Baby Turnip, Snap Pea and Mint Dip

This recipe utilizes the first of the season bounty, bursting with flavor and life. Young turnips have a mild pleasant flavor similar to a radish, although less of a bite. Their greens are also edible, a tender mildly spicy green which I incorporate into this recipe. The texture is thick and smooth, similar to a guacamole. It's delightful served with an array of fresh vegetables, as a sauce atop spiralized noodles, or as a creamy sauce in a wrap. Enjoy the abundance of the season!

Baby Turnip, Snap Pea, and Mint Dip

-1 bunch of baby turnips with greens
-1 cup snap peas (stems removed)
-1/2 larger or 1 small avocado
-2 green onions
-juice of 1 lemon
-juice of 1 lime
-small handful of fresh mint
-optional: 1/4 red onion and/or clove garlic

Place all ingredients into blender on low until creamy purred consistency is reached. If desired chill in fridge for at least 20 minutes to meld flavors.

Serves one to many

Banana-Fig-Vanilla and Orange Zest Shake

What makes a shake a shake and a smoothie a smoothie is something to be argued. I don't think it has to do with whether there's heavy dairy or ice cubes, neither are necessary. I go purely on taste and texture. Simply put, if it's smooth and creamy-it's a shake, if its more fruity with high water content ingredients, it's a smoothie. This is definitely a shake. A creamy smooth mix of fresh and frozen bananas blended with ripe figs, a squeeze, and a bit of zest from an orange, and pure vanilla powder. A super decadent shake without the fat or refined sugars, all natures pure goodness.

It is still early in the fig season and they are not at their peak in flavor, but they will still do wonders to a blended drink. People often try a particular fruit at a particular time from a particular store and say "yep, I don't like ______ fruit. Hardly a scientific method to say the least, and quite prejeduce to boot. Every fruit deserves to be defined by its best, it's peak season, bursting with sugars, falling of the vine, bush, tree best. With that said, someone has to jump first, and just because they're not "the" cream of the crop, doesn't mean they're of no value. A wise friend recently noted that even a bad fig is better than most things you'll eat. Indeed. Yes, there is something to be said for waiting, but in my opinion your not going to find that perfect fig unless you start early and eat a lot!

Banana, Fig, Vanilla, and Orange Zest Shake

-2 frozen bananas
-2 fresh ripe bananas
-6 figs (black mission or brown turkey)
-juice of 1/2 orange + zest
-1 teaspoon pure vanilla powder or extract

Place all ingredients into blender and whirl away, serve, and savor this creamy delight.

Apricot Ginger Sauce

This is a quick simple sauce that is great as a fruit "fondue" or sauce over chopped fruit. I used a sweet pile of bananas, which paired wonderfully. This dish makes a filling sweet meal that will keep you fueled for hours.

Apricot Ginger Sauce

-6 small apricots
-3 medjool dates
-1 frozen banana chopped
-1/2 tsp size nub ginger (optional)
-1 tsp orange zest (optional)

-6 large bananas chopped in large bowl
-1/2 cup blueberries

Place all sauce ingredients into high speed blender or food processor and pulse until creamy. Pour this mixture over chopped bananas, and top with blueberries. Devour.