Here’s a recipe that adds to the festivities during the holiday months of November and December, and cheers up the gray months of January, February and March.

If you’ll be focusing on healthier eating in the new year, note the healthful ingredients in the recipe.

The recipe was contributed to the North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission by The Endless Meal.
 
 
RECIPE: STUFFED SWEET POTATOES

Ingredients For 4 Servings

 
Preparation

1. PREHEAT the oven to 400°F. Prick the sweet potatoes 5-6 times each with a fork then set them on a baking sheet. Place them into the oven and bake or 45-60 minutes, or until they are soft. Remove them from the oven and set them aside to cool slightly.

2. PREPARE the topping while the potatoes are baking. First toast the walnuts; then place the walnuts, mint, parsley and pomegranate in a medium-sized bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil and toss to combine.

3. WHISK the tahini with the lemon juice, garlic and salt to taste, in a small bowl. Add enough water so that it is the consistency of honey and set aside. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle…

4. CUT through the tops of the skins in a T shape. Gently mash the insides, then pile the walnuts and herbs on top and drizzle with some tahini sauce.
 
 
ABOUT SWEET POTATOES

Contrary to popular belief, sweet potatoes are not actually potatoes, but are only distantly related to them.

Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are a member of the Morning Glory Family (Convolvulaceae). When then plant is in flower, its blooms resemble morning glories (photo #3).

Sweet potatoes are starchy, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots—a.k.a., root vegetables.

They were grown by Native Americans and subsequently cultivated in the southern U.S. since Colonial times.
 
Sweet Potato Nutrition

Sweet potatoes have long been ranked high in nutritional value, and provide a good source of dietary fiber, which helps to provide feelings of fullness and satiety to control food intake.

[1] These festive stuffed sweet potatoes are made with all-healthful ingredients (photos #1 and #2 © North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission).

[2] There are numerous varieties of sweet potatoes grown worldwide. These are a popular cultivar in the U.S.

[3] A sweet potato plant in flower. If the flower looks familiar, it’s because sweet potatoes are part of the morning glory family (photo © Earth100 | Wikipedia).

And, a medium sweet potato has about 100 calories when baked in the skin, making sweet potatoes an ideal food for weight management.

Unlike white potatoes, which have a high glycemic index and can cause a spike and ultimate drop in blood sugar, sweet potatoes have a low glycemic index.

This is beneficial for diabetics and others wanting to avoid glucose highs and lows.

Wild sweet potatoes were first domesticated in either Central or South America. Domesticated sweet potatoes have been dated to at least 5,000 at locations between the Yucatán Peninsula and Venezuela.

Yams are not the same as sweet potatoes:

Check out the difference between sweet potatoes and yams.
 
 
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA SWEET POTATOES

North Carolina has been the number-one sweet potato-producing state in the U.S., since 1971.

The North Carolina Sweet Potato Commission is a nonprofit corporation made up of more than 400 sweet potato growers, along with the packers, processors and business associates that support them.

The sole purpose of the Commission is to increase sweet potato consumption. Their mission is to entice consumers’ taste buds and push for healthy eating lifestyles.

The recipe above is one of many developed by leading chefs and nutritionists. Check out the recipes.

We can’t wait to try the Sweet Potato & Spinach Lasagna.

[1] Freshly caught and skinned wild salmon (all photos © Sitka Salmon Shares).

[2] Line-caught salmon.

[3] After they’re caught, the fish are quickly processed.

[4] They’re blast-frozen, and shipped by FedEx to your doorstep.

[5] The fish arrive ready to season and cook.

Several months ago we wrote about a wonderful service for fish lovers: Sitka Salmon Shares, a wild-caught Alaskan seafood delivery service.

Sitka is a port city in southeastern Alaska, near Juneau, the state capital, which is inland.

Sitka sits on the west side of Baranof Island, on the Gulf of Alaska.

And it’s there that a collective of local fishermen pull the catch into their boats and quickly bring it to port.

There, it’s filleted, blast frozen to -50°F and individually vacuum-sealed, locking in the fresh-caught flavor.

We’re a very happy subscriber. The fish is as good as it gets.

Sometimes we’ll eat the fish night after night, until it’s gone, because we can’t stop eating it.

The vacuum-packed seafood can sit in the fridge for more than a week (we’ve had excellent results with salmon two weeks in the fridge).

When we won’t be dining in for a week or so, some of the fish stays goes into the freezer for later in the month. It maintains its fresh taste without degrading.

