Beautiful cranberry beans from Rancho
Gordo. Photo by River Soma | THE NIBBLE.
Beans were nutritious fare for our ancestors. Yet today, many people think of beans as inexpensive food consumed by people who can’t afford better.
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.
We’ve previously written about how you can make a sophisticated dessert, simply by topping ice cream with a jigger of Scotch.
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.
Vodka is the top-selling spirit in America. Food and Wine Magazine’s Ray Isle shows you how to buy a quality vodka without overspending: one bottle for mixing and a second for drinking straight.
Basiron Rosso Pesto gets its harvest-red
color from the addition of tomatoes and its
exciting flavor from the addition of basil and
garlic. It’s is available from iGourmet.com.
How does an adult food enthusiast celebrate Halloween?
But you may prefer a wine and cheese party with special Halloween cheeses.
We have six special cheeses to make your Halloween party a treat. The only trick is tracking them down. But you can find them all online at iGourmet.com.
Try these spooky Halloween recipes to complement your wine and cheese, including Barbecued Worm Sandwiches, Mummified Mashed Potatoes, Spooky Shepherd’s Pie and a special Halloween Chocolate Cake.
Waffles came to America on The Mayflower in 1620, making them a traditional “American” food. One hundred and sixty-seven years later, Thomas Jefferson brought a waffle iron back from France and “waffle frolics” (that’s waffle parties) began.
Today waffles are a favorite brunch food and a special-occasion food. Many of us get out the waffle iron for Mother’s Day and other occasions. Americans buy almost $50 million in waffle irons annually.
But if the waffle iron is one of your least-used appliances, consider expanding your waffle repertoire to lunch, dinner, dessert and a waffle frolic with an add-your-own-toppings bar.
Lunch & Dinner Waffles
Dessert waffles. Photo courtesy L’Auberge Provençale. Get the recipe.
For a luxurious lunch or a first course for dinner, we make caviar waffles: waffles topped with sour cream or crème fraîche and garnished with salmon caviar and optional smoked salmon.
Dessert Waffles
Try a waffle sundae: top a waffle with ice cream and your favorite sauces and garnishes.
Make “Belgian waffles” topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. For an adult crowd, first marinate the strawberries in an orange liqueur such as Grand Marnier.
Orange Blossom Waffles with mangoes, berries and whipped cream are another favorite recipe.
