All things family
Happy, healthy families
Recipes, parties and meals
Savvy money solutions
Making Learning Fun
Solutions for your home
Cakes, parties & more
Good stuff for everyone
Eco-friendly choices
EatSavvy Blog
Posts filed under What’s in Season. Show all blog posts.
Let’s take a break from the sugar cookies, gingerbread men and holiday entertaining for a minute to talk about clementines. These juicy beauties are typically sold by the crate or 4 lb bag, and can be found at almost every supermarket this month.
Loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C, fibre, folate and potassium, these golden orbs kick off citrus season, which runs into the late winter—and can make for a sweet snack to give to the kids this season.
While clementines are easy to tuck into a coat pocket for a quick peel and eat, they also taste great in nearly any recipe that calls for the addition of lemon/orange juice or zest. Just swap equal amounts of clementine for whatever citrus is called for and your dish will instantly have a seasonal vibe to it.
Here are some other ideas for using clementines this month:
- Toss baby spinach, clementine segments, pomegranate seeds and walnuts with your favourite balsamic vinaigrette for a healthy addition to your holiday feasts.
- Dip clementine pieces into white or dark chocolate and cover with a smattering of chopped nuts for an easy sweet treat.
- Puree frozen mango cubes, sliced bananas and clementine pieces with yogurt, a touch of maple syrup and vanilla extract for a brain-boosting smoothie to start the day.
- Combine equal parts clementine juice with Perrier or white grape juice and serve over ice. Garnish with pomegranate seeds for a non-alcoholic drink for the kids.
- Stir-fry some shrimp and veggies and season with ground or fresh ginger and a few tablespoons of clementine juice. Serve over rice for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.
And lastly, this clementine cake from Nigella Lawson is on my to-make list for the coming week. It’s gluten free and only requires five ingredients—making it totally doable for the busy holiday season.
Have you been buying clementines? How do you like to eat them?
Squash season is officially here and I couldn’t be more pleased. From soups and salads to main courses and desserts, this versatile gourd is practically an essential ingredient for fall. High in fibre and low in fat, plus rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, vitamin A and vitamin C, winter squash is the perfect way to add a burst of colour to the family table in the coming months.
There are more than twenty different kinds of squash, some more popular than others. Here is a brief guide to the more familiar types you might like to cook with:
Acorn: Usually 1–2 pounds in size and shaped like an acorn. It doesn’t hold its shape well so it’s usually best baked or steamed. It’s light on flavour but adds a hint of sweetness to any dish.
Butternut: Averaging between 2–5 pounds, this bell shaped squash is sweet and nutty and can be steamed, sautéed, baked or braised. It also makes an excellent replacement for pumpkin in baked goods and desserts.
Delicata: This small, cucumber shaped squash is pale yellow with green stripes. The skin is soft so it doesn’t need to be peeled and the flavour is similar to sweet corn, with a texture not unlike summer squash. It slices easily and is best when steamed or baked. It holds its shape well and is great for stuffing.
Spaghetti: This yellow squash is names for the spaghetti-like strands that separate from the skin when cooked. It doesn’t have much flavour on it’s own but is an excellent vehicle for assorted pasta sauces.
Storing
When you purchase squash is should be firm to the touch and the skin shouldn’t have any give to it. Designed for storage, most squash can be kept in a cool place for up to six months. Delicata and spaghetti squashes are an exception, and they should be eaten within three weeks.
Three Ways to Savour the Flavour of Squash
Here are three delicious ways to serve squash to your family this fall:
Spaghetti Squash with Chunky Tomato Sauce
Squash and Apple Soup
Squash and Pancetta Baked Pasta
Topics
Explore More Savvy
SavvyMom is the registered trademark of SavvyMom Media Inc.
