fresh produce Archives

Odd Food Parings

Flavors can range from sweet and salty to spicy, pungent and earthy. (Flavors are actually developed through our sense of taste). Do you ever have those days when nothing sounds good? Eating the same food with the same favor combinations day after day year after year can get a little boring. This week’s recipe is about odd food parings featuring fresh garden tomatoes and peaches. The acid and sweetness of these two pairs wonderfully in a light refreshing summer salad.

I encourage you to think outside the box, mix up your old favorites and try one of these new and surprisingly tasty odd food combinations. You never know what new delicious discovery is waiting for you. Let me know what you like best.

Odd Food Parings that are Really Tasty

Chocolate and Chilies
Chocolate and Olives
Dark chocolate and Parmesan
Orange and Olives
Bacon and Banana
Salmon and Licorice
Smoked salmon and Greek yogurt on bagels
Mushrooms and Apricots
Butternut Squash and Lime
Parsnip, Pear and Vanilla
Rhubarb and Anise
Apricot and Basil
Raspberry and Peanut Butter
French Brie and Almond Cookies
Apple and Lavender
Vanilla and Cardamom
Ice cream and Olive Oil, pinch of Sea Salt
Strawberries with Goat, Feta or Blue Cheese (drizzle with a little Honey or Balsamic vinegar for an extra touch of sweetness).

Fresh Peach and Tomato Garden Salad

(Fresh Peach and Tomato Garden Salad)

This fresh and clean salad is vibrant with color and flavor. For best results use only the freshest summer garden ingredients. The acid and sweetness of these two pairs wonderfully in a light, easy to make refreshing summer salad.

2 each fresh and ripe peaches, roughly chopped
2-3 each fresh garden tomatoes, seeded and roughly chopped
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
1/4 cup roughly chopped cilantro
1/2 each of a lime juiced
salt and pepper to taste
drizzle with good olive oil

Instructions:

In a large bowl mix all together, let sit for 1 hour and enjoy.

Guide to Picking and Handling a Perfect Cantaloupe

In order to make delicious meals every kitchen needs good working tools. This month we are getting you set up with the equipment you really need a good knife that fits you and your cooking style and the 3 knives you need to start your collection and complete most kitchen tasks well.

Now that you have what you need lets put those tools to work. I get a lot of questions from clients who are paying premium prices for fruits that are already cut up and processed for them because unsure of how to select, prepare and store these delicious fruits. Enjoy this video on how to cut some favorite fruits that can be challenging like cantaloupes and pineapples and start enjoying them year round.

Click here for How to pick and handle a perfect pineapple

Guide to Picking and Handling a Perfect Cantaloupe

The best way to pick out most produce is to use your senses: Look, Feel and Smell, as these will all give you clues to the quality of the item and guide you to pick the best cantaloupe.

How to know when it is ripe:

Look: Look for golden tones in the skin and that it is firm, free from major blemishes.

Feel: Choose one that is heavy for its size and is free from lumps and soft spots. When ripe one should yield to a little pressure at the flowering end of the melon.

Smell: A ripe melon should smell slightly sweet. However you won’t be able to smell anything if it is refrigerated as most of them are in the grocery store. Take it home and let it rest at room temperature on the counter for a few days to achieve a nice, juicy and flavorful fruit.

How to prepare it:

Just like with any fresh produce wash and dry thoroughly first.

When cutting any item it is always best to make cuts to keep flat surfaces, as it is difficult and dangerous to cut items that roll around.

First carefully slice off both ends to remove the skin and create a flat surface. Next run your knife down along the fruit trimming away the skin from the flesh. Do this moving around the melon until all the skin has been removed.

Now that you have a perfectly peeled melon you can slice it into chunks, again wanting to keep flat surfaces for safety. Slice the melon in half top to bottom. Remove the seeds and place the half flat side down. Then cut into slices, then chunks. Repeat with the second half of the melon and enjoy!

Storage:

Keep un-cut fruits at room temperature until fully ripened. When ripened, refrigerate for up to 5 days before cutting. A cut fruit can be sealed in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic for 3-5 days, but is best if consumed quickly.