Sometimes referred to as alligator pears due to some varieties’ pear-like shapes and textured green exteriors, avocados are technically a fruit and are botanically considered to be large berries.

Originating in Mexico, the avocado tree thrives in environments with no frost and little to no wind. Once matured, avocados are picked and allowed to ripen, typically in one to two weeks. Now cultivated in various Mediterranean and tropical climates throughout the world, avocado trees are partially self-pollinating and can grow to be 66 feet tall (source).

Currently the most common type of avocado is Hass, accounting for more than 80% of cultivated avocados in the United States (source). Oval in shape with pebbly green-black skin and a small-medium seed, the Hass avocado is easy to peel and ranges in size from 5 to 12 ounces (source). Other popular varieties include:

Bacon: oval in shape with smooth green…

It’s August in Ontario. Know what that means?

Peach Season!

One of our absolute favourite times of year, especially living in an area that is well known for the peaches that grow here. We even have a festival specifically for them, where they serve the world’s best (yes, we said it) peach sundaes. In fact, the peaches here are so good that we only eat peaches this time of year. To buy some overpriced  picked-way-before-it’s-ripe peach that’s shipped thousands of miles and isn’t even that good of peach would be doing this magnificent fruit such injustice!

No, we will only eat fresh Ontario Peaches. Call us princesses, we don’t care!

We’ve made Peaches and Cream Baked Oatmeal, Fish Fingers with a Peach Dipping Sauce, a Peach Blondie Breakfast Parfait, Peach Pancakes a La Mode, Peach Raspberry Overnight Oats, Peach Salsa, Peach-Tomato Chutney and so…