February Produce Guide
February Produce Guide
We are pretty sure February has some of the best fruits and vegetables in season! We have tips for picking out the best produce from the store and then some fun ways to use them.
Apples -
Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, Golden Delicious...just to name a few, we love apples of all kinds. When picking your apples from the store notice the fragrance, ready to eat apples often have a yummy aroma. Sliced apples and peanut butter are a perfect go-to snack. If you want a fun apple-flavored sauce, try this Slower Cooker Apple Butter.
Cauliflower -
Cauliflower has been getting a lot of attention lately because it is so easy to use as a substitute. Think cauliflower pizza crust, cauliflower tator (but not tator...) tots, cauliflower rice, and so on. Cauliflower in a salad with some bacon, cheese, and creamy dressing is a wonderful option. However you choose to use your cauliflower, you want to make sure you are buying the freshest option. Look for a cauliflower with even colored florets and bright, fresh-looking leaves that feels heavy.
Grapes -
Everyone has their favorite between red and green grapes, but whether you're a red grape team or a green grape team it is hard to turn down nice big, firm, and plump grapes. When you are buying your grapes make sure the fruit has a nice color (either yellow-green or mostly red). Sometimes you will notice a white, waxy coating on grapes; this is called bloom. Bloom is safe to eat, it forms to help grapes with moisture loss, however, it is always a good idea to rinse any produce before eating. Grape salad is always a favorite - mix together some sour cream, cream cheese with some brown sugar and grapes, and any other add-ins.
Pears -
While pears are loved for their amazing flavor and juicy texture, sometimes knowing how to choose them at the store can be a deterrent to buying them. When purchasing a pear to enjoy immediately you want to buy one that is a little soft near the stem. If you plan to wait a few days, buy a pear that is firm. You can speed up the ripening process of pears by placing them in a brown bag with an apple or banana, or you can simply wait a few days and let it ripe on the counter. While fresh pears are delicious on their own, you can substitute pears in an apple cobbler or add some to a butternut soup for a fun variation.
Tangerines -
Tangerines are the perfect little package of goodness! You want to choose firm to semi-soft ones that are heavy and have a beautiful orange color. Store them in the fridge in order to keep them fresher for longer. A warm tangerine cake with a yummy glaze will become a family favorite. Tangerines are also fun to add to a chicken stir fry to give it a fresh, citrus flavor.