 
 
HOW DO THE FISH TASTE?

The company’s motto is “from boat to doorstep.” The fish tastes like it was just pulled out of the water.

When we test fish or meat, we cook it simply, with no seasonings. The true test of flavor is how good they taste when they’re “naked.”

The Sitka Salmon Shares salmon and cod we tasted were so good, just steamed, that we had no need to add salt, pepper or lemon juice to the cooked fish. (We cooked it “medium rare.”)

We felt so good eating great fish for dinner, that we ordered a premium share in addition to our regular share.
 
 
COMMUNITY SUPPORTED FISHERY SEAFOOD DELIVERY

Sitka Salmon Shares is Community Supported Fishery (CSF), the fish version of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), where farmers deliver boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables during the season.

Consumers purchase “shares” of the seafood harvest before the fishing season begins.

The number of shares purchased dictates how much fish the fishermen catch, which is why you need to sign up before fishing season begins.

Your share of the wild Alaskan catch is delivered to you monthly during the fishing season, which runs from April thru December.

The species and weight of your fish will vary, based on the plan you select.
 
Subscriptions are open now, and the company will send a gift card.
 
 
WHEN YOU SIGN UP

You choose the species and quantity of fish for your monthly delivery, ranging from 3 to 9-month intervals (you can cancel at any time).

The 2020 catch is based on what’s best in the sea. The 2019 catch included:

The CSF (Community Supported Fishery) supports small-boat family fishermen.

 
 
YOUR NEXT STEP

Head to SitkaSalmonShares.com and pick a plan.

Then, relish each box of fish you receive.

If you’re not a skilled cook, remember: No fish-cooking skills are required. A simple steaming is marvelous (and very low in calories).

Your fish-loving friends and family will be thrilled with a gift of Sitka Salmon Shares.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Give a gift of fish and you provide a number of memorable meals.

NOTE:

Memberships are open now, and available year-round except for one transition week.

There is a one-week period in late September/early October when you cannot purchase a membership.

That being said, if you hit the website during that week, just come back the following week!

Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur had us at “hello.”

Over the years, the liqueur’s portfolio has expanded far beyond Original Irish Cream liqueur, to Chocolate Cherry, Espresso Crème, Salted Caramel, Vanilla Cinnamon and limited-edition flavors for the holidays (Pumpkin Spice, Baileys Strawberries & Cream).

Each flavor is an indulgent drinking experience…a substitute for ice cream…a treat whenever you need one…a way to wow guests.

And now, for Holiday 2019, there’s a new way to wow: Baileys Red Velvet Irish Cream (photo #1).

The flavor was created in collaboration with Georgetown Cupcake, a cupcake bakery that originated in D.C. Their best cupcake seller is (drum roll…) the Red Velvet cupcake.

But the liqueur it is oh, so much better than any red velvet cupcake or layer cake.

Baileys Red Velvet liqueur has rich cocoa flavor that classic red velvet cake should have, but most rarely do (that’s our humble opinion).

It smells like cocoa, tastes like cocoa made with heavy cream, and for eye appeal, it’s a dusty rose color.

TIP: Before it sells out, buy more for Valentine gifts and Mother’s Day. Freshness is guaranteed for two years.

The 750mL bottle lists for $23.99. For more information visit Baileys.com.
 
 
USES FOR BAILEYS RED VELVET IRISH CREAM LIQUEUR

Sip it straight! This stuff is just too good to mix into cocktails, to bake into brownies or red velvet cake, or to swirl into cheesecake.

But you can:

 
 
THE HISTORY OF BAILEYS IRISH CREAM

Baileys Irish Cream was created almost 50 years ago by Gilbeys of Ireland, part of International Distillers & Vintners (which is now part of Diageo), as it searched for something new to introduce to the international market.

Research began in 1971, and the liqueur was formulated by an internal team plus consultants.

The formulation of Baileys was created with a surfeit of alcohol from a distillery and a desire to use surplus cream from an Irish dairy business, both owned by by the parent company, Grand Metropolitan (Irish cows are known for quality of their milk).

The first trial formulation included alcohol, cream and Nesquik, the classic chocolate milk powdered drink made by Nestlé.

Finally, the approved formulation: a delectable concoction of the cream from the cows, Irish whiskey, cocoa extract, both beet and cane sugar, and some proprietary ingredients we can’t suss out (Vanilla extract? Sweetened condensed milk? A hint of coffee? None of these?).

