by development | Jul 14, 2020 | Harvest Home
It’s
National Picnic Month so naturally, we had to plan our own little spread! I am spending SO much time outdoors these days, and I am
loving it. For all my fellow work-from-home folks, you may feel slightly stir-crazy being confined in your same four walls all day and just have to get outside whenever you can (who’s with me?!) I am loving the excuse to take my spread outside, the challenge of getting creative with entertaining and spending more time in the sunshine – because hey,
we have to make lemonade out of lemons – right?
For those of you with kiddos, I am sure backyard hangs, fort-building, camping and all the outdoor activities are right up your alley these days, and what a positive opportunity to expose the family to nature and getting back to our roots.
When it comes to entertaining, we are having mostly social-distance style BBQ’s – it’s easy, casual, and we feel comfortable outside at a safe distance from our closest family and friends while maintaining some level of social and connectivity. One thing I love doing lately to spruce up the week and adding a date night into the mix within my own household is setting up a simple picnic at our local park. We grab our favorite items and just relax in the sun, play some light music and unwind after our day while snacking on some yummy foods and refreshing drinks. It doesn’t always have to be glamorous – sometimes we admittedly just bring a box of Wheat Thins, cheese and an apple or two! But, the opportunity to make it look extra special sometimes brings back the ambiance of a restaurant setting to our own very backyard!
So, whether you’re planning a date night with your partner in the backyard, the local park, or even a fun afternoon lunch with your kiddos – here are our top picnic ‘picks’ to include in your next outing!
- KORU Apples – Talk about a refreshing snack on a warm day. Our KORU apples exude what summertime should feel like. They’re sweet like sugar, crunchy, juicy, and last forever! You can snag these well before you plan a picnic and always have them readily available for your next spontaneous spread. Pack them whole or slice them beforehand and store in Tupperware along with a scoop or two of creamy PB.
- Picnic Blanket – or a towel, tablecloth – anything to keep you comfortable!
- Cheese & Crackers – Because who doesn’t like an assortment of fresh cheeses to pair with fresh fruits and savory salamis? I personally love anything peppery – I encourage you to step out of your comfort zone with your cheese options when planning your next spread. There are so many varieties and fun flavors that pair wonderfully with different wines and fresh fruits!
- Cherries & Stone Fruit – What’s summertime without seasonal fruits like cherries, peaches and apricots? All these fruits not only make your spread pop with color, but they’re so refreshing to snack on and pair amazingly with your cheese, crackers and meat selections.
- Bluetooth Speaker – Food AND entertainment? We’re there! We personally enjoy having music play softly in the background during our picnics.
- Reliable Cooler or Picnic Basket – You want to make sure your beverages stay cool, right? We also love bringing Koozies for our drinks.
- Nuts & Dried Fruit – The fresh stuff is best, but we like options! I am currently all about dried figs and marcona almonds, and always have a stash ready for picnics.
- Pack the Essentials – This includes utensils, glasses, corkscrew, bottle opener, plates, trash bags and napkins. Not so glamorous but always helpful to be prepared.
There you have it! Those are our top picks and essentials for planning a summer picnic. Gather the troops and get packing for your next outdoor adventure, and let us know how it goes in the comments below!
by development | Jul 13, 2020 | Harvest Home
Ah, summer salads – nothing beats ‘em right? When I find a salad recipe that I love, I typically only eat that for dinner for sometimes 1-2 weeks. (I know, a little redundant to most) but I am a huge salad lover and find them to be so easy and fresh for dinner, and even for a simple lunch. When I get my heart set on a recipe, I go all in – and this recipe was definitely one on repeat. I call this my Sweet Summer Cherry Stone Fruit Salad – not only does it include, of course, cherries and peaches, but also crunchy pepitas, creamy goat cheese, kale micro greens and a sweet and tangy cherry champagne vinaigrette.
Aside from the fresh flavors, vibrant colors and fun mix of textures in this summer salad recipe, I love the fact that it is so easy to make and pairs great with proteins like chicken or fish to create a really filling meal.
A great hack to spruce up any average vinaigrette or dressing is to add fresh fruit to it – in this case, I took my usual Girard’s Champagne Vinaigrette dressing and added it to my blender, along with ½ cup pitted Starr Ranch Growers cherries to add a little extra tangy-sweet flavor and a hint of beautiful light pink color to it. I love getting creative with my seasonal fruits and incorporating them into dishes or applications that are otherwise super simple. During the summer months, I incorporate sliced cherries into an array of recipes from fresh salads, smoothies, ice cream and even cocktails. Their unique sweet and tangy flavor truly makes them the best addition in the kitchen, and have quickly become my new favorite summer staple!
