Grapes, Fredonia

Randy Becken Farms

Grapes will last in their bag in the fridge for at least a week.  If you get to the point where you can't eat them that fast, we have included some ideas on our recipe tab for how to preserve them including a grape syrup and homemade raisins.

Recipes of the Week:

Check out these websites for some tasty ideas of how to enjoy your Grapes and see some FreshFix creations below. 

Roasted Chicken Grapes and Rosemary
Grape Bruschetta 
Waldorf Salad

Grape Syrup

Amazing flavor!  Can be used just like you would maple syrup.
 

Ingredients

• 4 cups grapes (about 1 pound, stemmed)


• 1 cup sugar


• 1/2 cup water

Directions

1. Combine the grapes, sugar and water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil.
   2. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the heat, cool the mixture and run through a food mill.  Don't have a food mill?  Check out these food mill alternatives.
   3. Pout into a jar, cover and refrigerate for up to 3 weeks or freeze for up to 6 months.
   
   Note: Some sediment will naturally form in the bottom of the cooled syrup.
   
   

Homemade Raisins

This are best made with seedless grape varieties.

Ingredients

Any amount of grapes you want

Directions

To soften the skins and aid in drying, you are going to blanch the grapes. 
1. Line several baking sheets with dish towels and set aside. Prepare an ice water bath in a large bowl or clean sink.
2. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Drop the grapes into the water, no more than 1 pound at a time, and blanch for 30 seconds.
3. Scoop out the grapes with a slotted spoon and plunge them into the ice water baths.  Continue blanching the grapes in batches.  When finished, remove the grapes form the ice water bath with a slotted spoon and spread out on the towel-covered baking sheets.  Pat dry.
After blanching, you will dry the grapes.
1. Preheat oven to 170 degrees.  Spread the fruit out on a baking sheet. Dry in the oven until the grapes are shriveled and no longer moist in the center, about 5 to 7 hours.Raisins are fully dry when you can squeeze a handful and they don't stick together.
2. Cool the raisins, and then transfer them to a covered container to condition for 1 week.  This allows dried fruit to redistribute any trapped moisture.  If you notice moisture on the sides of the container, repeat the drying process for another hour or so.  Raisins will keep in an airtight container for up to a year.
 
 

In addition to being delicious, grapes are rich in phytochemical compounds such as resveratrol.  Resveratrol is one of the powerful anti-oxidant which has been found to play a protective role against diseases and some cancers. They are also a good source of vitamins C, A, K, B6, B1, and B2.