It’s officially winter here in the Midwest, but stashed away in the freezer are packages containing the blueberries that I bought at the summer Farmers’ Market. Maybe it’s because it was so rare when I was growing up, but there’s something wonderfully decadent about being able to have summer berries in January and the rest of the winter.
It’s that same feeling I had enjoying this week’s choice, St. Dalfour (www.stdalfour.com) Cranberry with Blueberry fruit spread. When you open the jar, the first thing that greets you is the scent of summer fruit. It is made in France, using an old French recipe, and so appropriately, I spooned it on to some French toast. The combination was delicious — the whole berries contrasted nicely with the soft, fluffy toast. It was a great taste of summer and a French summer at that. In addition, the spread is sweetened with a grape juice concentrate, so it’s not too sweet. Since it is made from 100 percent fruit, you can also enjoy it without too much guilt.
I can see it also on a variety of breads, English muffins and bagels. I can also see it paired with cheese, or topping pound cake and cheesecake for a special dessert. I bet it would also be good on ice cream. And it would make a tasty p and j sandwich.
For retailers, the 10-ounce jar of fruit spread would be a nice addition to breakfast baskets and other gift baskets. It could also be sampled in the store or used as part of an international-themed promotion.
—Barbara
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