FOOD FUN: Guacamole Verrine, A Layered Appetizer

We discovered this photo on the Frontier Foods blog, where it was called a torta, a word that refers to different foods in different Spanish-language countries. But we’d call it a verrine (vair-REEN). Verre is the French word for glass; verrine, which means “protective glass,” is an assortment of ingredients layered “artfully” in a small…
Continue reading “FOOD FUN: Guacamole Verrine, A Layered Appetizer”

TIP OF THE DAY: Fruit Beer

Not hard cider, but apple (pomme) lambic, a style of Belgian beer. Photo courtesy Lindemans.   For a country so keen on fruity cocktails, we don’t drink much fruit beer. But summer is the perfect time for it, so plan to have a few before Labor Day. Fruit beers have been popular for centuries, beginning…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: Fruit Beer”

TIP OF THE DAY: Eat More Mussels (How About Mussels Marinière?)

Today’s tip was inspired by a recent “Personal Health” column by Jane Brody in the New York Times called Relearning How To Eat Fish. Among other suggestions, the article urges that you expand your fish and seafood horizons, perhaps starting with a delicious bowl of good-for-you steamed mussels. Fish and shellfish are the most nutritious…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: Eat More Mussels (How About Mussels Marinière?)”

Classic Peach Pie Recipe & How To Ripen Peaches Quickly

To us, summer means fresh peach pie—a flavor that’s not easy to come by commercially. To enjoy its pleasures, you’ve got to bake your own. When summer peaches are ripe and juicy, they don’t need a whole lot else to make a terrific pie. In this recipe, an optional tablespoon of dark rum “takes it…
Continue reading “Classic Peach Pie Recipe & How To Ripen Peaches Quickly”

TIP OF THE DAY: Eggplant, Three Ways

From noodle-free lasagna to vegetable soup or gumbo to a goat cheese and eggplant sandwich, eggplant is a versatile ingredient. It can find its way into caponata*, casseroles, dips, mixed grilled veggies, pasta dishes, stews and more. Eggplant is low in calories and fat, while boasting a high fiber content. While available year-round, summer is…
Continue reading “TIP OF THE DAY: Eggplant, Three Ways”