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What to do with the fruit your garden is giving you this month

Rebecca Wolken
By

There’s always a lot of talk about the vegetables we grow in our gardens, but not as many people talk about the fruits that many of us grow! So many of our favorite fruits are just now becoming ready to eat in the fall. Among these are cranberries, kiwis, kumquats, persimmons, and pomegranates. There are a few recipes you probably know immediately when you hear the names of these fruits, and of course, you can eat all of these fresh as a yummy treat. However, we’re here to talk about some of the lesser-known ways you can cook and enjoy these fantastic fruits.

How to cook with cranberries

We’re all familiar with the cranberry sauce that many of us enjoy around the holidays, but let’s talk about this stunning cranberry pie that’s pretty enough to be a centerpiece at your next family dinner. There are cranberries in the crust, the filling, and beautiful frosted cranberries on top! Cranberries in desserts are a popular way to enjoy these bright red fruits; you can make cranberry-orange cinnamon rolls too for those chilly winter mornings.

With the holidays come holiday parties! With Thanksgiving and Christmas around the corner, you might want to try cranberries in alcoholic drinks, such as a whiskey-cranberry slush or a vodka cranberry punch with apple cider ice cubes. For an appetizer, there’s this cream cheese log with sweet-and-spicy cranberry relish, and for an entree, you could try this cranberry-glazed pork tenderloin. And if you end up with too many cranberries in your garden, you can always dry them and put them on salads, in wraps, or eat them with nuts as a healthy snack.

kiwi and pomegranate in a bowl

How to cook with kiwis

Kiwis are a challenging fruit to grow, so when they’re ready to be picked and enjoyed, you’ll want to be sure you’re prepared with some amazing recipes, so none of them go to waste. While, of course, you can eat these fuzzy fruits fresh, there’s also a lot of smoothie recipes you can try. This apple kiwi green smoothie is the perfect snack, and it’s vegan! But with the cooler weather on its way, you might want to try baking your kiwis in kiwi bread or with these healthy kiwi muffins. It’s not very often you see kiwis cooked this way, but we think you’ll like it, and it’s a great way to use up a lot of fruit at once. If you prefer to eat them fresh, you could also try them in this golden kiwi and blueberry bruschetta, or keep the summer vibes for a little longer with this kiwi avocado salsa verde.

How to cook with kumquats

Although not as popular as some other fruits on this list, kumquats bring a unique and beautiful flavor to your cooking. They are excellent when eaten fresh; we doubt you’ll be able to resist eating one right off the stem as you harvest them.

However, once you’ve had your fill of them fresh, you might want to look for ways to use them up or preserve them so they don’t go to waste. One of the best ways to use up a lot of fruit is making marmalade or chutney. This kumquat and pineapple chutney is packed full of flavor and will be a show-stopping addition to any charcuterie board. Or you could make them a part of the main meal with this poached tuna with kumquats and jalapeno and then go all the way and serve this layered parsnip cake with candied kumquats for dessert!

How to cook with persimmons

A dark, burnt color of orange is almost always associated with fall. While this is primarily due to the popularity of pumpkins, we also like to think it’s because of persimmons! Another fall fruit we don’t think gets enough attention, persimmons are adorable little fruits that can be eaten fresh or preserved, or you could try cooking with them. We recommend this steamed persimmon pudding. With all the traditional flavors of the holiday season like ginger, brandy, pecans, and golden raisins, we think this will become a new family tradition when you serve it at the next holiday dinner.

If dessert isn’t your style and you prefer savory dishes, then we think you’ll love this persimmon and brie crostini. However, you’ll have to be careful that you don’t fill up on that and miss out on a pork with persimmons and mustard greens entree!

Sometimes kids have a hard time trying new foods. If they’re hesitant about eating persimmons, try this seasonal fruit leather recipe that uses pineapple, mango, and persimmons to create a classic kid favorite.

hands holding a pomegranate

How to cook with pomegranates

It might be a pain to get all those tiny little seeds out, but it’s so worth it once you throw a handful of fresh pomegranate into your mouth. This tart fruit is not only delicious, but is also stunning when you rip it open and see all those bright red seeds inside. If, however, you’re looking for more ways to eat a pomegranate, you could try this greek yogurt cheesecake with pomegranate syrup. But if sweet isn’t your thing, there’s this pistachio and pomegranate meatball dish or this spiced chicken with spaghetti squash, pomegranate, and pistachios. Lastly, you could use some pomegranates and pumpkins with this roasted pumpkin with dukkha and pomegranate dish.

