Tulips at the Greenmarket

Last Thursday, I met up with my husband and we strolled through the greenmarket at 116th & Broadway. It was a beautiful, sunny spring day and I especially enjoyed the bright colors of the tulips.

This greenmarket always has lovely flowers in the spring.

Finally, Spring and My 200th Post!

I took this photo on Columbia University's campus a few days ago. The flowering tree in the forground is finally starting to bloom! Despite a chilly start, it does feel like spring is finally here!

I'm looking forward to creating some new spring-themed pieces once I've finished the alphabet series.

O is for Orange

Oranges are mainly used for juice production and most are grown in Brazil. There are numerous varieties of oranges including sweet orange, navel and valencia.

Homemade Orange Juice

1. Wash oranges, cut in half and remove seeds.
2. Squeeze orange halves into a pitcher. For more pulp, scrape in some fruit, too.

This is so refreshing to have with breakfast!

N is for Nectarine

Nectarines belong the same species as peaches. Nectarines can have white or yellow flesh inside and they bruise easily.

Nectarine Smoothie

1. Cut nectarines into chunks, peel and freeze.
2. Blend frozen nectarine chunks, milk or milk substitute and 1 Tbsp. honey.
3. Serve immediately!

Prepping Alphabet Pieces

Yesterday, I worked on prepping the next four alphabet pieces. After cutting the paper down to the right size, I painted each piece a different shade of blue.

I mixed different shades of blue to contrast with the paper I planned to use for the fruit alphabet pieces. I'm enjoying the new colors of gouache paint I bought recently. I think the colors are very intense and bright.

Stay tuned for new pieces tomorrow!

M is for Mango

Mangoes grow on trees and come in different sizes and colors (yellow, orange, red and green). Mangoes are native to India.

Mangoes with Yogurt and Honey

1. Cut mango in half, peel and cube. It can be challenging to cut a mango because it's so slippery, so exercise caution.
2. Fill a bowl with yogurt (I'd suggest plain), place mango cubes on top and drizzle with honey.

Right now, champagne mangoes are in season. They are smaller than the typical mangoes found in the grocery store. They are a pale green when unripe and then ripen into a speckled yellow. The inner fruit is golden orange and so sweet and creamy, you'll find it hard not to eat the whole mango. They're usually only in season for a short period, so if you see them at the market or grocery store, buy a few to enjoy!

L is for Lemon

Lemons grow on small evergreen trees. Most lemons contain 3 Tbsp. of juice.

Refreshing Lemon Water

1. Pour cold water into a pitcher
2. Add slices of lemon and a few tablespoons of lemon juice.
3. Enjoy in a glass with a lemon slice on the side.

It's very refreshing to drink cold water with a healthy squeeze of lemon on hot, summer days. When I brainstormed lemon recipes, I originally intended to include a "healthy" recipe for lemonade, i.e. without loads of sugar. It's such a cooling summer drink and is so popular with children. It's really hard to find a good substitute for sugar, though. Many recipes use artificial sweeteners that are probably just as bad, if not worse than sugar. Do you have any thoughts on how to make lemonade healthier?

K is for Kiwifruit

Kiwifruit is named after New Zealand's brown, flightless bird - the kiwi. Kiwifruit is rich in vitamin C and has almost as much potassium as a banana. To eat kiwifruit, cut the fruit in half and scoop out the green flesh with a spoon. Enjoy!

J is for Jujube

Jujubes originated in China. Unripe jujube is green. As it ripens, it turns yellow-green and then red. Eat a jujube like an apple. Cut into 4 quarters and enjoy raw!

I is for Italian Plum

Italian plums are in season in late summer and early fall. When ripe, Italian plums will be deep purple and firm.

Italian Plum Crisp

1. Cut 3 lbs. of Italian plums into quarters and remove pits. Place in a 9"x13" baking pan.
2. Combine 1 cup oats, 1 cup flour, 4 Tbsp. canola oil, 4 Tbsp. brown sugar and 1 Tbsp. cinnamon.
3. Spread mixture over plums and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.

H is for Honeydew melon

Honeydew melon is a sweet, refreshing fruit to enjoy in the summer! In the U.S., honeydew melon is grown in California, Arizona and Texas.

Honeydew melon Smoothie

1. Cut 1/4 of a melon into chunks and remove skin.
2. Place in a blender and add 1 cup of milk or milk substitute (soy, rice, almond).
3. Blend until frothy and pour into glasses.

I think this will be delicious on a hot, summer day!