Using Produce That is "In Season"

 If you buy fresh produce that is in season, you are likely to save a little money on your grocery bill.  In season is the optimum time to buy produce. Grandma's Kitchen Recipes is doing the research again.  Some of the in season produce for November are: 
Apples 
Broccoli
Cranberries
Mushrooms
Oranges
Pears
Persimmon
Pomegranate
                                                                                   Pumpkins
                                                                                   Spinach
                                                                                   Sweet Potatoes
                                                                                   Tangerines
                                                                                   Winter Squash

I have put together some menus (and FREE recipes) that I would like to share with you today.  These recipes incorporate the November seasonal produce.  Buying produce when it is in season can save you some money.  Watch for the sales.  Grandma's Kitchen Recipes says always buy the freshest produce you can find.

The first menu  Grandma's Kitchen Recipes would like to share is this:

Turkey stir fry with broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, and mushrooms

Brown or wild rice

Fresh fruit salad of orange, grapefruit and tangerine segments 

And here are the recipes.

Grandma's Kitchen RecipesTurkey Stir Fry

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

2 cups brown rice

1 ¾ cups chicken broth

2 tablespoons sesame oil

2 cups turkey breast that has been cut into 1/8 inch slices

¾ cup cauliflower florets

¾ cup broccoli florets

½ cup chicken broth

1 small onion, sliced

¾ cup fresh spinach

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms

1 large red, yellow or bell pepper cut into strips

¼ cup chopped peanuts, for garnish, if desired

¼ cup chopped green onions, for garnish

Directions

1.      Cook rice in chicken broth according to package directions.

2.      Heat a 10-inch nonstick skillet (or wok) over medium high heat and add 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil.  Add the turkey and stir 2-3 minutes until turkey is cooked.  Remove from pan and set aside.

3.      Add broth, broccoli and cauliflower to skillet and cover; steam. 2-3 minutes until tender crisp. Remove lid.

4.      Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of sesame oil. Add onion, spinach, peppers and mushrooms.  Stir for 1-2 minutes, then add chicken.  Stir to incorporate all the ingredients.

5.      Divide the rice onto 4 plates.  Divide the stir fry onto the 4 plates.  Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and green onions, if desired.

6.      Feel free to add a couple of shakes of low sodium soy sauce to add a punch.

Grandma's Kitchen Recipes like stir fries, and they are a lot of fun to prepare.  And you can change up the meats and produce to suit your tastes.  Be a chef-create your own stir fry that will go into the family recipe book. 



Why not pair your stir fry with this citrus salad, also made from produce that's in season for November

Grandma's Kitchen Recipes Citrus Salad

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients

2 oranges

1 grapefruit

1 tangerine

1 tablespoon honey

½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger

Directions

Peel the orange, grapefruit, and 1 tangerine.  Set the 2^nd orange aside.  Break the orange, grapefruit and 1 tangerine into segments.  Peel the membrane off all the segments.  Mix together in a bowl.   Squeeze the juice from the 2^nd orange in a small bowl. Add the honey and ginger.  Whisk together and pour over fruit.

There is a saying that you eat with your eyes. This meal is not only very pleasing to the eye, but heart healthy as well.  What a cornucopia of fresh produce we were able to use for this meal!  And notice Grandma's Kitchen Recipes continued the Asian flare by adding ginger to the fruit.  If you are following diabetic cooking, this dish will become a favorite.

Grandma's Kitchen Recipes is happy to share these recipes and hope you make them often.  Until next time, have fun cooking and-enjoy life!

Nanna Dorie