Citrus: lemons, oranges, grapefruit. Like apples, you can find them all year long, but they're best in winter and early spring. Here in the desert, they peak in February. If you leave them on the tree until you're ready for them, you've got yourself your very own little 'root cellar' right there in the backyard.
Yes! I love, love, love citrus and just can't relegate it to a few months out of the year. Although, I do rely on bottled juice sometimes when whatever little grocery store nearby doesn't have good fresh citrus.
I could not say there is ONE seasonal ingredient that I use year round as my list could go on and on. I use so many fruits and vegetables in my cooking year round - cabbage, lemons, limes, lettuces, eggplant. I grow certain vegetables that I can freeze and use later during the off season such as broccoli and cauliflower. You get the picture. It's easier to say that there are two items I avoid during the off season which are tomatoes and strawberries because the flavor is just not there like it is during the season.
I agree with your assessment of tomatoes and strawberries 100%. Although, cherry tomatoes seem to be good all year long... I'm not sure why? But I never buy fresh strawberries or tomatoes on the off season. I do buy frozen strawberries.
Pears! I love pears and use them year round. I have a bit of an advantage living in the Pacific Northwest, pear capital of the US. In season I look for different types at the farmers markets. But I love grabbing a bag any time and using them in cakes and on salads.
I love pears! But, traveling around the country, I've found that it's difficult to find good ones in a lot of places. You are fortunate to live where you do - the PNW is one of my favorite places!
I cook year round with cabbage and since in Quebec we now have tasty greenhouse tomatoes 🍅 I frequently buy some. I am a big fan of fresh regional produce and capture their much better flavor than what is offered all year round in supermarkets by canning, freezing and prepare soups for the winter. In October I often have 10 different soups frozen.
During our tenure in NW New Jersey, we lived rather close to a wonderful orchard called Windy Brow. Both children had field trips there, and we would go on our own as well. That is when I learned about the magic of apple storage.
While citrus also has a season, it is something I lean on regularly in both savory and sweet applications. Often it is the perfect finishing touch.
How fun to tour a local apple orchard! I was so amazed to learn that they can store apples for such a long time. I agree with you about citrus! I use it constantly all year long. Although, depending on where we are in the country, I sometimes have to rely on bottled juice. But I'd rather that then not use it at all.
Cucumbers. While pulling straight from the garden with a bit of dust and dirt is fun, Persian Cucumbers grown in greenhouses, with their thin skins, are available year-round, making us feel like garden season even in the Winter. A second would be Arugula; the tender aquaponic leaves delight all season.
Onions! Everything has its season. Onions, like most root crops are stored in huge bins in conditions that prevent them from sprouting & going soft. I couldn't cook without them, I'm bereft if I've run out. In one of the Little House on the Prairie books Laura and Mary argue about whether they can have sage in sage and onion stuffing before being told by their mother that there aren't any onions. Queen Mary hated onions and forbid their use in any recipe. We wouldn't have got on.
Oh my, yes! I start almost everything I cook with garlic an onions! One of my good friends is allergic to both and when I cook for her, I have a feeling of not knowing how to cook at all! How do you start anything without onions??? I vaguely remember that scene in Little House on the Prarie - I loved those books as a child, And I don't think I would have gotten along with Queen Mary either.
I couldn’t cook without carrots … but I only eat strawberries and asparagus etc when I know they are in season and grown on local farms. I know they’ve not been flown around the world.. and the flavours are worth waiting for!
Brussel Sprouts...they telegraph "Autumn," but I keep these little babies in the vegetable drawer for Brussel sprout toast and Brussel sprout nachos...they've weathered the Brussel trend well here, every Boston restaurant serves them as starters
Oh yes, me too. I tend to roast them in the colder months and shred them into salads in the summer, but I definitely don't treat them like a seasonal vegetable.
So interesting, did not know that about apples! I end up using strawberries pretty much year round because I just love them so much. Since they are not nearly as good and sweet in fall and winter, I tend to use them to make compotes, smoothies, and baked goods during the off season.
I didn't know that about apples either! How funny, at 50 years old, that I'd never really thought about how odd it was that apples are good all year long. I stock my fridge with frozen berries in the winter because I just can't give up the flavor of berries during the winter.
I read a fascinating account on how apples are harvested extremely underripe in New England to preserve their shelf life for the industrial food chain. It’s in Dave Arnolds cocktail science book “Liquid Intelligence” a great read. He also shares how to get your hands on some of the rarer, less mass market apple varietals
I've found that most winter strawberries don't have much flavor.... is it different in the Bay area? Because that's reason enough for me to go there. :-)
Citrus: lemons, oranges, grapefruit. Like apples, you can find them all year long, but they're best in winter and early spring. Here in the desert, they peak in February. If you leave them on the tree until you're ready for them, you've got yourself your very own little 'root cellar' right there in the backyard.
Yes! I love, love, love citrus and just can't relegate it to a few months out of the year. Although, I do rely on bottled juice sometimes when whatever little grocery store nearby doesn't have good fresh citrus.
