This Year's LOCAL HARVEST - Yummy!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers




Late June or early July is the start of the season for pick-your-own orchards - at least, where I live here in the Antelope Valley of Southern California!!

I've been there twice so far this month - it was for the Apricots!! They only have them for a few weeks early in the summer and they are absolutely one of my favorite fruits!! Picked 20 ibs of fruit both times -- and most of them were Apricots - 2 varieties. So delicious!!

Though I still have fresh ones in the fridge, I have a whole bunch of them halved in the freezer - hopefully, they will last for months!!

Also, picked a few peaches and plums!!

Boy-oh-boy!! Fresh fruit right off the tree -- nothing tastes as good!!

I HIGHLY recommend finding an orchard to go picking in, if you can find any where you live.

• Better tasting.
• Usually Better for You!
• And definitely Better for the Environment - picking locally!! They call it "Low Carbon" - less packaging, less transportation, less carbon emissions for what you buy!
  

And the quality of the fruit is so much better - doesn't compare at all to store-bought fruit!!

I admit - at this point, I am a bit spoiled!!

The local orchrds in the Antelope Valley usally have fruit on the trees through sometime in October or early November - though the Apricots are only for a few weeks, they have different varieties of Peaches, Apples, Pears and Plums at various times through the months. If you don't want to pick yourself, they usually have some fresh-picked fruit in their cold-storage, which you can just buy.

There are a vsriety of orchards that either sell on-site or let you pick yourself in the Antelope Valley -- and east of us, I believe in what is known as Apple Valley.

Check http://www.localharvest.org for what they have listed, wherever you live -- or maybe the local Chambers of Commerce can help!!

It is really really worth the time and effort to go and pick your own fruit -- some of us even think it is FUN!!!!

Harvest Season - My Last Trip to Pick My Own Fruit

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers








Mid-October now -- Harvest Season for sure -- but for the fruit trees, it is the end of the season of blooming and new fruit.


The local orchard where I have gone to pick fruit has closed its gates for this year.


Last Wednesday I went -- and even though I meant to be frugal and only pick half a bucket -- well, I couldn't help myself and I picked most of a bucket --


-- still some late peaches on the trees - just lucious -- have cut up at least half of them and put them in the freezer - a few fresh ones still in the fridge. I will at least have some frozen slices of peaches to thaw or put in smoothies for some weeks to come!


-- lots of late pears on the trees and I picked a bunch -- still hard and firm -- the people at the orchards say that is the best way to pick them -- maybe they will last! When I have bought them in the grocery stores they soften and turn dark almost right away. Just checked this morning - still firm in the fridge!!


-- Ah-h-h! The apples!! Just love the fresh apples picked off the tree -- again infintely better than the grocery store ones -- they said I picked some Fujis and Granny Smiths -- just love those tart Granny Smiths, but also love the slightly sweeter Fujis and Galas!!


I have been told that the Granny Smiths will last for 3 months or so in the fridge, so I'll be eating the Fujis first -- and I can always make some lucious apple sauce in my crock pot -- did that last January!!


Picking my fruit -- no matter if it is a little difficult physically for me to be walking around with a bucket of almost 20 pounds of fruit (LOL) -- is so much fun -- and I will miss it until next summer!!


Hope some of you others found some freshly-picked local fruit -- or got to pick some yourself!!

LOCAL HARVESTS - Local Pick-Your-Own Fruit Orchard in the Antelope Valley of Southern CA

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers


I am a strong supporter of getting at least produce that is relatively locally grown.

Of course, I live in California, a major agricultural state. When I shop locally, I make a point of watching where the produce comes from and I usually make a point of buying locally, which for me means California or maybe Mexico.



I make another point of not buying anything from a different continent - including Central America and South America and Europe, etc. I really think it is funny when the local stores here in the Antelope Valley of Southern California have fruit and vegetables from Chile -- just saw some green grapes last Friday, but they were from Chile, so I put them back.



One of the reasons I think it is so funny is that the Antelope Valley of Southern CA is agricultural and there are various orchards and even a few vineyards and other agricultural business right in our own valley.



I personally know of a small Pick-Your-Own fruit orchard a few miles from where I live in the east Antelope Valley.



I've been getting fruit from there during the season when they have fruit for years now -- and my personal experience is that you can't compare the fruit you can pick fresh off the trees there to anything you can buy at any grocery store - or even any of the farmer's markets or fruit stands that I have been to.



Of course, I prefer to pick my own, though I sometimes get the pre-picked fruit they have available also (for those who can't or don't want to pick their own). When you pick your own, you get it ripened on the tree to the level of ripeness that you like.

