My
mom kind of cheated on pepper jelly. She’d basically melt some inexpensive
store-bought jelly of any flavor and infuse it with devilish tiny slivers of
red cayenne my dad grew. I was of high school age when she figured it out, or
I’d have been raised on it. She put it lovely Mason jars because it was so
lovely, but she was happy to share her quickie method.
I
touched base with an aunt who keeps multiple varieties of mustards on hand and
she made a sandwich and offered a jar of a friend’s homemade pepper jelly. She
mentioned she’d have to hint to the friend it was the last of the gift, in
hopes she’d receive more. The jar was dated 2017. Imagine. The peppers in there
had probably been grown and processed weeks before Hurricane Harvey flooding
changed our lives again. Now we’re in another pickle. May God’s good things
keep growing and nourishing us.
And
now you have been blessed with my Mom’s pepper jelly tip to boost your spirits.
Hide
the cheese
June
was National Dairy Month, so hopefully you celebrated cheese. But when a
precious little slab of Parrano Originale Cheese got to my house, I was not quick
enough to hide this “something special” so my husband saw it everything. I had
to share it right down the middle, which I managed to do for three days, doling
out the nutty flavor and buttery aroma of a “fine aged Parmesan with the
smooth, creamy texture of a young Dutch Gouda.” I put the company’s words in
quotes as they more poetically express what is superior about this cheese, and
why a family would fight over it. While parrano.com has lovely recipes, such as
a cranberry turnover that looks beyond appealing, I’m on the simple idea side
such as serving this cheese on an antipasto platter with olives and cured meats,
or melted into a tortilla with salsa or chopped peppers. Just maintain your
dignity when going for another sample.
Gayo
Azul Gouda Holland Cheese
is another contender for your sandwich, with pepper jelly (see above). Look for
the Blue Rooster on this line that goes back to the ‘50s with Caribbean roots.
Dutch cheeses were prized there because they were aged and could be stored
without refrigeration. I enjoyed a block marked “mild & creamy” that I
enjoyed alone. I mean alone from any embellishment such as even a cracker and
alone as in no one I had to share with. I figure all the cheese lovers in
Nederland – with their Dutch background – should also enjoy Gayo Azul.
Spa Girl Cocktails has a
“spring collection” that invites you to “Drink Clean, Live Happy.” Cocktails in
a can? The pear version, paired with a patio evening, hit the spot in such a
clean way, and it packed a fresh punch. The short of it is you get flavor
without expensive, sugary and artificial mixers. Spa Girl flavors of cucumber,
peach and pear come in little cans or bottles and “regular” size. Enjoy them
straight up or mixed with rosewater, lemons, mint, melon juice, berries or
Prosecco. Keep it simple, or go to town with your own “clean” ingredients.
Forbes has profiled entrepreneur Alisa Marie Beyer about her business path that
lead to these products touting premium plant-based vodka, that are vegan,
gluten free, low in calories, sugar and carbs and ring in at 48 calories a
serving. It’s a pleasant treat you can look forward to without guilt and the
flavors are as delicate as promised.
Darragh
Doiron is a Port Arthur area foodie who will take elaborate steps to make
things simple. Reach her at darraghcastillo@icloud.com
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