We’re back into peak fruit season again here in Minnesota!
The gardens are still going strong, but the sweet smells of late summer and fall fruits gets me ready for cooler weather; bright orange, red and yellow colors, sweaters, hot cocoa and fireplaces… Mmm, you can tell I belong to Minnesota to already be thinking of such horrendous things, right?!
The grapes are starting to ripen up and pears are at their peak, with apples pretty close behind! Plus there are all the wild berries- Elderberries, Wild Grapes maybe even some Chokecherries!
The “threat” of cooler weather (in spite of the disgusting heat and humity) makes me want comfort food, like this Apple and Pear Crisp– which I devoured over the weekend!
Speaking of warm bakery items- this Concord Grape Focaccia sounds delectable, even worth the work of seeding the grapes!
These Concord Grape Dumplings are top of my list of things to make, who’d have known such great treats were out there!? And even better- it’s a Cherokee and Choctaw Indian recipe, so wild grapes will be a perfect alternative, instead of the concord grapes.
Elderberry Jam will taste so good on toast this fall, or even better yet- Elderberry Syrup – for mixing into cooling cocktails now, or on pancakes in the winter :-)
With Labor Day right around the corner this Chokecherry BBQ Sauce will really hit the spot (especially on the duck it’s paired with here, but on pork it’d be pretty fabulous too!)