About the first 4 weeks of the picking season each year, they have 2 varieties of apricots. Now apricots are one of my favorite fruits of all time -- and I could never find ones in the stores or markets that taste as good as theirs -- but I am picking right off the tree!! I pick as much as I can during the weeks they have them -- then some I halve and pit and put in the freezer before they go bad -- after all I can only eat so much!! I remember that last year I still had some in the freezer in September.



They have different varieties of Peaches starting about early July through about mid-October.



They also have Plums and Pears and lots of varieties of Apples!!



This March, I still had a few of their apples in my refrigerator from last fall (they had lasted a long time) -- I was not supposed to be eating fresh, raw fruit at the time -- so I cut them up to make apple sauce in my crockpot and it was so yummy!!

IF YOU LIVE ANYWHERE NEAR THE ANTELOPE VALLEY IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA -- OR WILL BE PASSING THROUGH, YOU MIGHT WANT TO STOP BY AND PICK A PAIL OF FRUIT (OR MORE!).


There are various Pick-your-own Orchards in the Antelope Valley.


I have found out that this year they expect to open sometime mid to late June with Apricots - and they expect a plentiful crop. That is an estimate - they open when they have fruit that can be picked. You can call - at this time of year they either have a message on their answering machine or whoever answers the phone will know what is happening.

IF YOU LIVE SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY, CHECK http://www.localharvest.org TO SEE WHAT LOCAL FOODS YOU CAN FIND WHERE YOU LIVE. 


 I JUST CHECKED AND FOUND Morgan Botanicals from Tehachapi, CA who I am now following on Twitter.



I'll bet if you check it out and try it, and maybe even do some comparisons, you'll find that local fruits and veggies taste better than others that travel long distance.



It is also better environmentally - as no travel means no carbon emissions from transporting the food (this is called eating low carbon).



My fresh herbs in my own container garden in my yard taste better than any dried herbs could taste and, since I snip off the plant when I want to use them, they are better than any fresh ones you can buy in the stores!!



For the best fruits, vegetables -- and meats, if you can find them -- GO LOCAL!!






Ruth

Quick, Easy, Pretty Healthy Lunch!!

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items In Fibers


I like to get a bit creative with my cooking and stay healthy -- but when I am busy doing things all day and I don't have something already cooked in the refrigerator, I need to come up with a quick solution -- especially in the middle of the day for lunch.

On recommendation from a doctor years ago in the 1990's, I avoid using that apparently convenient appliance, the Microwave, for cooking foods, because of what those waves do to the foods when they cook it.

So, some time back I discovered this neat electrical appliance by Black and Decker that doubles as a Rice Cooker and steamer, with a good-sized steam basket. It is the Black and Decker Home 16-cup Multi-use Rice Cooker Plus, Model RC436 -- and I love it -- and now I don't know how I would live without it -- LOL!! I use it not only to make rice and steam things, but to make soups and meat and veggie dishes, etc., etc., etc.!!

So, a fairly quick lunch to throw together and just let cook is the following all steamed in the steamer basket of this Rice Cooker Plus!!

-- 2 chicken thighs, with or without the skin (up to you)
-- a bunch of basil leaves spread out over the chicken thighs
-- 2 cloves of garlic, cut in half (this actually should be optional if you don't want the garlic smell from lunch)
-- a half of a medium-sized onion, cut in quarters or other piece of vegetable in similar size
-- some soy sauce
-- some chili powder
-- any other herbs or spices you want to use - fresh or dried
-- a little salt either while cooking or put on after cooking
-- freshly ground black pepper after cooking

I put enough water in the main bowl of the Rice Cooker Plus for steaming for a while, but keep the level below the steam basket bottom. I make sure the Rice Cooker Plus is plugged in and warming up at this point. I arrange the chicken thighs and pieces of vegetables in the steamer basket. If you have the skin still on the chicken thighs, it is supposed to be better to put the halves of garlic cloves under the skin for cooking - some may not want to clook with garlic for lunch, but I like the taste of garlic and I like the cloves when they are steamed, so I use them in cooking this. Then I sprinkle a little soy sauce and the chili powder over the chicken and vegetables and put the Rice Cooker Plus on Cook.

Then you just leave it cook and steam until the chicken is at the right level of tenderness for you. Make sure the chicken is cooked all the way through. I like my chicken well-cooked to a very tender level.

Go off and do the other things you need to do and leave it -- then come back -- and you have a healthy chicken and veggies lunch!! I'm not sure how long it takes to cook the chicken as I just run in and check it until it is just right.

Also, for those of you who insist on having some carbohydrates with your meals, which I hear some people do, throw in the steamer basket a couple of smaller potatoes, pricked with a fork at the beginning!! Boy the potatoes will come out just yummy!!

And with it all in the steamer basket and not in the water, the meat and veggies keep most of the nutrients in them while cooking.

A quick, easy, pretty healthy lunch for a busy person!!


