Category Archives: Fruit

by | May 4, 2016 · 2:46 pm

Spring has Sprung and it’s Time for Fruit Tarts!

Fresh FruitIs there anything better than a beautiful fruit tart full of fresh, seasonal fruit? Well, maybe just that delicious buttery crust that can become the vessel for the fruit.

Tarts are relatively simple to make, and can have a dramatic presentation on your dessert table. The secret to a perfect fruit tart is to wash and strain your fruit in a colander, and then to pat it dry with a towel to remove any extra liquid in the fruit.

We are going to take you step by step through two tart recipes that are perfect for spring. And remember, tarts are playful and fun! Feel free to use either crust and filling together, and any of your favorite fruits and jellies to glaze. Continue reading →

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Filed under Cake, Fruit, Treat

by | July 12, 2012 · 10:13 am

Canning with Marisa McClellan

Marisa McClellan - Local Food Writer

Marisa McClellan – Local Food Writer, Canning Expert, and Blogger Extraordinaire

This Saturday, we are excited to welcome Philadelphia’s own Marisa McClellan, author of the nationally renowned blog Food in Jars, who will be signing copies, in our store, of her debut book of the same name.

Our talented staff member Mandie, inspired by Marisa, gives us this interesting personal vignette of her introduction to canning. We think you’ll enjoy it!

I first became enamored with the idea of canning and home preserving shortly after I started working at Fante’s. I knew nothing about preserving at that time, since no one in my family had ever even considered it, and my interest was piqued when I noticed people purchasing huge amounts of Ball jars, usually at least two to four cases at a time. Curious, I asked one customer what they were planning on doing with all those jars. The customer replied, “I’m canning tomatoes from my garden.”

I was baffled. Why would you do that? You can buy canned tomatoes at the grocery store, I thought to myself. But my curiosity was piqued. As the summer went on, more and more people began buying Ball jars, and I kept asking. “I’m making pickles,” one customer told me, or “I just bought a bushel of peaches, and it’s jam time!” Soon my mind was bursting with inspiration of all the wonderful things I could fill my pantry with.

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Filed under Canning, Fruit, Special Pages

by | June 28, 2012 · 1:18 am

Learn to Garnish

Use some simple garnishing techniques to create a beautiful healthy fruit salad for your next dinner party

In the culinary world, presentation is almost everything. Sure, your food needs to be delicious, but if it doesn’t look appetizing, good luck getting anyone to try it!

One way to add some presentation glitz to your plates is with edible garnishes. Flower designs made from vegetables like carrots or onions can take a simple salad to the next level. Now, some chefs go all out on the garnishing front, creating pieces that can more properly be called art. If you’re just starting out, designs like that might be above your pay grade – so let’s talk tips for novices.

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Filed under Fruit, Garnish