Fruit is bright, colorful and attractive – thank you, Mother Nature!

For us to enjoy fruit we need to know how to choose perfectly ripe fruit. The sugar content in the fruit will change, and the texture of the fruit will soften, and often the color of the fruit changes – sometimes to a different shade such as a red, yellow, orange or purple. But it is when the aroma develops that the fruit is ready to eat. Different fruits ripen at different rates, and sometimes those reaction times are very rapid.

This book Fruit! by Kathryn Hawkins teaches you everything you need to know for fruit success. If you have ever wondered about how exactly to prepare some of the fruits you see at the market, but your mother never bought or prepared there is a chapter to help you out.

She provides a step-by-step fruit preparation for: Citrus, Dates, Kiwi, Mango, Papaya, Passion Fruit, Pineapple, Pomegranate, and stoned fruits (such as apricots, peaches, plums and nectarines). There is a short explanation regarding fruits storage and preservation and canning.


Throughout the chapters of the book you will learn about fruit types such as: apples and pears, fruit with stones, berries and soft fruit, melons and grapes, citrus fruits, tropical and exotic fruit. In the chapter on Apples and Pears she provides some amazing recipes featuring these fruit staples and gives suggestions for serving. Many full-page beautiful photographs will be found throughout the book.

The Fruit with Stones chapter takes us into mid-to-late summer with peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots and cherries. Learn how to make a plum and prune strudel, an upside-down fruit pie, or a fresh cherry compôte.

The chapter for Berries and soft fruit shows how to incorporate the berries in both sweet and savory dishes. Recipes using wild blueberries, strawberries, blackberries and even rhubarb are highlighted.

Fruit and nut recipes such as panforte, family favorites such as lemon meringue pie, and marmalade cookies made me want to try all the recipes.

Healthy Tropical Drink recipes include using persimmons, pomegranate, papaya and banana and using yogurt, or soy milk and some ice cubes. Yummy!!

Note: This book was checked out from my public library.

I like to keep fruit ready on the counter with DecoBros Wire Fruit Tree Bowl with Banana Hanger, Bronze available on Amazon.

Fruit! is available on Amazon.