Star Fruit adds Exotic Thrill to Winter Romance

Tired of chocolate covered strawberries on Valentine's day? Need a vacation from the same old fruit? Get out of your winter romance fruit rut with exotic Star Fruit. Delicious, healthy, and seasonal in winter months, star fruit is an exciting addition to any meal.

Preparing a fresh Star Fruit is simple, much like cleaning an orange. Fresh, uncut Star Fruit looks like an American football with fins. Holding the Star Fruit firmly upright, gently trim the brown edges off each ridge. Cut off the end of the Star Fruit where the stem is located. Now we are ready to slice the Star Fruit. Slicing it will yield about three star-shaped pieces of fruit. The last preparation step is to remove the seeds. They are larger in size but about the same color as apple seeds. They will be located near the center of each slice where the “arms” of the fruit begin to radiate outward.

Star Fruit can be used in many ways and in a wide variety of dishes. It makes the perfect exotic topping to any cake or pie. Star Fruit is equally at home in salads or drizzled with dessert sauces. Here are suggestions for ways to serve Star Fruit for your next romantic meal:

• On a bed of whipped cream, topped with caramel sauce
• The focal piece in a mixed green salad with raspberry vinaigrette
• Shared plain with your sweetie, accompanied by champagne or a favorite beverage
• As part of an exotic fruit punch or sangria
• Roasted on a grill like sliced pineapple and served as a side dish

Do you have a favorite method or recipe for Star Fruit? I want to hear about it!

Banana Nut Pancakes

Pancakes can be a healthy part of any meal. The addition of whole wheat, oatmeal, and nuts provides the protein and nutrition to keep your energy up.
You will need: * 1 - 2 tblspn Canola oil, for griddle (cooking pan) *1/2 cup whole wheat flour *1/4 cup oatmeal *1 1/2 cups all purpose flour *1 teaspoon baking powder *1/4 teaspoon baking soda
*1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt *1 1/4 cups and 2 tblspn soy milk *2 large ripe bananas, mashed (the riper the better) *2 large eggs *3 tablespoons melted butter (or other cooking oil)
*1/2 cup (2 ounces) chopped walnuts, roasted

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour,oatmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until combined and make a well in the center. In another medium bowl, whisk all the soy milk, the bananas, eggs, and oil until well combined. Pour into the well and stir until smooth; there can be a few little lumps remaining. Stir in the walnuts. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Using 1/4 cup batter for each pancake, pour the batter onto the griddle. Cook until the edges of the pancake appear dry and the underside is golden brown, about 3 minutes. This pancake batter behaves differently from others: The top may not become covered with tiny bubbles, which usually indicate the pancake is ready to turn. Check the edges and use a thin spatula to peek at the underside.

Flip the pancakes and cook until the other side is golden, about 2 minutes. Keep warm in the oven while preparing the rest of the pancakes. If the batter thickens too much upon standing, thin with additional soy milk.

Wild Blackberry Cobbler

Our wild organic blackberries are delicious raw, but when you are in the mood to share, try this easy cobbler. Remember blackberries are very fragile, so a gentle rinse in a colander is all they need for cleaning.
You will need: * 2 cups sugar * 1/3 cup butter *2 cups flour *2 teaspoons baking powder *1 teaspoon salt * 1 cup milk * 1 tbsp lemon juice * 2 cups blackberries *2 cups boiling water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add lemon juice to milk. Set milk aside until it reaches room temperature. Mix butter and 1 3/4 cups sugar together until creamy. Sift flour, baking powder and salt. Measure out 2 cups of sifted ingredients and add to butter mixture. Add milk and mix well. Pour the mixture into a long baking pan at least 2 inches deep. (13 x9 or 12 x 8). Carefully pour the blackberries evenly onto the top of the batter. Sprinkle
Cream 1 cup sugar with butter; add flour, baking powder, salt, and milk. Mix well; pour into 12 x 8 x 2 inch baking pan. Pour blackberries over batter; Sprinkle the rest of the sugar over the blackberries. Pour boiling water over top. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until golden brown. Delicious alone or with ice cream.

Skillet Apple Crisp

Sweet juicy apples and crispy oatmeal make this a dessert everyone will remember, whether you are at home or out camping. Serve alone or with ice cream. A regular skillet can be used if you do not have an iron skillet.
You will need: *5 medium sized apples, sliced *1 cup of uncooked oatmeal *1/2 cup brown sugar *1 tbsp cinnamon *1/4 cup of butter (8 tbsp).

Heat skillet on medium heat. Melt butter in skillet. Add brown sugar and cinnamon, stir until mixed. Slowly add the apples, coating the slices in the mixture. Next add the oatmeal, folding it into the mixture while stirring. There should be very little liquid left. Cook until apples soften and oatmeal becomes crispy. Add water a tablespoon at a time if needed during cooking.

Seasonal Cherry Stuffing

This delicious stuffing is made with our tasty organic cherries. It is low in fat and a colorful addition to any holiday meal. For a vegetarian twist, use vegetable stock.
You will need: *5 pieces of whole grain bread * 1 9 inch pan of cornbread, crumbled
* 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil * 5 tablespoons of butter * 1 stalk of celery, finely chopped
*1/2 medium onion, finely chopped * 2 cloves of minced garlic * 1/4 tsp marjoram *1 1/2 cups broth or stock *1/2 cup organic cherries, chopped *1 tsp salt *1 tsp ground pepper *1/2 cup toasted walnuts

Season the bread with salt, pepper, and butter to taste. Break into chunks no larger than 1/2 inch and toast in oven. Set aside. Melt 3 tbsp butter in a large pot. Add garlic, celery, and onion, cooking over low heat for five minutes. Add marjoram, basil, and pepper to vegetables and stir. Add broth. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat. Carefully add bread crumbs, walnuts, and cherries. Let stand covered about 5 minutes before serving.

Zoë b Organic Weekly: Eco-Friendly Wallets by DB Clay

If you are looking for a unique gift that also helps the environment, these wallets are worth a look. They may be intended for guys, but the horse design on Zoe's blog is definitely on my little girl's list.

Fresh Fruits Revive Walkers

Eating fresh fruit as part of an exercise recovery plan is a refreshing way to stay healthy and hydrated. Bananas and oranges contain vitamin c and potassium, reviving your body naturally.

Eating a piece of fruit with a protein such as peanut butter will restore additional energy and keep you exercising longer and more efficiently. Be sure to drink plenty of liquids and eat regularly if you will be doing any physical activity for over an hour.