So, as you all know, I’ve been eating a lot more fruits and vegetables for the past year. This has resulted in a much healthier lifestyle. But I’m also trying to eat more “seasonal” fruits and veggies…and that’s a challenge. I know what I like and what I don’t, and while I’m not a picky eater, it takes a little work to remember what is in season and then find interesting ways to prepare the particular food.
I’m not aware of seasons. I have to rely on the grocery store to let me know by what they put up front and what they have on sale and in plentiful supply. Corn is in season right now, but frankly, we eat that year-around. I also noticed that my grocery has had a lot of very thin, stalked asparagus lately…not sure if that’s seasonal because I think it’s from out of the country…though I don’t care because I love asparagus tossed in olive oil, salt & pepper and then broiled in the oven until the tips are crispy and the thin stalks are tender. Yum!
Watermelon is something I don’t buy until it’s in season because it’s expensive. This time of year, though, it’s plentiful. After fourth of July, we had a bunch left over. I froze it in chunks and then next weekend, made the most delicious frozen watermelon margaritas. OMG. I did NOT use ice because the watermelon was frozen…I just blended it with margarita mix, tequila and triple sec. Then before I served it, I floated Midori (melon liqueur) over the top. You could leave out the liquor and make a smoothie, too. Maybe add a dash of orange juice. I bet it would be delicious!
My new addiction this year is something I’ve never tried before, believe it or not. Ranier cherries. I love bing cherries, but I’d never tried the Raniers until my grocery had them for sale 2-for-1. I figured I’d give the extras to my neighbors…but I ended up keeping them and eating them myself. Great snack and much less messier than bings! I even went yesterday and bought a huge flat of them from Sam’s Club. I try to limit how many I have a day, but it’s hard because they are so delicious!
So…any particular fruit or veggie that you’ve been eating a lot of lately because it’s plentiful and cheaper…or anything you’re looking forward to?
By all reports, Julie Leto was a sweet child once, somewhat shy, preferring to play quietly in her room making up stories. However, being raised with three brothers in a loud, primarily Italian household did have its influences and Julie discovered her inner tough girl. That’s probably why most of her heroines kick serious butt. Writing sassy heroines has worked out, as she’s sold over forty books to four publishers featuring strong, confident women. Julie lives in Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance.
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Cherries are on my list. The bings, and also lots of grapes. Green or red, as long as they’re seedless. I need to try other things. I’m just too lazy to change grocery stores.
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Freeze the grapes when it’s hot, they are awesome coolers!
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I look forward too the cherries every year, too. When they’re not in season, they just aren’t worth the effort.
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Not really a big cherry fan, in any form. I have been eating lots of summer squash lately. Both my boss and one of my friends have huge gardens and keep bringing me fresh veggies. Corn not in yet for them, so no fresh from the garden corn for me yet. I too love watermelon, but it is so expensive right now, I end up getting a pre-cut container(single girl here) to get my fix. Might have to buy a little extra so I can try your frozen margarita.
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I love peaches. And tomatoes. I planted “5″ tomato plants this year and can’t wait for the first ripe tomato.
Have a great day all,
Cher
I’m doing the cool dance because it is supposed to be very hot again today
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You can’t beat Jersey tomatoes and corn. Love this time of year for that. I love zucchini and could eat it every night. I never tried and don’t think I’ve ever seen Ranier cherries. I do get the bing’s now. Love plums too and this is the only time they’re good. Got lucky with two good watermelons so far.
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I am a big fan of watermelon and white corn. There is nothing like corn roasted on the bar b que. yum
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Watermelon and cantalopes are plentiful here at the moment. My favorite is pineapple, though it’s not exactly “indigenous”.
I may just have to try a watermelon margarita! That sounds YUM!
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I’m a big cherry fan. Lucky for me I get to live in northern Michigan where they are plentiful. The National Cherry Festival just finished the past weekend.
My dad is working on an addition to a winery right now (Chateau Chantal) and we got some lovely sweet cherrys! I had to freeze them so they didn’t go bad.
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This is what I want to do. I have not even had time to go to the market in forever. Switching to single parenting is hard and time consuming. Everyday the kids want to stop for fruits n veggies and every day we have appts. etc until late.
The watermelon drink sound yummy. My kids love it when I juice grapes, apples, and a hint of lemon to make a juice. It is their favorite.
:)
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My daughter & I both love Clementines, which are a Mandarin, but taste much more like a Tangerine. They peel very easily & don’t have seeds, so, works well for Lisa. I know CA is a big producer of them, but, FL may have them too. It is a winter fruit, but, Trader Joe’s has them now in boxes called “Josie’s” Clementines which are produced especially for them. If you can find any, I heartily recommend them.
