[2] 100% of proceeds from bandana sales go to Topos México earthquake disaster relief (photo courtesy Mister Cartoon).

Get ready to add this bottle of tequila to your collection, and to stock up for holiday gifting for Halloween, El Día de los Muertos and Christmas.

Mexican-American artist Mister Cartoon, has created the art for this limited edition bottle of Tequila Cazadores blanco.

It celebrates El Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead), a traditional Mexican holiday. The skull illustration honors the memories of lost loved ones.

Since pre-Colombian times, Aztecs and the Mexicans who followed have celebrated El Día de los Muertos, a ritual in which the living remember their departed relatives.

The holiday starts the evening of October 31st through November 2nd (see more below).

To commemorate the release, the artist has also created a set of skull bandanas (photo #2), from which 100% of proceeds of sales will go towards disaster relief in Mexico.
 
 
THE HISTORY OF EL DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS

Celebrated for thousands of years, this Aztec holiday was originally a month-long festival called Mictecacihuatl, The Lady of The Dead.

When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the 16th century and imposed their Catholic religion, the celebration became joined with All Saints Day, November 1st, and and All Souls Day, November 2nd.

The celebration begins the evening before, October 31st—coincidentally, the Irish-American celebration of All Hallows Eve, Halloween. While people fear the Halloween spirits of the dead, El Día de los Muertos honors the deceased.

 
Graves of the deceased are visited decorated, and families expect a visit from the spirits of loved ones who have passed.

Celebrants create brightly-colored home altars honoring these family members. They are decorated with ofrendas (offerings), gifts for the dead: candles, sugar skulls (calaveritas), flowers, food and drink, photos, even items of the deceased’s clothing or a child’s toy.

The skull imagery dates to the Aztecs, who kept skulls as trophies and used them during rituals.
 
 

1. LOVE THE WILD FROZEN FISH ENTRÉES

Only one in five Americans meet the USDA recommendation for fish intake*, a vital high protein dietary component that’s high in protein and healthy fats.

Home cooks and restaurants have been finding more ways to nudge it into our diet, From fish tacos to smoked salmon pizza (white sauce, salmon caviar, yum!) to sushi rolls.

We try to eat fish several nights a week. But on frequent occasions, we lack the energy to stand in line at the fish counter, or sit down at the sushi bar.

And sometimes the kitchen is too much of a mess to bring out more pots and pans.

Were we happy to discover LoveTheWild, a line of sustainably-sourced fish entrées that take no more energy than pre-heating the oven.

It’s fool-proof, and there’s no messy pan: The parchment paper holds the fish and the sauce (from the seasoned butter) tight.

Delicious seafood from traceable sources that consumers could trust.The brand is sold at major retailers across the U.S., including Whole Foods Markets, Wegmans, Sprouts, and Mom’s. The line currently includes:

 
Each variety comes with three pats of seasoned butter (heart-shaped) and parchment paper (also heart-shaped). Put the fillet in the parchment, top with the butter, fold and place in the oven. The butter melts to create the sauce. In short order, you have a delicious entrée.

Here’s a store locator.

Also noteworthy: this infographic on aquaculture, fish farming and photos of the fish farms.

Discover more at LoveTheWild.com.
 
 
2. ORCA BAY SEAFOOD FROZEN FISH FILLETS & DISHES

Like many people we know, we try to cook fresh food daily. And we try to eat a mostly pescatarian diet.

But on those days of sheer exhaustion—no will to battle lines at the fish market—we turn to the freezer.

Orca Bay Seafoods sells a dozen different frozen fish fillets, mostly wild-caught (the swai† and tilapia are farmed).

The company was launched in 1985 by seafood executives. At the time, the frozen fish options were not as good as they knew there could be. They established the company to provide higher quality, all natural frozen seafood.

There are choices from mild to meaty:

[1] Love The Wild’se fish fillet and sauce are wrapped in parchment, leaving a clean cooking dish.

[2] Compact boxes fit easily into the freezer (photos #1 and #2 courtesy Love The Wild).

