It’s our favorite time of year – the flowers have started to bloom, there (hopefully) won’t be any more snow, and the special selections of fruit are at the dining halls. Most likely, you decide to buy some fruit, but then once you get back to your room, you can’t think of how to use your freshly purchased produce. Instead of just eating plain fruit over and over (although there’s nothing wrong with that!), try some of these new ways to enjoy your dining hall fruits.
1. Mango Guacamole
Fruits used from Lower: Mangoes and Avocados
A great twist on classic guacamole, this mango guacamole will give El Pelon’s a run for their money! All you have to do is mash up three avocados, add in one diced mango, one diced tomato, and put in half of a cut up jalapeno pepper. Then, stir and add some lime juice and salt if you’d like.
2. Strawberry Mango Salsa
Fruits used from Lower: Strawberries and Mangoes
If you’re someone who prefers salsa to guacamole, try this sweet and spicy combination for strawberry mango salsa! Simply cut up strawberries and mangoes from Lower, along with a jalapeno, cilantro, and red onion. Add in honey and some lime juice to taste, and enjoy!
3. Tropical Fruit Smoothie
Fruits used from Lower: Papaya and Strawberries
This is the perfect spring snack, especially after running outside. All you need to do is slice papaya, strawberries, and a banana from the dining hall, get some ice cubes, and blend them together to make a great smoothie.
4. Fruit Popsicles
Fruits used from Lower: Kiwi and Avocado
Who would have thought that kiwi and avocado together would make a great popsicle? Well, they do! For this you need two frozen bananas, one avocado, two kiwi, one-third cup coconut milk, and two tablespoons of maple syrup. Mix all of these together by blending or processing them. Use this mixture to fill popsicle molds and freeze them. That’s all you need to have a nice cold treat on a hot day.
5. Blueberry Apple Cupcakes
Fruits used from Lower: Blueberries
If you’re in the mood to bake, this is a wonderful type of cupcake to try. For these cupcakes, you need normal cupcake ingredients: 1 ½ cups of flour, two tablespoons of cornstarch, 1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder, a pinch of salt, a stick of butter softened, ¾ cup of sugar, two eggs, ½ teaspoon of vanilla, and ¾ cup of buttermilk. Use these ingredients by combining them and mixing them. Then, fill a cupcake sheet with the batter. Top each cupcake with blueberries and apple slices. Add some sugar on the top for glaze, then bake in an oven for 25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. This one is a little more work, but the final product is delicious!
So next time, instead of passing the fruit displays at the dining hall, buy everything that looks good (or have somebody with a lot of meal plan money buy it for you) and use your cooking skills. Enjoy trying out these delicious recipes!
Article Sources:
https://twitter.com/MikeatMac/status/443062097384333313/photo/1
http://www.strawberry-recipes.com/strawberry-banana-drinks.html
http://damndelicious.net/2013/06/10/strawberry-mango-salsa/
http://thecupcakedailyblog.com/blueberry-apple-cupcakes-recipe/