Try quince
I got so excited this weekend because I found some gorgeous quince (pronounced “kwints”) in the natural grocery store; it’s one of those fruits that’s only in season for a short time, about Oct to Jan. You’ve probably never heard of it, but trust me, this is a fruit you really should try. Some legends say it’s the fruit from the garden of Eden, and based on its perfume-like smell (hints of pineapple), I can see why it would be irresistible–but the trick is, you can’t eat it raw. It has to be cooked, typically with some kind of sweetener, and then it’s great; you can substitute it for part of the apples in a pie, tart, homemade jelly, etc. Look for a description and more ideas on how to use it in our January issue’s “What’s In Season” installment, in your store soon.
Related Topics: Recipes, From the Editors
December 20th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
I also use Quince Paste as a spread for hard, pungent cheeses. It’s really more like a thick jelly, and it’s especially good on Manchego cheese from Spain. Yum!
December 20th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Yes, that’s a classic combo, and super tasty — makes an easy, classy appetizer for a holiday party, too, and you can impress your friends by knowing what quince is