Saturday, October 25, 2014

Those Other Fall Fruits

By now everyone is probably applied out.They're all over , from groceries to pick your own.They're in everything from galettes to ciders to candied treats.However they're are some interesting other fall fruits out there.They"re a refreshing escape from Granny Smith mania. The elegant pear is another fall fruit that often is overlooked for the apple.There are just as many different types as the apple.There are close to fifty different varieties with the Anjo,Bosc and Sickle pear being the most popular in the US.One tasty one, and popular right now is the French butter variety. supermarkets feature these.The flesh is sweet ,almost candy like in taste with a thin crunchy skin.These are the best for baking and cooking, however they truly make a refreshing snack or dessert.One of the best to cook with is the Bosc.This golden yellow beauty hold's it's shape while cooking .It also has more of a pear aroma than the other kinds.Sickles are the tiniest, being able to fit on the palm of one's hand.As for recipes, they are more classy than the typical fruit ones.A cake topped with them is the perfect end to a dinner with friends? Sorbet is a different yet fresh way to use the fruit.The sorbet can be used as a palate cleanser too between courses or just as a dessert.Home chefs can also use pears in salads too.Think a chicken ,celery and pear salad for a Sunday brunch, or a crisp Asian styled salad that pops and snaps with French butter pears and snow peas. Other Autumn fruits are the much overlooked quince and pomegranate.Quince is a sort of hard sell because it has to be cooked first.The raw fruit is only good when it's going bad.Quince was actually the source for marmalade ,and the jam's name comes from the Portuguese word for quince.It is also the main ingredient in the Northern Italian treat frutta mustarda, a tarty confection of the fruit's syrup, and mustard, along with preserved peaches ,pears and cherries.it is also good in jam,as well as some beef and lamb recipes.The last two are huge in the Arab culture,and many ceremonies often feature a meat dish with it.Another choice is serving homemade quince jam with cheese as many Italians do.Pomengrante is another fall fruit that is both healthy and tasty.The fruit is having a moment right now thanks to it being so heart healthy.It also reduces joint pain as well.The juice can add Zing to regular apple cider but is also amazing in champagne.It's festive in guacamole but can also add lift to any salad.Try it with spinach or kale for an interesting spin.Pomegranate juice is an interesting ingredient in a meat sauce for pork, or even better, duck. Forget the apple. Try the other fall stars, pears, quinces and pomegranates.They are elegant and unusual, perfect for a different spin on fall harvests!

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