When it was time for branding, the name was inspired by the Bailey’s Hotel in London, although the liqueur’s registered trademark omits the apostrophe. R.A. Bailey, whose signature adorns the label of the Original bottle, is a fictional character.

The liqueur was launched in Ireland in 1974, the first Irish cream liqueur on the market [source].
 
 
ABOUT BAILEYS

The Bailey’s brand is now owned by Diageo, the alcoholic beverages giant.

It’s available in 180 markets worldwide. It’s the number one selling liqueur in the world, and is currently ranked 7th among all distilled spirits sold worldwide!

[1] Sip the pink elixir from a liqueur glass, or turn it into an ice cream float (photos #1, #3 ad #4 © Diageo).

[2] Have some as a chaser after a piece of red velvet cake. Here’s the recipe from McCormick.

[3] Red Velvet: Baileys float, cookies, cupcakes, layer cake.

[4] Before it sells out, buy it now for Christmas and Valentine gifts.

[1] These jellies taste like real cocktails (all photos © Eat Your Drink).

[2] A lineup of food fun.

[3] So much better than a mint on your pillow.

[4] Naughty Or Nice, the limited-edition holiday collection.

We have a new candy love: alcoholic cocktail gummies from Smith & Sinclair

The London-based confectioner creates alcoholic drinks you can eat. Really.

These delicious gummy mounds—actually pâte de fruits (think Chuckles, one of our childhood favorites)—hold a subtle kick at 5% ABV (the equivalent of ½ shot of alcohol). Yes, you really taste the rum or tequila.

Can you get smashed by eating them? Not in our experience—and we ate four pieces at once!

Individually wrapped, the bites of heaven are gluten-free and vegan.

Each two-bite gummy has a spirit base (gin, prosecco, rum, vodka or whiskey) that is blended with fresh fruit, herbs, syrups. You can taste the high quality of the ingredients.

They’re coated with garnish infused sugars (photo #1) that add to the cocktail flavor.

The company suggests that you allow the gummy to rest on the palate, but we found it difficult to wait.

The different assortments each feature 4 flavors of “expertly mixed cocktail gummies”—two pieces of each flavor.

The After Dinner Box we received as a gift contained:

 
The Celebration Box includes:

 
The Gin Obsessed Box features:

 
There’s a limited edition Naughty Or Nice Box for 2019, with:

The magnificent-sounding French term, pâte de fruits (pot-duh-froo-EE), describes what Eat Your Drink calls gummies.

Pâte de fruits translates as the rather frowsy-sounding fruit pastes. Jellies is better. Pâtes de fruits are gourmet fruit jellies.

They are gourmet fruits jellies, made of fruit purée, sugar and pectin. A great pâte de fruit is like eating a wonderful piece of fruit in a different form (similar to a great fruit sorbet).

If you’re old enough to remember Chuckles candy (hard to find these days), they are “jelly candies coated with a light layer of sugar.”

Bingo! That’s much like Eat Your Drink, although the latter ups the ante with top quality ingredients and—oh yes—alcohol.

Calling the candies “fruit jellies” has its own challenges, as in confusing “jelly” or “fruit jelly” with the bread spread.

What About “Gummies?”

Gummy candy may mean something different in the U.K., where Eat My Drink originated.

Both are made with gelatin, sugar and flavoring.

But in its homeland, Germany, and in the U.S., “gummy” or “gummi” refers a different texture—it’s solid, whereas jellies are covered with sugar, more flexible, and made in domes or squares.

Gummies also typically have a less-intense flavor than jellies. (Here’s the scoop on gummies).

Hey, we’re just a food educator, trying to provide the bigger picture.

If you’ve never had a deliciously ripe fig (photo #6), you’re missing out. A superfood rich in fiber, iron, manganese, potassium, and plant calcium*, figs can be enjoyed in many ways (and have medical uses as well).

Figs have been a mainstay in the Mediterranean since ancient times. They were a significant part of the basic diet of the ancient Greeks.

Greece remains one of the largest producers of figs worldwide.

Our Top Pick Of The Week showcases Greek figs as a spread; specifically, the Divina fig spreads (photo #1).

And what fig spreads they are! We have long purchased fig spreads, but none as good as these.

The Divina review follows. Also below:

> The history of figs.

> How to use fig spreads.

> The year’s 2 fig holidays

Elsewhere on The Nibble:

> Delicious fig recipes, part 1: breakfast, mains, sides, desserts, and cocktails.

> Delicious fig recipes, part 2.

> Types of figs, and ways to use figs at every meal.

> Ways to use dried figs.

