Michigan Apricots

Apricots by doug_r

• Apricots were first grown in China 4,000 years ago.
  
• Apricot means ěpreciousî in Latin.
  
• Apricots are great sources of fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C.
  

• Northern Michigan apricot orchards from the Taste the Local Difference Farm Network
  
• Also see Absolute Michigan keyword "Apricot"
  
• Get them quick! Farmers here say the apricot season will be short this year because it was so cool when the blossoms were ready to be pollinated this spring that the bees were staying inside their hives curled up with good books rather than doing their outside jobs. That means less fruit on the trees.

Apricots 1 by Max xx

• Substitute fresh apricots for peaches or nectarines in your favorite recipes.
  
• Stir chopped or sliced apricots and a handful of blueberries (they're in season, too!) into a bowl of vanilla yogurt for a healthy breakfast, snack or dessert.
  
• Grill them! Slice the apricots in half and remove pits. Thread them onto a skewer, brush them with a little honey and grill them until they are semi-soft. If it's raining outside, broil them, cut-side up, for a few minutes. Watch to make sure they don't burn!
  
• If you're feeling ambitious, or your anniversary's coming up, try this:
  Marriage Pie From Pie Everyday, by Pat Willard.
  
  • A single 9 inch pie crust (use your favorite recipe or use a store-bought crust)
    Filling:
    
  • 1 cup sugar
    
  • 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    
  • 2 cups fresh blackberries, washed and hulled
    
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
    
  • 6 or 7 fresh apricots, peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced
    
  • Whipped cream or ice cream, if you're feeling decadent.
    
  • 1. Prepare the crust (including baking), if you're making your own.
    
  • 2. In a large saucepan, combine the sugar and flour. Add all of the blackberries except for a small handful and mash them a little. Bring the mixture to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly. Add the lemon juice.
    
  • 3. Sprinkle the confectioners' sugar over the bottom of the pie crust. Arrange the apricots over the sugar and pour the blackberry mixture over the apricots. Chill for at least 2 hours. Just before serving, sprinkle the reserved berries over the top of the filling.
    
  • If you like, substitute blueberries for blackberries, increasing the amount of lemon juice to 2 tablespoons. You can also substitute orange juice and a few curls of orange zest for the lemon juice, which will make the pie a little sweeter.
  
  
  CDKitchen has a great list of delicious apricot recipes.
  
  
  Apricots by Royalty-free image collection
  
  Taste the Local Difference is part of the Michigan Land Use Institute's Entrepreneurial Agriculture Project, which aims to grow jobs, save farmland, and build healthier communities with food that's thousands of miles fresher. Find more than 160 farms and fishers who sell fresh foods on their farms, in farmers markets, and to restaurants and stores at www.LocalDifference.org. TLD lead sponsors are Traverse City State Bank and the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.

  Posted/updated Jul 24, 2006
  by Cody Sprattmoran

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Community > Area Information
Community > Environment & Environmental Organizations
Food & Dining
Food & Dining > Michigan Grown
Food & Dining > Recipes & Cookbooks

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