Posts Tagged ‘Fruit’

It’s that time of year again when there is no end to fresh produce. Whether it’s corn, peaches or zucchini, summer vegetables are at their peak, both in taste and in bounty. At Yummly, we know the best thing to do with them too- cook them up! Check your garden or grocery store for the freshest and most flavorful produce.

Try entering different combinations of ingredients into the FoodFinder, such as corn and zucchini, or tomato and basil, to see all of the different recipes that you can make. If you’re bringing a side dish, main dish, vegan or meat centric dish, there are endless combinations that can be found using your customized FoodFinder. Try your TasteBuds for recipes that you may be interested in too- your pescatarian Bud may have uncovered a great salsa for topping tuna, or a fellow dessert fiend perfected  a pie that makes the most of all of those fresh blueberries.

Yummly has compiled a list of our favorite summer recipes that incorporate what is in season right now. Tired of tomatoes? Exhausted by overzealous zucchini? Look no further for seasonal solutions for your produce problem. These combinations are sure to be a hit!

Blueberry Lattice Pie: You can also substitute other berries or stone fruits to use up what is in season in this classic dessert.

Zucchini Blueberry Muffins: Make breakfast healthier and just as delicious with these vitamin C packed muffins.

Fig and Walnut Tapenade: Serve this as an appetizer, or spread it on a sandwich

Fruit and Vegetable Ratatouille: A colorful side dish that celebrates the best of the summer!

Fruit and Vegetable Ratatouille

Fruit and Vegetable Ratatouille

Banana S'mores

Banana S'mores

Today is two different national food holidays- National Banana Split Day and National’s S’mores Day. We made it easier by combining the two!

Banana S’mores

Watermelon Arugula Salad

Watermelon Arugula Salad

National Watermelon and Nut Day- what better way to combine the two than in a nice, refreshing salad!

Watermelon Arugula Salad

Frozen yogurt is staging a serious take over. In the Bay Area alone there have been more than 20 different frozen yogurt shops established in the past four years, several of which that are chains. All of them are incredibly popular, and it’s simple to see why- frozen yogurt is delicious.

Going out to frozen yogurt with friends is a favorite past time of mine, but after acquiring an ice cream maker- blenders also work- I haven’t looked back. When you make your own fro-yo, the taste, texture and flavor are up to you. It is far more satisfying to put your personally plucked produce, or other favorite ingredients- bittersweet dark chocolate in my case- into your mixer.

At Yummly, there is no end to frozen yogurt recipes. Yummly’s goal is a perfect match with making your own froyo- you have the option to change the recipes in accordance to your tastes. Want it sweeter? Add more sugar. Want more texture? Throw in some Cap’n Crunch. Yummly can also suggest a flavor of frozen yogurt that is right up your alley, but may not have occurred to you (You will not believe how amazing Avocado Lime Frozen Yogurt is until you’ve tried it).

1. Homemade Frozen Yogurt

This flavor goes with anything you could ever want to put on top of frozen yogurt, whether they are strawberries, M & M’s, or even Cinnamon Toast Crunch- I’ll confess right now that I’m guilty of combining the three.

2. Peach Frozen Yogurt

When peaches are in season, how can you not resist this new take on peaches and cream?

3. Blackberry Chocolate Frozen Yogurt

This is a delicious twist on a fruit and chocolate combination. It turns such a pretty color too!

Blackberry- Chocolate Frozen Yogurt

Blackberry- Chocolate Frozen Yogurt

4. Avocado Lime Frozen Yogurt

If you don’t like frozen yogurt because it isn’t creamy enough, talk to me after you try this.

5. Latte Frozen Yogurt

Lattes are another one of my favorite treats, so making it into froyo is even better!

6. Chocolate Frozen Yogurt

Where would a top 10 list be without chocolate? (Not on a food blog, that’s for sure)

7. Vegan Frozen Yogurt

Here’s a vegan and dairy free  twist that goes really well with fresh berries and other fruits, just throw it in the freezer for an hour or so like you would with any other yogurt

8. Frozen Yogurt Pops

Make frozen yogurt even more fun by making it into a popsicle- if you don’t have molds use shot glasses or an ice cube tray

Yogurt Pops

Yogurt Pops

9. Orange Creamsicle Frozen Yogurt

It actually tastes like a creamsicle.

10. Fat Free Raspberry Frozen Yogurt

This tastes too good to be good for you.

Cool off with these recipes this summer, and don’t be afraid to try new combinations. Frozen yogurt is one of the easiest treats to make at home. Enjoy customizing these recipes so you get your favorite flavor- just remember to post them on Yummly!

Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

It’s National Blueberry Month and National Cheesecake Day- why not combine the two?

Blueberry Cheesecake Bars

Peaches in Caramel Over Vanilla Ice Cream

Peaches in Caramel Over Vanilla Ice Cream

It’s National Vanilla Ice Cream Day, try this Recipe of the Day in order to celebrate!

Peaches in Caramel Over Vanilla Ice Cream

Pineapple Lime Daquiris

Pineapple Lime Daquiris

It’s National Daquiri Day- start your week off right with this Recipe of the Day!

