Fruit For Dinner

Fruit always makes a good dessert. After all there's nothing liked sliced apples and cheddar or a fruit compote or pie. However any fruit can be incorporated into the main course. The flavor gives a sweet taste but it's also earthy and unique. What's even better is that there are so many different fruits you can use to create a variety of different dishes.

Salads and fruits are a natural go to gether. Fruits add texture and crunch as well as color, making any tossed greens that much more appealing. Try adding sliced Bartlett pears to an arugula salad along with Assiago cheese and sliced almonds. For more bite try a Pecorino cheese that will compliment the pear's woody , sweet flavor. You can create a similar dish with apple but used a smoked Gruyere or cheddar and strips of cold grilled chicken.Another idea is a grape and chicken salad . The fruit's taste completes the meats. For all of these a simple vinaigrette dressing, using red wine or apple cider vinegar is the best. Stay away from anything too garlicky or too herbal otherwise it'll overpower the fruit's taste.

You can also use fruit sin roasted or cooked dinners. There's the famous duck a l'orange which doesn't necessarily call for the entire fruit. Just the freshly squeezed juice and zest are used for this. You can also try cherries with duck too for a different spin.Another standard is pineapple with ham. The pineapple has always been used to cut down the protein enzymes in the meat however the extreme sweet and saltiness has been a favorite for generations, Prunes and plums also figure in roasts too. especially in beef. This combo can work well in North African tagines or even in just a simple meat loafs.

Fruit doesn't have to be just in dessert dishes. It can be a chief ingredient in a tasty salad or a flavorful roast. Aadd any kind you want , from apples to cherries from plums to oranges to create tasty and unique dishes that are sure to be enjoyed.

Summer Birthdays

Summer is a great time for all sorts of celebrations, especially birthday parties. However a warm weather celebration does have its' limitations. Yes, you can feast but just watch what you serve. What may work for winter parties may not cut it for hot weather festivities. Yet you can have some great stuff , only made during these steamy times.

Salads are big during any party. Who doesn't love the mix of pastas , dressings and veggies?However be careful of what is in them. Mayo is always suspect because it turns very quickly Instead sub in olive oil for a healthier spin.Using olive oil also lets the other flavors shine through because of its' light taste.It also keeps better and longer in leftovers.Also be careful with what veggies you serve. Again tomatoes can turn very quickly , especially if they're cut as with cauliflower and sometimes broccoli. Don't over buy these veggies for crudites. Buy enough for whatever the amount of people coming. If you run out then you can always run to the store to quickly pick up replacements.

Cake is one of the mainstays for any birthday party no matter what the season. Yet you have to be careful with what you either bake or buy. Avoid any whipped cream topping. Dairy turns fast as well. If you're making the cake then use Cook Whip which is just as tasty and even lower in calories than whipped cream. There is the easy to make good old fashioned butter cream which tends to last longer . Another idea is serving a plain pound cake with a side of Cool Whip and fresh berries.Ice cream cake is another choice (albeit an expensive one). It does go fast and is easy to store the leftovers because it is frozen.

Summer is a great time for birthday parties, despite the hot weather. Choose your foods and desserts wisely to ensure a trouble free celebration. Then enjoy!It's the perfect time for cake and candles.

So Many Pears So Many Recipes

The apple is usually the star fruit of the fall season. However its' costar, the pear can also shine in a variety of recipes. It can be made into a variety of things, from butter to pies sliced in salads or used in sweet relishes. better yet there are so many different kinds of pear the possibilities are endless.

Surprisingly enough pears are wonderful in any kind of salad. They lend flavor and texture as well as color. Plus there's a dose of unexpected sweetness. The fruit goes well with any kind of lettuce is doe swell with ones featuring chicken. A great lunch or brunch salad is pear with chicken and almonds. this is a light. yet tasty concoction made with a yogurt mayo dressing and also has crunchy celery and green peppers. You can also make pear bread which is similar in texture to banana and zucchini breads. Again slices of pear bread with butter make great holiday gifts and nice hostess gifts for thanksgiving. You can use any kind of pear as long as they're peeled and shredded.

Pears also make wonderful desserts. I'm partial to poached pears myself. You can poach them in red wine for a full flavor. use th e mircrowave for this. It's the easiest and also the less messiest too. Pear tarts are wonderful and easy to make. Most recipes call for a simple pie crust and sliced pears. You can glaze the fruit with apricot jam before baking and later serve with an almond cream. An even delicate pear based dessert is pear sorbet usually made with a touch of white wine. This the perfect end to a chicken or duck dinner.

This is the season for pears and there are so many to be harvested right now. Use this versatile fruit in any dish from brunch to dessert. Their flavor is wonderful, crisp and light like a sunny fall day. They really are the stars that shine during this season.