Originally made with milk or cream that was sweetened with sugar, then lightly curdled with wine, the roots of today’s syllabub date back to the Tudor Dynasty, which ruled England from 1485 until 1603. It was popular through the 19th century. Before it became a dessert, syllabub was a refreshing drink made of milk and cider. In fact, according to Wikipedia, the cows were milked directly into an ale pot, which created a frothy foam.

Modern British recipes make syllabub with whipped cream, sweetened with sherry or white wine and sugar. Lemon, orange and raspberry are popular syllabub flavors.

You can make a healthier version with fat-free Greek yogurt, which is closer than whipped cream to the original dessert’s curdled milk.

*The Greek word beelzeboub was derived from the original Hebrew, ba’al-z’bub, “lord of the flies.” The term syllabub is first found in print around 1530–1540, derived from the earlier words, sollybubbe and sillabub. Alas, the origin of these words is not known.

FAGE Total Greek yogurt retained chef Rocco Dispirito to create FAGE A Day for May: culinary inspiration that replaces cream with better-for-you yogurt. You can see the entire month of recipes here.

Start with this syllabub recipe. You can Syllabub should be served well chilled and can be decorated with finely chopped nuts and served with small, crisp tuille biscuits.

RECIPE: APPLE & YOGURT SYLLABUB CRUMBLE

Makes 4 servings. Prep time 5 minutes; cook time 15 minutes.

Ingredients

 
Variations

 
Preparation

1. In a medium-sized pan, cook the apples, sugar, honey and cider until it resembles applesauce (a thick purée). Allow to cool.

2. Crush or blend the biscuits until they look like bread crumbs.

3. In a large bowl, mix together the yogurt and half the cold apples.

4a. If using alcohol, first divide the cookie crumbs into the bottoms of each of four small wine glasses. Drizzle one tablespoon of sherry or other alcohol over the crumbs. Then proceed to 4b.

4b. Whether or not you started with the cookie crumbs and sherry, spoon half the remaining apples into the glasses. Fill half-full with the yogurt mix; add another layer of apples, followed by the remaining yogurt.

5. Chill for 1 hour or longer. Top the glasses of with the cookie crumbs prior to serving. If you used cookie crumbs for the bottom layer and don’t want to add more, you can garnish with a berry or mint sprig.

Personalize a six-pack: a great gift idea. Photo courtesy Pinhole Press.

Pinhole Press, which specializes in gift items customized with your photos (calendars, journals, magnets and the like), has a beer label option that’s sure to make an occasion more festive.

You simply upload your photo and text and get 15 labels in return ($11.99). Add the cost of a six-pack, and you’ve created a memorable yet affordable gift.

Order yours at PinholePress.com.

Prefer Wine To Beer?

Custom wine bottle labels are available in a broad selection of designs, including some for baby showers, weddings and other celebratory occasions (9 labels, $9.99).

Cheers!

But surprise: We’re fans of two new items: Banana Nut Oatmeal and McCafé Cherry Berry Chiller.

Now available nationally, these two limited-time “Flavors Of Summer” are nutritious options that are made to order from fine ingredients.

Blueberry Banana Nut Oatmeal

Blueberry Banana Nut Oatmeal tops brown sugar-laced oatmeal with fresh, plump blueberries and crunchy walnuts. There is a hint of banana—though we wish there wre more than a hint!

Each portion contains two servings of whole grain* and 1/4 cup of blueberries, one of the highest-antioxidant foods.

So good for you: oatmeal with walnuts and fresh blueberries. Photo courtesy McDonald’s.

Those who like to keep track of nutrition should note that walnuts are arguably the healthiest nuts.

People who prefer their oatmeal without sugar can order the year-round menu staple, Fruit & Maple Oatmeal, with fresh apple, raisins and cranberries (it is available with or without brown sugar). If you want the fresh blueberries, just ask.

*Why you need whole grains.

Cherry Chiller: a refreshing fruit slush. Photo courtesy McDonald’s

McCafé Cherry Berry Chiller, a fruit slush, is made to order, with 100% fruit juice, natural cherry and raspberry flavors and crushed ice.

Available through September 3rd, while supplies last, the suggested retail prices are $1.69 (small, 12 ounces), $1.99 (medium, 16 ounces) and $2.29 (large, 22 ounces). In hot weather, the large size will be a godsend.

McCafé Frozen Strawberry Lemonade is also part of the summer menu. The McCafé line includes fruit smoothies and espresso drinks, as well.

McDonald’s is the leading foodservice provider in the U.S., serving more than than 26 million customers daily at some 14,000 restaurants. More than 11,500 are wi-fi enabled.

So, answer your email as you enjoy a leisurely bowl of oatmeal, followed by a Cherry Berry Chiller chaser.

It’s the original smoothie, when mixed with ripe fruit. And it’s our Top Pick Of The Week.

Lassi is a four thousand year-old drink. Dahlicious produces its lassi in Vermont, with Indian-style yogurt made from the milk of meadow-grazing, rBST-free cows living on family farms.

What a refreshing and nutritious treat! We’ve been enjoying all four flavors: Alphonso Mango, Ecuador Banana, Oregon Strawberry and Wild Maine Blueberry.

Read the full review: Lassi come home!

Make your own lassi. Cooking video and recipe.

How much do you know about yogurt? Check out our Yogurt Glossary.

Guess what: It’s good for you (unless you
have high blood pressure or other
sensitive condition). Photo by Ermek | IST.

Today, we know that to be an old wive’s tale. We also know that coffee, like tea, is full of beneficial antioxidants.*

Coffee has been tied to the reduction of some cancers and other diseases. Here’s an overview of its benefits from the Harvard Medical School.

And now, according to studies conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, reported in EverydayHealth.com, coffee may also help fight type 2 diabetes.

The Harvard study found the more coffee people drank, the greater the protection against diabetes.

*There are many different types of antioxidants. Those in coffee are completely different than EGCG, the principal antioxidant in tea.

Yet a recent study at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health supports consumption of decaf. It followed more than 28,000 postmenopausal women for 11 years. Those who drank at least six cups of coffee daily, particularly decaffeinated, had a 33% lower risk of type 2 diabetes than non-drinkers.

More than half of Americans drink coffee everyday, according to the National Coffee Association. In fact, coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in the U.S. diet, according to a study by researchers at the University of Scranton.

What’s In The Coffee That Protects Against Type 2 Diabetes?

Researchers haven’t pinpointed the magic bullet as of yet. But both regular and decaffeinated coffees contain a high amount of the antioxidants chlorogenic acid (one of the compounds that provides coffee’s flavor) and magnesium. These ingredients can improve the body’s sensitivity to insulin and may help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes.
So should you put on the coffee pot and drink another few cups? Only if you were going to do it anyway.

Says Sue McLaughlin, RD, CDE, president of health care and education at the American Diabetes Association, “More study is needed to determine why and how the study results occurred and to determine recommendations going forward.”

She also notes that just one 6-ounce cup of regular coffee contains 103 milligrams of caffeine, a substance “that has been shown to increase blood pressure in some individuals.” (That’s a very small cup! At Starbucks a Tall is 12 ounces, a Grande is 16 ounces and a Venti is 20 ounces). Heavy coffee consumption also may increase cholesterol levels.
What Does This Mean For You?

Speak with your healthcare provider, of course. But most people can keep drinking coffee in amounts they enjoy. There’s probably no reason to feel guilt over having an extra cup or two: It just may be good for you.

How Much Do You Know About Coffee?

Check out our informative Coffee Glossary.