[3] Orca Bay cod fillets in a noodle bowl with veggies (photo courtesy Dana Sandonato | Killing Thyme).

 
The products are portioned and packed at facilities with rigorous quality control standards, “so rest assured.” the company says.

How can you resist a five-ounce serving of meaty cod, with just 90 calories, 1 g fat, 110mg sodium and more than 30% of your DV of protein (17g).

There are recipes on the website, and many bloggers have embraced the brand. Check out this Orca Bay Cod Reuben Sandwich.

There’s a store locator on the website, and e-tail options including Orca Direct.

Discover more at OrcaBaySeafoods.com.
 
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*The USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends two eight-ounce servings of seafood weekly,to get at least 1,750 milligrams of two omega-3s, EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

†Swai, along with related species basa and tra, belong to what’s called the Pangasius family of fish. They are native to the rivers of Southeast Asia, where they are heavily cultivated for food. Pangasius fish are similar in character to catfish: sweet, mild white flesh. The breed has been introduced into other river basins around the world as a food source. Since price is partly based on demand, these “new” fish is a bargain—often just $3.99 a pound. Orca Bay Seafood’s swai is farmed in the U.S.

Szechuan pierogies recipe.

Pierogies piccata.

Deep dish pierogi pot pie.

Pierogies primavera (recipe).

Look for the blue box (all pierogi photos courtesy Mrs. T’s).

MRS. T’s PIEROGIES

Pierogies‡, also called as varenyky, are semicircle filled dumplings that are a popular in Central and Eastern European cuisines. They are served as appetizer, main courses and, even as dessert.

Pierogies are variously filled with cabbage, cheese (farmer’s cheese or quark), fried onions, ground meat, mashed potatoes, mushrooms, sauerkraut and spinach.

Dessert varieties are filled with sweetened cheese, fresh fruit or jam.

The original condiments for pierogies were sour cream and butter. By the end of the 20th century, queso (cheese sauce), buffalo wing sauce and others had been added to the list.

Mrs. T’s has turned pierogies into scores of delicious recipes, from Greektown Pierogi Salad to Pierogi Scampi.

For National Pierogi Day, October 8th, there’s new set of recipes by Iron Chef America star, Jose Garces.

Chef Garces created four restaurant-inspired recipes featuring Mrs. T’s Pierogies that you can enjoy as a main course:

 
Mrs. T’s Pierogies are available stuffed with creamy whipped potatoes and other classic ingredients like aged cheddar cheese. The current line includes:

 
Pierogies can be baked, boiled, deep-fried, grilled, microwaved, sautéed, even prepared in a slow cooker.

Pieróg is a generic Polish term for filled dumplings.

One belief is that pierogis—filled pasta—came from China through Italy with Marco Polo’s return, at the end of the 13th century. He brought back the Chinese concept of the filled pasta (think Chinese filled wontons and dumplings) that inspired Italy’s agnolotti, ravioli, tortellini and other stuffed pasta varieties.

While boiled noodles (ribbon pasta) were known in the Middle East since the fifth century C.E., and made their way to Italy during the Arab invasions of the 8th century, stuffed pasta pillows were not known before Marco Polo.

Another version of the story contends that pierogi were brought to back to Poland from Russia by Saint Hyacinth of Poland, or by the Tartars—also in the the 13th century (here’s the history of pasta).

However and whenever, pierogi became a culinary staple Belarusse, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, the Ukraine, Romania and Russia. Whey were garnished with bits of bacon, fried onions and/or mushrooms.

Dessert varieties were topped with apple sauce, jam, or preserves.

It took a while for pierogies to cross the pond. The introduction of the pierogi to the U.S. occurred at the onset of the Great Depression in the late 1920s.

The first-known documented sale of pierogi occurred in May 1928 at the Marton House Tavern in Cleveland, when proprietor Andrew Marton served them to unemployed steel mill workers [source].

Mrs. T’s was founded in 1952. The company currently makes some 14 varieties of pierogies and produces more than 500 million pierogies annually.
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‡The word pierogi in Polish, Russian and other central European languages is plural. However, in English it is typically used as the singular form, with “pierogies” used as the plural.
  

