The Culinary Connoisseur
Great Grapes
03
Dec
Dec
The ways to consume grapes are endless! We eat them out
of hand; we turn them into jelly, grape juice and wine and add them to salads
and other dishes. And don’t the raisins! This popular fruit’s history goes back
to when grape vines were first cultivated in what is now the Middle East. They
stayed in that part of the world until Spanish explorers brought them here over
300 years ago.
of hand; we turn them into jelly, grape juice and wine and add them to salads
and other dishes. And don’t the raisins! This popular fruit’s history goes back
to when grape vines were first cultivated in what is now the Middle East. They
stayed in that part of the world until Spanish explorers brought them here over
300 years ago.
Grapes are part of the berry family. They have a tough
skin and fleshy interior much like a blueberry.
skin and fleshy interior much like a blueberry.
There are more than 8,000 varieties of grapes growing
today. Grapes come in many colors, including green,
red, black, yellow, pink, and purple and those referred to as “white”
grapes are actually green.
today. Grapes come in many colors, including green,
red, black, yellow, pink, and purple and those referred to as “white”
grapes are actually green.
Seventy-two million tons of grapes are grown each year worldwide,with most of them being used to produce wine – 7.2 trillion gallons of wine per
year, to be exact.
The health benefits of grapes are numerous, with past
studies associating them with prevention of cancer, heart disease, high blood
pressure and constipation.
studies associating them with prevention of cancer, heart disease, high blood
pressure and constipation.
Grapes contain powerful antioxidants known as
polyphenols, which may slow or prevent many types of cancer and resveratrol for
heart health. Eating grapes may also help to alleviate symptoms of allergies
including runny nose, watery eyes and hives.
polyphenols, which may slow or prevent many types of cancer and resveratrol for
heart health. Eating grapes may also help to alleviate symptoms of allergies
including runny nose, watery eyes and hives.
In all, lots of reasons to try some of our tasty recipes
today!
today!
Serve as an appetizer or even dinner with a hardy bowl
of soup.
of soup.
For the dressing
2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
2 teaspoon olive oil
¾ tsp Dijon mustard
¼ tsp salt
½ tsp ground pepper
For the salad
1 pound chicken breast, butterflied or pounded thin
¼ cup pecans
4 cups baby spinach or mixed greens
1 cup seedless green grapes, halved
1 cup seedless red or black grapes, halved
1 large yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 cup sugar snap peas, strings removed
¼ cup sliced scallions
To prepare dressing, combine first five ingredients in a
jar or blender; blend or whisk until smooth.
jar or blender; blend or whisk until smooth.
Preheat grill or grill pan to medium high. Brush with oil. Grill
chicken 2–3 minutes per side or until nice grill marks appear. Remove from
grill and set aside.
chicken 2–3 minutes per side or until nice grill marks appear. Remove from
grill and set aside.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread pecans on a rimmed baking
sheet. Bake pecans for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes, until just
toasted.
sheet. Bake pecans for 5 to 8 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes, until just
toasted.
Slice snap peas in half or thirds. Slice grilled chicken
into strips.
into strips.
Place chicken, salad greens, grapes, snap peas, yellow
pepper, scallions in a large bowl. Drizzle with dressing; toss gently to coat. Serves
4
pepper, scallions in a large bowl. Drizzle with dressing; toss gently to coat. Serves
4
A different take!
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 cups purple grapes
2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
Streusel Topping
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup margarine, cold, cut into pieces
Cake Batter
3/4 cup margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs
1 1/3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
Place cornstarch and 1/3 cup water in a measuring cup,
set aside. Place grapes, sugar and lemon juice into a pot and stir to combine.
Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, continuing to
stir. Add cornstarch to grape mixture and continue to cook until it no longer
looks cloudy, about five minutes.
set aside. Place grapes, sugar and lemon juice into a pot and stir to combine.
Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, continuing to
stir. Add cornstarch to grape mixture and continue to cook until it no longer
looks cloudy, about five minutes.
Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Do not
skip this step. When assembling the buckle, if the filling is hot it will
bubble and overflow creating a mess in your oven.
skip this step. When assembling the buckle, if the filling is hot it will
bubble and overflow creating a mess in your oven.
In medium bowl, add flour, sugar, cinnamon, and margarine.
Using a pastry blender, work margarine into dry ingredients, until mixture is
coarse and crumbly.
Using a pastry blender, work margarine into dry ingredients, until mixture is
coarse and crumbly.
In your mixer, cream margarine, sugar and vanilla
together until smooth. Add eggs. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet
ingredients and mix until combined.
together until smooth. Add eggs. Gradually add dry ingredients to wet
ingredients and mix until combined.
Pre-heat oven to 350ËšF.
Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan and pour in cake batter. Drop
spoonfuls of grape filling on top of the batter and gently swirl with a knife.
Top with the streusel mixture and bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a
toothpick comes out clean.
Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan and pour in cake batter. Drop
spoonfuls of grape filling on top of the batter and gently swirl with a knife.
Top with the streusel mixture and bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a
toothpick comes out clean.