[1] It’s easy to whip up a quart of pickled grapes for yourself or as a food gift (photo and recipe © Gelson’s Markets).

[2] Green salad with pickled grapes. Here’s the recipe (photo © Taste | Australia).

[3] Pickled grapes garnish a pork chop. Here’s the recipe (photo © Richard Hartog | Los Angeles Times).

[4] Farro salad with pickled grapes, roasted radishes and green beans. Here’s the recipe (photo © Colavita).

[5] Red grapes make a brighter ingredient, but you can pickle all three colors (photo © Good Eggs).

There are so many juicy grapes in the stores now. In addition to table grapes—in case you’re not familiar with the term, it means, simply, fresh grapes served at the table for eating—how about some pickled grapes?

Pickled fruits and vegetables (way beyond cucumbers) are a delicious way to add attractive garnishes to just about any dish.

If you haven’t pickled anything at home, here’s the easy recipe to pickle your favorite fruits and vegetables.

Your pickles will be ready in just an hour, although the longer they sit in their brine, the more flavors they develop.

In the recipe below, all that’s required is a quick whisk-and-heat of the pickling liquid, then pour the liquids over the grapes in a quart jar.
 
 
USES FOR PICKLED GRAPES

After an overnight stay in the fridge, the spicy pickled grapes are ready to:

 
Pickled fruits and vegetables also shine as craft cocktail garnishes.

If you usually choose a pickled onion or olive for your Martini, try pickled grapes.

Although any grapes can be pickled, red grapes add the most color to your dish.

Or, if it works for your purpose, pickle a selection of black, green and red grapes.

Ideally, use seedless grapes.
 
 
RECIPE: PICKLED GRAPES

The grapes’ natural sweetness is complemented by a well-curated herb and spice mix that includes bay leaf, coriander, fennel, peppercorns, mustard seeds, and red pepper flakes.
 
Ingredients

 
Plus:

 
Preparation

1. COMBINE in a medium saucepan the vinegars, sugar, salt, and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, whisking until the sugar and salt dissolve. Set aside to cool completely.

2. COMBINE the remainder of the ingredients in a clean, 1-quart canning jar. Pour the cooled pickling liquid over the grapes and tightly seal the lid.

3. REFRIGERATE for at least 8 hours, or overnight, to pickle. The pickles will keep in the fridge for at least two weeks.
 
 
> THE HISTORY OF GRAPES

> PICKLED FRUITS & VEGETABLES AROUND THE WORLD
  
 
MORE GRAPE RECIPES

Honey Stinger waffle snacks were developed for athletes who need “the right fuel to meet every challenge.” We wouldn’t think that our couch-potato self would need a sports nutrition product, but Honey Stinger has become a “regular” in our life: in the morning with coffee, as an afternoon snack, and even with an ice cream dessert.

The waffles are sweetened with organic honey, and also organic brown rice syrup and organic sugar (see more ingredients in the footnotes below).

They’re energy waffles! And “waffle” refers to the pattern on the cookie (see the photos), chosen because of the honey ingredient. Honey Stingers are actually a flat, filled cookie.
 
 
PICK YOUR WAFFLE

The waffles are made in conventional varieties that are wheat-based*, as well as gluten-free† varieties.

The ingredients are based on research in endurance athletes that has proved that a mixture of carbohydrates prevents fatigue and enhances performance, more than a single carbohydrate form.

The line is certified USDA Organic and certified kosher by KOF-K. Each waffle is individually wrapped for grab-and-go.
 
Conventional Varieties

 
Gluten-Free Varieties

 
We’ve had most of the flavors, and enjoyed all we’ve tried.

The gluten-free varieties are just as tasty as the conventional varieties.
 
 
GET YOUR HONEY STINGER WAFFLES

Head to HoneyStinger.com and take your pick.

Honey Stinger waffles are also a nice gift for any friend who’s an athlete or otherwise can use a boost of energy (like us!).
 
 
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*Conventional variety ingredients: organic wheat flour, organic palm fruit oil, organic brown rice syrup, organic cane sugar, organic honey, organic eggs, organic soy flour, sea salt, soy lecithin, organic rice extract, baking soda.

†Gluten-free variety ingredients: gluten-free flour blend (organic rice flour, organic potato starch, organic tapioca flour), organic palm fruit oil, organic brown rice syrup, organic cane sugar, organic eggs, organic soy flour, organic honey, sea salt, natural flavor, xanthan gum, baking soda, soy lecithin.

[1] We start our day with coffee and an energy-loaded Honey Stinger waffle (all photos © Honey Stinger).

[2] There are eight varieties of Honey Stinger waffles, including three gluten-free varieties.

[3] Our current favorite flavor: Cookies & Cream.

[1] Homemade dulce de leche has only one ingredient: sweetened condensed milk. Here’s the recipe (photo © Karolina Kolodziejczak | Unsplash).

[2] Dulce de leche is used as a spread and topping, as well as an ingredient in desserts (photo © Bruna Branco | Unsplash).

[3] An easy way to serve dulce de leche: on ice cream (photo © Valrhona).

October 11th is World Dulce de Leche Day, celebrating the caramel spread and sauce made by boiling heavy cream or milk with sugar, or sweetened condensed milk, sometimes with a dash of cinnamon. Cajeta is the Mexican word for dulce de leche that’s made with goat’s milk.

Start with these two background articles:

 
Then, take a gander* at these recipes:
 
DULCE DE LECHE RECIPES

 
If you make ice cream, mix dulce de leche into chocolate, coffee or vanilla flavors.

You don’t need to bake or cook to enjoy dulce de leche.

 
When you need a sweet treat, grab a spoon and open a jar of dulce de leche!
 
 
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*Not exactly a Latin American term related to dulce de leche, but “take a gander” means to look at. It’s a slangy idiom dating from the early 1900s. It derives from the verb gander, which means “stretch one’s neck to see,” presumably alluding to the long neck of the male goose, or gander.