Best Fruit Now

Take this sheet with you to the market! Shop as if you have Tommy K at your side!
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Recommended Selections for December

• Best Now
• Avoid Now
• Try Now
• Fruit Odds

Best Now

Clementines

Easy to peel and refreshingly sweet, excellent Clementines are totally addictive. There is NO BETTER addiction to have, especially this time of year when our immune systems need the protective powers of citrus fruits. Go for the California rather than the imports. The California Clementines are much better this year, exactly the opposite situation of last year. The box or bag is required to say where the fruit inside was grown. December 19th UPDATE! : Spanish clementines are NOW running better than California. This change is due to rainy weather in California in early December.Enjoy Clementines NOW; this is the BEST month of the year for the little Cuties, do not miss the pleasure. Medium sizes are usually sweeter than the really big ones, so if you have a choice go for the medium sized fruit. I store them on the counter right in the box or bag. Here is a tip for finding the California ones. Spanish and Moroccan usually come in the wooden crate whereas California generally come in bags or cardboard cases. Read the label to be sure.

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Florida Navel Oranges

These are the very smooth skinned, and usually a bit scarred seedless oranges from sunny Florida. Do not mistake them for the gorgeous and tempting California Navels. Although the Cali’s are very orange and more perfect looking, big or small Florida navels will be excellent NOW, so go out and find them. One other thing you need to know is that Florida oranges are best sliced rather than peeled. Use a sharp knife and cut them into the familiar orange “smiles” or wedges. Strangely, they really do taste better this way. Peel them and you will be disappointed, slice one and you’ll have another. I like these oranges COLD so I suggest storing them in the fridge. A common question I’m asked is whether “Indian River” Florida citrus is better, the quick answer is YES.

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Pomegranates

Hopefully you have enjoyed the pleasure of eating a fresh pomegranate at its PEAK of flavor! If not, NOW is the time! These fruits have been cleaning human bodies of toxins for thousands of years; they are one of Mother Nature's original medicines. If you treat your body to this ancient pleasure, you will not be disappointed. The fresh pomegranate is really only GREAT for a short period of time. To best enjoy this SUPER FRUIT try this trick. To begin, get prepared by filling a pot with water (at least 6 inches) and have your strainer ready. Using a sharp knife (adults only please) cut a circle around the top of fruit, kind of like you are cutting the lid out for making a jack o lantern pumpkin, cut only a quarter inch into the fruit and around a 3 inch diameter. Gently push and pull until this top comes off revealing the red arils (the real name of those gel coated seeds) inside. Then make four cuts from top to bottom along the "ribs" (where the white membrane meets the exterior skin of fruit.) Now place your pomegranate into the water and use your fingers to gently push and pull the fruit apart and the arils from the white membrane. You will see that the flavor loaded arils sink to the bottom of your pot and the membrane and exterior will float. When done separating, skim off the white stuff from top of water and then simply strain. You now have a large amount of arils you can place into a serving bowl. Chew the arils, seeds and all; that's the way we in the biz do it! When buying, look for fruit that has a round circumference a sign of freshness, and exterior scarring is no problem at all. Also, avoid shriveled looking fruit.

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Avoid Now

Raspberries

Raspberries are in a production gap at this time and are thus pretty hard to find, very expensive and quality is just fair. A better choice in the berry category would be Blueberries with quality very good and prices coming down - GO BLUE! Here is a great French Toast recipe featuring Blueberries and Pecans!

Here is the link to the printable recipe:

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Mangosteen

Most people haven't even heard of the Mangosteen. Have you? Perhaps you experienced this "Queen of all Fruits" in Asia? If so, you know how delicious and heavenly these fruits can be. In recent years Mangosteen have been imported here from Thailand. The great distance traveled and damaging import protocols seriously diminish the taste of these tropical treats. So save your money (about $5.00 each fruit!) but be sure and indulge when traveling in the fruit's native lands. Here is a brief video, produced in Thailand, showing how Mangosteens look and grow.

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Try Now

Satsumas and Meyer Lemons from California

Satsumas are a super sweet and seedless mandarin orange often sold with a bit of stem and leaf still attached. If you see these small oranges, and the attached leaves are still bright green, give them a TRY! The Satsuma is the orignal "easy Peel" mandarin. Give it a try NOW as they are nearly finished for the season! Meyer lemons are also called "sweet lemons". These Lemons arent actually "sweet" just less tart. They still have a tang. Every winter season, I juice Meyer lemons for cocktails. Give this recipe Lemon Drop Martini recipe a TRY, adapted from Martha Stewart Living.

Meyer Lemon Drop Martini

Serves 2

2 oz. simple syrup made with zest of 1 Meyer lemon (see below) Juice of 2 Meyer lemons 3 oz. vodka

To make the simple syrup, combine 1 oz. water, 1 oz. sugar (measure in a cocktail jigger) and the lemon zest in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves.

In a cocktail shaker, combine a handful of ice, the lemon juice, vodka and simple syrup. Shake vigorously and strain into 2 chilled martini glasses.

Delicious cocktail, enjoy, Adults only!!

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Golden Kiwi

Another fantastic fruit to TRY NOW is the Golden Kiwi. These newer variety of Kiwi are being harvested in California NOW and I highly recommend you give them a TRY. Golden Kiwi have a smoother, less fuzzy skin than regular green Kiwi. The flesh of the Golden Kiwi has a Mango/Melon flavor and the beautiful coloring makes a gorgeous addition to a winter salad!

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Star Fruit (aka Carambola)

Also known as Carambola, the Star Fruit is usually percieved as a garnish. Truth be told, the Star Fruit is a wonderful light and citrusy flavored, refreshing treat. I enjoy them in a salad soaked in Balsamic vinegar. Try these babies NOW!

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Comice Pears

These pears derive their name from the phrase, Doyenne du Comice, meaning, “top of the show,” as they are often celebrated as the best pear variety. Originating in France, these are the same pear sold by Harry and David and many gift fruit shippers. These pears are great NOW! These pears are for the person who likes SUPER JUICY fruit, do not buy these and eat them while they are hard. If you like to eat your pears crunchy, go for the Bosc or Seckels. The Comice should be left on the counter until they yield to gentle pressure. When ready, these pears are AWESOME, worthy of their name.

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Fruit Odds for December

These are the percentage chances of blindly buying excellent quality fruit off the store shelf this month. Click on the headers to re-sort the list.

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Tagged as: blueberries, carambola, chef, Clementines, cuties, Florida Navels, fruit, lemon drop martini, mangosteen, martha stewart, meyer lemons, pomegranate, raspberries, recipe, satsumas, star fruit