THE NIBBLE » Cinco de Mayo

TIP OF THE DAY: Red Pepper Sour Cream

Editorial Assistant — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:00:57 +0000

Enjoy your baked potato with something special. Take 1 cup of roasted red peppers (pimentos), well drained; combine in a food processor with 1 cup of sour cream (or substitute reduced-fat sour cream or fat-free yogurt). Blend until smooth and add 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice. Top with minced green onions. Also try this delicious topping on nachos, as a dip and a general garnish.

Click here for more garnish ideas.

TOP PICK: Diane’s Sweet Heat Habanero Jams

admin — Sat, 23 May 2009 12:01:42 +0000

Diane’s Sweet Heat in Blackberry, Mango and Strawberry.

We woke up on Cinco de Mayo looking forward to a breakfast with Diane’s Sweet Heat habanero jam—and we haven’t stopped eating it since. Any day of the year is the right day to celebrate with these sweet, hot and fruity treasures. (Thanks to Diane for pointing out that unlike jalapeño, there is no “ñ” in habanero. It’s a very common mistake made by English speakers. The correct pronunciation is a-va-NEH-ro. The word means “from Havana.”)

We’ve tried lots of clear pepper jelly (Aloha From Oregon’s pepper jellies were a Top Pick Of The Week), but these are our first chunky pepper jams, ready to be slathered on toast, biscuits, bagels (great with cream cheese), muffins, pancakes, cookies, pound cake, ice cream, poultry, beef, lamb, pork, seafood, even on breakfast eggs—eliminating the need to sprinkle on hot sauce and redefining the jelly omelet.

The ingredients are pure and simple: sugar, fruit, red bell peppers, habanero chiles, vinegar and pectin. The four-ounce jars are available in six flavors: Blackberry, Blueberry, Mango, Peach, Raspberry and Strawberry. The experience is fruity, hot and exciting.

Read the full review and add some sweet heat to your favorite foods.

- Learn the difference between jam, jelly, preserves, marmalade and more in our Jam & Jelly Glossary.

- Have fun with our Jam Trivia Quiz.

- See more of our favorite sweet spreads in our Jam & Jelly Section.

RECIPES: Tequila Cocktails

Editorial Assistant — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:18:52 +0000

Tequila is North America’s first indigenous distilled spirit, a strong distilled alcoholic liquor. It’s made from the blue agave plant, and is produced via double-distillation in the area around the city of Tequila, located in the western Mexico state of Jalisco. The agave plant grows exceptionally well in the volcanic soil of the region, and Mexican law dictates that tequila can only be produced in Jalisco. Mezcal, the precursor of tequila, can be made from five different varieties of agave, is single-distilled, and is made mostly in the Mexican state of Oaxaca.

The traditional drink of choice for Cinco de Mayo, tequila can be used in the classic margarita or more creative concoctions. The Nibble has put together a collection of fruity, spicy and margarita drinks for your Cinco de Mayo party. Drink up!

Fruity Tequila Cocktails

- Cabo Lima
- Melon Mambo

Spicy Tequila Cocktails

- Cabo Almeja
- Cabo Jalapeno
- Gazpachito Shot

Margaritas

- Melon Margarita
- Spicy Yubari Margarita

Turn up the heat with a spicy Cabo Jalapeño cocktail.

Read more about the History Of Tequila and the different Types Of Tequila.