What’s your favorite way to eat cherries? Do you have a sweet or savory dish you love that incorporate these tiny superfruits? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to enter this week’s Chilled & Cherry Sweepstakes on our Instagram @starr_ranch_growers to win your own Summer Salad Prize Package! Sweepstakes contest ends this Friday 7/17 at 12PM PST.
Goodluck!
by development | Jul 6, 2020 | Harvest Home
With entertaining looking a little different these days, ours (and our friends) backyard patios are becoming the weekly hangout spot. We gather our chairs around on the weekend, play some music, and snack on apps and drinks while catching up with one another in the summer heat. Despite the world’s restrictions at the moment, this is truly what we like to do anyway being the mellow folks that we are!
I love hosting even if our home is TINY, and get giddy when presented the challenge of creating a new spread or fun cocktail recipe for us to all enjoy. That said, this Cherry Peach Spiked Iced Tea was a new idea I had just this past Fourth of July weekend and it was such a hit! Simple Iced Tea as it is, is so refreshing and simple – and truly representative of summer! What I love about it, is that it’s such a great base beverage to work with and spruce up in so many different creative ways. Cherries, being my summertime staple and delicacy were a great addition to include in this cocktail – the gorgeous deep red hue and subtle tart yet sweet flavors were absolutely delicious and so refreshing.
The best part is, if you have kiddos or just simply don’t want to spike this drink – you don’t have to! Just serve the pitcher as is, and add 1 oz. liquor to your own individual glass for an added touch. This drink is fantastic either way! Be sure to enter week 5 of our Chilled & Cherry Sweepstakes giveaway this week by heading over to our Instagram and finding this recipe post @starr_ranch_growers. You can also view the full recipe here!
Are you an iced tea fan? I’d love to know how you liked this recipe in the comments below!
by development | Jul 3, 2020 | Harvest Home
Tomorrow is 4th of July and I love this weekend celebration because there is typically no shortage of food and drinks no matter where you are! While this year’s landscape may look a little different with bars, restaurants, and beaches shut down (as well as a fireworks ban – at least where I live) I know that may seem like fun has left the building… but let me tell you – it is all what you make it!
4th of July is typically our first ‘real’ holiday of the summer season, and in years past, we’d head to a friends house for a BBQ, the lake, or even out on a camping trip! This year, I am simply heading over to my parents house for a (social-distance-style) backyard gathering. This is how we mingle these days, but it’s still just as enjoyable and I love catching up with them even if it’s from a few feet a part!
That said, I really liked the idea of bringing or making something for the festivities that was a little non-traditional. Sure, I totally could have baked a classic cherry pie, perhaps made some fruit skewers, or something fun and patriotic (which, I know my mom will make up for!) but I loved the idea of pulling together a vibrant, colorful cocktail that screamed summer!
This Spicy Cherry Watermelon Margarita is summer in a glass. Seriously – this is what I think of when I think of summertime! Cool, colorful, exciting. Just because we’re spending time at home doesn’t mean we can’t paint our canvas any color we want! Which is why I thought this recipe would be so fun to debut at this back yard outing – not to mention – who doesn’t love a good marg?
If you’d like to omit any spice, feel free to hold off on the chili lime salted rim and jalapeño’s. A fun rim flavor would be a ginger-sugar rim if you’d like to stay the sweet route (totally giving this a try next time!)
If you’re heading to the house next door tomorrow, but still want to make a fun cocktail, just pack up a small cooler with some limes, chili lime powder, salt, 1 small watermelon, 1 lb of fresh Starr Ranch cherries, sparkling water and your favorite tequila! It’s a simple recipe with just a handful of ingredients that I know you and your party guests will love. To view the full recipe, follow the link here.
That said, cheers to summertime, family, and good health! I hope everyone has a safe holiday weekend and if you try out this marg recipe, be sure to let us know what you thought in the comments below!
by development | Jun 19, 2020 | Harvest Home
Father’s Day is just days away and there’s no better way to make someone’s day than with yummy food – am I right?! Starting off the Sunday morning fatherly festivities with a delicious breakfast is the key to my own dad’s heart, and while he’s a simple man with simple taste, Father’s Day is certainly an occasion to splurge! I decided this year that I wanted to make something I had never made for him before – a Cinnamon Apple Dutch Baby! My dad loves all things apples, and actually grew up on a small apple orchard his own dad operated when he was younger, so he grew up on fresh, fragrant, crunchy apples. He’ll take an apple pie over a cake every birthday and he quite literally eats ‘an apple a day’ – he is in every sense a true apple fan so I knew I’d make his day with this fluffy, sweet Cinnamon Apple Dutch Baby.
