MMMM…Fresh Fruit

This is the first summer that I can remember finding so much fresh fruit and finding it so reasonably priced!

I have harvested my own strawberries, raspberries and a very small crop of blackberries. I’ve used them in jam, smoothies and even frozen some. Walmart has had strawberries and and blueberries CHEAP!! I’ve picking some up every few days and using some fresh and freezing the rest!

My non-blogging friend Cindy shared a fresh fruit idea with me. Since I can’t point you to her blog, I’ll just share her idea with you! She takes several fresh fruits that are in season and cuts them up and puts them in plastic containers, puts them in the fridge and tells her kids to just “help themselves!”

I have several kids that would almost rather have fresh fruit than candy (really, and since candy is cheaper, they usually get that more often! ) So I thought I would give it a try, because I usually limit the fruit to make it go around. I washed strawberries, blueberries and cherries and put them in a flat container. Next time I think I will try to find a divided container.

 

Here is my fruit monster holding the fruit. He didn’t know what to think when I said he could help himself anytime. Well, I should have known better! When I got home later that day, it was ALL gone!!! Every last piece! The other kids had some, but guess who ate most of it? My Fruit Monster! What can I say, I told them they could!! So, in the future, I will put some limits on it. ;-)

I’m freezing some grapes and watermelon balls for a cool summer treat.  

After I made the melon balls, my fruit monster noticed that the empty half of the watermelon looked like a bowl. So we decided to put together a “fruit salad” in the “bowl” for tomorrow’s fruit. We just washed and tossed in grapes, blueberries and cut up some cherries.  Then we added in some of the scrappy watermelon pieces and the juice. There wasn’t quite enough juice so I added a little fruit punch that I had on hand and voila’ ! Not all that pretty to look at but it sure tastes good! Having the fresh fruit so readily available and ready to eat makes it easier to encourage the kids to eat fruit!

I’m also freezing some of fruits for smoothies throughout the year. Cherries and blueberries are easy to freeze. Just wash, dry and flash freeze (lay on a cookie sheet in a single layer and put in freezer for a couple of hours til frozen) then put into freezer bags. They won’t be frozen together and you can just take the amount you need out of the bag! I’m trying this with strawberries too. I’m just hulling them first.

I hope to be able to enjoy fruit long after the warm weather is gone!  What ideas do you have for serving fresh fruit??

It’s been encouraging to receive several awards all in a short period of time…the same period of time that I haven’t been able to blog much and haven’t felt like a very good blogger! Amy from A Latte’ with Ott, A. awarded me this:

Thank you Amy for this award! I’m encouraged that you think my blog has substance! This came at just the right time…I need the boost! :-)

The Rules:
*Thank the blogger who awarded it to you.
*Sum up your blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience using five (5) words.
*Pass it on to 10 other blogs which you feel have real substance.

Five Words, huh? Okay how about Thrifty, Creative, Sharing,Learning,Growing

Passing it on:

1.Nikki’s Nifty Knacks One of my first favorites! Nikki and I have a lot in common…mainly a LOVE of Dollar Tree!

2.Delicious Ambiguity I enjoy this blog for all the mommy tips.

3. Blessed With Grace  Definitely a blog with substance! Lisa’s testimony is amazing! I love her Tempt My Tummy link party too!

4. An Oregon Cottage is a blog full of substance! We enjoy many of the same things, gardening, being frugal and diy decorating.

5. SueAnn’s Journey Sue Ann’s blog is full of creative substance!! She is also a faithful blog friend!

6. The Thrifty BA is full of frugal fun substance!

7.Tracy’s Trinkets and Treasures is sooo creative! I am inspired every time I visit!

8. Tootsie Time has the most beautiful gardens!! Go take a tour. She does a great link party “Fertilizer/Flaunt your flowers Friday!

9.Silver Strands has done something very substantial for her Mom! Go read her story!

10. Veronica’s Korner is full of fun ideas, crafts, recipes and she does a “My Top Pics” each week of the things she has seen while visiting aound in blogland!

Go visit these inspiring blogs with substance!

There are always great food ideas and recipes at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday and Tasty Tuesday! Let's go check them out!