PrintCook the Book: 'How to Pick a Peach'
This week's Cook the Book feature highlights How to Pick a Peach
As with all weekly Cook the Book features, we've got a number of copies to give away. Ten (10) winners will be chosen at random from among the commenters below. All you have to do is answer the following:
What's your favorite fruit or vegetable for 1.) cooking and 2.) eating raw?
The usual Serious Eats contest rules apply.
Comments are closed: 134 Comments:
Cooking--Tart cherries for sour cherry pie. Eating raw--bananas.
bobcatsteph3 at 1:59PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: Swiss Chard (sauteed w/ garlic and oil)
Raw: Fennel
rickyticky at 2:14PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: Potatoes
Raw: Carrots
J_in_Toledo at 2:19PM on 09/24/07
Cooking - zucchini
Eating raw - avocado
GoldenEel at 2:23PM on 09/24/07
cooking - broccoli
raw - mango
anon123 at 2:23PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: Roasted Cauliflower
Raw: Ripe cherry tomatoes
chasgoose at 2:27PM on 09/24/07
This is a tough one
Cooking: I love love love roasted brussel sprouts
Raw: I will have to go with the tomato (but fresh green beens are a close second, i love them)
Spandrels at 2:27PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: onions
Raw: lemons
bluebird at 2:29PM on 09/24/07
I'm going to go with
Cooking: roasted cauliflower
Raw: fresh apricots, though the mangosteens I had in Thailand were incredible!
pfibiger at 2:31PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: corn - when in season
Raw: tomatoes - in season
elaine at 2:33PM on 09/24/07
My favorite vegetable to cook is potatoes. Eating raw is a tougher choice, with local strawberries, blackberries, and peaches in competition. However, I think I have to go with local vine ripened tomatoes, with just a little sprinkle of salt.
Nicholas H at 2:34PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: Zucchini
Raw: Tomatoes!
sarayum at 2:34PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: red cabbage
Raw: apple
JEP at 2:40PM on 09/24/07
cooking: corn (if it has corn in it, I'll probably eat it)
raw: cantaloupe(I could go on and on all day about the cantaloupe my grandfather grew in his garden...)
feep at 2:41PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: zucchini and tomatoes (together!)
Raw: Nectarines
tkln at 2:43PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: onion, pear
Raw: cherries, fennel
malenky at 2:44PM on 09/24/07
for cooking: peppers, since you can roast and skin or simply saute them.
for eating raw: nectarines are my favorite fruit at the moment.
clumsycook at 2:45PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: potatoes
Raw: Apples
Jeana at 2:56PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: tomatoes
Raw: tomatoes
gmunger at 2:58PM on 09/24/07
cooking: asparagus
raw: plums
pezbabypez at 2:59PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: eggplant. Never had it growing up, recently discovered how much I love it.
Raw: tomatoes
Peasantwench at 3:05PM on 09/24/07
Cooked? Rhubarb.
Raw? Peaches.
That's just what popped into my head. I'm sure the answers would be different in jut a few minutes. I like any kind of cooked fruit as long as it's prepared well.
stu_spivac at 3:12PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: brussel sprouts, apples
Raw: cabbage, cherries
ricedream24 at 3:46PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: beets
Raw: strawberries
Ezmerelda at 3:48PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: Rapini
Raw: Peaches
dikaryon at 3:51PM on 09/24/07
eggplant and tomatoes!
bottomlesspit at 3:52PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: plum (in stir frys)
Raw: Oh anything that is fresh and ripe. But if I HAD to choose, I'd say just about any apple.
jpolk at 4:00PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: Onions (various types)
Raw: Strawberries
rudolfrassen at 4:01PM on 09/24/07
cooking: onions
raw: broccoli
SheRa at 4:04PM on 09/24/07
cooking: beets
raw: watermelon
purplesachi at 4:06PM on 09/24/07
Cooked: chile peppers...use them in everything
Raw: pluots (this season)
mozart23 at 4:07PM on 09/24/07
cooked: beets
raw: concord grapes
nyc28 at 4:14PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: Potatoes (so versatile, the egg of vegetables)
Raw: Ripe, Red Watermelon (the essence of summer)
keihin at 4:14PM on 09/24/07
Cooked: beets
Raw: tomatoes!
