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


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TIP OF THE DAY: Hibiscus Iced Tea

Hibiscus is a flower (photo #2) that is brewed into an herbal tea, a caffeine-free tea also called a tisane.

Tisanes are infusions of flowers, herbs, roots, spices, or other plant material.

Long used in homeopathic medicine, they are now enjoyed by people seeking a caffeine-free beverage.
 
 
THE TASTE OF HIBISCUS

We first tasted hibiscus as a hot tea when we were coming down with a cold.

We had picked up a tea bag sample at a trade show, and knew hibiscus was rich in vitamin C and antioxidants—many more than green tea (here are more benefits of hibiscus).

So we decided to try some homeopathic tea and brewed a cup, deep red in color (photo #1).

It was fragrant, but with one sip we puckered up.

Hibiscus is tart, not unlike like unsweetened cranberry juice.

We decided we wanted a more comforting cup of tea, and stuck the cup of tea in the fridge while we brewed some Dragon Well.

The next day, we opened the fridge, saw the cup and took a sip. We found the iced hibiscus to be delightfully refreshing.

A teaching moment: If you don’t like the way something tastes, figure out how to make it taste better.

  • You can also add gin, tequila or vodka to the hibiscus iced tea.
  • Don’t like the taste of the champagne and white wine? Add some liqueur.
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    Want to try it before you buy it? Hibiscus iced tea is available at Starbucks.

     

    Hibiscus Iced Tea
    [1] Hibiscus iced tea (photo © Bittersweet Blog).

    Hibiscus Flower
    [2] The hibiscus flower (photo © Siam Garden | Amazon).

     
    TYPES OF TISANES OR HERBAL TEAS

    Tisane ingredients come from different parts of the plant, and have been used for millennia as homeopathic remedies.

    Some examples:

  • Bark: black cherry, cat’s claw, cinnamon, white oak
  • Fruit: apple, berry, citrus peel, peach
  • Leaf: lemon balm, lemongrass, mint, verbena
  • Flower: chamomile, hibiscus, lavender, rose
  • Root: chicory, dandelion, ginger, licorice
  • Seed: anise, caraway, cardamom, fennel
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    RECIPE: S’mores Brownies

    S'mores Brownies
    [1] A gooey s’mores brownie. The recipe is below (photo © Burp!).

    Classic S'mores
    [2] Classic s’mores are a sandwich cookie (photo © Dandies Marshmallows).

    Ice Cream S'mores
    [3] S’mores ice cream sandwiches (photo © Babble).

    S'mores Ice Cream Cake
    [4] S’mores ice cream cake (photo © Kraft).

     

    National S’mores Day is August 10th. Get ready to celebrate by considering this recipe for S’mores Brownies, and the other creative s’mores recipes below.

    The original s’mores were invented as campfire food (here’s the history of s’mores).

    But at home, with a stove and oven, there are many variations using the same three ingredients: chocolate, graham crackers and marshmallows.

    The brownie recipe (photo #1) is from Paul and Lori Fredrich of Burp!, sent to us by Go Bold With Butter.

    A fudgy layer of chocolate is surrounded by crisp graham crackers and topped with browned marshmallows.

    The History of Chocolate
    The History Of Graham Crackers
    The History Of Marshmallows
     
     
    RECIPE: S’MORES BROWNIES

    Ingredients

  • 9 graham crackers
  • 1-1/2 cups (3 sticks) butter
  • 1-1/4 cups unsweetened natural cocoa powder, sifted
  • 2-1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 5 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1-=2/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 6 graham crackers, broken in half
  • 8 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 3 cups mini marshmallows
  •  
    Preparation

    1. PREHEAT the oven to 325°F. Line 9×13-inch baking pan with non-stick foil or parchment, leaving a 2-inch overlap on the short sides.

    2. LINE the bottom of the pan with graham crackers, breaking them up as needed to fill the bottom of the pan.

    3. PREPARE the brownies: Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Remove from the heat and whisk in the cocoa powder until smooth. Add the sugar and salt, continuing to whisk until the ingredients are blended.

    4. ADD the eggs one at a time, whisking just until blended. Add the vanilla and stir to combine. With a rubber spatula, gently fold the flour into batter just until incorporated. The batter will be quite thick.

    5. SPOON the batter over the graham crackers and spread gently, taking care not to displace the graham crackers. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with small bits of brownie sticking to it. Remove the brownies from oven.

    6. PREHEAT the broiler. Sprinkle the pan of brownies with the chocolate pieces. Arrange the graham crackers on top of the chocolate. Top with the marshmallows.

    7. MELT the marshmallows, placing the pan 3-4 inches under broiler for 2-3 minutes. Allow them to brown, but not burn. Cool thoroughly before slicing into bars.

    TIP: The easiest way to cut the brownies cleanly is when they’re fully cooled, using a hot knife for each cut.

    But if you can’t wait to sample their ooey-gooey goodness, we won’t judge.

  • To do this, fill a tall container—a pitcher or vase works well—with hot tap water deep enough to cover the entire blade of your knife.
  • Dip the knife into the hot water, and wipe it dry on a clean towel before making a cut.
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    MORE S’MORES RECIPES

  • Caramel S’mores
  • Cinnamon S’mores With A Cappuccino Cocktail
  • Creative S’mores Recipes
  • Fancy S’mores
  • Gourmet Marshmallow S’mores
  • Grilled Banana S’mores
  • Ice Cream S’mores
  • S’mores Baked Alaska
  • S’mores Cookie Bars
  • S’mores Fondue
  • S’mores Ice Cream Cake
  • S’mores Ice Cream Pie & Cupcakes
  • S’mores Made With Other Types Of Cookies
  • S’mores Mason Jars
  • S’mores Party Bar
  • S’mores Truffles
  • Triscuit S’mores
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    RECIPE: Homemade Blueberry Juice & A Blueberry Daiquiri

    We were shopping a couple of days ago and ran into a blueberry bonanza: four pints for $5.

    We brought them home to figure out what to do with them. Blueberry pie? Blueberry cobbler? Blueberry muffins?

    It was too hot to turn on the oven, so we popped them into the blender and made fresh blueberry juice. Delicious!

    We had friends stopping by for drinks, so it was easy to turn the blueberry juice into cocktails.

    This recipe, from the Blueberry Council, has no added sugar. Summer blueberries are sweet enough.
     
     
    RECIPE: FROZEN BLUEBERRY DAIQUIRI

    Ingredients Per Drink

  • ½ cup frozen or fresh blueberries
  • 1½ ounces light rum
  • 1½ tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 cup crushed ice
  • Optional garnish: a skewer of blueberries or a lime wheel
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    Preparation

    1. PLACE the blueberries, rum and lime juice in a blender. Blend until smooth.

    2. ADD the ice and blend until slushy. Pour into a glass.

    3. GARNISH with blueberries skewered on picks circled with a strip of lime peel, if desired

     

    Blueberry Daiquiri
    [1] Turn fresh blueberry juice into a blueberry daiquiri (photo © Blueberry Council).

    Carton Of Blueberries
    [2] Turn a windfall of fresh blueberries into blueberry juice (photo © Good Eggs).

     

      

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