Cinnamon Apple Dutch Baby
The good news is, this Dutch Baby takes essentially no time at all to prep! So I can sleep in, head over to my parent’s house Sunday and whip this together in a heartbeat (not to mention.. make the home smell heavenly as soon as my dad wakes up!) To make this Cinnamon Apple Dutch Baby you first need to pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees and add your round pie pan to the oven to heat up while you prepare the batter and apple slices. Add eggs, flour, milk, granulated sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract and salt to a blender and blend well until combined. Next, remove the pie pan from the oven and butter or oil the pan well and pour the mixture into the middle. Place your apple slices on the batter so they are not completely submerged and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. Place back into oven for 20 minutes or until golden and the sides of the Dutch Baby have begun to curl upward on the pan. Next, remove and serve warm with syrup, more sliced apples, powdered sugar and even ice cream if you are really looking for a sweet surprise!
How are you treating Dad this Father’s Day? Perhaps a yummy breakfast in bed and then a fun outdoor activity with the family? I want to know in the comments below! This year, ditch the basic pancakes and make a huge, fluffy Cinnamon Apple Dutch baby and wow Dad like he deserves – enjoy!
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by development | Jun 18, 2020 | Harvest Home
It’s week 3 of our Chilled & Cherry Social Sweepstakes and this week we are highlighting these delicious Gluten Free Mini No Bake Cherry Tarts! I love these for a few reasons – one being that they require NO baking! Don’t get me wrong, baking is fun, but the wait time to dive into these adorable mini tarts is almost non-existent. I also love that these are completely gluten free – that’s right – this recipe requires no flour for the crust (if we didn’t have your attention yet, now we do ;))
Gluten Free No Bake Mini Cherry Tarts
In all seriousness, I was so excited to pull these together because I love that they incorporate fresh Starr Ranch Growers Rainier cherries. Admittedly, I used to typically reach for the plump, dark red cherries at my local grocery store because that is what I had always envisioned a perfect cherry looking like growing up in California. However, now that I am becoming more experienced in all things cherries I have learned and found that the Rainier cherry variety is just as delicious (if not better!) They are so full of flavor, crunchy, juicy and the perfect blend of sweet and tart – and they truly ‘pop’ in recipes because of their vibrant and unique color. I AM SOLD! These have now become a weekly staple in my household and used in a variety of summer recipes and undoubtedly snacked on fresh throughout the day from my WFH office. That just goes to show that it pays off to step out of your convert zone in the produce aisle and try new things – you may just surprise yourself!
That said, these take almost no time at all to make and are fabulous for both dessert AND breakfast (a third reason why I love these so much). If you are anything like me, you sometimes crave something sweet for breakfast but don’t necessarily want to go for the sugar-filled cereals or French toast. These have essentially no sugar and are only sweetened naturally with dates, vanilla extract, honey, fruit and plain Greek Yogurt – no refined sugars, grains, etc. so you can wake up with a mini, guilt-free/gluten-free tart with an array of nutrient-packed ingredients and fresh seasonal fruits to get you started off on the right foot for the day!
To learn how to make these adorable Gluten Free No Bake Mini Cherry Tarts in your own kitchen, view the full recipe here. If you have not yet entered to win our Week 3 Chilled & Cherry Social Sweepstakes prize, head on over to our Instagram and find this recipe and like the post, tag a friend in the comments and make sure to follow @starr_ranch_growers and you may just win your own Mini Tart Prize Package! Our Week 3 Social Sweepstakes Giveaway ends 6/26 12PM PST. Winner will be announced on our Instagram stories that day.
Good luck!
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by Elemental Design | Jun 12, 2020 | Harvest Home
Tomorrow is National Rosé Day and we couldn’t help but hop on board and celebrate this occasion with our own rosé cocktail to add to the mix! Though the world is slowly beginning to open back up, we still love the idea of backyard summer gatherings, entertaining in the comfort of our own home and hosting a small group of friends social-distance style (because who doesn’t like to sip on a cocktail in their loungewear?)
