Recipe of the Week: Baked Fruit and Cheese Dip

Remember that time (about a week ago) when we were complaining about - uh, observing - the miserable, unbearably oppressive brain-melting heat?
Well, it appears Mother Nature heard our cries and decided to go overboard in the opposite direction, making with the sheets of rain, blustery winds and chilly temps... you know, the stort of stuff that makes you want to snuggle up in a ball under your favorite blanky, never to emerge.
Of course, we're in New England so tomorrow it likely will be 102 degrees, but for now we're proposing that you un-snuggle just long enough to warm your belly with this recipe focusing on two of our favorite things - fruit and cheese!
If you must, you can bring the bowl back with you under the blanky.

Baked Fruit and Cheese Dip

You need:

• 1 (16 oz.) package of soft cream cheese with pineapple
• 3/4 pound shredded Swiss cheese
• 2 cups dried cranberries
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• For dipping: silced apples, sliced pears and/or crackers

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2. In a medium bowl, blend the cream cheese, Swiss cheese, cranberries, orange juice and apple juice
3. Scoop mixture into 9-inch pie pan
4. Bake for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until bubbly and lightly browned

Looking for more great fruit recipes? Click here!

______________________________________________________

Always have fresh fruit on hand - join Ruma's Royal Fruit Club or purchase a monthly plan for a friend! Shipping is FREE!

Recipe of the Week: Succulent Grilled Pineapple

It doesn't seem possible but... sniff...  summer is winding down.

But, you know, even though there is nothing we can do to stop it, that doesn't mean we have to take it lying down... and neither do you! Get off that couch! Put on that apron! Now get out there and get grilling!! Oh, and bring a pineapple.

Succulent Grilled Pineapple

You need:

• 4 slices fresh pineapple
• 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons cherry brandy
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Directions:

1. Combine honey, brandy and lemon juice in a glass dish or bowl and mix well
2. Add pineapple and coat well with marinade
3. Cover dish and marinate in refrigerator for 1 hour
4. Preheat grill to medium heat and lightly oil grate
5. Place marinated pineapples directly on the rack or in a basket and grill for about 10 minutes, turning, until pineapple is hot and caramelized

Looking for more great fruit recipes? Click here!

______________________________________________________

Always have fresh fruit on hand - join Ruma's Royal Fruit Club or purchase a monthly plan for a friend! Shipping is FREE!

Recipe of the Week: Nectarine Dream

Ahh, one of the true treasures of summer - the nectarine. All through the spring we dream about the time of the season when these perfect little fuzz-less peaches reach their peak. (What? Doesn't everyone dream about fruit?) Lucky for us, that peak comes in the dog days of summer when we are most in need of their juicy goodness!

Nope, there's nothing better than a ripe nectarine on a sultry summer day. Or so we thought.  Then we happened upon this week's recipe... a smoothie so delightfully dreamy, we went out and bought a hammock just so we could have a special place to enjoy it. Sweet dreams...

Dreamy Nectarine Smoothie

You need:

• 2 large nectarines, pitted and quartered
• 1 banana, cut into pieces and frozen
• 1 large orange, peeled and quartered
• 1 cup vanilla yogurt
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon honey

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth
2. Be all psyched that there was only one step and enjoy your smoothie!

Looking for more great fruit recipes? Click here!

______________________________________________________

Always have fresh fruit on hand - join Ruma's Royal Fruit Club or purchase a monthly plan for a friend! Shipping is FREE!

Recipe of the Week: Fresh Blueberry Scones

We woke up this morning thinking, as we often do, about breakfast. What to have? Cereal? Toast? Bagel? Not again. Boring. Blah. But we had a bagel anyway. Sigh. Then (when it was way past breakfast time) inspiration struck! It's blueberry season, and we should know, as Ruma's is currently rife with shipments of fresh Maine wild blueberries... this delicious little superfood is just the thing to perk up bland breakfasts!

Tonight the following recipe is being put into service so that tomorrow we can get excited about our morning meal! Homemade scones with fresh blueberries... mmmm... perhaps with a cup of tea... out on the veranda... with a little morning breeze whispering across the tips of the dewy grass. Okay, so it will probably be in the car on the way to work with a cuppa DD coffee - but it's still gonna be awesome!

Fresh Blueberry Scones

 You need:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup butter, chilled
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 3/4 cup half-and-half cream
• 1 egg
• White sugar for sprinkling

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2. Cut butter into mixture of flower, sugar, baking powder and salt
3. Add blueberries and toss to mix
4. In a separate bowl beat together cream and egg and slowly pour into dry ingredients, stirring with rubber spatula until dough forms 
5. Knead just until dough comes together, 3 or 4 times; don't over handle the dough
6. Divide dough in half; on a lightly floured surface, shape each half into a 6-inch round; cut into 6 wedges
7. Sprinkle sugar, to taste, on top of wedges 
8. Bake on ungreased sheet for about 20 minutes

Looking for more great fruit recipes? Click here!


______________________________________________________

Always have fresh fruit on hand - join Ruma's Royal Fruit Club or purchase a monthly plan for a friend! Shipping is FREE!