fruits Archives - Impressions

Fresh Fruit Tartlets

Spring is finally here and springtime gatherings like Easter, Mothers day and Bridal showers are right around the corner. This year make it special with individual servings of these beautiful fresh fruit tartlets with cream cheese filling. They are so simple because I use store-bought gram cracker crusts. Theses crusts are shelf-stable and good to keep on hand for last-minute treats. The filling whips together in minutes, decorating with fresh fruit is creative, and fun even children like to help. Your guests young and old will love these tartlets as they feature colorful fresh fruit on a lightly sweetened cream cheese base.

(Fresh Fruit Tartlets with Cream Cheese Filling)

Makes 6 (you can easily double this recipe to serve more).

6 store-bought individual graham cracker crusts
1 8-ounce package cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup powdered sugar (more if you like things sweeter)
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
variety fresh fruit (I like strawberries, kiwis and blueberries because you can slice the strawberries and kiwis to make them go further and these offer a good variety of color. Other good options are raspberries, blackberries, peaches or sliced grapes).

In a medium-large mixing bowl combine the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, sour cream and vanilla. Mix these together well until creamy and smooth.

Divide the cream cheese mixture evenly among the 6 crusts and top with sliced fruits in a variety of patterns. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

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.