About Stickers on Produce?

partysugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:16:20 -0700

How Do You Feel About Stickers on Produce?

I don't buy produce with stickers on it.

They don't bother me.

As long as they peel off easily, I don't mind them.

Those little stickers are so annoying!

Other — I'll tell you what I think of produce stickers below.

Seven Ways to Enjoy Strawberries

YumSugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 05:30:02 -0700

Strawberries are in season, and every time I pop one of the candy-sweet berries into my mouth, I'm reminded why people savor in-season fruit so much. If you aren't eating strawberries right now, I don't know what you're waiting for. They are a great addition to salads, brunch, cocktails, and, of course, desserts. I even recently enjoyed a pizza topped with strawberries and feta. Here are seven delicious ways to enjoy strawberries.

Come Party With Me: Bridal Shower — Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:30:36 -0700

Since most bridal showers are afternoon affairs, a heavy cocktail menu is not necessary. At Elena's bridal shower we'll set up a fruit spritzer buffet. Guests can have their choice of fruit purees and either mix them with sparkling water, club soda, or sparkling wine. A do-it-yourself bar is essential to this type of party where some will want to drink and others will not. Arrange ice, glasses, fruit purees, and mixers neatly on a side table.

For more wedding coverage go to IDoSugar. To take a look at the fruit spritzer recipe,

What Kind of Bananas Do You Prefer?

partysugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 07:00:58 -0700

What Kind of Bananas Do You Prefer?

I like hard, green bananas.

I prefer yellow, ripe bananas.

I love overly ripe, dark brown bananas.

I don't eat bananas.

Other — I'll tell you what kind of bananas I prefer below.

Simple Tip: Store Your Pineapples Upside Down

YumSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 10:00:44 -0700

Pineapple happens to be one of my absolute favorite fruits. Yesterday they were on sale at my local Whole Foods (2 for $6) and I decided to grab a pair. When I got to the checkout counter, the gal asked if I would like her to remove the tops for me. I said yes and watched as she gave the leafy bit a firm twist.

Once the leaves had been popped off, she told me an amazing tip: she suggested I store the pineapple upside down. This helps the sweet juice that has accumulated on the bottom during shipping, flow back to the other end.

I've often wondered why one side of the pineapple is sweeter than the other, and it looks like I finally discovered why! So tell me, did you know this trick already and do you think it works?

Apple Jacket: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Tue, 06 May 2008 03:00:51 -0700

I've seen many a useless product in my life, but I find none as totally and completely useless as this apple jacket. Since when does fruit need clothing accessories?A hand knitted sweater, this jacket fits snugly around most medium sized apples and comes with a cute little button. If you want to keep your apples cozy start saving because these jackets cost $20.00 each. What do you think? Is an apple jacket useful or useless?

Apple Jacket: Love It or Hate It?

Love it

Hate it

Undecided

Fast & Easy Dinner: Sausage-Fruit Kabobs

partysugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 09:27:33 -0700

Nothing makes food more fun than serving it on a stick. Both children and grown kids will love these sausage fruit kabobs. Smoked sausage slices are skewered with chunks of crispy apples and fresh zucchini. A sweet honey mustard sauce is delicious for dipping. Although the recipe has you broil the kabobs, they would also be wonderful grilled. To take a look at the recipe,

Rhubarb Tart Is a Scrumptious Spring Dessert

partysugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:18:32 -0700

Are you familiar with rhubarb? Rhubarb is a celery-like vegetable that is consumed as a fruit. While the leaves of rhubarb are toxic, the pretty stalks are completely edible. Because of its natural tartness, rhubarb is usually combined with sugar to make a delicious dessert. This raspberry rhubarb tart is a wonderful recipe to use if you're interested in experimenting with rhubarb. A rustic, simple pastry dough is filled with a sweet rhubarb-raspberry mixture.

