Entries tagged with 'in season'
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[Flickr: Vieux Bandit] At peak season from October through November, cranberries are a great way to bring in the holidays—with a vibrant hue and delicious tart sweetness, what's not to love? They can be enjoyed in a wide variety of dishes, whether fresh, frozen, or dried. Cranberry recipes, tips, and info after the jump....
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[Flickr: Swamibu] As beautiful as they are delicious, pomegranates are in season from October through January. The pomegranate is one of the oldest fruits in history, first cultivated in Egypt around 100 B.C. Serving as a sign of fertility and rebirth, this highly celebrated fruit's skin and bark served medicinal purposes throughout history, although only the seeds are truly edible. Today, the power of pomegranate is just as strong—loaded with antioxidants and vitamins, studies show that pomegranates have been proven to reduce heart disease and aid other health issues. There are well over 100 varieties of pomegranates, such as Cloud, Francis, Granada, Home, King, and the most popular and widely distributed, Wonderful variety. Pomegranate recipes and tips after the...
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[Flickr: Barbara L. Hansen] No other vegetable that says "fall" quite like the sweet potato. We all have our favorite recipes, and love debating which aunt's sweet potato casserole is the best. I still follow my Aunt Margaret's recipe, though with the addition and omission of several ingredients. Every time time I make the sugary, marshmallow topped casserole, my dad always says, "It tastes just like Margaret's"—bringing me instant culinary satisfaction. There is something nostalgic about the sweet potato that makes it taste that much better. Some seasonal sweet potato recipes, after the jump....
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[Flickr: Barbara L. Hansen] My long-term relationship with brussels sprouts has, like so many, had its ups and downs. I remember my mother pulling the glistening round gems out of the oven before dinner, when I would instinctively begin performing my most theatrical "I am a kid so I am not supposed to like these at all" routine. Secretly, though, my mouth was watering and I could hardly wait to sink my teeth into a buttery, tender sprout. Today, I have dropped the dramatics and proudly label myself as an avid brussels sprouts fan. Approaching the peak season of this delicious vegetable, it is time to eat brussels sprouts as often (and with as much pride!) as possible. Some...
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[Flickr: Muffet] Mashed, cheesed, buttered, or plain, cauliflower is a favorite vegetable for many. Perfect in soups or to accompany proteins, it's available year-round, but its peak season is the fall. Cauliflower differs from other cruciferous veggies (broccoli, cabbage and kale) in that it lacks the green chlorophyll which the leaves of the plant shield the florets from the sun as they grow. Some cauliflower recipes, after the jump....
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Photo: Lady_Fox Pumpkin, versatile and delicious, is one of the quintessential fall vegetables. A member of the genus Curcubita, pumpkin comes from the same family as gourds and squash. Characterized by a bold orange or yellow color, round shape, and thick skin, pumpkins make the perfect fall decoration, or their seeds can be used for snacking, and flesh as an ingredient in countless dishes. In the United States alone, 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkin are produced each year, in crops that are planted in late July just in time for the fall harvest. I think it's safe to say Americans are pounding some serious pumpkin! Pumpkin recipes and tips, after the jump....
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[Flickr: WhitA] As the leaves turn to beautiful shades of gold, orange, and berry, a whole new selection of squash replace the summer squash we loved so much. The many varieties of winter squash come in all kinds of shapes—round, elongated, oblong—and colors from honey to bright orange. Some of the most popular varieties are the acorn, amber cup, and butternut. No matter the variety, squash is a great fall vegetable and an excellent ingredient for all your delicious fall recipes. Vegetable Enchilada Roasted Delicata Squash Grafton Squash Casserole Hairy Gourd Bread Roasted Butternut Squash Soup Warm Winter Salad Braised Winter Squash with Garlic Lidia Bastianich's Squash Tiramisu Spaghetti Squash with RIcotta, Sage, and Pine Nuts Butternut Squash Soup...
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[] There are few things as rewarding and delicious as sinking your teeth into a perfectly ripe pear—sweet and juicy, with that uniquely grainy bite. My mother used to pack pears in my brown sack lunches when I was little, and I vividly remember being the envy of all my peers as I pulled out that magical fruit. Or I'd save my lunchtime pear for an after-school snack, savoring each bite in the Georgia autumn breeze. From the rose family and closely related to the apple and quince, pears are in season from August to October. The most popular varieties are the Bosc, Bartlett, Anjou and Comice, distinguishable by varying skin colors and shapes. Once considered a gift of...
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There are more to figs than the Newton cookies. One of the most luscious fruits, fresh figs can be thrown onto sandwiches, used in pork dishes, made into preserves, and more.
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Photograph: sling on Flickr As summer comes to a close and we kiss the warm, carefree days of summer goodbye, we can console ourselves with a whole new crop of early fall vegetables perfectly ripe and in season. One of those fall treasures is the bell pepper, which hit their peak during the months of August and September. Originating in South America in 5000 B.C., universally popular bell peppers are a member of the nightshade family, which also include potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplants. The color bell pepper you choose will bring a unique taste to the table: the green and purple bell peppers have a somewhat bitter flavor, while the red, orange, and yellows are sweeter and almost fruity....
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