Custard AppleAnother of my favourite fruits, Custard apples go into the market basket during Autumn and Winter. This unusual fruit, with its lumpy skin has a creamy, custard-like flesh that some say is a combination of pineapple and banana. To buy, choose firm green fruit that has very few brown or black spots. Custard apples will soften as they ripen. Once they are fully ripe, store custard apples in the refrigerator. To eat, slice in half, remove the seeds and enjoy the fruit with a spoon. The flesh can be pureed and used in ice cream, sorbet, drinks and cakes. For more information, visit the Australian Custard Apples Growers Association web site.
WalnutsWalnuts featured regularly in my mother's kitchen and she was quite fastidious about quality and freshness. There would be no rancid walnuts used in any of her baking, thank you very much!
To my huge delight, the Robertson family, who grow walnuts in the Bright region of Victoria, are back at the Capital Region Farmer's Markets with their Alpine Nuts stall, so I can stock up on extra fresh walnuts direct from the farm. Nutritionist, Catherine Saxelby, reminds us that around half the weight of walnuts is fat, but it is 60% polyunsaturated and they contain no cholesterol. In fact, you are allowed to eat walnuts on diets for lowering your cholesterol, provided you are not overweight. As a bonus, walnuts contain Vitamins E, B group, as well as potassium, phosphorous and moderate amounts of iron, calcium and zinc. I have previously shared some beautiful walnut recipes: a salad, a torte, and a slice that you might like to add to your repertoire. Pop into my recipes pages for those. Make sure you check the freshness of your walnuts and pop some into the market basket this week. To contact Alpine Nuts, telephone 03 575721 612. |
Market BasketGood Things in season and ripe for the market basket each month. |