THE NIBBLE BLOG: Products, Recipes & Trends In Specialty Foods


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Green Slimesicles Recipe, A Health Green Treat

In just 15 minutes, you can have these Green Slimsicles in the freezer. Then, get ready for a 45-calorie treat, bright green for St. Patrick’s Day, spring, and beyond. The recipe was inspired by Disney-Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.. But you don’t need to be a kid or a parent to enjoy these sweet, healthful ice pops.

Bananas and pineapple deliver sweetness, and fresh green spinach provides the bright color.

Thanks to Dole for the recipe, which used Dole fresh spinach, bananas, and pineapple
 
 
RECIPE: GREEN SLIMESICLES ICE POPS

If you don’t have ice pop molds, pour into paper cups. Insert wooden sticks after an hour or so of freezing.
 
Ingredients For 6 Pops

  • 2 cups packed spinach (approximately ½ package of Dole spinach)
  • 1½ ripe bananas
  • 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Optional: fresh mint leaves, to taste
  •  
    Preparation

    1. PURÉE the ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth.

    2. POUR into 6 one-third-cup ice pop molds. Freeze for 4 to 6 hours or until firm.
     
     
    FOOD TRIVIA: Why do we call these ice pops and not popsicles? Because Popsicle®, plus Creamsicle®, Fudgsicle®, and Yosicle®, are registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies and can only be used to identify the frozen confection products of Unilever.
     
     
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    [1] Green Slimesicles: healthy ice pops (photo and recipe © Dole).

    Bunch Of Fresh Spearmint
    [2] If you’re a mint fan, a few fresh mint leaves will add flavor pizzazz and a bit more green color (photo © Good Eggs).

     

     
     

      

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    Mulled Wine Sorbet Recipe For National Mulled Wine Day


    [1] Mulled wine sorbet (photo © Hannah Kaminsky | Bittersweet Blog).


    [2] Mulling wine: warming wine with spices and fruits (photo © Good Eggs).


    [3] Mulling spices. Follow this recipe to make your own blend, for yourself and for gifting (photo © Take Two Tapas).


    [4] Mulled wine is typically served in a mug (photo © Spice Islands).


    [5] Instead of a mug, a stemmed glass adds some pizzazz (photo © Edward Howell | Unsplash).

     

    March 3rd is National Mulled Wine Day. There are related holidays: National Hot Toddy Day is January 11th, National Hot Buttered Rum Day is January 17th, and National Hot Mulled Cider Day is September 30th. There is no National Glogg Day, but glogg is the Swedish word for mulled wine.

    These drinks are almost identical. A hot toddy can be made from any whiskey; the other drinks are the same concept made with cider, rum, and wine. If you like one, you’ll like them all (although perhaps some might hold the pat of butter in the hot buttered rum).

    We have mulled wine recipes below.

    But for a twist, how about some mulled wine sorbet? The recipe is below. But first…

    > The difference between glögg, hot buttered run, mulled wine, toddy, and more.

    > The history of mulled wine.
     
     
    WHAT DOES “MULLED” MEAN?

    According to Harvard University, the origin of the word “mull” to mean heated and spiced is shrouded in mystery.

    Mulling spices can include allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, peppercorns, and/or star anise. A “mulled” drink is one that has been prepared with these spices.

    The same spices used for mulled cider and wine can be added to the brewing process to make spiced beer.

    The custom of flavoring wine and beer with spices is believed to have originated in northern Europe to extend the use of wine that had gone bad. The spices covered up the off-taste and aromas.

    The expression “cup of good cheer” comes to us from Merrie Olde England, referring to hot mulled cider and wine.

    The technique is to heat the liquids with the spices and then strain them out before serving.

    Fruits were often added to the brew or as a garnish, including apples, oranges, and dried fruits, including raisins. In some countries, almonds and raisins are placed in the bottom of the mug or glass before the hot wine is added.

    > Mulled wine history.
     
     
    RECIPE: MULLED WINE SORBET

    If you don’t own an ice cream maker, you can prepare this recipe as a granita. See the variation after Step 6.
     
    Ingredients

  • 1 bottle of full-bodied red wine
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 1 orange
  • 2 lemons
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoons whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon anise seed
  • 1 vanilla bean
  • 3 cups water
  • Garnish: fresh berries or decorative spices (cinnamon stick, star anise)
  •  
    Preparation

    1. COMBINE the red wine, cinnamon sticks, anise seed, cloves, nutmeg, water, and sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat.