Patricia
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I can buy a box of them and they are gone in a day or so. Love them.
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Hi, ev,
Aren’t they great? Here, the stores can’t keep them on the shelves. Right now, there don’t seem to be any place, other than at Trader Joe’s, but, as soon as I see them, I buy several boxes.
Patricia
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Tomatoes are a summer favorite. We haven’t had enough hot weather yet that they are sold at Farmer’s Market. The next couple of weeks will bring many of my favorites to the table, tomatoes, corn, zucchini, yellow crookneck squash, apricots (they are in now), I also love white nectarines, very sweet & juicy. I love melons and a couple of the vendors have yummy, picked ripe that are heavenly.
If I am ever in Florida I’d love to have a watermelon Margarita with you. That sounds so good.
I buy very few fruits & vegtables at the store as our Farmer’s Market here has the best produce. I like supporting the locals and whatever you buy is so fresh & so much better than what you find at the store.
Great subject, but it is making me hungry!!
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It’s hard for me with fruits and veggies. I am picky, but my boys are pickier. I would like to do more ‘local’ ‘sustainable’ fruits and veggies, bit I do live in the PNW which does limit my options.
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I love summer for this reason — the abundance of great fresh fruits and vegetables! I love those thin stalked asparagus, too, and just yesterday at Costco I bought peaches and nectarines (and Rainer cherries for Don — I don’t like them). Oh, and strawberries, too.
Around here they have huge farms where you can go and pick your own fresh blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries! That’s something I’ve been wanting to do, because it just sounds fun!
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Head for my back yard- I have a whole fence line of Blackberries my dad planted before he died. They were heirlooms ones from our farm that we sold. I have a freezer full for pies and stuff all winter.
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Zucchini, Blueberries, Strawberries are my favorites right now.
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Here is Vallarta, Walmart has a Tiangis vegetable sale each Tuesday and the price of all produce is cut in half or if it is seasonal up to 75% off. Our favorite fruit to buy is mango. There are so many ways to enjoy them and you can’t beat 19 cents(2 pesos) a kilo ( 2.5 lbs)! Cherries are a luxury and cost somewhere around $5 dollars($55 pesos) for 10 ozs. Everything else though is pretty accessible price wise, even when out of season.
I have taken to serving fresh fruit or frozen smoothies to the kiddos for their dessert each night and I already see a change in their weight and energy levels. So there will be a limited amount of cookies and cake for this family in the future. I think you made a smart choice in your dietary options, Julie!
~Talina
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Just sitting here re-reading everyones posts and I am curious about the price of watermelon in the States. What do you normally pay for one per pound? Here in Vallarta, we pay 50 cents a kilo year round. That would round out to a little less than 25 cents per pound right?
IMO, it is interesting to see the difference in the prices in each of our areas.
~Talina
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I buy whatever they have at the local farmer’s market (Thursdays and Sundays). Right now, there are no watermelon yet but there are plenty of berries. Some of those blackberries and ollalieberries are excellent. Stone fruits are great right now, too, as are corn. As for veggies, green beans and various types of summer squashes and zucchini are always welcome. There are also Asian stalls that sell Asian veggies which I’m always up for (trim and saute in butter and olive oil). This is one of the many perks of living in California.
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I grew up on a farm, so fruits and veggies have always been a part of my diet. In the winter, they would be canned or frozen, as we did a lot of that over the summer.
I will eat just about anything when it comes to them. Finding the time to get to the farmers market right now tho has been a pain.
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living is SC I have to say peaches, I just love them. We also have strawberry and blackberry pick your own farms near here. I love cherrys and grapes for when I’m on the computer, which is all day, because you don’t have to prepare them before eating.
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I love this time off year because raseberry’s cherries and blackberrys are in season. I also love corn on the cob and cauliflower .
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definitely the watermelons; no Texas
summer is complete w/o them
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Julie, one thing I miss about Florida is the wide variety of really good produce throughout most of the year. Doesn’t happen here, which is why I try to take advantage in the summer months! It’s impossible to get good corn on the cob anytime but right around now, and lately it’s been delicious! Plus I have fantastic veggies growing in my garden right now.
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Nothing like home grown tomatoes, we grow beef, plum and cherry in the backyard. We also like the seedless watermelons and the dark bing cherries, just to mention a few…Yum summer is a tasteful time of the year…