Glacing is a process where you preserve fruit in sugar syrup. The process helps in making the fruits sweeter and allowing them to last long. Usually, you can find glace fruits in cakes, bread and other types of pastries. The most common fruits are pears, cherries, and plums. They already taste great as whole fruits, but the flavours come to life, even more, when you choose the glazed version. If you are running a pastry business, you might be familiar with glace fruits as you use them often.
You can choose to glace the fruits if you want to use homemade glace fruits for your business. To glace them, you need to have a pound of fruit that you want, four and a half cups of white sugar and a half cup of corn syrup. It is an excellent idea to glace them at once to avoid going through the entire process several times.
You can peel the fruits or slice them into quarters depending on the type of fruit that you are glacing. You will then place the sliced or peeled fruits at the bottom of the saucepan. Add water, and allow it to simmer until it becomes tender. Take the fruit out of the saucepan and place it on a shallow dish. Remove the water from the pan except for about a cup. Add a half cup each of the sugar and corn syrup into the water. Turn the heat on until the sugar starts to dissolve. Allow it to boil and place the mixture over the fruit. Let it stay there overnight.
On the following day, take the syrup out and place it in a pan. Add another half cup of sugar and allow it to dissolve in heat. When the mixture boils, start putting in the fruits again. After a while, take everything out and transfer it to a container where you can leave it for the next five days. Repeat the process, and keep the fruits there for the next two days. After another repetition, the syrup will start looking like honey. Return the fruits to the mixture and let them soak there for about ten days to 3 weeks.
It is up to you to decide how long you will allow the fruits to soak in the mixture. After that period, take the fruits out from the syrup and arrange them on a wire cooling rack. Let the fruits dry in a warm place or put them inside a dehydrator. Once you can no longer feel a sticky surface, you can take the fruits and place them in a jar. If you want to eat the fruits, you can rehydrate them or put them directly on cakes and pastries.
You don’t need to go through this process:
It might seem like a long process to glace fruit. Aside from the effort, you put into it, you also need to wait for quite some time before you can finally use the fruits. If you are running a pastry business, you already have a lot on your plate, and you don’t want to waste more time to glace the fruits. If you don’t want to wait, you can buy them online. You can find stores that sell glace fruits in bulk. You can get them at a low price too. As long as you don’t see chemicals or preservatives added, it is okay to use these glace fruits.
I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.
The sweet savories have always been an indispensable part of any celebration. Cakes top the charts of desserts, has forever been cherished to complete any party. For quick online cake delivery in Kurukshetra, way2flowers.com offers a wide range of cakes to choose from. For metropolitan cities, it is suitable to refer online cake delivery in Delhi to save considerable time and keep you hassle-free.
Following are the seven amazing desserts across the world which any foodie must try:
Pandan Cake
A green color cake made from juicy pandanus with its amazing hues and great taste. Particularly famous in Southeast Asia, this fluffy chiffon cake is cherished across the world for its flavourful taste.
Baklavas
Filled with chopped nuts folded under the layers of filo and sweetened with honey, this remarkable dessert is crunchy outside and luxurious inside. With its murky history, you would love to indulge in this sinful affair again and again.
Suspiro de Limena
Belonged to Peru, this absolute delight is sweet and light with a manjar Blanco base. Mean ‘Sigh of Lima Lady’, vanilla essence, sugar, egg yolk and milk form as the core ingredients for this recipe.
Dragon Beard Candy
It appeared as a snowy white cocoon; this delectable recipe is made from maltose syrup and sugar. Stuffed with coconut, sweet sesame seeds and peanuts, it is an art of Chinese dessert. Chewy in texture, this traditional dessert is famous for its distinctive taste.
Mooncakes
The second most famous festival in China – Moonfestival holds the significance of this Chinese delight. Celebrated for the full moon, this red bean paste filled dessert is imperative for this celebration. Chocolate and fruits are some of the temporary fillings to serve this dessert with a twist.
