This Wednesday is Cinco de Mayo and we love a good excuse to eat, drink, decorate the table, round up our friends and celebrate with JUICI. Cinco de Mayo is the perfect occasion to whip up your favorite margarita recipe, bring out the bowl of chips and get festive in the kitchen – creating inspiring Mexican-inspired dishes that we all know and love. We took this opportunity to challenge ourselves with coming up with an entire Cinco de Mayo tablescape with no shortage of JUICI apples – from the margaritas, to the salsa, slaw salad and yes…even the quesadillas.
The JUICI apple is such a versatile, everyday apple that it can be used in a variety of dishes and occasions (that one might not otherwise assume to incorporate apples into) and it adds the perfect hint of sweet and savory flavors and the most delicious crunch. We always say yes to apples eaten fresh, but we love the idea of thinking out-of-the-box and including them into new and inspiring recipes – we hope these inspire you to as well!
This Fiesta Salad has a mix of so many different colors, textures, flavors and seasonal produce. Between the diced, red and crunchy JUICI apples, colorful beets, salty pepitas, zesty micro cilantro and creamy avocado cilantro dressing – this salad truly has the rainbow, and it’s not only refreshing, but full of nutritious flavor. Add chunks of diced avocado for some added healthy fats!
Calling all quesadilla lovers! Is there really anything better than a fluffy flour tortilla, diced crunchy JUICI apples, caramelized onions and ooey gooey queso fresco cheese? We’ll wait 😉 Just top this crunchy quesadilla with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime and you’ll thank us later!
A cocktail with beauty benefits? Sign us up! Aloe Vera is super hydrating and great for your skin, so basically – it’s the perfect addition to a margarita. Just add in vitamin-c rich JUICI apples and you have the combination of our dreams.
Street corn is all the rage right now, so we thought we’d create a Street Corn Salsa with diced JUICI apples – sweet, savory, and topped with cotija cheese and lime. Just grab a tortilla chip and wash it down with a marg, and enjoy the Cinco de Mayo festivities.
That’s a wrap! Do you plan on celebrating Cinco de Mayo with friends and family? What’s are your favorite recipes to whip up? Let us know if you try any of these in the comments below!
Earth Day deserves to be celebrated more than just one day, to us – it should be celebrated every day. In this case, we thought we’d take the whole week to highlight our favorite things about Mother Nature, steps we take to grow and package our fruit more sustainably and of course, our favorite ways to snack outside responsibly. Our Grow your Grove Giveaway kicked off this week and this is our way to share all the Earth Day fun with each of you! How do you grow your grove? Your grove can be anything – your community, environment, spreading awareness about what conservation means to you, etc.
For us, spring is one of our favorite seasons to recognize and reflect on the gratitude we have for our ecosystems. Everything outside plays an integral role in our orchards and the outcome of the quality of our fruit – from the sunshine to the rain, frost, soil, irrigation, bees, pollinators and helpful critters – we are so grateful for the land in which we grow, which is why we put our best foot forward to show it the same care and respect. Our growers and field personnel are constantly working to grow our grove through a variety of different methods and growing techniques.
Thanks to our advanced, non-invasive farming practices, we are proud to say we are leaders in the industry for sustainable farming. By utilizing cutting-edge drip irrigation systems, eco-friendly pest management methods and utilizing high-density planting methods to maximize foliage usage, production, and quality – we always go the extra mile to do things the right way, not the easy way.
We also take extra measures to conserve our most precious resources – water and soil! We use advanced technology to measure soil moisture, which allows us to adjust water levels and schedules with precision. We also utilize micro-irrigation fan jets to distribute water more evenly and prevents wasteful water usage. To ensure that our crops have the optimal environment to grow and thrive in, we also conduct laboratory testing on our soil and foliage to determine if there are any nutritional deficiencies. We carefully manage the field’s health, and to prevent over-treating our soil we use pest and disease-resistant rootstocks – all natural and non-invasive practices to protect our orchards.
Something we are also so proud of at Starr Ranch Growers is our latest innovative packaging endeavors – we now offer 100% recyclable corrugated cardboard apple boxes available at a variety of retailers. In addition to this, we are currently in the process of finalizing new fully recyclable plastic bags made with plastic material that CAN be ethically recycled to reduce waste of toxic and harmful plastics in our landfills! Hooray for strides toward sustainability!
