Apricots; Food of the Gods?

Apricots are  food that has been nourishing people for years. It is a wonderful fruit that is good for the body and skin. They are high in the B vitamins as well as magnesium. The oil from the apricot pits is used in beauty products around the world. It is a wonderful thing to add to your diet.

Apricots are a wonderful fruit that are so easy to prepare, just wash and eat leaving the pit behind. The pit is easily removed, even my littlest could do it.  Last week we had some and our children ate so many of them I felt lucky to get any of them. They just flew right out of our fruit bowl. It seemed like I brought them in the house and they disappeared into little bellies.  I love that my children are loving and eating vegetables and fruits.

Fresh is the way I prefer to eat apricots. I do not care for canned or dried, yet they are wonderful. Apricots add a wonderful sweetness to many dishes. We have discovered that canned apricots make a wonderful smoothie base.  I am finding ways to eat the apricots I canned. An apricot puree made from canned apricots is a nice topping for pancakes or waffles. I just do not enjoy them straight from the can or jar. Canned apricots have got a bad rap in the military. There is a bit of superstition surrounding those who eat them. I have included the link to that story below.
Apricots causing superstition in the military.



One of the most popular ways people enjoy apricots is dried. I avoid many dried fruits because they use sulfites to aid in the drying process. I tend to have allergic reactions to these products. But for those who do not have such reactions dried apricots offer a powerhouse of nutrition that can be enjoyed on the go.  Dried apricots can go into salads, sandwiches breads and other things. It can be a great way to get good fiber and nutrition into your diet.

I really enjoy apricot nectar. It is wonderfully thick and rich in flavor and texture no wonder is called the nectar of the Gods.  I do have to watch what I buy, as so many of the popular brands are using less apricot and more corn syrup or other things. Watch what you buy, but  make sure you enjoy this wonderful  food. We tend to eat the same two or three fruits, apples, bananas, and oranges being the most popular here in the United States, but there are so many more choices out there. Expand your horizons get out and enjoy more fruits and vegetables including apricots.






apricot recipes
health benefits of apricots


shared as part of real food wednesdays

IT IS BERRY SEASON!

We are in the middle of berry season. What does one do with all the great berries that are all around right now? Triple berry pancakes of course!

It all starts with soaked pancakes made with  whole wheat flour and a natural yeast start. While they are cooking add blueberries right on top of the batter. What could be more wonderful then fresh whole wheat blueberry pancakes?   Blueberry pancakes topped with fresh strawberries and raspberries!  Add a dollop of fresh whipped cream and you have a nutrition packed breakfast fit for a queen or king, and it is super yummy to boot.


Link to our pancake and waffle recipe
natural yeast waffles or pancakes

blueberries make great pancakes



shared at real food wednesday

avocado more than guacamole

In the center of the greenish -gold oval is a seed resembling a peeled chestnut that must be removed and thrown away because it is both bitter and exceedingly hard to chew. Between this and the tough rind of the skin however is a paste that the Indians consume with great relish. Soft as butter in texture, it is of a very good taste.  Gonzalo Fernandez Oviedo y Valdes;  Spanish historian.   

                                                                                                                                               Photo from microsoft images

Avocado, what a wonderful fruit. They are rich and buttery in the mouth, wonderful for the body inside and out. So many love them, yet so many have not tried them except as guacamole. I do not know if it is the color, the texture, or the look of the outer skin, that causes people to be intimidated by this food. There are those who have not ventured to try them, but they wish they had when it becomes "love at first bite".

One of the most common ways to eat avocado (besides as guacamole) is straight up out of the skin, often with a squeeze of lime and a bit of salt and pepper.  There are so many ways to eat this wonderful fruit. It can be made into a soup, salad, or on sandwiches. It is made into dips, spreads, and even into baked goods.  

Avocados should be eaten fresh. There are some who say they can be frozen and made into guacamole later. We tried it; and now we know that they are much better fresh. If it came down to freeze them or lose them, it may be alright, but the texture and color is much better fresh. 

How to pick a ripe avocado.

1. Hold the fruit in the palm of your hand

2. Give a gentle squeeze

3. If it yields to gentle pressure it is ready

4. If it feels like a rock, it needs more time to ripen

5. If it feels overly soft and squishy, or you can tell that the rind is separated from the fruit, it is overripe.

Avocado gazpacho what a wonderful treat on a hot summer day

Avocado gazpacho

serves four

1 cucumber peeled and chopped

2 cloves garlic

2 shallots quartered

1 green bell pepper seeded and rough chopped

1 cup lettuce

1 tablespoon fresh dill

1 cup chicken stock

1 avocado

juice of 1/2 lemon

salt and pepper

sour cream and dill for garnish (optional)

Puree the cucumber, garlic, shallots, pepper, lettuce, dill, and chicken stock, and 1/2 the avocado in the blender or food processor until smooth. taste for salt and pepper adding as necessary (it all depends on the salt in your stock). Dice the other half of the avocado and sprinkle with lemon juice stir into the gazpacho and then garnish with a touch of sour cream and dill if desired.

Avocado is readily available in most grocery stores across the country. They usually are reasonably priced. We get alot of them this time of year with Cinco de Mayo coming up about a week from now. Buy some and see what happens. You may be surprised; you may be like so many others, it may be love at first bite.

avocado recipes

food.com avocado recipes

blueberries, more than muffins

One of the easiest real foods to get into your diet is blueberries!Just wash and eat, what could be easier

                                                                  © Rwharr | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images



Blueberries are a powerhouse of nutrition. There is alot packed into these little berries. They are full of vitamins and minerals and packed with phytochemicals and enzymes that are great for the body and brain. They are known for their ability to fight heart disease and cancer. They are something that should be part of every diet. I am talking real blueberries here, not those blueberry flavored bits of stuff you find in cereals and premade muffins. I am talking whole, juicy bluberries.


 When I buy blueberries they usually do not last more than a few hours. I have three children that love them as much as their momma.  We throw them onto our cereal, into yogurt, on or salads (if they make them that far). The kids will just eat them plain. If I buy them in the morning and want them for dinner; I have to hide them in the back of the fridge and hope they don't get discovered. They make for a quick and easy snacks or desserts because they require no real preparation.  We love to make pancakes with our natural yeast; add blueberries, and you have heaven on a plate.  


To make blueberry pancakes is really easy 

1. Start with you favorite pancake batter   our natural yeast waffle/ pancake recipe
2. heat your griddle
3. pour your pancakes
4. sprinkle a handful of blueberries over the batter
5. cook until bubbly and drying around the edges
6. turn over and cook on the other side
7. serve with your favorite toppings.

What could be better. Add blueberries and your family will think they have something special. But please do not wait for a special occasion to add blueberries to your diet. 

whether fresh or frozen, blueberries can be beneficial to anyone's diet.  A word about frozen blueberries. Use them frozen if adding to muffins or such, do not thaw. Coat them with a bit of flour first and stir them gently at the end of mixing. Otherwise, the juices run all into your batter you end up with a purplish gray muffin or cake.  


Whatever you do with them, make sure that you enjoy them often.



Below are some great resources to help you in your blueberry adventures

blueberry recipe web site

blueberry council website