> Marie,
> Yes you can use fresh grape leaves. It is best to use the younger,
> less
> leathery ones. I have found that LIGHTLY blanching them in lemon or
> absorbic acid and water works best to get the same taste as the store
> bought leaves or you could add extra lemon to the stuffing mixture.
> When you blanch them, get the water boiling and plunge the leaves in
> for
> less than a minute. You only want them soft and pliable not cooked.
> You can also do this in the microwave in a covered dish with a touch
> of
> water in it.
> I actually preserve my own leaves so that I have a year 'round supply.
> It is soooooo easy, I don't see how they can get away with charging so
> much for them in the store. If you want the instructions, I can send
> them to you.
> Good luck and happy eating!
> Shona
>
> ******************************
>
> Shona Lamoureaux
> Ecological Modelling
> AgResearch, Lincoln, New Zealand
> lamoureauxs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Plant and Microbial Sciences
> University of Canterbury, Christchurch
> s.lamoureaux@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> ******************************
>
>
>
>
------------------------------