Five Ways To Use Seasonal Fruit

Whether you get your bounty from a tree in your own backyard or a deal at the farmer's market, here are a few ideas on how to utilize seasonal fruits. 

For us in Portland, Oregon, right now, it's nectarines, peaches and plums that are in season and I'm loving the deals.

Isn't it great that buying seasonal fruit means that you get the best prices on fruit that's at its peak both taste and nutrition wise? So stock up, freeze some and enjoy these delicious seasonal fruit treats.

 #1

Fruit Sauce: This is so easy to make and a good way to utilize a surplus of overripe fruit.

Pancakes topped with apricot sauce. All I did was mash up a cup of ripe apricots, add some sugar and simmer it over medium heat for 5 minutes.

Soft fruits like apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines, cherries and berries transform into a sauce so much faster than firmer fruits like apples.  It really takes no time at all and is so good.

Besides topping pancakes, enjoy the sauces as is or try them on waffles, toast, plain yogurt or ice cream.

#2

Individual Fruit Tarts: Top rounds of pie dough with diced fruit, sprinkle with a sugar topping and bake.

A thyme and ginger scented nectarine tart made with white and yellow nectarines. Click here for the recipe.

The nectarine tarts before baking.

An individual Rosemary Apple Tart. Click here for the recipe.

#3 

Mini Pie Triangles: These are made using phyllo dough and come together really fast making them perfect for last minute entertaining.

These Mini Pie Triangles are filled with apples and topped with a bit of cinnamon sugar. Click here for the recipe.

A Mini Apple Pie Triangle in progress. The secret to making these neat and tidy is cooking and cooling your fruit filling first before filling the phyllo dough. This way,  the juices are thickened and contained and won't run all over the place.

#4

Fruit Crumb Bars: Just about any fruit can be used to make these crowd pleasing and easy bar cookies.

A Rhubarb Berry Crumb Bar — Click here for the recipe.

The trick to making Fruit Crumb Bars easy to cut is to bake them in a pan lined with greased aluminum foil. That way you can lift the whole thing out of the pan after it's cooled and cut even-sized squares.

#5

Cobbler: This is always a hit at my house and a breeze to assemble, bake and serve.

Use whatever fruit is in season to make a delicious cobbler. I like to make cobbler for parties because it's easy to serve. I put out a stack of bowls and a quart of good vanilla ice cream next to the cobbler and say "help yourselves." Guests love it! Click here for the recipe.

Ginger Scented Fresh Raspberry Cobbler

Here's a lickety split dessert idea for your 4th of July celebration: Ginger Scented Fresh Raspberry Cobbler.

Oregon raspberries are at their peak right now so they're easy to find in stores and the price is right.

Or maybe you're like me and lucky enough to have generous friends with a large raspberry patch in their own backyard. Thank you Bill and Marsha!

Fresh just picked raspberries.

The cobbler can be put together in minutes and just needs to bake and cool a bit before serving. Vanilla ice cream would be great with this.

Ginger Scented Fresh Raspberry Cobbler
(serves 12 to 14)
6 cups fresh raspberries
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups milk
2 1/2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a large bowl combine raspberries with 1 1/3 cups sugar, vanilla and ginger. Set aside.

The raspberries will look like this after mixing them with the sugar, vanilla and ground ginger.

In another bowl combine melted butter with milk. Add flour, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder and salt. Mix well.
 
Spread batter in an ungreased 9 x 13 baking dish.

Drop raspberries over the top and bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until brown and bubbly. Let cool before serving.

The batter with the berries before baking.

Berry Cobbler

If you need an easy dessert for your Memorial Day gathering, consider a berry cobbler.

It can be pulled together in minutes, makes the house smell great and is a breeze to serve —Just drop a portion into a pretty bowl and add a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

For some reason, berry cobbler is not a dessert you find at many bakeries or restaurants. It's primarily made at home. Maybe that's why it holds a special place in the hearts of many.



Berry Cobbler
2 3/4 cups mixed berries, fresh or defrosted frozen berries
1 cup sugar
1 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Add sugar and vanilla to berries, mix well and set aside.

Defrosted mixed berries with sugar and vanilla.

In another bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add milk and mix well. Stir in melted butter and pour into a 9'' ungreased baking dish.

Drop the berries in spoonfuls over the batter. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes.

Berry cobbler ready for the oven.

My niece Maya with the finished cobbler.