Enjoy Plums this Summer

                                                  

Plums are a summertime favorite of all fruit lovers.  Found in a variety of colors from red, purple, blue-black, green, yellow or amber, this fruit provides lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber to our diet.

Plums are known as a stone fruit because of their hard stone pit. They are relatives of the peach and nectarine. When plums are dried, they become prunes.

Buy plums that are ripe and ready to eat. Look for ones that soft at the tip and soft to the touch.  

Good quality plums will have a rich color and may still have a slight whitish coloration, showing that they have not been over handled. They should be free of cuts, bruises or any signs of decay.

Plums can be found in the grocery store from May through the early fall. Check your local farmers’ markets during the summer for plums.

Plums should be stored at room temperature to ripen.

Plums are delicious eaten whole or combined with other foods. Enjoy a whole plums on the go for breakfast and a snack. Slice them and put on top yogurt, cereal and waffles. Dice them and add them to green salads. Try them baked in a favorite dessert like the Old Fashioned Fruit Crumble below.

Old Fashioned Fruit Crumble

Makes: 6 servings

Serving size: 1/6 recipe

Ingredients:

3 cups plums or peaches, washed and sliced

1 Tablespoon sugar

4 Tablespoons flour

3 Tablespoons orange juice

1 cup oats

3 Tablespoons nuts, chopped

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

Pinch of cinnamon

Cooking oil spray

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. Spray 8x8 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.

3. Combine fruit with sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and orange juice.

4. Pour fruit mixture into pan.

5. Combine oats, nuts, brown sugar, remaining 2 Tablespoons flour, and cinnamon.

6. Stir to combine and sprinkle over the fruit mixture.

7. Bake until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is golden brown, 20 - 25 minutes.