Plums Rediscovered

There's nothing that says summer quite like a plump juicy plum. It's flavor is sweeter than any candy and it;s just fun to bite into. Another version of it, the prune is another great treat(don't smirk, it really is!)

I love plums any time of year, but especially now during the hot weather. I think it;s because of my grandfather planted a plum tree in our backyard and every summer we had deep purple Italian plums. These are smaller than the ones we get today in the supermarket but just as sweet. To me they were better than any ice cream or cookie.They still are. There's nothing like a chilled one for dessert with iced tea or seltzer.Better yet plums don't need embellishment like cream as strawberries do or be dipped in caramel like apples and pears. Because their taste is just perfectly satisfying, they're just good on their own. One caveat though, once you eat one, you'll want another.They can be a bit strong on the stomach  but that's it.

Dried plums or prunes are another treat. Yes, they are used as a laxative and are the drink of choice by most old people. Yet the taste is like that of a ripe plum, sweet, mellow and earthy. Surprisingly one famed soft drink is made with prune juice  and that is Dr. Pepper. You can make your own with eighty percent juice to twenty percent (just a splash ) of seltzer. The taste is the same without all the extra added corn syrup. Another treat is Sunsweet, Plum Bits. Sunsweet has long been the distributor of prunes and has even campagined to change the name to dried plums. They;ve come up with an addictive snack - dried plum but dipped in dark chocolate. These are the greatest and one of the most healthiest treats for you.Instead of reaching for other candies have these.A bag will be gone in a day.

Instead of the usual summer berries and melons try plums and prunes instead. They are a wonderful treat whether in fruit or juice form for a summer day.Rediscover their earthy, sweetness as a true warm weather snack.


Happy Bastille Days to all my French and francophile fooie readers. Bon fete toute le personne!

Apple Update

Is there anything more perfect than an apple.It's not only sweet and delicious  but full of vitamins and antioxidants. Unfortunately there are some people who don't think that way . They want to alter and genetically change it? Why? Because after millennia of being accepted the way it is , scientists want it to improve it.

This was the subject of an article in today's New York Times Business section. The piece written by Andrew Pollack tells of scientists want to create an apple that doesn't spoil. Doing this requires genetic modification. On one level it would be perfect. People usually buy only one or two apples nowadays for fear of buying several will result in rotten fruit. An apple that keeps its'' freshness means more shoppers will buy more of the fruit, Since apple sales have fallen in the past few years this is a boon to the industry.

Yet it raises the question of genetic alteration. Despite this(and let's face it every kind of food stuff either gets stale or turns brown) the apple is fine left alone. Alter the fruit does change its' taste. it loses that sweet mellowness that makes it tasty. The same is becoming true with corn. There are now varieties of corn that have had their gene sequence rearranged. It results in a super maize however it also makes for a relatively tasteless ear. This is also happening with some strains of squash and tomatoes. These supposedly have a stronger flavor plus more antioxidants in them. I'd like to taste test them to believe these claims.

Should we allow our food to be tampered with? Personally no. I think our fruits and veggies are fine the way they are. I prefer my apples. at 2.0 not 9.0

Zucchini Flowers A Tasty Summer Treat

This is the time of year when zucchini plants are in full blossom.Gardens and even farmers' markets are showing these delicate bright orange blooms.They're an interesting and delicious addition to any summer table. Melissa Clark highlighted them in her A Good Appetite Column in yesterday's New York Times Dining section. Gourmets and Northern Italians have been cooking them for years.They were and are big part of my summer eating .Our family usually makes them two ways ,breaded and fried in butter or dipped in a delicate crepe batter and then fried, again in butter until they are crispy.Ms .Clark serves them raw in a salad or stuffed with mozzarella cheese. Either way is good .Raw squash flowers have a fragile taste ,sweet and slight Y herbal.Their stems are like arugula,spicier with a slight bite.The dressing should be Light.I'm thinking of a simple vinaigrette with just olive oil and red wine vinegar.The other way is fried and stuffed with a kind of mozzarella called bur rata.This is made from buffalo milk and has a creamy inside.Ms. Clark adds anchovies for a briny contrast along with garlic.The blooms are then deep fried in olive oil and Sprinkled with coarse sea salt. Squash flowers are a lovely and colorful addition to a summer table.Experience their delicacy in salads or stuffed and fried.Either way you'll fall for these bright,summery blossoms bursting with flavor.

Camp Haute Cuisine

Camp food ranged from overburned wienies and gooey s'mores to mystery meat and over boiled veggies. Good food always came in care packages from home , However that's all changing .Camp food is now full of good things with healthy and tasty recipes.It's no longer fare to be tossed to the bears.It's actually good stuff.

Camp cuisine was the subject of an article in today's New York Times Dining section. The piece written by Jan Hoffman, explores the cuisine of a few camps. This is a new breed of kiddie camp with nutritionists and chefs who create good, nutritious food for tweens and teens. They are sensitive and cook accordingly to children who have all sorts of allergies and intolerance. This makes the whole experience even more fun for those who previously could not attend sleepover camps because of their limitations. Kids get to cook and bake too, often helping out with kitchen duties.