Gelato
Italian Ice-cream topped with nut and fruit purees is the light and soft form of ice cream which is enriched with distinctive flavours. Against traditional ice-creams which are freezing solid, this enriched recipe initiates the softly textured ice-cream.
Apple Strudel
A thin pastry layered around sugar, chopped apples, cinnamon and raisins is very popular in Austria for its rich flavours. It is conventionally served hot and accompanies with ice cream custard or whipped cream.
These mind-blowing desserts are worth to try once in a lifetime to explore the varied dessert flavours across the world. But when it comes to the most common dessert, Cake undisputedly rules any celebration. An occasion without a cake-cutting ceremony is unimaginable. Available in a large number of flavours and designs, you can choose a customised cake matching your theme.
Way2flowers.com are online cake specialist which offer special cakes for Birthday, Anniversary, Father’s-Day, Mother’s Day, Christmas, New Year, Valentine or any other occasion.
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The Lovely Hill Station of Yercaud
If you're a foodie looking for new tastes and experiences in northern Colorado, visit Lafayette. Chefs use locally sourced food to create tasty dishes delivered by friendly staff. Lafayette is nestled between Boulder and Denver, so when you stay in Colorado, you can visit modern restaurants in these cities as well. Don't miss these local culinary favorites.
The Post Brewing Company:
When you have a hankering for fried chicken, pull up a chair at The Post Brewing Company. This American brewpub offers classic dishes like chicken and waffles alongside gluten-free fried chicken. You'll feel at home in this casual eatery with homemade meals. Give your chicken meal an extra kick with the variety of hot sauces you'll find on each table.
Cool off with a craft beer brewed on-site like an Elkhorn lager or a Big Rosie porter. If you want something other than chicken, try the meatloaf or shrimp and grits. Diners rave about the friendly service, too. You'll find this brewpub on Emma Street just south of State Route 7 in Lafayette.
Community:
If you prefer sustainable, farm-to-table meals, head over to South Public Road and add Community to your list of Lafayette eateries to visit. Sample local comfort food and artisan cocktails. Start with small plates to share including Shaolin-style duck nachos and Curry cauliflower tots. For your entree, choose from favorites like meatloaf, lamb, and pork tenderloin.
Save room for some dessert like key lime pie or an after-dinner drink to top off your meal. Community doesn't take reservations, but if you have a large group, you can call ahead to see if the staff can accommodate you.
Stay local and take a short ride to Boulder or Denver. Reserve a room in Lafayette for easy access to top-rated restaurants in these nearby cities known for their culinary delights.
Oak at Fourteenth:
Image via Flickr by Ken Lund
Don't miss having an upscale meal at Oak at Fourteenth on Pearl Street in downtown Boulder. Try the pan-roasted sablefish paired with an Oak martini. You can also share a family plate of crispy pork shoulder prepared with pineapple fried rice. Menus are updated seasonally and feature locally grown ingredients. Call ahead to reserve a table.
Izakaya Den:
When the foodie in you craves fresh sushi and sashimi, take a short trip to Denver and make yourself at home at Izakaya Den: The Sake House with Tapas. Order specialty rolls created with tuna and salmon served tapas-style that you can share with your table. Mix and match rolls and fresh seafood.
Your catch of the day may be Tasmanian king salmon, bluefin akami, or wild tai snapper. Izakaya Den also offers a Japanese menu featuring Ramen and Udon noodle bowls. You may call the restaurant or reserve a table online to make your reservation.
Your culinary tour of Lafayette will deliver delicious meals at local hot spots with a family atmosphere. You can also travel a short distance to Boulder or Denver and experience a wider variety of modern fare in an upscale setting.
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If there is something that I have learned in life, it is about gardening. Well, almost everything if not all. And if there is one thing that took me some time to master, it was knowing how to harvest potatoes at home!
