With the wonderful weather we have had lately, we need something to pick up our spirits. What can do that better than colorful fruit and light foods?

I love to use fruit in meals. It can be as simple as adding it to a salad or as complex as creating an entire meal with fruit as the main ingredient.

None of these recipes are difficult or time consuming. The first recipe is just a simple syrup that you cut nectarines (or peaches) into and serve with ice cream, Crème Fraîche or whipped cream.

The second recipe is a tart. In my recipe I make the crust from scratch, but it isn’t a crust that you have to knead or work with. You toss it into the food processor. If you don’t want to do that, you can use a sugar cookie dough from the dairy case of the grocery store. But, try the homemade one, it’s quick and easy and will taste better.

Recipe No. 3 is a cooler. When it’s 80 degrees outside, let the kids help make this one. Then after it’s chilled, take it outside under a tree and have an impromptu picnic.

The last recipe is cream cheese fruit salad. When you combine cream cheese with anything, it’s good, in my opinion. I could probably eat cream cheese on cardboard and like it. But, this is a great dish to serve to company because it’s also colorful and delicious.



Warm Peaches with Lemon Syrup



1/4 cup butter

2 cups granulated sugar

2 lemons, zested and juiced

1 1/4 lbs fresh peaches, peeled & sliced

crème fraîche, or vanilla ice cream



In a large skillet over high heat, combine butter, sugar, and lemon juice. Stir until mixture forms a nice syrup. You may need to add more butter if the mixture is too dry. Add lemon zest and nectarines and stir until just soft. Spoon mixture into individual serving cups and top with cold crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream.

This recipe can also be made substituting nectarines for the peaches.



Fresh Fruit Tart



Crust:

1/2 Cup Confectioners' Sugar

1 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

1 1/2 Sticks Unsalted Butter, softened & sliced

Filling:

1 (8-Ounce) Package Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract



Topping:

Fresh Strawberries, Kiwi Slices, Blackberries, Blueberries or Raspberries

Glaze:

1 (6-Ounce) Can Frozen Limeade Concentrate, thawed

1 Tbsp Cornstarch

1 Tbsp Fresh Lime Juice

1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar

Whipped Cream, for garnish



Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the crust: In a food processor, combine the confectioners' sugar, flour, and butter, and process until the mixture forms a ball. With your fingers, press the dough into a 12-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, taking care to push the crust into the indentations in the sides. Pat until the crust is even. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until very lightly browned. Set aside to cool.

For the filling and topping: Beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla together until smooth. Spread over the cooled crust. Cut the strawberries into 1/4-inch slices and arrange around the edge of the crust, alternating with the kiwi. Add another circle of strawberries and kiwi, fill with a ring of berries. Fill the center are with any leftover fruit.

For the glaze: Combine the limeade, cornstarch, lime juice, and sugar in a small saucepan and cook over medium heat until clear and thick, about 2 minutes. Let cool. With a pastry brush, glaze the entire tart. You will not use the entire glaze.

Keep the tart in the refrigerator. Remove about 15 minutes before serving. Slice into 8 wedges and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

If you do not have a tart pan, you can make this dish by forming the crust in pizza fashion, bake for approximately 10 minutes, cool and proceed as above.



Kiwi Cooler



1-Cup Kiwi Purée (Recipe Follows)

1-Cup Heavy Whipping Cream

1 Tbsp Sugar



Kiwi Purée:

4 Kiwis

4-5 Tbsp Sugar



For the purée: Peel and cut the kiwis into quarters. Place in a food processor, with a steel blade, and process until you have a rough purée. (You should have about one cup of puréed kiwi.)

If you have less than one cup of puréed kiwi, either purée another kiwi so you end up with one cup or simply adjust the amount of whipping cream to equal that of the puréed kiwi.

You will notice that you use equal amounts of purée to whipping cream so adjustments are easy to make.

Transfer to a bowl and stir in the sugar. Taste and add more sugar if necessary. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

For Kiwi Cooler:

Place mixing bowl and whisk attachment in the refrigerator or freezer for about 15 minutes or until very cold. Whip the cream until soft peaks form. Add the sugar and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. With a rubber spatula gently fold in the kiwi purée, leaving some streaks of the white whipping cream. Pour into four individual long-stemmed parfait or wine glasses.

Cover and refrigerate until serving time. Can be made about 4 hours before serving. Garnish with a slice of kiwi fruit.

You can make this same cooler using strawberries, raspberries or other berry fruit.



Cream Cheese Fruit Salad



1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

1/4 cup white sugar, or to taste

1 (12 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

3 bananas, peeled and sliced

1 (15.25 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained

1 (15.25 ounce) can fruit cocktail, drained

1 large Jonagold apple, peeled and chopped

1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut

1 (4 ounce) jar maraschino cherries, drained and halved (optional)

1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

1/2 cup golden raisins (optional)



Beat the cream cheese and sugar together in a large bowl. On high speed, beat in the whipped topping. Fold in the bananas, pineapple, fruit cocktail, apple, and coconut. If desired, mix in the maraschino cherries, pecans, and raisins.

Pour the salad into a serving bowl, and chill one hour before serving.





Did you know?



Strawberry facts



The strawberry you eat is not really a fruit or a berry but is the enlarged receptacle of the flower.

Strawberries are grown in every state in the U.S. and every province in Canada. California produces 80 percent of the nation's strawberries, providing almost a year-round supply.

California strawberry growers and researchers, along with help from the most ideal growing conditions, work together to produce the highest quality strawberries you can buy.

There are approximately 700 strawberry growers in California producing fruit on over 20,000 acres annually. The strawberry shipping season begins in January in the southern part of the state and moves north with the warming springtime temperatures. Volume peaks in April and May when all production areas overlap. During this time, weekly volume can approach 5 million trays or just over 9 million pounds a day.

Strawberries were cultivated in ancient Rome and were used as a medicinal herb in the 13th Century. They are a member of the Rose family. A museum dedicated to them in Belgium. During the 1700s, a hybrid variety was developed in France by breeding wild strawberries brought from North America with others from Chile. The first important American variety, the Hovey, was grown in 1834 in Massachusetts.

Nutrition and Consumption: One serving of strawberries contains 20 percent RDA of folic acid. That's more per comparable serving than any other fruit. Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin that has been proven to reduce birth defects involving brain and nerve disorders.

Strawberries are one of the most delicious and nutritious fruits.

According to FDA regulations, strawberries are a sodium-free, fat-free food. They are not only cholesterol free but low in calories, as well.

One serving of eight medium- sized strawberries contains:

140 percent of the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowance of Vitamin C, which is more than one orange.

• 20 percent of the daily value for folic acid.

• Only 50 calories.

• No fat grams.

• Recognized source of potassium, folacin and dietary fiber.

• Approximately 50 percent of this total dietary fiber is a water soluble pectin.

• Clinical studies that soluble fibers help reduce serum cholesterol levels.



Karen’s Kitchen is a weekly column by Karen Freeman of Tarboro. Contact Karen at:

kvfreeman@triad.rr.com to exchange ideas, ask questions, submit recipes, tips or suggestions.

Check out her Web site: http://www.geocities.com/kvfreeman27886/