Best Fruit Now

Fruit Buying Guide – September 2010

September’s Fruit Buying Guide offers many helpful tips on selecting the Best Fruit at the market NOW! Do you know what “Natural” Thompsons are? Well you will want to look out for those babies. Black Mission Figs, buy ‘em leaky, yes oozing honey and a recipe for baking them Wrapped in Proscuitto and Stuffed with Goat Cheese – Easy and Delicious from Chef Melissa. Soon to be finished Mixed Melons. Do not miss out and learn how to find the best melons, favorites now are Sharlyn, Canari, Cranshaw, and Orange Flesh Honeydews- it’s now or never with these guys!

Fruit Buying Guide – August 2010

The August Fruit Buying Guide begins with a reminder to visit your local farm market and see the fresh and delicious offerings. Summer goes quickly and NOW is the time to enjoy fruit at its freshest! Best NOW are Blackberries, Strawberries, Cantaloupes, Peaches, and Watermelon! Also featured as the Best Fruits Now are Dapple Dandy Pluots, Kent mangoes, Dragon Fruits, and Zante Currant aka Champagne grapes!

Fruit Buying Guide – June 2010

Check out the Fruit Buying Guide for June and celebrate the arrival of fresh locally grown berries and melons, Flavorosa pluots and the long awaited New Crop of grapes! Read on to learn how to navigate the many produce departments armed with landmines of antique and immature fruits. Finally explore the arrival of Golden Kiwi and the only healthy DONUT, the Donut PEACH!

Fruit Buying Guide – May 2010

May’s Fruit Buying Guide features some very unconventional fruits! The lead off suggestion is the honey sweet Ataulfo mango aka the Champagne mango. Watch Chef Theo quickly whip up a mango sorbet recipe that is sure to please. Next is the Cinco de Mayo staple – Hass avocadoes. Watch Chef Theo prepare classic GUAC! Other suggestions include Golden Pineapples, Martha’s Best Papaya, Dragon fruit, Apache apricots, and Tasty Rich Apriums- read, watch and enjoy great fruit!

Chicken Sausages with Apples

Source: A la Maison Personal Chef Service

1 lb chicken sausage with white wine, garlic and herbs 2 Tbsp butter 2 large apples such as Fuji or gala, peeled and sliced 1 large onion, peeled and sliced 1 Tbsp fresh thyme, chopped plus more for garnish ¼ cup white wine Salt and pepper

Grill sausage over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, [...]

Bacon-Wrapped Figs Stuffed with Goat Cheese

12 ripe Mission Figs, halved 6 Tbsp goat cheese 12 Slices bacon, halved ½ cup balsamic vinegar Large Basil Leaves for garnish Honey for garnish

Preheat broiler. Simmer balsamic vinegar until reduced to about half and consistency is syrupy. Halve figs. Mound about ½ -1 Tsp goat cheese into center of fig, pressing slightly. Wrap bacon around fig and place on baking sheet seam side [...]

Amaretto Peach Parfait

2 large, ripe peaches, pitted, peeled and diced ½ cup Orange juice ¼ cup Lime juice 2 oz. Amaretto (optional) 1 Tbsp Fresh ginger, minced 2 Tbsp Sugar 1 cup Plain or vanilla yogurt 1 cup Pound Cake, cubed and divided Fresh mint for garnish

Combine orange juice, lime juice, amaretto, ginger and sugar in small saucepan. Simmer, [...]

Mango Sorbet

½ cup water 1/3 cup sugar ¼ cup corn syrup 2 cups diced mango 2 Tbsp lime juice

Make simple syrup by combining water, sugar and corn syrup in medium saucepan, heating and stirring until sugar is dissolved and liquid is clear. Refrigerate overnight. Puree mango and lime juice in food processor until smooth. Combine mango puree and simple syrup in large bowl, [...]

Strawberry Muddle Prosecco Popsicles

6-8 Fresh, ripe strawberries, halved 6-8 Fresh mint sprigs ½ c Simple syrup 2 Tbsp lemon juice 750 ml bottle of Prosecco (optional)

Muddle strawberries and mint in large pitcher. Add simple syrup and lemon juice. Stir in Prosecco and let bubbles settle for just a couple of minutes. Pour into popsicle molds, leaving 1/4 “ at the top for expansion. Stir the mixture [...]

Fruit Buying Guide – August 2009

The August Fruit Buying Guide begins with a plea to visit your local farm market and see the fresh and delicious offerings. Summer goes quickly and NOW is the time to enjoy fruit at it’s freshest! Also recommended are Dapple Dandy Pluots, this is the pluot that sparked a revolution and these babies are BEST NOW! Perhaps you like the sugary sweetness of a perfect white fleshed peach? Well now is the time as California’s are running awesome now! In the Fruit’s to Try section Tommy K suggests you seek out the sweet and delicate Champagne grape just before going out to slay the Dragon Fruit!