October's Tag Game ~ Ciruelas ~ Plums

[Lalaloula]

Plums / Ciruelas

~ Plums (or ciruelas, in Spanish) are in the prune family, from the geneus prunus tree. They are one of the first fruits domesticated by humans, which records indicate that plum remains have been found in Neolithic age archaeological sites along with olives, grapes and figs. Three of the most abundant cultivars of plums are not even found in the wild, only around human settlements.

Plums differ in many ways from similar species of the prunus family (such as peaches, cherries, etc.), which the most visible difference is that that plums have a prominent groove running down one side of the outside fruit. Plums are a common fruit commonly used in many world cuisines, including Spanish cuisine.

~ Plums in a mature state often have a dusty-white coating that gives them a glaucous appearance that is easily rubbed off. This white coating is actually an epicuticular wax coating and is known as "wax bloom".

Dried plum fruits can be called dried plums or prunes. And, although they are similar enough to be used interchangeably, prunes are usually from a distinct variety of plum.
~ Plum fruit tastes can be sweet, tart, or a combination of sweet and tart. And, depending on variety the skin may be particularly tart. The flesh of most plums is quite juicy and can be eaten fresh or used in jam-making or other recipes.

Plum juice can be fermented into plum wine, and when distilled produces a brandy known in Eastern Europe as Slivovitz, Rakia, Ruica or Palinka. In addition, an alcoholic beverage made from a plum-based cider known as plum jerkum is quite popular in central England.


Health Benefits

Dried plums (or prunes) contain many vitamins, minerals and several antioxidants. Although praised for their high nutritional traits, plums, prunes and prune juice contain high levels of dietary fiber, sorbitol and isatin, and therefore are widely known for their laxative effect. In fact, in recent years U.S. prune manufacturers have begun labeling dried prune products as "dried plums" in an effort to increase the health awareness of the healthy, mineral-packed prunes as much as to remove the stigma of prunes and prune juice being used primarily as a common remedy for treating constipation.


Plum Varieties

Plums come in a wide variety of colors and sizes. Some have a much firmer flesh than others, and some have yellow, white, green or red flesh, with equally varying skin color. The most common varieties of plum in most regions include:

~ Damson plums are relatively small with a rich, distinctive flavor. They have purple or black skin with a soft green flesh. Damson are the most common garden variety of plum grown in many regions of the U.S.

~ Satsuma plums, known as Japanese plums, have a firm red flesh with a red skin and consistently produce a good flavor.

~ Mirabelle plums are dark yellow, predominately grown in northeastern regions of France. They are known for being sweet and full of flavor.

~ Victoria plums, named for Queen Victoria, are of an oval shape and have a red or mottled skin with yellow flesh inside. The flesh is quite rough, and the stone does not come off completely from the flesh but the skin is easy to pull off. When fully mature, they are quite sweet and tasty and make a fantastic household table fruit.

~ Greengage plums have a firm pale green flesh and skin, even when ripe. They have a round-oval shape and smooth texture. On average, they tend to be smaller than round plums but larger than Mirabelle plums.

~ Yellowgage plums are similar to Greengage plums, but they are yellow instead of green.






……..……..………… Tag Game

We have selected an array of Spanish (and other) recipes from the food,com database that include plums as an ingredient. You are free to tag one of the recipes we found, or you are free to pick any other recipe in the database that includes plums or dried plums. And there is no limit; you can tag as many recipes as you can make before the end of the month.


Featured Spanish Recipes

~ Fresh Plum Flan by Elly in Canada
This classic dessert, popular throughout all the regions in Spain, gets an update with fresh, sweet autumn plums.

~ Plum-Blueberry Spritzers by NcMysteryShopper
A favorite Spanish herb, basil, contributes a truly inviting fragrance and taste sensation to this delicious plum-based beverage.

~ Almond and Plum Tart by Karin…
Almonds, a hallmark of Spanish cuisine, highlight this delicious plum tart recipe – perfect with a steaming cup of fresh brewed coffee.


Appetizers & Side Dishes




Chicken Fingers With Plum Dipping Sauce
Plum Applesauce - West
Whole Wheat Couscous With Plums, Goat Cheese and Fresh Mint
Vanilla Poached Plums
Brandied Plums
Spicy Roasted Plums (Diabetic)


Breads & Muffins




Plum Bread
Low Fat Dried Fruit Scones
Fresh Plum or Peach Cobbler Muffins
Easy Fruity Bran Muffins
Sugar Plum Bread With Homemade Butter
Fruit Cobbler Muffins


Main Dishes




Pork Tenderloin With Roasted Plums
Plum Pot Roast
Ginger Plum Chicken Stir Fry
Pork Roast With Apples in a Honey Plum Sauce
Chicken Breasts in Spicy Apricot and Plum Sauce
Seared Chicken Thighs With Plum Glaze


Desserts




Perfect Plum Pie
Plum Upside-Down Cake
Polenta Bake With Plums and Berries (Gluten-Free)
Plum Tart
Chocolate Chip-Coconut Cheesecake Bars
Roasted Plums With Spices


Sauces & Condiments




Plum Jam
Tangy Plum Sauce for Canning
Plum Preserves
Gingered Plum Jam
Jalapeno Plum Sauce
Plum Conserves

[Lalaloula]

Participants' Plum Recipes

Lalaloula:
Polenta Bake With Plums and Berries (Gluten-Free)
Plum-Amarettini-Muffins
Healthy Sweet Penguins (Grapes and Italian Plums)
Poppy Seed Plum Cake
Plum-Walnut-Cake With Cinnamon Streusel Topping
Vanilla Damson/Plum Cake

[Lalaloula]

The Tags


Lalaloula:


NorthwestGal:
Ball Blue Book Plum Jam (by Chris Reynolds)

[NorthwestGal]

For the October tag game, I would like to make
Ball Blue Book Plum Jam #470947 (by Chris Reynolds)

[Lalaloula]

NorthwestGal wrote:
For the October tag game, I would like to make
Ball Blue Book Plum Jam #470947 (by Chris Reynolds)

Sounds great, Ill get you updated.

Loula

[NorthwestGal]

NorthwestGal wrote:
For the October tag game, I would like to make
Ball Blue Book Plum Jam #470947 (by Chris Reynolds)

I have made and reviewed Ball Blue Book Plum Jam.

This was a great jam recipe. We have already gone through one jar, but I still have 4 or 5 jars remaining. So I am hoping to snap a photo and post it to the recipe. But in the meantime, it has been reviewed.