Pier 5 Condo

During the spring and summer seasons, eating delicious fruit and vegetables with each daily meal is an easy task since every plant seems to be sprouting and blooming. Then, when Autumn arrives, yet another overwhelming choice arises as a second helping comes into season.

After the harvest, in rolls winter, with it’s freezing winds and cold atmosphere. Any greenery becomes brown and seemingly lifeless. Normal fruit and vegetables are nowhere to be found, and what is around at this time of year, hardly seems appealing. So, the question is, what fruits are available in the cold season, and what is the best way to prepare and eat such varieties?

Tangerines, clementines, tangerines, oranges, grapes, pomegranate, bananas, pears, kiwi, and passion fruit are still available if you know where to look, and the same can be said for wintertime vegetables, like snow peas, celery, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, potatoes and turnips.

Finding fresh fruits and vegetables in the winter can take some searching. Your local grocery store may have an abundant supply, but only of some of these foods. You can check out in-door farmers markets or specialty food/whole food stores. Depending on your region, you may be able to grow your own winter garden (indoors or outdoors) and harvest some of these delicious foods yourself. Theres lots of information on growing your own indoor/outdoor winter garden found on the Internet or in gardening books at the public library or bookstore.

Cooking Ideas: The first thing that always comes to mind is to make some delicious hearty warm veg soup. Begin preparing early on, and let the soup simmer away undisturbed, producing that unmistakable aroma. How about making guacamole with avocado, or cabbage leaves stuffed with hot filling. Sweet potatoes with pecan nuts and natural brown sugar can give a tasty treat.

Ideas for cooking with winter fruits: Since plenty of lettuce is available during the winter, dont be afraid to add orange fruits and grapes to your salads to give it a sweet kick. Or, you can omit vegetables from your salad entirely and stick to a winter fruit salad. Fresh cranberry sauce is delicious on white meat (add some orange zest and a little freshly squeezed orange juice to it for a different taste). Pears are a great fruit to serve warm or cold with a cinnamon streusel for dessert. Mix cut passion fruit with kiwi and serve it over vanilla ice cream for another dessert.

There are fresh produce in the winter months, no matter where you live. Search the stores and try out your green thumb to see what kinds of delicious recipes you can come up with to help yourself and family eat healthy during the cold months.