Fiksu at 4:15PM on 09/24/07
cooking? definitely blackberries for a delicious, sweet and tart pie
raw? tomatoes-- a perfectly ripe, raw tomato tastes like nothing else
stonehengegirl at 4:16PM on 09/24/07
cooking: onions
raw: apples hands down
zekks at 4:24PM on 09/24/07
cooking: onions
raw: avocado
Dee at 4:25PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: spinach
Raw: golden kiwifruit
platecleaner at 4:31PM on 09/24/07
Cooking Vegetable: Carrots (roasted with dill)
Raw Vegetable: Celery (especially with peanut butter!)
Cooking Fruit: White Peaches (grilled)
Raw Fruit: Watermelon
dmbfanmd at 4:43PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: artichokes
Eating raw: apples (yay fall!)
LiveToEat at 4:52PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: asparagus
Raw: apples
EmilySC at 5:54PM on 09/24/07
Eggplant makes me swoon. Thai eggplant, baby eggplant, globe eggplant, striped eggplant - I roast, curry, saute, broil, stir fry, and bake it. I stuff it with peanuts, or lentils, or tomatoes, or rice. I have a baingan bharta complex. So yeah, eggplant.
My favorite raw fruit? Blueberries ripe from the bush, warm from the sun. They remind me of childhood berry-picking on my grandparent's farm - a pure, simple, hand-and-tongue-staining pleasure.
KarynMC at 6:20PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: onions
Raw: Peaches
dowbits at 6:33PM on 09/24/07
Cooking-- plums or pears. Eating raw- crisp, sweet apples.
Christina at 6:35PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: broccoli rabe
Raw: Fuji apples
PattyCho at 6:53PM on 09/24/07
To cook: Sweet Potatoes
To eat raw: any type of berry
happybites at 7:27PM on 09/24/07
Cooked: tomato
Raw: tomato
Yup, I'm a tomato freak!
jackiecat at 7:30PM on 09/24/07
Cooked: Collard Greens
Raw: Peaches.
spanklin at 7:59PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: Onion. Can't imagine life without onions.
Eating Raw: Avocado.
madball911 at 8:40PM on 09/24/07
Lemon and tomato - and vice versa
Aurore at 8:45PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: Kale
Raw: Golden Pluots (taste like cream soda to me)
kyleduanehebert at 9:02PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: Asparagus
Raw: Asian Pears
Phil W. at 9:06PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: Peaches & Cream corn, broccoli
Raw- White peaches, raspberries, honeycrisp apples
Erinay77 at 9:45PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: Brussels Sprouts
Raw: Apples!
logographic at 10:10PM on 09/24/07
I'm boring. Cooking: tomato Raw: tomato
It just must be that time of year...
Teachertalk at 10:25PM on 09/24/07
Cooking: fava beans
Raw: apples
Holly at 10:52PM on 09/24/07
1) tomatoes and onions (they make the base for 95% of the stuff i cook)
2) mango
anado at 11:10PM on 09/24/07
favorite fruit to eat raw: pluots. favorite fruit to cook: tomatoes. favorite veggie to eat raw: green beans. favorite veggie to cook: shallots!
tortor at 11:29PM on 09/24/07
Cooked: Yams!
Raw: Peaches
speedotan at 12:12AM on 09/25/07
cooked: broccoli...but blanched really al dente
raw: apples
chefrich at 12:22AM on 09/25/07
Cooking: Artichoke
Raw: Figs
ErisianSaint at 12:39AM on 09/25/07
Cooking: Broccoli
Raw: Nectarines
pipan at 12:44AM on 09/25/07
Cooking: red capsicum (bell pepper)... preferably roasted and smoky
Raw: a ripe, juicy, perfumed nectarine
duncan_syrupandtang at 5:02AM on 09/25/07
Cooking: onions-- olive oil and onions start everything I make!
Raw: a beautiful, beautiful peach, or a bright orange baby globe tomato.
philoserine at 5:53AM on 09/25/07
Cooking: asparagus(I have 3 acres of it)
Raw: strawberries or blueberries
ksdidi at 8:07AM on 09/25/07
Cooking: Zucchini. Lots of fun stuff you can do with it!
Raw: Northern Spy apples.
DuncanHusky at 8:16AM on 09/25/07
Cooking: Fresh, in-the-shell butterbeans
Raw: Perfect, just-ripe, just-pick apricots
Julie at 8:57AM on 09/25/07
Cooking: Onions. I love the smell of cooked onions.
