Cherries

About: Cherries belong to the stone fruit family along with apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums. Two major types of cherries are harvested in the world: sweet cherries and sour cherries. Sweet cherries contain more sugar than their sour counterparts and are usually eaten fresh. Sour cherries are usually processed into foods like jellies and pies.

Nutritional Info: Cherries are a good source of Vitamin C and are very low in Saturated Fat, Cholesterol and Sodium.

Storage: Refrigerated cherries will last 4-7 in the fridge. Keep in a plastic bag and do not wash until ready to eat. The moisture will facilitate decay.

Tips: Eat your cherries fast, as they are highly perishable.

Quick Fix: For an after-dinner treat, remove pits from cherries and stuff with a mixture of cream cheese, walnuts and cinnamon.

Recipes: Tangy Cherry Chicken, Cherries with Ricotta Toatsed Almonds, Fresh Cherry Tart

 

 

 

Chives

About: Chives are the smallest type of onion. The scapes of the chive, which are the long, flowering stems rising from the bulb, are commonly used as an herb. They are considered one of the "fines herbes", which is a combination of herbs commonly used in French and Mediterranean cuisine. These herbs include fresh parsley, chives, tarragon and chervil. Chives have insect-repelling properties that can be used in gardens to control pests.

Nutritional Information: Chives are very good source of Vitamin K and minerals. Read More...

Storage:  Store fresh chives in the refrigerator in a plastic bag up to a week or so. Do not wash until ready to use. To freeze-dry chives, place chopped chives on a cookie sheet in the freezer. 

Tips: Chives can be used in any recipe that calls for onions. Cook lightly, if at all. The easiest way to cut chives is with scissors.

QuickFix: Throw in a salad dressing or an omelet for flavor! 

Recipes:  Salad with Chive Dressing, Cheese Chive Baked Potatoes,  Salad with Buttermilk Chive Dressing, Burgers with Spinach, Apple Slaw, and Chive Mayo

Collards

About: Collards fall in the category of extremely nutritious dark green, leafy vegetables. They are one of the most popular members of the brassica family, closely related to kale and cabbage. Both the stalk and leaves are edible, so munch away.

Nutritional Info: 1 cup of collards contains only 11 calories. That same cup contains 1045% DV of Vitamin K and 308% DV Vitamin A. Collards are also rich in Dietary Fiber, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin K, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Calcium and Manganese.

Storage: Refrigerate collards in a plastic bag for up to 4-5 days of freshness.

Tips: It is very important not to overcook collards. Extensive cooking may result in loss of vitamins and may trigger an unpleasant sulfur smell, a common reaction of cruciferous vegetables to overcooking. Watch that clock.

Quick Fix: Slice the leaves into 1/2-inch pieces and the stems into 1/4-inch pieces. Let them sit for at least 5 minutes, then steam for 5 minutes. 

Recipes: Sauteed Collared Greens, Lentil and Green Collard Soup

 

Concord Grapes

About: These purple gems are drool-worthy. The Concord grape is a punchy, luscious fruit named after the Massachusetts village of Concord, where it made its premiere in 1854. The grape derives from the “Vitus labrusca”, or “fox grape”, a musky, sweet, “slip-skin”  fruit.

Nutritional Info: 1 cup of the fruit contains 62 calories and a mere 0.3g of fat, along with 13 mg of calcium!

Storage: Grapes will last about 5-7 days in the fridge. Keep sealed in a plastic bag and do not wash until ready to eat.

Tips: Concord grapes are great to freeze and use later to make jams or jellies. To freeze, simply wash grapes and remove stems, then place in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze. The grapes will last up to one year while frozen!

Quick Fix: How to Eat a Concord Grape

Recipes: Concord Grape Jam, Concord Grape Pie