I could not say there is ONE seasonal ingredient that I use year round as my list could go on and on. I use so many fruits and vegetables in my cooking year round - cabbage, lemons, limes, lettuces, eggplant. I grow certain vegetables that I can freeze and use later during the off season such as broccoli and cauliflower. You get the picture. It's easier to say that there are two items I avoid during the off season which are tomatoes and strawberries because the flavor is just not there like it is during the season.
I agree with your assessment of tomatoes and strawberries 100%. Although, cherry tomatoes seem to be good all year long... I'm not sure why? But I never buy fresh strawberries or tomatoes on the off season. I do buy frozen strawberries.
Pears! I love pears and use them year round. I have a bit of an advantage living in the Pacific Northwest, pear capital of the US. In season I look for different types at the farmers markets. But I love grabbing a bag any time and using them in cakes and on salads.
I love pears! But, traveling around the country, I've found that it's difficult to find good ones in a lot of places. You are fortunate to live where you do - the PNW is one of my favorite places!
Lemons and limes! They are a winter fruit but grow year round where I live. Plus, I love them!
Me too, me too!
I cook year round with cabbage and since in Quebec we now have tasty greenhouse tomatoes 🍅 I frequently buy some. I am a big fan of fresh regional produce and capture their much better flavor than what is offered all year round in supermarkets by canning, freezing and prepare soups for the winter. In October I often have 10 different soups frozen.
Oh man, I want to come to your house for dinner in the middle of winter. What a treasure trove your freezer is!
Ooh, this is a good one! Broccoli.
It's the only vegetable my children reliably eat, so even though in the UK broccoli's season is June-Oct, I definitely eat it all year round.
From a fruit perspective, I'm with you on the apples Rebecca!
That's amazing that broccoli is the favorite vegetable of your children! It seems like most kids try to avoid it. Good for them (and for you!).
During our tenure in NW New Jersey, we lived rather close to a wonderful orchard called Windy Brow. Both children had field trips there, and we would go on our own as well. That is when I learned about the magic of apple storage.
While citrus also has a season, it is something I lean on regularly in both savory and sweet applications. Often it is the perfect finishing touch.
How fun to tour a local apple orchard! I was so amazed to learn that they can store apples for such a long time. I agree with you about citrus! I use it constantly all year long. Although, depending on where we are in the country, I sometimes have to rely on bottled juice. But I'd rather that then not use it at all.
Cucumbers. While pulling straight from the garden with a bit of dust and dirt is fun, Persian Cucumbers grown in greenhouses, with their thin skins, are available year-round, making us feel like garden season even in the Winter. A second would be Arugula; the tender aquaponic leaves delight all season.
Yes! We have cucumbers in our vegetable drawer all year as well. Arugula is another one that I use year round... I love its peppery flavor.
Onions! Everything has its season. Onions, like most root crops are stored in huge bins in conditions that prevent them from sprouting & going soft. I couldn't cook without them, I'm bereft if I've run out. In one of the Little House on the Prairie books Laura and Mary argue about whether they can have sage in sage and onion stuffing before being told by their mother that there aren't any onions. Queen Mary hated onions and forbid their use in any recipe. We wouldn't have got on.
Oh my, yes! I start almost everything I cook with garlic an onions! One of my good friends is allergic to both and when I cook for her, I have a feeling of not knowing how to cook at all! How do you start anything without onions??? I vaguely remember that scene in Little House on the Prarie - I loved those books as a child, And I don't think I would have gotten along with Queen Mary either.
I couldn’t cook without carrots … but I only eat strawberries and asparagus etc when I know they are in season and grown on local farms. I know they’ve not been flown around the world.. and the flavours are worth waiting for!
Totally agree with you about strawberries and asparagus. Winter strawberries are like winter tomatoes - they have absolutely no flavor.
Brussel Sprouts...they telegraph "Autumn," but I keep these little babies in the vegetable drawer for Brussel sprout toast and Brussel sprout nachos...they've weathered the Brussel trend well here, every Boston restaurant serves them as starters
Oh yes, me too. I tend to roast them in the colder months and shred them into salads in the summer, but I definitely don't treat them like a seasonal vegetable.
So interesting, did not know that about apples! I end up using strawberries pretty much year round because I just love them so much. Since they are not nearly as good and sweet in fall and winter, I tend to use them to make compotes, smoothies, and baked goods during the off season.
I didn't know that about apples either! How funny, at 50 years old, that I'd never really thought about how odd it was that apples are good all year long. I stock my fridge with frozen berries in the winter because I just can't give up the flavor of berries during the winter.
That's the first thing I thought of...strawberries, for me.
I read a fascinating account on how apples are harvested extremely underripe in New England to preserve their shelf life for the industrial food chain. It’s in Dave Arnolds cocktail science book “Liquid Intelligence” a great read. He also shares how to get your hands on some of the rarer, less mass market apple varietals
I have that book (or had, as I recently gave it away)! I somehow missed that story and now I want to re-purchase it.
Strawberries seem to be available year-round in the Bay Area. Hothouses, I guess.
I've found that most winter strawberries don't have much flavor.... is it different in the Bay area? Because that's reason enough for me to go there. :-)
You're right, not much taste. They're strawberry-ish, is all.
Even from the farmers' markets in high season, they don't necessarily taste like much. Over-produced, I'd say.