Although the recipe calls for fresh raspberries, frozen ones would work just as well. To take a look at the recipe — it pairs perfectly with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream —

No, Not Strawberries, Strasberries

YumSugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 06:00:23 -0700

Do you prefer strawberries or raspberries? If you can't decide then let me introduce you to strasberries, the fruit that falls somewhere between strawberries and raspberries. The fruit was "born" in the early 1900s, but disappeared from markets until Dutch farmers rediscovered them several years ago. Originally a type of wild strawberry, the strasberries have become a big hit in Europe due to their "unique, aromatic flavour." If you're interested in trying them, you'll have to head across the pond to London. Waitrose — a British supermarket chain — is selling the fruit in 17 of their London outlets; a 4oz basket will retail for £4 (about $.

I don't know about you guys, but I can't wait until someone imports these to the US. I want to make a strasberry shortcake!

Source

Sophisticated Bite-Sized Banana Bread

partysugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:13:31 -0700

Normally when I watch Top Chef, I imagine eating the dishes, but never think about making them. Maybe it's because I consider myself more of a Padma than a top chef, or maybe it's because the dishes always seem so complicated. Either way, it came as a surprise last week when — for the first time — I thought, OMG I have to make that.

The dish that I'm dying to make is Stephanie's banana bread. She said it was her mom's recipe, but she must have jazzed it up for the competition. I love how the bite-sized treat is garnished with a pretty banana slice. I'm planning on experimenting with the recipe — wouldn't these be amazing served at a brunch? — and thought maybe some of you would be interested in checking it out as well. Get the recipe, just

Recall Warning: FDA Issues a Warning on Cantaloupe

YumSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:01:18 -0700

Watch out, if you've purchased any cantaloupe recently you may want to check the sticker. The FDA issued an alert regarding cantaloupe from Agropecuaria Montelibano, a Honduran grower and packer. Turns out fruit from them may be linked to a salmonella outbreak. At the time of their alert, 59 people had illnesses linked to the cantaloupes. No deaths have occurred, but 14 people were hospitalized.

If your cantaloupe doesn't have a sticker, you should check with your grocery store to see where their stock comes from. If it turns out to be from Agropecuaria Monteliban, you should toss it out. Better to be safe than sorry!

If you're concerned and would like to learn more, be sure to read the full FDA alert.

Source

Come Party With Me: Easter Brunch — Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:28:51 -0700

At any brunch, it is mandatory to have an assortment of breakfast beverages. Just-brewed coffee, a variety of teas, ice-cold milk, and fresh-squeezed orange juice are delightful selections. Keep things simple and offer only one alcoholic drink — a bloody Mary or bellini are definite crowd pleasers. Fill clear pitchers with lemon and cucumber water. For a healthy and unexpected surprise, whip up a batch of fruit smoothies. To see the recipe for these pretty pink smoothies,

Do You Like Fruit in Salad?

partysugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:15:51 -0700

Source

Do You Like Fruit in Salad?

Yes, I love adding fresh fruit to my leafy green salads.

No, I prefer salads with only vegetables.

It depends on the other ingredients in the salad.

I only like fruit in fruit salad.

I don't eat salad.

Other — I'll tell you what I think below.

Introducing Baby Kiwi!

YumSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 05:18:19 -0700

Last year I was at my local Trader Joe's when I noticed containers of something called "kiwi grapes." I'd never heard of such a thing, so naturally I picked them up. They were small grape-sized fruits which were delicious and tart, sort of like regular kiwi, but sweeter and with a smooth, edible skin. Needless to say, I fell in love and wanted to eat them over and over again. Unfortunately by the time I went back to get more, they were gone!

For a year I've been talking to people about these delicious fruits and was excited to head into Trader Joe's today and find them waiting there. This time they were labeled "baby kiwi," but they were definitely the same thing. I snatched up three baskets and already devoured one. If you can find them near you — I've heard of people spotting them in Whole Foods and other markets like that — I highly suggest you check them out. If you fall in love with them like I did, you'll be happy to know that they're actually available twice a year. In the Spring they're imported from New Zealand and in the Fall they come from Oregon. And if you find yourself pining for them in the between seasons, don't say I didn't warn you.

