The third of a continuing series of what's ripe right now, according to this very useful site. August is peak season for tons of fruits and vegetables - in my area, the weather has finally cooled down enough that I might contemplate doing some canning, if I did that sort of thing (maybe next year), and I'm definitely more in the mood to cook than I was when it was 90° and humid. Anyway, to the lists!
Fruits: Raspberries, figs, red grapes, melons, oranges, peaches, plums and (Bartlett) pears are all in peak season. Blackberries, blueberries, limes and nectarines are winding down; apples and asian pears (crisper than their cousins) are just starting to become ripe.
Vegetables: What ISN'T in peak season now might be the better question - green beans, corn, cucumber, onions, okra, garlic, tomatillos and summer squash are all on the list. Tomatoes, bell peppers, basil and avocados are also still good.
I'm thinking a trip to the grocers for tomatillos is in order... just seeing the word is making me crave salsa verde in the worst way.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Seasonal produce - August
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Seasonal produce - July
Another month, another crop of fruits and veggies that are ripe for the picking. What's good in July? As with the June installment, this list is for Northern California. If you live in a cooler climate, you might have to wait until the end of the month for these to be at their bests - but while you're waiting, check out the June post to see what's ripe in your area.
Fruits: Blueberries, nectarines, peaches and pears are all in peak season. Cherries about to go out of season, so get them quick! Other berries, oranges, and melons are all ripe now as well.
Vegetables: Corn, red onions and summer squash are all at their peak, sweet onions are waning, and basil, bell peppers, cucumber, eggplant, okra and tomatoes are all newly in season. Garlic, green beans and potatoes are all good in July, too.
Look for recipes featuring these items soon!
Friday, June 16, 2006
Seasonal produce - June
As I sort of alluded to in my last post (Eat your vegetables), getting fresh, seasonal produce is one easy way to make almost everything you cook taste fantastic (the other easy way is to add copious amounts of butter to everything, but you don't always want to do that). As an added bonus, it's much cheaper to buy fruits and veggies in season, even that sometimes-pricey locally grown organic produce... I always like to support small local farmers, but then, I live in an area with a lot of easily accessible farmer's markets and such.
So what's good right now? According to this great page (for Northern California, your mileage may vary), June is a good time to get:
Fruits: most types of berries (peak season for blackberries and raspberries, with strawberries and blueberries also good), cherries, figs, melons (cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon), apricots, nectarines, peaches, and limes. [I can attest that the cherries and strawberries I bought last weekend were amazing.]
Vegetables: corn, cucumber, eggplant, sweet Vidalia onions, green beans, peas, summer squash, and tomatoes. Winter crops like lettuces and carrots are winding down, so grab them while they're still good.
This weekend I'm going to attempt to make a dinner using all of those items in peak season (the bolded stuff) - apricot-glazed chicken, grilled sweet onions, maybe corn on the cob, and a berry tart, all washed down with some tasty lime-ade. Post to follow, of course.
