Fresh fruits and veggies

[TinSoldier]

Okay, from reading a couple (http://www.criticalfumble.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3712) of threads (http://www.criticalfumble.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3738) today in GE&R, a question popped into my head:

What kinds of fresh fruits and veggies do you buy? How do you prepare them?

Most of my veggie consumption is frozen vegetables. When I was growing up, it was canned vegetables. I eat fewer salads now than I did growing up. I'm curious about what others do if fresh fruits and veggies cost so much more than prepared foods.

[Parzival]

I buy what's in season, and normally prefer to eat it raw.

[Stephane]

Lots. In abundance. All kinds.

I'm much more adventurous than my wife and kids. When I see a new fruit, I'll pick one up and I'll try it at home. Apples (royal gala is a prefered one), Pears (Bosc), Orange (navel or tangerines in season), nectarines and peaches in season, grapes, melons and bananas. There is always apples, oranges and bananas in the house, else it's grocery time.

Veggies, regular: lettuce, radicchio (on cheap week), Belgian endive (on cheap week), Green pepper, mushrooms, brocoli, cabbage, cauliflower, zucchini, green beans (when nice), swiss chard (when nice), radishes, carrots and tomatoes.

Always fresh. I do keep a bag of frozen peas and frozen corn.

The only veggies I have canned are tomatoes and paste for sauces and corn.

How do I eat my veggies? All sorts of ways. Mostly salads, steamed or sauté.

[marmalade]

We eat tons of fresh fruit and most of it gets eaten just the way it is. Otherwise, I make the occasional fruit pie, and sometimes put pear chunks in salads.

We also try to get fresh veggies. Here's what my family does with them...

tomatoes -- salsa fresca
peppers -- stuff with meat or meat and rice, chili, stir fry, sauteed with onions
zucchini -- potato/zucchini soup, stuffed zucchini, grilled
eggplant -- eggplant parmesan, grilled
celery -- tuna salad
bok choi -- stir fry
carrots -- stir fry
parsnips -- parsnip soup, other soups
broccoli -- chicken/broccoli divan, potato/broccoli soup, stir fry, quiche
cauliflower -- curries
asparagus -- sauteed with soy sauce, creamy-garlicky chilled asparagus salad, risotto
green beans -- cook and serve with butter, S&P
spinach -- quiche, lasagna, ravioli, lentil soup
Swiss chard -- quiche, soups
winter squash -- cooked and served with butter and brown sugar, soups
spaghetti squash -- toss cooked strands with olive oil and garlic, casserole, good with pot roast
onions -- everything, goulash
turnips -- mashed half-half with potatoes
cabbage -- marinated shredded cabbage salad, Colcannon soup
radishes -- snacking
bean sprouts -- stir fry
rhubarb -- strawberry/rhubarb pie
cucumber -- marinated
mushrooms -- spaghetti sauce, sauteed with onions

We also put the typically salady veggies like lettuce, peppers, cucumber, tomatoes in salads.

[Kalzazz]

I like squashes and carrots and things in crockpot type meals

[silverwhisper]

fresh veggies are for salads and the like, while frozen veggies are generally for sides to accompany dinner for us.

i don't get much fresh fruit right now, but then again, it's barely spring so there isn't much that's seasonal. although we did have mango salsa last week... :D

[Kalzazz]

I hate salads, so, no fresh veggies in salad for me

[Cranky Dog]

Fruits, some of them only when in season:
-Red Delicious apples (the variety I always love)
-Bananas
-Pineapple
-Clementines
-Strawberries
-Raisin grapes

Vegetables:
-Tomatoes
-Potatoes
-Brocolli
-Lettuce (non-Iceberg if possible)
-Carrots
-Onions
-Celery

Not a large variety, but then there are a lot of fruits and veggies that I don't like fresh or unprepared.


Cranky Dog
"I have a food group opinion, international!"

[Magnus Bergqvist]

As for fruit I usually only buy apples (granny smith), and bananas. Sometimes green grapes.

veggies: well, cucumber, salad, leek, onions, bell peppers, red chilis, carrots, tomatoes and msuhrooms are my normal fair. I will either put them in salads raw or stir-fry them in various dishes.

/Magnus