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Trifle Two Ways — Beginner and Expert

partysugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:56:11 -0800

If you are sick of heavy chocolate desserts, consider making a trifle for your next dinner party. A cold dish that is best when made in advance, a trifle consists of layers of cake, custard, fruits, whipped cream, and syrup. While the variations are endless, most trifles are served in a large, clear glass dish. I've found two recipes for you to experiment with — one uses help from the grocery store and the other is one hundred percent homemade — give both a try or combine elements from each recipe to make your own special trifle. To get started,

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Are Great, But Why Not Chocolate-Infused Strawberries?

YumSugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:18:31 -0800

A lot of you agreed that we didn't really need a grape-apple hybrid. However, what do you think of a strawberry-chocolate hybrid? Tokyo-based Fresh Functional Food Composite (FCOM) is using infusion technology to create white-chocolate strawberries and chocolate currants. They first freeze dry the fruit, thus removing any water, and infuse it with chocolate. The company has also previously tested out the technology by infusing apples with red wine.

It all sounds pretty crazy to me — can't I just have strawberries and chocolate? — yet I know I'd give it a try if I saw them on the shelves.

If you're skeptical about the whole thing I should also mention that the company is considering using the technology to infuse food with various nutrients and vitamins.

Now the real question is, will these ever hit the American market?

Source

Do We Really Need a Grape/Apple Hybrid?

YumSugar — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 10:48:39 -0800

I've seen Grapples — grape-flavored apples — in the store for a few years, and FitSugar actually wrote about them last year, but I'd never actually tried one before. I've kinda been snobby about it and thought they were ridiculous. However, recently, a friend of mine became addicted to them. She swears they're fantastic, so I figured it was time to file away my skepticism and give it a try.

Grapples are created by infusing Washington Extra-Fancy Fuji apples in concentrated grape juice, natural and artificial, but let me tell you it smells awfully artificial — like grape flavoring and water. Old reviews say that it's done by soaking, however the Grapple website now says it's a complex patent-pending process. When you take them out of their plastic packages, you can smell them from a mile away, and it's actually quite distracting. The smell is overly sweet, like wet-grape candy.

So how do they taste? They're actually not bad, but that's mostly because they taste like apples. The grape flavor is there, however it's overly sweet and reminds me of grape candy more than actual Concord grapes. They're also quite pricey for what they are — four apples were around $5. The good part about them is that since they do taste like candy, it felt more like a dessert or a treat, and definitely curbed my need for something sweet in the evening. The best part was that, like other apples, they're only around 80 calories each.

Would I buy them again? Probably not, although I can see where folks might really like them — after all this started because I know someone who is hooked on them. Also, I really am wondering what a baked good made with them would taste like. Grapple pie anyone?

Yum Market Finds: Fall For Fruit

partysugar — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:27:33 -0800

Fall is a wonderful time to enjoy a harvest of delicious fruits. Apples, pears, and cranberries are best consumed this time of year, whether you eat them alone or mix them into a dish. These fruits also look gorgeous when on display or as decor in the kitchen.

Judging by the assortment of fruit-themed bookmarks in the Yum Market on TeamSugar, many of you have already fallen for fruit! Take this fun pear tray that gardengirl74 saved. You could plan an entire partridge in a pear tree party around it! For more fabulous fruit finds, browse below.

To learn more about the bookmarking feature of TeamSugar, please read geeksugar's explanation.

Raise Your Pom Poms for Pomegranates

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 13:36:15 -0700

Raise Your Pom Poms for Pomegranates It's pomegranate season, and there are plenty of reasons to be a cheerleader for this healthy fruit. The beautiful garnet-colored seeds are high in antioxidants, and pomegranates are also a great source of potassium. They make a great addition to any fall salad and are tasty scattered over roasted squash.

Definition: Quince

partysugar — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:13:33 -0700

Quince
An ancient fruit most popular in Asian and Mediterranean countries. Grown from the quince tree, this fruit is yellow skinned with an apple-pear like appearance. Due to a dry and astringent flavor, it's best cooked in jams, jellies, and preserves. Look for large, firm and bright yellow pieces when at the market. Peel before consuming.

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