Raw: Sweet, juicy peaches.
ehirschklau at 9:19AM on 09/25/07
Ok... cooking I love love love onions.
And raw I love apples, in particular the Granny Smith or winesap. I love the crisp crunch and tart sweetness of them.
IhavaKnif at 9:49AM on 09/25/07
cooked: eggplant
raw: cherries
angfarrell at 1:24PM on 09/25/07
Favorite fruit to cook: mango
to eat raw: peach
Dominic
the zen kitchen
dvchurch at 1:43PM on 09/25/07
carrots cooked, nectarines raw
hedgehog at 1:46PM on 09/25/07
cooked: jalapeños, onions, kale, Brussels sprouts, corn, tomatoes
raw: carrots, jalapeños, onions, lettuce, cabbage, tomatoes, apples, oranges, grapefruit, cherries
intheyearofthepig at 1:56PM on 09/25/07
Cooking: Butternut Squash for vegetable, kumquat or pomegranate for fruit
Raw: Avocado or bell pepper for vegetable (though I suppuse it's really a fruit), nectarine, fig, or boysenberry for fruit.
lorrior at 2:20PM on 09/25/07
cooking: huckleberries
raw: granny smith apples
rhino876 at 2:21PM on 09/25/07
cooking: squash blossoms
raw: perfect strawberries
stiritup at 2:34PM on 09/25/07
cooked: onion, raw: tomato
mazzio at 2:49PM on 09/25/07
Cooking: Asparagus. Always my favorite part of summer.
Raw: Fuji Apples. I generally eat at least one a day.
hdaemon at 3:01PM on 09/25/07
cooking-sweet potato
raw-apple
psychsarah at 3:09PM on 09/25/07
Cooking - Artichoke
Raw - Apricots, followed closely by tomato and oranges
dna90048 at 3:11PM on 09/25/07
Cooking: tomatoes
Raw: peaches, berries, apples .. most fruit!
mrsbao at 3:29PM on 09/25/07
cooking: eggplant
raw: bananas
ceforrester at 3:57PM on 09/25/07
Cooking - cherries.
Raw - cherries.
miso at 4:03PM on 09/25/07
Cooking: cauliflower (roasted)
Raw: Comice pear (with cheese, yum)
foodmomiac at 4:08PM on 09/25/07
Cooking: Broccoli
Raw: Watermelon
semper083 at 4:11PM on 09/25/07
Tomatoes are by far my favorite and the most versatile. I'll eat them raw until I get sick, and cooking makes them even better a lot of the time.
That said, Chinese broccoli is my favorite cooked vegetable. Sorry, tomatoes. No hard feelings, I hope.
LoDega at 4:17PM on 09/25/07
cooking: eggplant
raw: strawberries
lekkercraft at 4:33PM on 09/25/07
to cook, potatoes, because they're so versatile
to eat, oof...so hard to decide...but probably tomatoes, the freshest of course, preferably from my grandfather's garden in Iowa
harlem_panadera at 4:40PM on 09/25/07
Fruit--- cooked- freshly picked peaches and blackberries, in a crisp. (yes, I live where you can do that!) Raw--dark bing cherries.
Veggies-- Both cooked and raw, spinach and cauliflower.
tooslimnc at 5:42PM on 09/25/07
Cooking: tomatoes seem to lend themselves best to that method.
Raw: It has to be >ripe
beano at 6:21PM on 09/25/07
Cooked: gai lan (Chinese vegetable)
Raw: pears
kwanito at 8:36PM on 09/25/07
cooked: spinach
raw: strawberries OR peaches
krispychikin at 10:06PM on 09/25/07
cooked: swiss chard or other leafy greens
raw: strawberries
Littlebluesiren at 12:35AM on 09/26/07
I love apples for cooking and for eating raw. My favorite variety is Rubinette.
amylou61 at 12:58PM on 09/26/07
cooking: berries in a crisp or wild rice
eating raw: Braeburn or honey crisp apples
Kimberly at 1:28PM on 09/26/07
For cooking: potatoes
Eating raw: watermelon
cherierj at 3:07PM on 09/26/07
So difficult! I love all fruits and veggies so much! But since I have to pick favorites:
Cooked: Brussels sprouts
Raw: A perfectly ripe summer nectarine
KitchenKore at 4:57PM on 09/26/07
cooking - spinach, raw - apples or nectarines, fresh carrot and shelled peas
Stushi at 5:18PM on 09/26/07
Pick just one for each?!?!
