Yesterday, I wrote that one of the customs for celebrating New Year’s involves eating 12 grapes at midnight. Each grape represents a month of the year. As you eat your way through the twelve grapes, note the flavor of each grape. The sweeter grapes represent good months and a sour/bitter grape is believed to represent a not so good month.

If you will be participating in the New Year’s Eve grape tradition, you are likely to have some grapes left over. Why not try this simple recipe that even children will enjoy putting together for New Year’s Day? This recipe from British Columbia Grape Growers’ Association traditionally uses Coronation grapes.

Unfortunately, table grapes are not particularly common at this time  of the year. Look for other grapes that are similar to the Okanagan Coronation grapes. When in season, be sure to look for Coronation grapes from Okanagan.

The British Columbia Grape Growers’ Association describes the Coronation grape as:

• Coronation is the most abundantly planted table grape variety in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. It is a blue, seedless variety developed in Summerland, making them unique to our region

• Seed traces are sometimes found in Coronation grapes. These are called vestigial seeds, and are usually soft, and not noticeable

• Coronation grapes can be used in any berry recipe.  Whatever cross-grocery items featured with strawberries, raspberries or blueberries should be displayed with these grapes.

Grape Parfait Recipe

A delicious dessert that couldn’t be easier to make. Kids especially love layering fruits in fancy glasses.

Ingredients

•4 cups (1000 mL) Okanagan Coronation grapes
•1 cup (250 mL) sour cream, stirred
•4 tbsp (60 mL) brown sugar
•Optional garnish: fresh mint sprigs

Instructions

1. Add ½ cup (125 mL) of grapes to parfait or stemmed goblets and top with 2 tbsp (30 mL) sour cream.
2. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Repeat layers and refrigerate.
3. Chill before serving.
4. Garnish with a sprig of mint, if desired.

Serves 4.

Recipe provided by British Columbia Grape Growers’ Association.