One option is to wrap it and stick it in the freezer. But bread easily picks up freezer odors; and even half a loaf takes up a decent amount of room.

To the rescue: Bread Armor artisan bread bags that are reusable and recyclable. These FDA approved, high-performance storage bags keep your artisan loaves fresh longer. They’re sized to fit baguettes and other French breads, ciabatta, rustic loaves and more.

In addition to preserving leftover bread for a week or more, it also keeps your fresh bread from drying between the time you purchase it in the morning or afternoon, until dinnertime.

Bread Armor keeps bread fresh for a week
or more. Photo courtesy Bread Armor.

You can order the bags at BreadArmor.com. They’re $2.99 each, with discounts for quantities.

While plastic bread bags may seem an unexciting house gift or stocking stuffer, anyone who receives a set will be grateful to you.

Sunsweet Ones make it easy to tote
healthy, individually wrapped prunes. Photo
courtesy Sunsweet.

Today is Four Prunes Day. It may sound like a funny name for a food celebration. But four prunes are the minimum of what people who want more “digestive regularity” should take per day (up to a maximum of 9 prunes a day).

We love prunes and prune juice. But many Americans steer clear of them, perhaps because of their association with regularity, which goes back to before great-grandmother’s day. A campaign several years back tried to change the name of prunes to “dried plums” (which is what prunes are) to make them more appealing.

But as anyone who has ever made a pork or chicken roast with stuffed prunes knows, the dried fruits are delicious on their own. One of our favorite hors d’oeuvre is prunes stuffed with chicken liver mousse (you can marinate the prunes in Cognac overnight before stuffing).

The 21st-century view of healthy prunes should be as a high-antioxidant* fruit full of fiber†, potassium‡ and magnesium. A clinical study currently underway indicates that prunes may have the ability to reduce bone loss in post-menopausal women and may help fight osteoporosis.

While dried fruits such as prunes are easy to tote around for a healthy snack, Sunsweet Growers has made it even easier with Sunsweet Ones, which are individually wrapped. Four prunes have approximately 100 calories.

Some say that prunes are a good remedy for a sore throat. With cold season approaching, we’ll have to try that!

*Its high betacarotene content can help prevent cancer and help slow aging of the brain and body.
†Prunes are a good source of whole fruit fiber, and this may help keep hunger pangs at bay.
‡Studies suggest that potassium may help prevent hypertension and stroke. It may also play a role in helping support cell energy by regulating fluid balance, nerve impulses and muscle contraction to increase energy. Source: Sunsweet.
  

You won’t need a fork to enjoy this pumpkin pie—it’s a cocktail.

Developed by Haru Sushi as an October special, it shows that “Halloween spirits” can be delicious.

If you can’t get to your nearest Haru Sushi, make the recipe at home.

PUMPKIN PIE COCKTAIL RECIPE

Ingredients Per Cocktail

 
Preparation

For Halloween and Thanksgiving: a great pumpkin cocktail. Photo courtesy Haru Restaurant.

2. Pour into a rocks glass or martini glass, straight up.

3. Garnish with nutmeg/cinnamon.
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We were inspired by the Pumpkin Pie Cocktail—and THE NIBBLE’s supply of other Halloween cocktail recipes—to invite friends to a Halloween cocktail party. You’ve got plenty of time to plan a party: Go for it! You can assemble a memorable Halloween cocktail menu from the recipes below.

Beautiful cranberry beans from Rancho
Gordo. Photo by River Soma | THE NIBBLE.

They haven’t had Rancho Gordo heirloom beans!

There’s no better way to learn to appreciate beans than to try the impressive selection of heirloom beans grown in California by Rancho Gordo.

Far from serving “affordable” fare, your friends and family will see you as the fine food enthusiast you are. More good news: Beans are extremely healthy food. You’ll read why in the full article.

Heirloom beans are made from old strains that have more flavor, better texture and a beautiful appearance. Many have been rescued from extinction by specialty growers. Due to lower yield, more demanding growing requirements or other factors, these strains have been passed by by large-scale commercial growers.

• Read the full review.
• Check out the different types of beans in our Bean Glossary.

Today, we’ve got a similar tip for a Balsamic Sundae.

Strawberries drizzled with balsamic vinegar are a classic Italian dessert. Americanize it with some ice cream!

Ingredients
For a truly memorable dessert, all you need are:
* Top-quality vanilla ice cream
* Fresh strawberries
* Aged balsamic vinegar (the better the vinegar, the better the dessert)

Drizzle balsamic vinegar on vanilla ice
cream for a taste sensation. Photo and
tip courtesy HouseOfBalsamic.com.

Preparation
1. Scoop ice cream into a dish, rocks glass or goblet.
2. Drizzle with a few drops of quality balsamic vinegar.
3. Top with sliced strawberries.

Alternative Presentation
1. Use a flat plate instead of a bowl or glass.
2. Arrange a handful of fresh strawberries on the plate.
3. Scoop ice cream next to the strawberries.
4. Drizzle with balsamic and serve.

Find more ice cream recipes in our Gourmet Ice Cream Section.

Find more balsamic recipes at HouseOfBalsamic.com.