Around this time of year you can find me snooping around my in-laws muscadine vines, patientily waiting. Everyday I ask my husband “have they said anything about the grapes yet?” He usually just looks at me like I’m crazy. He grew up with a bounty of  these delicious jewels so his excitement for muscadine season isn’t as strong as mine.

I prefer this color; spotted pale purplish green. They are always the sweetest and full of juice that just explodes in your mouth!

I LOVE muscadines!! Even though they make my mouth itch if I eat too many, which always happens, but they are so worth it. I can go through grocery bags full in a matter of days. And don’t even get me started on muscadine wine!!! Heavenly!!

Sadly, my in-laws vines are not ready yet, although other parts of NC are exploding with them. Well today I just couldn’t wait any longer.  I HAD to have me some muscadines. I headed to the grocery store and made a mad dash to those overpriced muscadines.  I was like a crackhead on a mission and you wanna know what the sad part is? I didn’t even wait until I got home to start eating them. I popped that carton open and got to snacking right there in the car.

I don’t think I’ve ever done that before with produce, being that I’m a semi-germaphobe, but at that moment I didn’t even care about squirrel piss. They were DELICIOUS, comforting and satisfying!!!!

Sweet, tart, & so juicy! I don’t eat the skins since they are kinda bitter and tough.  I do sometimes eat the seeds since they are so small and I get tired of spitting them out.

I could have this whole bowl finished off in 10 minutes.

Well it’s been  2 hours since my muscadine purchase and that whole carton is gone  already *sigh* but atleast I got my fix. Hopefully the in-laws vines will be ready by next week. I do plan on planting my own vine…. someday.

Healthy Benefits Of Muscadines: (info from ncagr.gov)

• They contain Resveratrol, a potent cancer-fighting substance, is found in the skin, pulp and only a muscadine grape has it within the seed.
  
• Muscadines are among the richest sources of antioxidants found in nature.
  It’s believed that the assortment of antioxidants found in muscadine grapes and seeds slow the effects of aging and possibly extend life.
  
• Free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells, are terminated by the antioxidants in muscadines.
  
• Ellagic acid and resveratrol, the main antioxidants in muscadines, play a key role in preventing heart disease and high cholesterol and assist in treating ailments like arthritis, topical burns and the flu. 

Have you ever had muscadine??