Want to taste sweeter fruit? In July, the Hyogo Prefecture-based fruit company Toyoka Chuo Seika shipped out its first batch of "Mozart Bananas" to supermarkets in the local area. What does that mean? Unripened bananas were exposed to "String Quartet 17" and "Piano Concerto 5 in D major," - among other works; playing continuously for one week in their ripening chamber. The result, sales are up on these sweeter, tastier bananas; so apparently the consumers agree. This works for tomatoes too.
I often ask people what part of Thanksgiving's meal they like the best - you'd be surprised how many people say the stuffing and the sides. Here's my favorite sausage stuffing recipe. I put a lot of love in to this recipe every year and those family members reaching for seconds are living proof. Stay tuned more sides tomorrow.
2011 marks the one-hundred-fiftieth year for the Hospices de Beaune Charity Auction; an annual event in the midst of the Trois Glorieuses, Burgundy's most important three day wine celebration. Hospices de Beaune Auction has and continues to support the healing and the dedication to wellness at the hospice de Beaune, the way its benefactors intended since the 15th century. Most buyers will focus on barrels and not the cause though. This event is considered one of the most important wine events of the year held annually on the third Sunday in November. More than forty of Burgundy's Cuvées will be offered. If you are doing the math; buying a barrel corresponds approximately to 288 bottles, so 24 cases of 12 bottles, or 6 magnums.
November 21, 2011 Hospices de Beaune Charity Auction, Beaune France
Harvest has a few meanings in Hampton's farm country, but to Winemaker and Friend Roman Roth it means Halleluja! Time to toast! Picking has come to an end - for this year anyway. So what's happening at Grapes of Roth? I'm thinking, one more reason to give thanks and toast with Roth's 2004 Merlot and 2008 Riesling.
The Grapes of Roth, Long Island, New York
Roth Merlot: The wine shows how wonderfully balanced yet intense the best Merlots from Long Island can be. It received the highest rating in New York with 92 points from Parker (David Schildknecht, Issue 188) and is a wine that can stand up to the best.
Riesling: This wine is very classic in style. Perfectly ripe fruit balanced by just the right acidity and minerality. The alcohol level is low at 10.8% and residual sugar is only 6 grams per liter making it very food friendly.
Celebrate any occasion with my all natural cupcake recipe. Use the very best quality ingredients to ensure the best tasting outcome. Be sure to use good vanilla, like Madagascar Vanilla. Then top with either my delicious chocolate or vanilla icings.
Vanilla Cupcakes by George Hirsch
Makes about 2 dozen
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons Baking Powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line muffin pans with cupcake papers.
In a small bowl, combine flours, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream butter on medium speed until smooth. Scrape bowl, add the sugar gradually and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
Add the eggs in three stages one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the dry ingredients in three stages, alternating with the milk and vanilla. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated but do not over mix. Scrape down the bowl after each addition to make sure the ingredients are well blended.
Fill cupcake liners approximately three-quarters full. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until a toothpick or skewer inserted in the center of the cupcake comes out clean.
Cool the cupcakes in the muffin pans for 5 minutes. Remove from the tins and cool completely on a wire rack before icing.
Ice the cupcakes with either Vanilla Icing or Chocolate Icing.
image: David Smith
