Preserving Your Produce

Hot weather is not kind to fresh produce. Weather can make even the crispest and freshest harvests go wilty and soggy. There are ways of preserving fruits and veg - and it can be very simple and tasty.

Most veggies like broccoli turn brown almost as soon as they're cut.It has to do with the way the mitochondria reacts to being severed (as mentioned in Wednesday's New York Times Dining section).  You can easily mist them and other vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers by placing  them between paper towels. Another way is a sort of pickling by using a simple oil and red wine vinegar dressing. This keeps the veggies crisp and flavorful. Some people swear by salt but that only brings out the moisture and prematurely ages the produce

Fruits should also be kept fresh otherwise mold spots occur.Try to keep them separate or even in brown paper bags. This last can help in the ripening process as well. Lemons and limes fare the best, while apples require a cool dark place - even a cellar is good . Another way of keeping fruit fresh and tasty is cutting it up and macerating  the pieces in a simple sugar sauce. Mix brown sugar or stevia together and pour over it .Add some lemon juice to preserve flavor and color. You can servealso this plain or with Cool Whip or vanilla ice cream.

Keeping produce fresh is a hard task during these hot days. It can be done though to ensure fresh and still tasty food. Don't let the hot days get you or your harvest down.