A BRIEF AVOCADO HISTORY

Spanish explorers in Mexico encountered new foods, including avocados*. Martín Fernández de Enciso (ca, 1470-1528) was the first European to describe them, in a book written in 1519.

The Aztec name for the fruit is ahuacatl (ah-hwa-CAH-tay); the Spanish pronounced and spelled it it aguacate. The returning conquistadors brought avocado trees back to Europe [source].

In 1653, a Spanish padre, Bernabe Cobo, described the different varieties of avocado in Guatemala, Mexico and the West Indies.

Sir Hans Sloane, an Irish naturalist, is believed to have inadvertently coined the word “avocado” in 1696, when he mentioned the plant in a catalogue of Jamaican plants. He also called it the “alligator pear-tree” after the fruit’s pebbly skin.

George Washington was one of the people who described eating avocados in the West Indies. He visited the Barbados in 1751, and later wrote that the “agovago pears” were a popular food.

Avocados Come To The U.S.

Henry Perrine, a horticulturist, first planted avocados in Florida in 1833. However, they didn’t become a commercial crop until the early 20th century.

The fact that avocados on the tree looked like testicles (in fact, the Aztec word ahuacatl means “testicle”), and were purportedly an aid to sexual prowess, kept them off the tables of polite society.

In time, they gained acceptance. By the 1950s, avocados began to appear in salads; and avocados stuffed with chicken, crab or shrimp salad became a popular ladies’ luncheon choice.

Stuffed potatoes and squash also became known as “boats”; hence, the avocado boat.

Here’s more history of avocados.

We love avocado boats, and have compiled 25 different stuffings. Other recipes, including baked and grilled versions, cook eggs in the boats. But these options simply require a ripe avocado and the filling.

Whatever you choose, a garnish of fresh herbs—basil, cilantro, dill, parsley, thyme—adds an extra flavor dimension, Lovers of spice can add a sprinkle of red chile flakes or a spicy seasoning blend.
 
 
AVOCADO BOATS AS A FIRST COURSE

 
 
AVOCADO BOATS AS A LUNCH COURSE

 
 
AVOCADO BOAT SIDES

[2] Trendy poke is delicious in an avocado boat. Here’s the recipe from Anya’s Eats.

[3] A BLT avocado boat. You can make it a chicken or turkey BLT. Here’s the recipe from The Pioneer Woman.

[4] A Caprese avocado boat. Here’s the recipe from Souffle Bombay.

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*Avocado, beans, bell pepper, cacao, chile peppers, corn, potato, pumpkin and other squash and vanilla are some others.

[2] Pimento cheese with crudités (photo courtesy 33 Greenwich | NYC).

[3] Other subspecies are easily substituted for pimento. They’re sold as generic “roasted red peppers” (photo courtesy Kalyn’s Kitchen).

[4] These pizza rolls are delicious with wine, beer and cocktails (recipe below, photo courtesy Bev Cooks).

Pimento cheese, long known as a Southern specialty, has been called the caviar of the south.

Yet it was actually a Northern invention: a blend of sharp cheddar with cream cheese, chopped pimento and seasonings.

Here’s the history of pimento cheese, from Robert Moss, a Southern food historian.

No matter which side of the Mason-Dixon line gave birth to pimento cheese, we’re glad it’s here. It was our mom’s favorite way to serve cream cheese, and when we were young that was easy: Philadelphia Brand sold pimento cream cheese.

While Philly is out of the pimento cheese business, you can find other brands on the shelf; or make your own with the recipe below.
 
 
IS IT PIMIENTO OR PIMENTO?

Pimiento (pim-YEN-toe) is the Spanish word for a particular sweet chile pepper similar to a red bell pepper. It’s heart-shaped, about 3 to 4 inches long by 2 to 3 inches wide.

Pimiento is the pepper used to make paprika, and is stuffed into green olives. Its flesh is sweet, succulent and more aromatic than that of the red bell pepper.