These are just a few of the many steps we are taking toward a more sustainable growing and packing operation. Not only that, we love sharing this journey with other sustainably conscious brands and working together to make an even bigger impact on the planet. We’d love to know what you are doing at home to Grow Your Grove within your own community – be sure to tell us in the comments below and head over to our Instagram @starr_ranch_growers to enter our collaborative Grow Your Grove Giveaway to enter our biggest adventure prize package YET – equipped with Hipcamp $100 gift card, YETI waterbottle, smores kit, fresh shipment of JUICI apples, a custom Heart of Timber cutting board and a case of Lost Grove Brewing beer. Winner will be announced this Friday 4/23 via our Instagram stories. Good luck, and get outside and grow your grove this week!
It’s officially spring! Ah, I feel like we all needed this breath of fresh air. I’ve always looked at spring as the season of fresh starts! The sun even shines differently – things feel lighter, brighter and full of color. To us at Starr Ranch Growers, our spring season is one of our most beloved times of year. Of course, we have to admit that we also LOVE fall because well, that means harvest is here and our apples are on their way to you! However, spring is sort of that ‘guiding light’ that leads the way to harvest, sets the stage for the season ahead and generates excitement for what’s to come in our orchards.
Our orchards truly come alive during springtime. Our trees are brighter, apple and cherry blossoms are blooming and sweeping our orchards in a blanket of white flowers, bees are busy pollinating and the sun is shining down on our crops for that much longer each day. Our growers love watching this process of nature unfold, and being one step closer to bringing the fruits they’ve cultivated all year long to each and every one of you!
Not only do we love spring in our orchards, but we love spring in our kitchens, too! With that extra hour of daylight lately, I find myself going on more walks with my puppy in the late afternoon, or putting on some tunes, decompressing and whipping up new creations in the kitchen. I love utilizing colorful, in-season florals and using spring as an opportunity to create light, colorful dishes, snacks and desserts that I can eat, share and even save for later. One of my favorites I have created lately was this JUICI Apple, Fig & Raspberry Pretzel Pie. It was crunchy, creamy, light, yet filling in a balanced, satisfying way. It’s full of sweet flavor and tastes even better after it’s been frozen, meaning – no food waste here, you can just keep storing it in the freezer every few slices (win-win!).
This spring apple pretzel pie essentially consists of ground up pretzel pieces for the crust, a thick, homemade whipped cream filling, honey soaked Starr Ranch Growers apples and lots of fruit, florals and herbs. Need we say more? I love the idea of making this ahead of Easter Brunch in a few weeks – it’s light enough that you can definitely enjoy it mid-day. Or, you can be like me and sneak into the freezer every night for a bite (or two ;-))
Do you love spring as much as us? What is your favorite part? The longer days? Blooming flowers? Or is it the excuse to cook and bake yummy spring recipes all season long? Maybe it’s all the above! To sweeten up spring even more, we launched our Bites & Blooms Giveaway this week and will be sharing the opportunity to win giveaways the next two weeks that will bring even more joy to this sweet season we all love.
Head to our Instagram @starr_ranch_growers for a chance to WIN your very own shipment of fresh JUICI apples, a beautiful spring flower arrangement and a $100 gift card. Our first winner will be announced this Sunday, 3/28 via Instagram stories.
Here’s to celebrating fresh starts, fresh recipes and longer, sunnier days ahead!
Ah, winter weather has really kicked in lately (at least, where I live). It’s been cold, [very] rainy, windy…luckily, no snow here – however, something about snow does sound a bit enchanting I must admit! Anyone else feeling the winter blues kick in? We’re about halfway through the season and I don’t know about you, but I am itching for spring weather and blooming flowers. One thing I do love about winter is the abundance of excuses to EAT. Cozy and indulgent food is the best food – I love winter baking, but I also love the opportunity to start anew come January, and begin to prep healthier options, because those can be yummy too!