Cooking will have to be fava beans... just slightly blanched then cooled.
Raw is spinach.
nicdonn at 7:23PM on 09/26/07
Cooking: potatoes
Raw: Um, lots--tomatoes, green beans, apples, pears, carrots, fennel, etc.
Eilen at 9:44PM on 09/26/07
cooking: tomato
raw: apple
savvy savorer at 10:13PM on 09/26/07
cooked potatoes raw strawberries
peticook at 11:44PM on 09/26/07
steamed corn on the cob, fresh nectarines.
secreteater at 12:09AM on 09/27/07
Cooking would be onions; eating raw...mmm...oh.....a good ripe pear does it for me every time.
EmmaC at 8:57AM on 09/27/07
Cooking = Broccoli
Raw = Tomatoes
jkiller5150 at 10:56AM on 09/27/07
Cooking = Tomatoes
Raw = green beans
Pierogi at 12:12PM on 09/27/07
Cooking: Potatoes
Raw: Apples
gscherr at 12:35PM on 09/27/07
I love eating raw radishes and I love cooking roasted asparagus
sln123 at 1:20PM on 09/27/07
1) peashoots
2) mango
foodinmouth at 1:38PM on 09/27/07
cooking: tomato
raw: strawberry
protest at 5:29PM on 09/27/07
1) spinach
2) sweet corn
chairmantao at 5:50PM on 09/27/07
cooked: baby bok choy
raw: pears
lexophile at 8:48PM on 09/27/07
cooked: roasted cauliflower
raw: perfect cantaloupe
wisekaren at 9:32PM on 09/27/07
1. Guanábana
2. Soursop
lardarium at 1:38AM on 09/28/07
cooking: brussel sprouts
raw: tomatoes
sunmoonstars75 at 1:48AM on 09/28/07
cooking: sweet potato
raw: avacado
jenjacobs at 8:33AM on 09/28/07
Cooking (at the moment): delicata squash
Raw (at the moment): apples
mainegirl at 8:54AM on 09/28/07
Cooking: Eggplant
Raw: Heirloom Tomatoes or Zucchini...it's a toss-up.
StudentStomach at 10:52AM on 09/28/07
Cooking: Tomatoes. So versatile.
Raw: Granny Smith apples. Love the tang and crunch.
nellopea at 1:45PM on 09/28/07
Cooking: potatoes
Raw: Heirloom tomatoes with a sprinkle of salt and pepper - there's nothing better!
SaraK at 3:12PM on 09/28/07
Cooking: apples,spinach,
Raw: blueberries, tomatoes in season, watermelon
Mich23 at 4:05PM on 09/28/07
Cooking: sweet potato
raw: pears
jedimtb at 5:03PM on 09/28/07
cooking: tomatoes
eating: tomatoes; raspberries
earlgreyt at 5:09PM on 09/28/07
broccoli
just ripe nectarines
cher48603 at 8:34PM on 09/28/07
Cooking: Potatoes or Tomatoes
Raw: Carrots
LilacButterfly at 1:15AM on 09/29/07
Cooked: snow pea shoots
Raw: wax apples (found in asia. known in mandarin as "lian wu")
thehungryrose at 1:39AM on 09/29/07
fruit raw & cooked
1.) pear
2.) pear
or...
I CAN"T BELIEVE NOBODY HAS SAID IT?!
vegetable raw & cooked
1.) garlic
2.) garlic
tyronebcookin at 10:59AM on 09/29/07
My favorites are:
Raw: plums
Cooked: spinach
xalexx at 5:30PM on 09/30/07
Cooking: chard
Raw: Mango
hreisig at 7:04PM on 09/30/07
Cooking: fennel
Raw:Blueberries
ErikaWaz at 7:54PM on 09/30/07
Cooking: Carrot
Raw: Pears
urbanmike at 10:46PM on 09/30/07
Cooking: Broccoli
Raw: Raspberries
BitterSweet at 10:59AM on 10/01/07
Cooking: Kabocha Squash
Eating: Durian - sorry, but it's true. I love this stuff.
holybasil at 1:57PM on 10/01/07
Thanks to everyone for commenting and congrats to our winners: tkln, bluebird, pezbabypez, JEP, nellopea, lorrior, dmbfanmd, jkiller5150, lekkercraft, lardarium.
roboppy at 2:46PM on 10/08/07