Pimento is often bought in jars or cans. Other subspecies are jarred as well, and labeled either with the subspecies (“roasted red piquillo pepper”) or a generic “roasted red peppers.”

But look around and you may find freshly-harvested pimentos: They’re in season from late summer through early fall.

Now to answer the question: Is it pimento or pimiento?

Pimiento is the Spanish spelling, pimento is the Portuguese spelling. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the primary spelling is pimiento, with pimento as a variation.

For English speakers, it’s easier to pronounce by leaving out the “i”; but the choice is yours.
 
 
HOW TO SERVE PIMENTO CHEESE

The versatile spread can be served at breakfast, lunch, dinner, and for hors d’oeuvre and snacking.

From pimento mac and cheese to cheeseburgers to the pizza rolls recipe below, you can substitute pimento cheese anywhere a soft cheese is used.

Here are 20-plus ways to use it, plus a recipe for new-style pimento cheese, substituting mayonnaise for the original cream cheese..

We prefer the original cream cheese-based pimento cheese, used in the pepperjack pimento cheese recipe below.

Pepperjack? What happened to the cheddar?

Jack cheeses are often substituted for the cheddar, and some people use white cheddar. We’ve used Cabot’s Hot Habanero Cheddar or Horseradish Cheddar instead of sharp cheddar.

Just a thought: For for harvest season and Halloween, the more orange the color, the better.

Want even more variety? Here are different pimento cheese recipes from Southern Living.

 
RECIPE #1: PEPPERJACK PIMENTO CHEESE SPREAD

This recipe (photo #4) from Bev Cooks, does double duty as a spread with toasts or crackers. She also uses it in mini pizza rolls.

These are particularly nice to serve with beer, wine or cocktails.

Thanks to Organic Valley cream cheese for sending us the recipe.
 
Ingredients For 1-1/2 Cups

Preparation

1. PLACE the pepper jack, cheddar, cream cheese, pimentos, pickle slices, pickle juice, jalapeño juice and mayonnaise in a food processor.

2. COVER and pulse until mixture is a spreadable consistency, about 5-10 pulses. Serve with toasted baguette slices or crackers.

 
RECIPE #2: PIMENTO CHEESE PIZZA ROLLS

Create your own twist on pizza rolls: Use the spread recipe above as a filling for store-bought mini pizza dough or crescent roll dough.

Preparation

1. ROLL out the dough and top with cheese spread. Roll up. (Cut in half width-wise if using mini pizza dough.)

2. BAKE according to the dough package directions until the rolls are golden brown.
 
  

What’s your favorite fall pie? We put together this list of popular options.
 
1. PIE TYPE

What type of pie do you hanker for? For the autumn season, we particularly like:

 
You can take any pie you like and tailor it to your aesthetic preferences. Just follow this simple guide.

2. PIE FORMAT

Next, pick a shape:

 
3. PIE CRUST TYPE

There are choices beyond the classic flaky pâte brisée. A soft, tender crust, it is made of flour, water and fat, and designed for moist fillings.

(Pâte sablée, tart dough, makes a harder, cookie-like crust. The fat, typically butter, is creamed together with sugar; then the eggs and flour are added.)

But step away from the tried-and-true, and consider other choices:

 
Note that some fruits, e.g. blood orange, simply go better with a tart crust.
 
PIE CRUST RIMS

What type of edge (rim) do you like on your crust? Photo #1 will give you some ideas (there’s a larger version of it below).

 
TOP CRUST

You can add festivity to the top crust with :

[2] Petticoat tail nut shortbread tops a pumpkin pie (photo courtesy La Brea Bakery).

[3] Pie cutters are available in numerous designs, including holiday themes like pumpkins and snowflakes (photo courtesy Nordicware).

[4] Can’t decide? Go for some of everything, like Judy Kim of The Judy Lab.

 
 
CHECK OUT OUR PIE GLOSSARY FOR THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PIES

Top row: scattered leaf appliques, mini applique edge, lattice. Middle row: applique flowers, classic fluted
edge, applique leaves. Bottom row: stencil cut, braided edge with leaf applique, full leaf applique top.