Okanagan Fruit: What To Do With Your Summer Bounty

Now that summer's in full swing, we hope you've had the opportunity to visit some of the markets we mentioned in our previous post.  If not a farmer's market, perhaps you've been to one of the many fruit stands sprinkled throughout the valley, or maybe you just know someone with a backyard full of overflowing fruit trees?  No matter how you acquired your delicious Okanagan bounty, you're probably wondering what to do with it all.  Fortunately, there are many different ways to enjoy the spoils of the summer, this season and beyond:

Get Your Bake (or Drink) On

This may seem obvious, but one of the best ways to get the most out of your extra fruit is by incorporating them into your favourite summer recipes.  Grilled nectarines and melon, while unconventional, pair wonderfully with BBQ.  A batch of blueberry and peach muffins is a great way to utilize multiple fruits for a satisfying snack, plus they can easily be frozen for enjoyment later on.  You could also try freezing some strawberry and watermelon chunks, then blend and mix with sparkling water for a delicious and refreshing summer beverage.  And finally, remember that fruit salad can be so much more than cantelope and honeydew melon.  Jazz up those old standbys with some of your favourite berries and stone fruits, add squirt of lemon juice to keep the colours fresh, and top with whipped cream for a special treat.  The culinary possibilities are endless if you're feeling creative (and have access to Google).

Can & Jam

You may have memories of someone in your family standing in the kitchen, toiling over a boiling pot, surrounded by piles of fruit and stacks of jars.  Well what's old is new again, and canning and jamming have certainly made a comeback.  By turning our delicious local produce into jam, jellies, pickles, or spreads, our sandwiches and charcuterie boards just got that much better.  And it doesn't have to cost a fortune either; a basic canning kit can start around $50, or you could try sourcing one second-hand from your local classifieds.  Don't forget that homemade condiments make excellent gifts, so you can save yourself some money (and time) down the road by keeping a stash of your favourite creations on hand.

Save It for Later

Besides canning and jamming, another great way to make your seasonal goodies last is by freezing or dehydrating them.  In fact, you can even freeze your items first and then dehydrate them later!  Not only are these both delicious ways to prepare convenient, healthy snacks on the go (think smoothies or fruit leather, for example), they are both excellent methods for preserving as much of the produce's natural nutritional value as possible while maintaining shelf life.  Looking to add some extra fiber to your diet?  Frozen and/or dehydrated food is great for that because you haven't lost any of the beneficial properties to standard industry processing practices.  You also get bonus points for controlling the amount of added sugar that goes into your food.  So it's a win, win, win, win situation overall!

When you live at Cadence at The Lakes Adult Community, the Okanagan's bounty is, literally, right outside your door.  With several well-stocked fruit stands directly along the road to home, no matter which route you take, our residents always have access to everything that's fresh and in-season.  This is especially convenient, as the kitchens at Cadence are spacious and well equipped, which means it's easy to enjoy that wonderful harvest all year long. 

Life's good lived at your own rhythm!