Pineapple Lime Daquiris

This list is a little late since most of this information has been out for some time.  And, while many trends are not surprising, lists vary depending on your source which is why I’ve compiled them into a larger “Yummly-ized” version for easy reading. 

If you stop by Yummly in the near future you will see some of these trends appear as blog topics.  As always we’d love to hear about any you’ve seen in your local area or neighborhood. 

Finally, sorry to say I left off one trend (fried chicken) because although I love it, I feel like it’s been covered in the past.  Happy to add it in if anyone disagrees!

Yummly’s interpretation of 2010 trends (dining and eating):

  • Back to basics – think canning, pickling and basic techniques
  • Beer – craft beers everywhere, also taps into the “new Austrian” trend
  • Smaller portions (restaurant meals, desserts) – mini whoopie pies
  • Burgers – chains will strive for better, premium burgers
  • Children’s healthy food options – more for the home
  • Cocktails – local liquor and culinary creations
  • Casual dining – potlucks
  • Eggs – the new bacon
  • Asian + Latin – a dynamic duo (LA Kogi taco trucks)
  • Farm branded meats – “Denver Steak”
  • Lamb – the new pork
  • Local, seasonal – check out the Cook Here and Now concept (Bay Area)
  • Meatless meals and party foods – even for non-vegetarians
  • Sustainable seafood, different varieties – Branzino, Arctic Char
  • Superfruits – mangosteen, rambutan, goji berries, acai
  • Sweeteners – stevia, turbinado, agave (and real sugar in sodas!)
Dungeness crab:  seasonal, local (Bay Area) and fresh.

Dungeness crab: seasonal and fresh.

To celebrate the new year AND tie into the list of trends, try the Celery Cup recipe below.  It’s a refreshing, culinary delight. 

Celery Cup #1

  • 1 ½ oz. Square One Cucumber
  • 1 – inch fresh English cucumber
  • 2 – inch celery stalk
  • Palm-full of cilantro
  • 1 oz. fresh lemon juice
  • ¾ oz. organic agave nectar or simple syrup
  • 1 celery stalk (garnish) 

In a mixing glass, muddle the cucumber, celery, cilantro and lemon juice into a pulp.  Add remaining ingredients, cover in ice and shake hard for 10 seconds.  Strain into a tall glass over fresh ice and garnish with a piece of celery. 

Recipe courtesy of Elixir and Square One.

Happy new year (again)!

 
Luscious lemon bars!

Luscious lemon bars!

A few years ago when I decided to update my yard I started by planting trees.  Citrus, to be exact.  It seemed like a good idea at the time; rather than flowery ornamentals I would add functional plants or things I could eventually eat (the fruit, not the trees themselves!) 

I started off by planting a meyer lemon tree next to a small lime tree.  Since there was space on the other side of the lime it seemed natural to add a Eureka (the more common type found in grocery stores).  Turns out the lime tree was actually a dwarf lemon (they weren’t ripe yet) and the larger tree hidden by the fence…another lemon.  

It’s probably a good thing lemons are not only useful around the house but are healthy as well. And as if it’s not obvious my favorite use for lemons is in desserts; whether in the shape of a pie covered with a thick cloud of fluffy meringue or in the guise of lemon bars.  If you don’t have time for pie, try the shortbread lemon bar recipe (below).  This is a super fast, easy recipe your friends and family will love. 

Shortbread base 

  • 1 ½ sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Cut butter in ½-inch pieces.  In a food processor process all ingredients until mixture begins to form small lumps.  Sprinkle mixture into a 13 by 9 by 2 inch baking pan and with a metal spatula press evenly onto bottom.  Bake shortbread in middle of oven until golden, about 20 minutes.  While shortbread is baking, prepare the topping. 

Lemon Bars

  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • Hot shortbread base
  • 3 tablespoons confectioners sugar 

In a bowl whisk together eggs and granulated sugar until combined well and stir in lemon juice and flour.  Pour lemon mixture over hot shortbread.  Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees and bake confection in middle of oven until set, about 30 minutes.  Cool completely in pan and cut into 24 bars. 

Bar cookies keep, covered and chilled, 3 days.  Sift confectioners’ sugar over bars before serving.

Recipes courtesy of Epicurious.

Asian pears are a welcome farmer's market surprise!

Asian apple pears are a welcome farmer's market surprise!

During a walk through the local farmer’s market this weekend I came across a vendor selling Apple Pears.  I picked up a few because he seemed quite genuine in his enthusiasm for the fruit, telling me to refrigerate for optimum taste before cutting. 

Upon returning home I followed his instructions by placing the fruit in the “crisper” section of my refrigerator.  A few hours later I returned to retrieve one of these beauties was quite impressed when it was cut open.  The Apple Pear is like a cross between an apple (in texture) and a pear (hence, the name!)  Best of all, there’s a nice hint of sweetness balanced by a slightly floral flavor.   

If you find these available in your area pick up a few and try them.  They seem to be perfect for snacking and could substitute nicely in an apple tart.   Enjoy!