I like to start my day with a simple and nutritious smoothie recipe like this Creamy Cinnamon Apple Spice Smoothie. It feels like the winter in a glass, but it’s refreshing, healthy and a great recipe to start the day with. Beginning the morning with an easy-to-digest meal like a smoothie is a wonderful way to ease your body into the day ahead, and give it some time to easily digest its first meal! This recipe can be substituted with any type of milk alternative, oat milk is delicious and creamy as well. I also like adding in 1/4 cup of oats if I am looking for something a little more filling, this also gives it a super whipped and creamy texture too that is delish!
For lunch, I usually opt for some leftovers because sometimes that’s all my schedule allows for, which is why I always begin my week with some easy recipes I can grab ‘n go with through out the work week. What better mid-day pick-me-up than leftover [cold] pizza, and in this case..flatbread?! I love this JUICI Apple Arugula & Goat Cheese Balsamic Flatbread, and I love it even more for how good it tastes on day one AND two. If you want it fresh, no worries, this flatbread is so quick and easy to whip up on a whim and the best part is, you can save some slices for tomorrow!
Ok now, let’s talk dinner. I am not necessarily condoning flatbread AND a grilled cheese all in one day, but I am also not saying this doesn’t sound like a fantastic scenario…are you following? 😉 A cold, winter evening was made for a warm, crunchy, ooey gooey cheesy grilled cheese – and in this case, a Cheesy Apple Caramelized Onion Grilled Cheese! This has the perfect meld of sweet and savory flavors and incredible textures – the creamy gruyere cheese mixed with apple cider caramelized onions, paired with thick slices of sour dough bread and crunchy JUICI apples! Ah, I am hungry just writing about it.
There you have it – those are some of my favorite winter recipes right now. I don’t necessarily eat this all in a day (but honestly, I just might!) I am all about easy, comforting and delicious during the winter season. I love the spices, the opportunity to indulge when you feel like it, but I also love to throw in some nutritious snacks and breakfast items that are healthy, but don’t exactly taste like they would be! Let’s face it, we deserve the sweeter things especially these days, so why not make each meal count!
What are your favorite winter recipes? Is it something baked and scrumptious? Savory and sweet? I want to know in the comments below!
Ah, it’s December and OFFICIALLY holiday season. But let’s be honest, I think we all got into the holiday spirit a little early this year – we needed some extra sparkle in our lives and something to celebrate!
I am totally that person that reaches for the box of Christmas decor the day after Thanksgiving and is itching to head out to the tree farm, so, needless to say I am always a ‘gamer’ for early festivities and decorating. Aside from cheerful decor, bright lights, the smell of pine in the house and apple-spiced scented candles permeating through the home – my favorite thing about the season is all the yummy eats and drinks. The holiday season is my personal excuse to indulge a bit – reach for that slice of spiced apple cake, or sip on a soothing cocktail – and this year, more than ever, I’d say we all deserve it!
That said, below are my favorite recipes for ‘treating myself’ this holiday season. Trust me when I say they’re nothing short of sweet.
These are my FAVORITE. I love a good holiday cookie recipe, especially one that is easy. These are basically mini apple pies, with the most scrumptious soft texture and ooey gooey apple filling. Not to mention, they’re also gluten free!
Who said salads couldn’t be indulgent? Seriously.. this salad is so good, it’s more like a savory dessert! Feel free to get creative with toppings, and add your favorite nuts, goat or blue cheese and top it off with a drizzle of honey.
Ok – we’re just going to leave this one here. There’s almost no caption necessary. Bacon, apples, cheese, jalapeños..this combo is giving us all the holiday feels – need we say more? Just spread with apple butter and a sprinkle of sea salt and you’ll be in heaven!
Ah, the best part. Wash it all down with Spiced JUICI Apple Mulled Wine, a sprig of fresh rosemary and a cinnamon stick. Aromatic, sweet, spiced and full of classic holiday flavors.
There you have it, four of my top holiday recipe favorites that I hope you introduce to your family this season! Which one do you plan to try out first? Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below. AND, make sure to head to our Instagram @starr_ranch_growers to enter our Eat, Bake, Love contest this week for another chance to win a special edition JUICI Caramel Apple Cheesecake, a cake decorating kit, and an Amazon Fire Stick so your favorite holiday movie can be playing in the background while you bundle up and bake! A winner will be selected this Sunday, 12/13.
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