Potatoes are one of the most versatile and popular vegetables in the world. They can be cooked in many different ways, such as boiled, baked, fried, mashed, or roasted. Moreover, they are also rich in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants.
But how do you grow and harvest your own potatoes at home? You see, potatoes are not like cilantro or other plants. These are tubers.
In this article, I will show you everything you need to know about how to harvest potatoes, from planting to storage.
So, if that is something that you are interested in knowing, then I have you covered! Keep on reading this blog till the end to learn more...
How to Plant Potato Seeds or Tubers?
The first step in how to harvest potatoes is to plant them. You can start with either potato seeds or tubers. Potato seeds are small, round, and black, and they are usually sold in packets.
Potato tubers are the actual potatoes that you eat, and they have eyes or buds that can sprout new plants.
You can buy certified seed potatoes from a nursery or garden center, or use organic potatoes from the grocery store.
Here are some if the steps that you must take to plant them:
Planting Potato Seeds
To plant potato seeds, you need to sow them indoors in pots or trays filled with moist potting soil.
Place them in a sunny spot and keep the soil moist but not soggy.
The seeds will germinate in about two weeks and produce small green shoots.
When the shoots are about 3 inches tall, you can transplant them outdoors in your garden or in containers.
Planting Potato Tubers
To plant potato tubers, you need to cut them into pieces, each with at least one eye.
You can do this a few days before planting to let the cut surfaces heal and prevent rotting. Alternatively, you can plant whole small potatoes with several eyes.
To prepare the soil, you need to loosen it and add some organic matter, such as compost or manure.
You also need to make sure the soil is well-drained and slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.0 to 6.0.
You can use a soil test kit to check the pH level and adjust it with lime or sulfur if needed.
Planting Potato Pieces
To plant the potato pieces, you need to dig a trench about 4 inches deep and 12 inches wide.
Place the pieces about 12 inches apart, with the eyes facing up.
Cover them with 3 inches of soil and water well.
As the plants grow, you need to hill up the soil around them to cover the lower stems and prevent the tubers from being exposed to sunlight, which can turn them green and bitter.
You can also mulch the soil with straw, leaves, or grass clippings to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
How to Care for Your Potato Plants?
The second step in how to harvest potatoes is to care for your potato plants. You need to water them regularly, especially during dry spells, to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. You also need to fertilize them every two weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer, such as fish emulsion or seaweed extract. Also, you can add some wood ash or bone meal to provide extra potassium and phosphorus, which are essential for tuber formation.
You also need to protect your potato plants from pests and diseases, which can reduce your yield and quality. Some of the common potato pests are:
Colorado potato beetles, which are yellow and black striped insects that feed on the leaves and can defoliate the plants. You can handpick them and drop them in a bucket of soapy water, or use an organic insecticide, such as neem oil or pyrethrin.
Potato leafhoppers, which are small, green, winged insects that suck the sap from the leaves and cause them to curl and yellow. You can spray them with a strong jet of water, or use an organic insecticide, such as garlic or hot pepper spray.
Wireworms, which are thin, brown, worm-like larvae that bore into the tubers and cause holes and tunnels. You can trap them with pieces of carrot or potato buried in the soil, or use beneficial nematodes, which are microscopic worms that parasitize and kill the wireworms.
Common Potato Diseases
One of the most common reasons why a potato cannot grow or survive is the diseases. If you were wondering what some of these can be and how to deal with them, I have you covered!
Some of the common potato diseases are:
Late Blight: It is a fungal disease that causes brown spots on the leaves and stems, and black or brown lesions on the tubers. It can spread rapidly and destroy the entire crop. You can prevent it by planting resistant varieties, avoiding overhead watering, and removing any infected plants and tubers. You can also use a fungicide, such as copper or sulfur, as a preventive measure.