The food itself is tasty and nutritious. There is fresh baked zucchini bread along with homemade hummus. Salad bars are big with veggies grown on the camp premises and also attended to by the campers. Dressings are low calorie yet tasty and a departure from the usual tween fare of fast food..Breakfast is not  gummy oatmeal or rubber eggs and burnt bacon but buffets laden with wild Columbia River steelhead smoked salon and whitefish salad. Dinner is lemon chicken coated with fresh ground Japanese pangko breadcrumbs.There are still treats such as homemade chocolate chip cookies but they're made with whole wheat flour and othe natural ingredients

Camp fare is changing for the better. Kids are not only learning how to build fires but also to garden and cook as well as bake nutritious and tasty foods.That's better than learning how to rub two sticks together to create fire!

Summer Food Gifts

What do you bring to summer parties? A bottle of wine or cake seems too wintry as does candy. You can take advantage of the warm weather harvests as well as lighter versions of cold weather hostess gifts.These are great for any barbecue or pool party.

Fruit trays are wonderful for any indoor or outdoor soiree. They're not only pretty but liked by almost everyone. A tray full of cut strawberries and melon is not only refreshing but elegant looking on any table. They're also soothing after a dinner of spicy ribs or fiery chicken wings.A fun gift is any kind of berry with either a can of whipped cream or a tub of Cool Whip.Layers these to create tasty and low calorie parfaits for the hosts and guests. Even more fun is bringing a whole watermelon.Everyone loves a sweet ,cool slice to finish after a feast. Ice cream is also a fun gift to bring to a summer party.You can treat everyone to sundaes by bringing not only a tub but also whipped cream ,syrups , nuts and candies.An ice cream cake such as the ones that Friendly's and Baskin Robbins sell.Baskin Robbins also sells mini cones that come twelve to a box.Bring these as a festive end to a get together.Friendly's also has ice cream cupcakes that are another neat hostess treat.If you can make homemade ice cream that's another sweet present that's always appreciated. Bringing sweet cool treats to a summer party are always fun.They're also thoughtful ways of saying thank you when you're invited to a warm weather get together.

Exotic Sides for Summer

Summer's eating can be transformed into an exotic adventure just by switching up your side dishes. Instead of the usual macaroni salads and slaws , try other dishes such as bulgur or couscous. You can also make variations of salads using atypical veggies too, It's a fun departure from the usual picnic table or backyard barbecue fare.

Bulgur is popular in Middle Eastern cultures.It can be eaten hot or cold and makes a perfect foil for fresh veggies. Cook some and chill it. Add  some farm fresh sliced tomatoes and onions along mint and lemon  to it for an exotic side.Another variation is adding some green onions to it and garbanzo beans along with cilantro and olive oil. Serve alongside of lamb or beef kabobs.Couscous also makes for an adventurous side dish. It is basically like rice and has a slightly  nutty flavor. You can make a savory side using again tomatoes and green peppers .Made this way it would be good with any grilled meat. You can also add dried peaches , raisins and almonds as a bed for grilled  chicken or skewered chicken

Varying salad ingredients will also add flair and a hint of  the exotic to your summer picnic, Try Asian pear (which can be bought at most Asian based grocery stores) .It can be sliced into strips and served with a tangy orange vinaigrette and almonds. This is a perfect dish for any seafood such as grilled salmon or shrimp kabobs.Garbanzo beans , usually mashed for hummus are excellent in salads that are loaed with scallions and cilantro. Dress with a light Italian dressing and serve with burtgers or sausage sandwiches,

Exotic sides makes for amore interesting summer meal. Try something with a Middle Eastern flavor or Asisan flair for some interesting dishes. They will liven up any warm weather lunch or dinner.

Food Pantry in The Summer

Even though it's warm outside there's still a need for food pantries across the country. Poverty and the need for food doesn't just go away in summer and come back in winter. There are families across the US that still need decent, home cooked meals no matter what the temperature is. They need fresh ingredients for  healthy living.

What are some of the items that can go to a food pantry now? Cases of bottled water are always needed. Everyone from the young to the elderly need hydration especially when the weather has been scorching as it has been  in the big cities like New York and Chicago as of late.Also fruit ades would be appreciated as are fresh lemons and limes for making those drinks. Easy to prepare ingredients such as greens as veggies help as well. For anyone running  a farm stand or small farm , think about donating some of your crop to your local town or church food bank. The same stands for fresh fruits too. These are much better than sugary snacks.

Other donation ideas are breads and low sodium cold cuts to make sandwiches for picnics or just to create an easy lunch or dinner.If any butcher or owner of a poultry farm or fish market reads this then think about giving some of your meats too to local food banks. Cold cuts are great but fresh meat and fish is a better warm weather diet.Poultry farmers, if they can also donate eggs, do so . These are always wanted and a good source of protein. Everyone else should alos give boxes of the basics such as rice and pasta. These can be mixed with meats and veggies to create a tasty meal that can be stretched out for days or just simply frozen.

Just because it's summer doesn't mean that the food pantries close down. Hunger and poverty happen all year round.Remember that when you go food shopping now. Add something extra for those who need it to your cart or wagon.