As my luck would have it Pickled Grapes are now a bit of a food thing, so here’s a salad that includes these delightful little jewels–Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Spiced Pickled Grapes.
Category: Grapes
Spiced Pickled Grapes
Let’s get pickled. Spiced Pickled Grapes are sweet, crisp and spiced–another simple Little Jewel from the Bijouxs Kitchen.
MAKING PICKLES
Pickles can be much more than cucumbers. I love to make pickled vegetables and fruits. They are easy to make, no canning required. The result is crisp, fresh and tangy sides which make great condiments for meats and salads. In the Spring it’s time for these wonderful Pickled Peaches with Brandy topping both both savory and sweet dishes. Spice up your cocktail hour with Quick & Spicy Pickled Vegetables. This Quick Thai Cucumber Pickle makes a simple side salad and uses just one cucumber.
My recipes are often driven by the need to not to waste food. We used to pickle to preserve food. My Grandmother pickled or preserved just about every vegetable and fruit she grew. After surviving the Great Depression she planned ahead. My favorite book with introduces the concept of “cooking with economy and grace” in An Everlasting Meal. This is a lovely book that I needed back in 2011 with a job loss looming, not so far off in today’s work climate. This pickle is a take on Tamar Alder’s pickle recipe.
SPICED PICKLED GRAPES
I had an extra bunch of sweet red grapes left from a charcuterie board I served recently. Feeling it’s now time for some fresh flavors as Winter begins to turn to Spring. Quick pickling is a method to capture the freshness of the ingredient and flavor with a sweet-tart vinegar based brine-don’t worry it is easy.
First, up make the brining liquid which consists of vinegar, brown sugar and some flavorful spices. Bring to a simmer then pour the hot brine over the grapes in a heat-proof bowl.
Allow to cool to room temperature. Place in glass jar and store in the refrigerator. They should keep tighly sealed for about a month. I always check by a quick smell to make sure food is still fresh.
Honestly, I have been snacking on the grapes right from the jar. Think also of using the grapes along with creamy goat cheese tossed in a simple salad of tender baby greens.
Preserving today is a little jewel.
Spiced Grape Chutney
Thank goodness for fresh fruit & vegetable delivery during this confinement. My local delivery from Imperfect Foods included a large portion of dark purple grapes…hum what recipe might work? When in doubt a chutney makes use of fruits with added spices for a punch–Spiced Grape Chutney, for the win. Continue reading Spiced Grape Chutney
French Fresh Grape Tart
French Fruit Tart, now that sounds complicated, but actually they are very easy to prepare and use the summer’s bounty of fresh fruit. Here, a French Fresh Grape Tart is on the menu, sparkling with glistening grapes, another little jewel from the kitchen.
These French tarts have a wonderful lineage. These tarts originated with a legend in pastry, Michel Richard. I began cooking classes at 21, and was very lucky to have cooked with classically trained chefs in Pasadena at the Inner Gourmet Cooking School. My instructors had worked with Micheal Richard on a project. He ran a lovely pastry shop in Beverly Hills. After working with him on the project, they got his recipe for French Fruit Tarts and passed it along in their cookbook, which accompanied their cooking classes.
These classes are so memorable for me, with guest chefs like Paula Wolfert and wine pairings from Joe Columbo (Yes,Trader Joe).
Really the right time, the right place to begin my cooking career. Armed with a strong start I set out into the culinary world. At that time I was was doing Food & Wine coordination aboard a corporate private jet. The skills and the “unbasics”, as the recipes were known, stay with me, and I go back to these classic French & Italian recipes frequently.
This French Fresh Grape Tart is flexible. I was lucky to find these small Champagne Grapes (despite the name they are not used to make Champagne). Use quality all butter frozen puff pastry, like Dufour brand), berries or 4 cups of your favorite fresh summer fruit and change out the grape jam glaze to apple jelly and there you are, French Fresh Fruit Tarts, always a little jewel in the kitchen.
Roasted Grapes & Goat Cheese with Lavender Honey
Summer seasonal cooking is in full swing with Autumn just around the corner. This simply beautiful little jewel appetizer, Roasted Grapes with Goat Cheese & Honey, transitions easily into the seasons.
Continue reading Roasted Grapes & Goat Cheese with Lavender Honey
