Fruit. Time for the change up.

I make a fruit salad almost every day for my wife's lunch.  I know, what a great guy.  But this is not about me.  It is about fruit.  Summer fruit is pretty much gone.  A few weeks ago, we were making a mix of strawberries, blueberries, melons, peaches, plums, apricots, and nectarines.  Not so much anymore.  Some plums keep showing up, but soon, even these hardiest of stone fruits will be moving on.  But do not fret, there is still plenty of good fruit to play with.

Satsumas.  Ripe and ready.

Sure, apples are in, but these are not my favorite for fruit salad.  Unless eaten right away, or doused with citrus, these favorites of mine turn soft and brown.  Instead, I've been looking at what else has shown up at the markets recently.  Grapes have been around for at least a month, and probably only have a few weeks left.  But some of the locals organic options are wonderful.  And don't get me started on their awesome raisins (and I don't even like raisins!)  So you have grapes.  What else.  Persimmons have started to show up recently.  Be sure to get a firm Fuyu variety if you want them for salad.  They have the rounded bottom and a texture not unlike an apple.  The pointy tipped Hachiya is astringent, and even though they are more palatable when softened, I feel they are best left cooked  for fruit tart.  Add in some figs and pomegranate and you have a pretty good mix started.

Fall sunset on Main Beach, Santa Cruz.  Empty, but for a few strollers.  not quite like the summer crowd.

Citrus is starting to show up, and this is really the final ingredient.  My favorite are the seedless Satsuma and Clementine.  So sweet, easy to peel and the perfect size for salad for one.  Or even just to snack on alone.  Valencia oranges are around.  More varieties will be showing in the next few weeks, along with grapefruits.  We are just at the leading edge for citrus season, and should see a great variety coming soon.    Lemons and limes are also, of course, citrus, and abound at the market today.  Maybe a month of more , and we will begin to see the blood and the cara cara orange show up.  Good times.