Sparkling Cherry Lavender Rosé
This Sparkling Cherry Lavender Rosé is all things pretty and exactly what one would envision enjoying on the patio with their girlfriends on a warm summer day. I think what makes this cocktail so special is the use of beautiful in-season herbs and fresh fruit. My personal favorite ways to enjoy cherries are of course, fresh, but I also love to incorporate them into cool, summertime beverages. Their sweet flavor with a tinge of tartness melds together the perfect palate for a cocktail. I happened to also have some fresh lavender on hand from my latest Trader Joe’s haul and felt some inspiration coming on for this one! At first, I was worried the aroma would be too strong, but the lavender garnish complimented this sparkling cherry rosé just perfectly – not to mention, it’s totally Instagram-worthy as well.
How are you celebrating National Rosé Day tomorrow? With a simple glass to end the day? Maybe something a bit more special to treat yourself or entertain the gals? Let us know in the comments below and check out our full Sparkling Cherry Lavender Rosé recipe!
Cheers!
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by Elemental Design | Jun 7, 2020 | Harvest Home
Where are my breakfast lovers at?!
Admittedly, I can probably eat breakfast for every meal and sometimes I do just that! Now that I am transitioning to working fully remote, I find myself more focused, productive and making use of my time management skills (and for those of you that are parents AND work from home – I am sure you try to find just about any means possible to maximize your time!)
That said, one of my favorite meal-prepped breakfast recipes is chia overnight oats. I love the fact that they are SO versatile and you can essentially create any type of topping to pair with your chia mixture. The chia oat base is super absorbent, so it can easily soak up any flavor of toppings that you decide to include. I like variety, so I will do a few different chia oat variations per week, and love adding sweet Starr Ranch Apples into the mix. An apple a day really does set my day off on the right start – I know I am getting not only my fix of nutrients from the chia seeds and oats, but the addition of a sweet apple packs a full punch of fiber, vitamin c and antioxidants that I need to feel my best each day.
So, here are our 3 outrageously yummy apple overnight oats recipes straight from our Starr Ranch Growers Kitchen. Which one(s) would you like to try?!
Spicy: Spiced Chai Apple Overnight Oats
Spiced Chai Apple Overnight Oats
Sweet: Apple Pie Overnight Oats
Apple Pie Overnight Oats
Salty: Peanut Butter Apple Overnight Oats
Peanut Butter Apple Overnight Oats
Prep your chia-oat base the night before by combining 2 tbsp chia seeds, ½ cup rolled oats and 1 cup almond milk to a sealed container and stir well. Pro-tip: after you have stirred up your mixture, let it sit in the refrigerator and come back about 20-30 minutes later and give it another good stir – this helps to create the perfect consistency the next morning when you are ready to add your toppings!
To learn how we made each of these overnight chia oat recipes, check out the full recipes here:
Spiced Chai Apple Overnight Oats
Apple Pie Overnight Oats
Peanut Butter Apple Overnight Oats
Let us know what you thought about each of these easy breakfast recipes in the comments below!
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by Elemental Design | Jun 7, 2020 | Harvest Home
Ah, lemonade just brings me back to my childhood days.
Anyone else used to set up a lemonade stand in their neighborhoods? Or do your kiddos do that now? Something about driving by a little one’s lemonade stand just warms my heart with nostalgia. With summer on the horizon I felt like a classic lemonade recipe was due, but of course, with a twist!
This Cherry Rose Lemonade is every bit of refreshing, and quite frankly – pretty! I love the gorgeous pink hue it creates from the fresh Starr Ranch Growers cherries, and the fact that it has a subtle sweetness that isn’t overpowering or too sugary. The addition of the edible rose petals also added a feminine, fun touch that makes this recipe ‘pop’ just that much more. If you don’t have any edible rose petals on hand, dried hibiscus would be another great alternative for a gorgeous garnish.
Cherry Rose Lemonade
That said, this one was SO easy (which I am all about!) First begin pitting your cherries – feel free to use a cherry pitter or slice them carefully by hand through the middle and around the pit. Once you’ve finished pitting, add the cherries to your blender along with the juice of 3 lemons – feel free to add an additional lemon if you love extra tangy lemonade. Next, pour in 1/3 cup sugar (you can substitute sugar for 3 tablespoons of honey – this is totally preference, but if you’re avoiding refined sugar opting for a natural sweetener is an option!) Next, just blend until smooth and strain into your pitcher, add ice cubes and 2.5 cups water and garnish to your liking!
Try this scrumptious summer recipe at home with your own family and let us know what you thought in the comments below! We are also giving away one lucky winner their own Lemonade Stand Prize Package valued at $100 as part of our Chilled & Cherry Social Sweepstakes the week of June 15 – June 19th on our Instagram, so be sure to stay tuned, head over to our account @starr_ranch_growers and enter that week for a chance to win! The winner will be announced June 19th 12PST.
Good luck and enjoy!
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