Scab: This is a bacterial disease that causes rough, corky patches on the tubers. It does not affect the taste or edibility of the potatoes, but it reduces their appearance and storage quality. You can prevent it by planting resistant varieties, maintaining a slightly acidic soil pH, and avoiding excessive nitrogen fertilization.
Potato Virus Y: Lastly, this is a viral disease that causes mosaic patterns, mottling, or yellowing on the leaves, and misshapen or knobby tubers. It can reduce the yield and quality of the potatoes, and it can be transmitted by aphids or infected seed potatoes. You can prevent it by planting certified virus-free seed potatoes, controlling aphids, and removing any infected plants and tubers.
How to Determine When Your Potatoes Are Ready to Harvest?
The third step in how to harvest potatoes is to determine when they are ready to harvest. This depends on the type and variety of potatoes you planted, and the size and maturity you want.
There are two main types of potatoes: early and late.
Early potatoes are ready to harvest in about 10 to 12 weeks (about 3 months) after planting, and they produce small to medium-sized tubers that are tender and thin-skinned. They are best for boiling, steaming, or roasting.
Late potatoes are ready to harvest in about 15 to 20 weeks (about 4 and a half months) after planting, and they produce large, starchy tubers that are firm and thick-skinned. They are best for baking, mashing, or frying.
Early Harvesting
To harvest early potatoes, you can start digging them up when the plants begin to flower, or when the lower leaves start to yellow.
You can use a garden fork or a spade to gently lift the plants and tubers from the soil, or you can use your hands to feel for the tubers under the soil.
You can harvest as many or as few potatoes as you need, and leave the rest in the ground until you are ready to use them.
You can also harvest some of the young, tender leaves and stems, which are edible and nutritious.
Late Harvesting
To harvest late potatoes, you need to wait until the plants have died back completely, or until the first frost.
This allows the tubers to develop a thicker skin, which helps them store better.
You can use a garden fork or a spade to dig up the entire row of plants and tubers, or you can use a potato digger, which is a special tool that lifts and separates the tubers from the soil.
You need to be careful not to damage or bruise the tubers, as this can cause rotting or spoilage.
How to Dig Up, Cure, and Store Your Potatoes?
The final step in how to harvest potatoes is to dig up, cure, and store your potatoes. This is important to preserve the quality and shelf life of your potatoes, and to prevent them from sprouting, rotting, or shrinking. Here are the steps to follow:
Digging Up
After digging up your potatoes, you need to brush off any excess soil and remove any damaged, diseased, or green tubers.
Do not wash your potatoes, as this can remove the protective skin and invite bacteria and fungi. You can wash them just before cooking or eating them.
Curing
You need to cure your potatoes for about two weeks in a cool, dark, and well-ventilated place, such as a basement, garage, or shed.
This allows the skin to harden and heal any minor cuts or bruises and enhances the flavor and texture of the potatoes.
The ideal temperature for curing is between 50°F and 60°F, and the ideal humidity is between 80% and 90%.
You can spread your potatoes in a single layer on a newspaper, cardboard, or wooden crate, and avoid exposing them to light, which can turn them green and bitter.
Storing
You need to store your potatoes in a cool, dark, and dry place, such as a cellar, pantry, or closet. The ideal temperature for storage is between 40°F and 50°F, and the ideal humidity is between 65% and 70%.
You can store your potatoes in paper bags, cardboard boxes, mesh bags, or wooden crates, and check them regularly for any signs of sprouting, rotting, or shriveling.
You can also store your potatoes in a root cellar, which is an underground or partially underground structure that maintains a constant temperature and humidity.
Additionally, you can also store your potatoes in a clamp, which is a mound of straw, hay, or leaves covered with soil, that insulates and protects the potatoes from frost and rodents.
Wrapping It Up!
If you want to know about how to harvest potatoes, I hope that this blog has been of help to you. However, if there are any other queries related to the same, please feel free to let me know.
All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the bottom of the page. Then leave your comments and suggestions in the box below. And I will be there to answer them all for you!
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