> Ways to use fresh figs.
 
 
DIVINA FIG SPREAD

First: What is a spread?

Jam, jelly, marmalade, preserves, and the other types of spreadable condiments, both sweet and savory, can all be called “spreads.”

However, in the U.S. manufacturers have co-opted the term “fruit spread” to mean sugar-free/reduced calorie spreads.

Blame the FDA for the confusion: In 1940, the Food and Drug Administration created “Standards of Identity” describing what constitutes a jam, jelly, preserve, spread, etc.

Here are the different definitions of jam, jelly, preserves, etc.

Ignore the U.S. definition for “spread” as you contemplate Divina fig spreads.

Divina fig spreads are deeply fruity and complex with notes of caramel and honey. They taste like ripe figs were mashed inside the jar. They’re as close to eating a piece of fruit as we’ve ever experienced in a spread.

Even if there were only the “original” fig spread, these delectable condiments have so many uses beyond toast (see them below).

Beyond the original, Divina fig spreads are accented with other sweet and savory flavors. Choose among:

 
Depending on your palate, each of them is a heavenly experience.

All the spreads use non-GMO Greek Aegean figs and are all-natural and gluten-free.

A bit of an extra commercial for Divina: Everything we have tasted from this brand has been top drawer. You’ll never be disappointed with Divina.
 
 
HOW TO USE THE FIG SPREADS

Here’s a roundup of how we use fig spread:

 
We use them as gifts for our food-loving friends, a jar alone or with a Baby Brie or blue cheese.

Produced by FoodMatch, a company whose main business is as producer and importer of Mediterranean specialty foods for the wholesale market, the spreads are available at fine retailers plus:

[1] Divina Fig Spread is made in Original plus flavors: Black Olive, Chile, Cocoa, Kalamata Fig & Almonds, and Orange (photo © Murray’s Cheese).

[2] Fig Spread and Orange Fig Spread crostini with goat cheese (photo © FoodMatch).

[3] Divina ready to spoon from a bowl (photo © Murray’s Cheese).

[4] Pizza With Fig Preserves & Chicken Sausage. Here’s the recipe (photo © Bev Cooks).

[5] Baked Brie and Fig Jam in Puff Pastry, garnished with pomegranate arils and candied walnuts. Here’s the recipe (photo © Aberdeen’s Kitchen).

[6] Fresh figs: from top, Brown Turkey, Calimyrna, Mission and Kadota (photo © California Figs).

The common fig (Ficus carica) is one of the first plants cultivated by mankind, in the Fertile Crescent.

Fossils dating to about 9400 B.C.E. have been found in an early Neolithic village near Jericho, in the West Bank.

Based on this find, fig cultivation precedes the domestication of barley, legumes and wheat, and may thus be the first known instance of agriculture!

In the millennia before Europe and the Middle East had access to cane sugar or beet sugar, figs were used, in addition to honey, as sweet snacks and in cakes, puddings and other desserts.

Figs were brought from Asia Minor to Greece and Rome, then throughout the Mediterranean, and east to India.

Figs, which can produce two crops a year, became common food. In 160 B.C.E., Cato the Elder wrote of several different varieties that were grown in his area.

A fun fact for foie gras lovers: The Romans used figs to fatten geese for an early version of foie gras.

From the 15th century onwards, figs were growing in Northern Europe.

The word fig, first found recorded in English in the 13th century, derives from the Old French figue, from the Occitan (Provençal) figa, from the Classical Latin ficus (fig or fig-tree).
 
 
Figs In The New World

Figs first came to America in 1520 with Franciscan missionaries, who brought a variety of fig from southern Spain to southern California.

Since they were grown on the property of missions, the variety became known as the Mission fig.

In the 1850s, settlers brought other varieties from the East Coast and Europe to California, which became America’s primary fig-growing region [source].

There are thousands of fig varieties in the world but today, California specializes in six fresh and two dried types: Golden and Mission dried figs, and Brown Turkey, Kadota, Mission, Sierra and Tiger fresh figs (photo #6).

Learn more about them and find many recipes from the California Fig Commission.
 
 
THE YEAR’S 2 FIG HOLIDAYS

 
While there are not yet designated holidays for jam, preserves, or spreads, there are:

 
Perhaps you’d like to create National Fig Spread Day?
 
________________

*There are numerous plant-based sources of calcium, including almonds, baked beans, black beans, blackstrap molasses, broccoli, collards, kale, oranges, seeds, spinach, tahini, tempeh and tofu [source].
 
 

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