    2. SLICE the lemons and orange in half. Juice the fruit over the wine mixture and add the rinds to the saucepan.

    3. SLICE the vanilla bean lengthwise. Remove the seeds from the bean and add both the seeds and bean to the wine mixture. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for about 10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat and let cool.

    4. POUR the mixture into a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth and hung over a large bowl. Discard the solids and cheesecloth and let the liquid cool to room temperature. Refrigerate it for a minimum of 12 hours.

    5. PROCESS the mixture in your ice cream maker, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

    6. SERVE immediately; or freeze as desired. If you want to serve the sorbet that day but want a thicker consistency, place the sorbet in the freezer until the desired consistency is reached.
     
     
    Variation: Granita

    After Step 4, place the mixture in a large glass baking dish (not metal). Place it on a level surface in the freezer.

    Using a fork, stir the mixture often during the freezing process to ensure that large ice crystals do not form. The more frozen the sorbet becomes, the less stirring it will require.
     
     
    MULLED WINE RECIPES

  • Classic Mulled Wine Recipe
  • Cranberry Mulled Wine
  • Mulled Apple Cider
  • Mulled Wine With Orange & Anise
  • Mulled Wine With Vodka
  • Slow Cooker Cranberry Mulled Wine
  •  

     
     

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    St. Patrick’s Day Recipe: Green Pesto Cream Cheese Spread For Bagels & More

    We have plenty of St. Patrick’s Day recipes, but here’s a new one to start your day: Green Pesto Cream Cheese & Bagels. Yes, some places will be selling plain green bagels for St. Patrick’s Day. But if want your favorite bagel topping—poppyseed, sesame, everything, whatever—it couldn’t be simpler to make a St. Pat’s bagel at home.

    Just combine a jar of pesto with cream cheese (photo #1)!

    You can also use the recipe as a spread with crackers, or make it less thick for a dip, by adding plain Greek yogurt.

    If you want an easier way to create a St. Patrick’s Day bagel, just snip chives or green scallion tops on plain cream cheese or olive cream cheese (photo #1, photo #3).

    Feel free to use low-fat cream cheese. The recipes also work with Greek yogurt.

    And of course, make pesto cream cheese anytime you need something green.

    > The history of bagels.

    > The history of cream cheese.

    > St. Patrick’s Day recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, snacks, and dessert.
     
     
    RECIPE #1: GREEN PESTO CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

    This recipe, from Colavita, also includes recipes for other occasions: a sundried tomato bagel spread and an artichoke spread.

    Ingredients

  • 1 jar Colavita Pesto (photo #2) or substitute
  • 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened
  • Optional: chopped chives
  •  
    Preparation

    1. COMBINE the pesto sauce and cream cheese in a food processor or blender until smooth. Use immediately, serving with the chopped chives. Or refrigerate for later.

    2. IF REFRIGERATED, allow softening on the counter for 5+ minutes before serving. Scatter with chives and serve.
     
     
    RECIPE #2: SUNDRIED TOMATO CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

    See top left corner of photo #1.

    Ingredients

  • 1 jar Colavita Sun-dried Tomatoes or substitute
  • 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened
  •  
    Preparation

    1. COMBINE the sundried tomatoes and cream cheese in a food processor or blender until smooth. Use immediately or refrigerate.

    2. IF REFRIGERATED, allow softening on the counter for 5+ minutes before serving.
     
     
    RECIPE #3: ARTICHOKE CREAM CHEESE SPREAD

    Ingredients

  • 1 jar Colavita Country-Style Artichokes (marinated artichoke hearts) or substitute
  • 8-ounce package of cream cheese, softened
  •  
    Preparation

    1. COMBINE the artichokes and cream cheese in a food processor or blender until smooth. Use immediately or refrigerate.

    2. IF REFRIGERATED, allow softening on the counter for 5+ minutes before serving.

     


    [1] Make pesto cream cheese for St. Patrick’s Day bagels (photo © Colavita Recipes).


    [2] It couldn’t be easier: Just mix a jar of pesto with cream cheese (photo © The Merchant’s Feast | Shopify [now closed]).


    [3] The easiest bagel for St. Pat’s: Top plain cream cheese with finely-cut chives or scallion tops (photo © Karolina Grabowska | Pexels).

     

     
     

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