Ruth

A YUMMY MORNING SMOOTHIE TO START THE DAY RIGHT

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items
RSS Designs Wearable - Internet Shop of Wearable Items
RSS Crochet Thread Plus - Internet Shop of Crochet Thread


I am always watching what I eat - for health reasons and as part of my concerns as an environmentalist.

A few weeks ago, I decided I needed to start out my day with something that would go down smooth with plenty of nutrients in it -- and a good taste.

I've mentioned before about getting fresh fruit from a local orchard - fresh-picked off the trees.

I usually eat fruit in the morning and I decided to make it into something drinkable.

So, after checking around, mostly on the Internet, for what the portions of different ingredients should be to make a good smoothie -- and some experimentation -- I have come up with the following recipe for a good-tasting healthy smoothie. I add in a bunch of stuff because they are healthy, but they are optional for just making a smoothie and they will be in parentheses ( ).

A MORNING SMOOTHIE TO START THE DAY RIGHT

-- 1 cup chopped frozen fruit - your choice (mine now is frozen fresh-picked!)
-- 1 or 2 ice cubes - how much depends on how thick you want it
-- equivalent of 2-6 teaspons of non-calorie sweetner - I use the herb stevia, which is naturally sweet
-- splash of unsweetend fruit juice
-- 1/2 cup unsweetened organic soy milk - or any lowfat milk of your choice
(equivalent of 1 ice cube of frozen lowfat plain yogurt)
(splash of Aloe Vera Juice)
(1/2 packet of Emergen-C)
(1 serving of a protein shake)

Put all of the above in a blender - chop, blend and liquefy until everything frozen is liquefied.

I'll be honest -- depending on what I put in, in what amounts, it comes out different thickenesses each day, but boy is it delicious and it goes down so-o-o-o smooth and good!!


If you've got a blender, smoothies are easy to make, even if you are in a hurry. I always put in the 1/2 packet of Emergen-C, which insures some really good nutrients. So does the organic soy milk, the aloe vera juice and the protein shake - because my protein shake mix powder is full of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients (NSI Gluco-Power Shake available on www.vitacost.com).

But do it like you want it!!


Ruth

FRESH-PICKED APRICOTS AND PEACHES -- SO-O-O DELICIOUS RIGHT OFF THE TREE -- AND PART OF A LOW CARBON DIET

Ruth Sandra Sperling
RSS Designs In Fiber - Internet Shop of Handmade Items





LOOK GOOD, DON'T THEY!!??

BOY - ARE THEY!!

This is a picture of just a few of the apricots and peaches I picked myself yesterday locally - just a few miles from where I live!!

Actually, I went a little "wild" -- I picked right around 16 pounds of apricots and peaches!!!!

I went to a local U-PICK orchard in the Antelope Valley of Southern California - where they have about 16 acres of different fruit trees.

This is the beginning of the season -- and right now they have ripe on their trees apricots and the first crop of peaches (sorry - I don't remember the names of the varieties).

I just love apricots -- and they only have them for 3-4 weeks every year, so when I pick them, I pick a bunch. After few days, when I have eaten what I can so far, I take some of the rest (before they spoil) and cut them in half and take the pit out and put them in the freezer.

Then I have them through the summer for as long as they will last!! They make a great cold summer snack - alone or with some other foods such as yogurt or in a fruit salad or in a mildly hot (with jalapeno peppers, a little onion and celery) fruit salsa!!

So-o-o delicious!!

So-o-o much better than anything you can buy in the grocery stores!!

AND - THIS IS PART OF EATING A LOW CARBON DIET -- AS THERE IS MINIMAL, IF MUCH OF ANY, CONTRIBUTION TO GREENHOUSE GASES IN GETTING THEM!!! THIS IS WHY:

1. PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE ORCHARD!!
2. NO PACKAGING - PICKED RIGHT OFF THE TREE - PUT IN A REUSED BOX TO TAKE HOME!!
3. NO TRANSPORTATION BY THE SELLER AS I PICK IT AND PAY FOR IT IN THEIR ORCHARD!!

SO - ANOTHER PLUS POINT - HEALTHY FOR ME, HEALTHY FOR THE PLANET - GOT TO INCLUDE THE FACT THAT IT SUPPORTS A HETEROGENEOUS ORCHARD OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF FRUIT TREES WHICH, BELIEVE ME, I HAVE HEARD -- SUPPORTS A CERTAIN WILDLIFE POPULATION. 16 ACRES ISN'T ACTUALLY CONSIDERED BIG ENOUGH TO BE ECOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT -- BUT EVERYTHING HELPS -- ESPECIALLY MORE TREES!!

Whereever you live -- are there any U-PICK orchards where you can get lucious fruit that you pick for yourself right off the tree??? Check it out -- you might find some!!

Even if you have to drive there -- make it an outing with a bunch of people (carpooling) -- and stock up -- and have some fun!!!!!

Ruth