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charcuterie

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How to open a pomegranate

Pomegranates have deliciously tart seeds called arils that peak in season from August to January in the Northern Hemisphere. Their bright color, elegant arils, and complex flavor make them a popular addition to holiday recipes. They can top smoothies, salads, or other veggie side dishes, or try them as a delicious fresh centerpiece on your cheese or charcuterie board. When you buy prepackaged arils, you’re spending a lot of money for a fruit that can spoil rather quickly. If you’re looking to add pomegranate arils to your table this year, consider harvesting them yourself. Of course, if you’ve ever tried to cut a pomegranate without a little know-how, you’ve probably made a merry red mess on your kitchen countertop. There is an expert trick to seeding these fruits. All you need is a knife, a bowl of water, and of course, a pomegranate. Here’s 7 steps for opening a pomegranate…

Survey shows what we think makes a “foodie”

If you have a closet full of cookbooks, and spend half of the day at farmer’s markets deciding which produce looks best for dinner, you might also be one of the 56 percent of Americans that fancy themselves a “foodie.” But what exactly makes a foodie? A new survey of 2,000 Americans, conducted by the Consorzio del Prosciutto, sought to gather an understanding of people’s appreciation of food. Of those who self-described as a “foodie,” enjoy trying new foods (56 percent), learning about the origins and history of food (47 percent), and being able to cook a quality meal (42 percent) were what made people identify as “foodie” most often. Other “foodie” qualifiers included:  Having an awareness of what foods are in season (32 percent) Knowing how to pair cured meats with cheeses, wine and beer (30 percent) Always have a restaurant you should try (24 percent) Eating healthy (19 percent)…

Learn to build a charcuterie board like a pro

During the holidays, when we’re almost guaranteed to be entertaining, the charcuterie board is a brilliant way to keep guests satisfied until the main course comes out. It’s the ultimate make-ahead appetizer, giving guests a fabulous feast without wasting any precious space in the already over-worked oven. In case you’re unfamiliar, or have trouble pronouncing it (like me and everyone else), it’s shar-kood-er-ee. But you can make it easy on yourself and just call it a cheeseboard. (Technically a cheeseboard is primarily cheese, while ‘charcuterie’ is the French word that refers just to the cured meats. But most people today use the terms interchangeably.) The larger platters are more appropriately named for the types of items that are included. Italians call it ‘antipasti.’ Greeks call it ‘mezze.’ Spanish call it ‘tapas.’ It’s all pretty much the same idea — small servings of each culture’s take on breads, spreads, meats, cheeses and snackable fruits and veggies,…