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JennGM
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| Posted: July 13 2005 at 2:54pm | IP Logged
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Fruit Ideas
I have lots of fruit in my fridge that I hate to see go to waste, so I've been trying to come up with newer ideas on how to use that summer fruit. We don't have extra freezer room yet, so those ideas don't work, but I'd love to see suggestions on how you serve fruit in your house...and not let it go to waste! Thrifty Homeschooler had some great discussions on how to save the fruit.
I've been making fruit salad (just mixtures of multiple fruits, whatever is cheapest at the time). Large Tupperware bowls make the fruit last long, almost a week. I don't put raspberries or blackberries normally in the salad unless I know I'm going to eat it soon, because they tend to mold over faster than other fruit. Also strawberries shouldn't be overripe. The fruit can be served just plain, for all meals, or dash of whipped cream, or even fancier over pound cake as dessert. Or with ice cream.
I also made strawberry soup last week...a simple combo of strawberries, white wine, sugar, water, lemon juice and rind run in the blender. That can be frozen and served at anytime. Found other recipes similar to this for other fruits, like peach soup. This is an old Viennese recipe, but I also found a simple one in an old Wolf Trap picnic book. It was cold and yummy, with a bit of texture. Dh was surprised that he actually liked it...asked for it again!
We've also been making homemade ice cream, and the strawberry or fruit mixture (chopped fruit and sugar) can be made ahead and frozen and used when the ice cream will be made.
Last week's Food Section of the Washington Post had GREAT suggestions on lower sugar canning and freezing of jams, preserves and chutney.
Summer in a Jar
21st-Century Preserving Tips
Fresh, Fruity and Ready for Freezing (Recipes).
I'm so excited to try these ideas in the article out. I hope to try some canning and preserving next year in my new house. I don't like jellies and jams because of the sugar, and have been buying more expensive brands that have all fruit, no sugar. I've been wanting to figure out "how do they do that?" This isn't totally sugar-free, but it's in the right direction.
If anyone has recipes for "just fruit" preserves I'd love to try it.
Today the Washington Post had another article on fruit crisps. In Crisp, A Classic. I was going to try some of these combos, but perhaps substitute oat flour and margarine, since ds is allergic to dairy, eggs and wheat. Stefoodie gave me some good ideas, such as using oats and chopped nuts. I also found a link for a Co-op article Crisps.
Anyone make pies and freeze them? How about open face fruit tarts? I was thinking of trying that next year.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Courtney
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| Posted: July 13 2005 at 3:12pm | IP Logged
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I LOVE making fruit pies. Since my dd and ds are gluten free, we use a gluten free crust mix that's quite tasty (although it does have egg in it). Blueberry/peach pie is a big favorite around here.
I have a wonderful ice cream recipe I can post later. The kids love making it b/c you don't need an ice cream maker. You use a small metal coffee can and a big one. You put the ingredients in the small one, put the lid on and seal it with tape. Then you put the small can inside the big one and pack ice and rock salt around it. Seal it closed and roll it back and forth on the kitchen floor or outside on the driveway (it takes a little while). The kids think it's great fun and you can put whatever kind of fruit you want in it.
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Courtney in Texas
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JennGM
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| Posted: July 13 2005 at 3:13pm | IP Logged
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Courtney wrote:
I LOVE making fruit pies. Since my dd and ds are gluten free, we use a gluten free crust mix that's quite tasty (although it does have egg in it). Blueberry/peach pie is a big favorite around here.
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Courtney, Please share the gluten free crust recipe!
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: July 13 2005 at 3:33pm | IP Logged
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Courtney wrote:
| You use a small metal coffee can and a big one. You put the ingredients in the small one, put the lid on and seal it with tape. Then you put the small can inside the big one and pack ice and rock salt around it. Seal it closed and roll it back and forth on the kitchen floor or outside on the driveway (it takes a little while). |
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Dh and I did this back before we had kids, maybe it is time to let them in on the fun  .
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Courtney
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| Posted: July 13 2005 at 3:51pm | IP Logged
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Jenn, my gluten free crust is a mix called Cause You're Special. They make the best cake mixes and crust mixes. I have yet to find a bread mix that I really like. I made all my Thanksgiving pies with these crust mixes and my sil who's a dietician thought they were regular wheat crusts! They come out nice and flaky. One mix makes 2 crusts. Enjoy!
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Courtney in Texas
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mrsgranola
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| Posted: July 13 2005 at 8:25pm | IP Logged
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Okay, ya'll have got me in trouble now... I had to order some of those mixes from Cause You're Special. It'll be nice to have some easy mixes on hand for Lucas' special dietary needs. He'll be 3 next week so maybe those cake mixes will get here in time! 
He'll be so happy to have pizza crusts, too!
JoAnna
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Courtney
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| Posted: July 13 2005 at 10:08pm | IP Logged
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I just thought of another yummy gluten-free fruit dessert! Cause You're Special makes a wonderful pound cake mix that I use for a berry trifle. You layer the cake (cubed), berries, and this yummy mixture of sweetened condensed milk and pudding mix. I made it for a family get together (my 5 sisters and their spouses and kids) in May and we didn't have enough, so at July 4th, I made two. I found the recipe at allrecipes.com.
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momwise
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| Posted: July 14 2005 at 9:37am | IP Logged
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Puree your overripe fruit, mix it with a can of nectar (or nothing if you want to keep the sugar content down to the fruit only) and make popsicles.
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JennGM
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| Posted: July 21 2005 at 1:42pm | IP Logged
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Well, I made a special fruit crisp/crumble last night. I had strawberries, blueberries and nectarines and made a top layer of oat flour, oats, brown sugar, sugar and used Earth Balance shortening. I had to do the substitutions for my son's food allergies. It turned out good...and he loved it. The fruit was soupy, and the oat flour is naturally sweet, so it was a bit too sweet. I'll do some tweaking, but even having soggy fruit soup is fine for us! 
We called it "pie" and he acted so thrilled to be eating dessert. I don't make much dessert around here...and if we eat ice cream or stuff it's usually after he's in bed or something. So it was so wonderful from a mother's perspective to share the good food with her son.
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Summertime Fruit Ideas