So while you might have only thought of eating these fruits fresh or baked into desserts, now we see just how versatile these fantastic fall fruits can be.

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Have an abundant fall apple harvest? Here’s what to do with a bunch of apples
From baking to canning, here are ideas for using your apple harvest
Rebecca Wolken
By Rebecca Wolken
October 8, 2022
Apple harvest

Apples are some of the tastiest, most abundant fall harvests. If you're overwhelmed with how many bushels of apples your trees have yielded and are trying to use them up in more than just pies, look no further. Below, we've gathered several ideas to help you figure out what to do with a bunch of apples to make sure none of your fruit goes to waste.

Cook and bake your apples
So, what can you do with a bunch of apples? As your fall harvest of apples begins to pile up, you might get overwhelmed with what to do with them. Here are some new and unique ways you can prepare apples to enjoy them all through the season.
Crisps and pies
Of course, there is the classic apple pie or apple crisp. These are great ways to use up apples because they often call for six or more apples. You can bake a few pies or crisps for friends, family, or neighbors and share your harvest with those around you.
Cake and muffins
Less famous than pies but still a favorite among apple lovers, apple cakes and muffins are delicious and can also serve as a breakfast snack with your morning coffee. You can always make a big batch of apple muffins and freeze them for later.
Butter and sauce
You probably reach for a jar of apple butter at the fall hayrides every year, but you can also make this yummy topping at home. Making apple butter uses up a bunch of apples, so you can reduce your huge pile at home. In addition, you can make some homemade applesauce as well. Here is a recipe from MidwestLiving for awesome apple butter.
Fried
While the above ways to eat apples might be our favorites, they can get boring. So here we have a recipe from Tikkido.com for fried apple rings. These rings are thin slices of apples fried in a pancake-like batter and then sprinkled with powdered sugar. They're easy and will become an instant favorite. They go great with ice cream after a holiday meal or with a cup of tea or coffee before breakfast with your family.
Salads
You can toss a handful of thinly sliced apples into almost any salad, but a unique way to eat apples is in this yummy cabbage salad with apples and walnuts by Mom's Kitchen Handbook. It's colorful and offers a different way to enjoy your favorite fruit on a healthy salad.
Roasted
Roasted apples are a sweet treat without all the sugar of a pie or crisp. These roasted apples by Martha Stewart only call for a small amount of sugar and cinnamon. You can add them to a bowl of vanilla ice cream or eat them on their own as a sweet and delicious snack.
Slow cooker
Similar to roasted apples, you can use a slow cooker to soften apple slices. Add some butter, cinnamon, and sugar to a bowl of sliced apples, then put them in the slow cooker for an hour or two. What you'll have is a soft, saucy, and spice-filled treat that's great on its own or on top of ice cream.
Cheese board
Charcuterie boards are a trendy way to serve guests before a big meal, and we love to add fresh fruits to ours. Apples are an excellent choice. Their crisp juices cut through the creamy cheeses and cleanse your palate. Thinly slice a mix of red and green apples for a range of sweet and sour, then add all your favorite cheeses, crackers, jams, olives, and nuts. Have some fun setting it up and watch as friends and family enjoy. Or maybe make one just for yourself!

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From show-stopping roses to hardy agave, zone 9b is home to plants of all stripes, thanks to its warm, sunny conditions. It’s also an ideal environment for a wide range of fruits and veggies, whether you’re partial to hot peppers or sweet cherries. Its hot summers can be challenging, but it’s generally a productive and lush area for thriving plant life. Here’s your zone 9b planting guide so you can nourish a fruitful, beautiful garden in one of the country's warmest areas.

What is a climate zone?
With climate zones on the Plant Hardiness Zone Map, the United States Department of Agriculture divides the country into 13 regions based on average annual minimum temperature ranges. The temperature ranges go from coldest to hottest as we move from zone 1 to 13. Zone 9b, as you may have already guessed, falls on the warmer parts of the map.

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Learn about coconut soil, a sustainable must for your hydroponic system
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Coconut soil, or coco soil, as it's often called, hasn't been around for very long, but its history goes back only a few decades. In a relatively short amount of time, it's gone from a niche product to a popular trend among gardeners who need a highly efficient growing medium.

There are myriad benefits waiting for the gardener who chooses to use coconut soil. One of the most attractive benefits is that coco soil and coco coir are considered to be entirely renewable and sustainable.

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