Country Kitchen:
Enjoying Fruit and Berry Season
By Mary Emma Allen
Fruit and berry season has arrived, with melons, too, on our menus.
Although nowadays we find some type of fruit in the grocery stores year
round, summer brings its bounty when we can indulge in a variety of ways
to serve these foods.
My husband and I enjoy fruit for breakfast, lunch, and supper, even for
an evening snack. Although I may take an apple or banana with me when
traveling, I truly enjoy a dish of cut-up fruit of various kinds,
whatever is in season. Sometimes I'll add whipped topping or a scoop of
ice cream.
Tropical Fruits
We also find a variety of exotic or tropical fruits in the supermarkets
that weren't available when I was a child. Pineapple always came in cans
and very rarely did we find the fresh pineapple. Now you can purchase it
in most every store.
Other fruits include kiwis, papayas, mangoes, carambola (star fruit) and
litchis which are commonly found these days. Many supermarkets have
information about how to use and prepare these fruits.
If you've never tried tropical fruits, purchase just one, see if the
supermarket information tells you how to prepare it, and try it alone or
mixed with other fruit. Generally you'll discover them tasty or a taste
you'll acquire.
Kiwi Now Common
The kiwi has been found in markets so often that some people don't
realize or forget it's isn't common to the United States. This New
Zealand grown fruit, originally were called Chinese gooseberries.
When introduced into this country, the name eventually was changed to
kiwi and caught on, as did the fruit after some creative marketing.
When ripe it's delicious and we enjoy it cut up with other fruit in a
salad or fruit cup. Some recipes call for kiwi in fruit tarts. These
generally consist of fruit cut up in a baked pie shell, then covered with
a glaze (like that used for fresh strawberry pie), and topped with more
raw fruit.
Used With Other Foods
Fruit doesn't need to be eaten alone or just with other fruit. You can
include it in recipes with meat and vegetables to enhance the flavor of
that dish.
For instance, Chicken Salad or Tuna Salad becomes tasty when you add
pieces of pineapple and/or apple. Many people like raisins included with
a variety of recipes. Sauces for meats are made from many different
fruits and can give a tangy or sweet flavor.
Recipes for baked products frequently call for fruit....Banana Bread,
Pineapple-Banana Bread, Apple Cake or Applesauce Cake, Pineapple Upside
Down Cake (one recipe called for blueberries added to this dish and
another suggested cranberries), Blueberry Cake or Bread, and many others.
Then you have fruit desserts in the form of pies, puddings, cookies, and
muffins.
Refreshing beverages for summer often are made from fruit juices and
fruit put through a blender.
FRUIT BOWL - Cut a melon in half (watermelon for a group, cantaloupes for
individuals). Scoop out center with small ice cream scoop. Fill with
melon balls and other fruit of various types. Sprinkle with sugar if
needed. Serve with whipped topping or ice cream.
(C) 2003 Mary Emma Allen
About the Author
Mary Emma Allen has been writing her "Cooking Column" for newspapers
and online publications for 30 years and
has compiled a family cookbook. She’s currently compiling a
cookbook/story book,
"Tales From a Country Kitchen." Visit her web site for more cooking
articles. Contact her at me.allen@juno.com
