Fruit That’s Never Forbidden

Nothing says summer like cool, sweet fruit. No matter where you are on a hot summer day, it’s hard to refuse something that is filled with fruit. From summer ades to adult cocktails, to a fresh salad with red juicy strawberries, or maybe a yummy dessert that you make for a party, adding fruit will turn something dull into something that is divine.

By Julia Romano

For the adults, Watermelon Sangria is a sweet, hydrating, and downright refreshing cocktail drink that will be a huge hit at any size party.

Ingredients

6 cups watermelon cubed 2 (750ml) bottles white wine 2 cups watermelon vodka 3 cups lemon-lime soda 1/4 cup Stevia or sweetener of choice

Instructions

Add cubed watermelon to blender and blend on high until well pureed.

Pour through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth into a gallon jug.

Gather up sides of cheesecloth and squeeze to force out as much watermelon juice as possible.

Discard pulp.

Add white wine, vodka, and soda and stir to combine.

Taste for sweetness and adjust accordingly.

Refrigerate for 2-6 hours to let the flavors combine.

Serve over ice with a sprig of mint and extra cubed watermelon (if desired). Switch up regular lemonade with this simple-to-make

Watermelon Lemonade

Ingredients

6 cups watermelon cubed 3/4 cup lemon juice 2/3 cup Stevia or sugar 4 cups water

Instructions

Add cubed watermelon to blender and blend on high until well pureed.

Pour through a fine mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth into a gallon jug.

Gather up sides of cheesecloth and squeeze to force out as much watermelon juice as possible.

Discard pulp.

Add lemon juice, cold water, and stevia and stir until sugar has dissolved.

Taste for sweetness and adjust accordingly.

Serve immediately over ice.

Store covered in refrigerator for up to one week.

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Strawberry Spinach Salad goes well as a start to any meal so take advantage of how easy it is to prepare and still WOW your guests with its fabulous flavor.

Ingredients

2 bunches fresh spinach, rinsed 4 cups sliced strawberries ½ cup vegetable oil ¼ cup white wine vinegar ½ cup white sugar 2 tablespoons sesame seeds 1 tablespoon poppy seeds Pecans (optional and to taste) Feta cheese (optional and to taste)

Instructions

In a large bowl, toss together the spinach and strawberries.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, sugar, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds.

Pour over the spinach and strawberries, and toss to coat. Ambrosia fruit salad is a heavenly treat and a much loved favorite dessert of mine and my family. It’s so easy to prepare and a yummy, refreshing dessert that you can surprise your family with after a summer meal, or it can be the star of the dessert table when you bring it to a summer cookout. It can be embarrassing when the dish you bring to a party is untouched and given back to you before you leave. Ambrosia salad is one dessert that will be gobbled up until the bowl is empty so be prepared to go home empty, and do what I do - make some extra to leave home for the family to enjoy.

Ambrosia Fruit Salad

Ingredients

10 Servings 60 ounces crushed pineapple or pineapple chunks (drained) 60 ounces mandarin oranges (drained) 10 ounce jar maraschino cherries (drained & sliced) 8 ounces cool whip 8 ounces sour cream 12 ounces miniature marshmallows **3/4 cup shredded coconut **(optional and to taste)

Instructions

First, be sure to drain all of the fruit and stir it together gently, along with the mini marshmallows, in a bowl.

In another bowl, mix together the sour cream and thawed Cool Whip.

Gently fold in the whipped cream and sour cream with the fruit (to make it fluffy), until everything is coated.

Cover and refrigerate to chill for at least 2 hours prior to serving!

**You can add or substitute any other type of fruit such as canned peaches, fresh grapes, strawberries, or whatever kind you prefer.