This weekend I had fruits from all over come to visit me. For some fruits it was their first time here while the others knew my belly like the back of their hand stems. Allow me to share with you my fruity escapades from the last couple of days.
First, take a look at my exotic fruit loot!
Before this summer I had never tried Fresh Apricots. I suppose I avoided them in the past because I thought I was allergic (since ya know I’m allergic to fresh plums and peaches). And before this weekend, I had never tried Fresh Figs!
I’ve been eating dried apricots and dried figs for years and years but never thought to seek out their fresh counterparts.
Seriously, what better way to enjoy fresh figs than with goat cheese?
While you’re at it, add some avocado, apricots, and drizzle some balsamic vinaigrette.
These fresh figs were everything I had hoped for and more. My favorite thing about dried (and fresh) figs is the millions of seeds inside.
After playing tennis with the ‘rents on Friday night, my mom wanted to make some Homemade Tart Frozen Yogurt. I swear she asks to make this every. single. day. I don’t mind though because it means we get to go to Trader Joe’s to buy yogurt, among other necessities 
.
Side note: Our TJ’s has been sold out of European Style yogurt for over a week now (!!). Using half Euro Style yogurt is the key to making the frozen yogurt tart. We had to use 1/2 regular plain and 1/2 Greek. It just ain’t the same!
We wanted to try making a flavored froyo this time so we blended our last mango to make a mango puree….
…and added it to the yogurt….
to make Mango Tart Froyo.
Topped with toasted pecans and frozen pomegranate seeds.
The mango flavor was pretty subtle. I think it could have used another mango’s worth of puree.
***
The fruity escapades continue…
Oatmeal Squares–perhaps the best cereal to grace this wonderful Earth of ours.
+ a chocolate chip Chewy granola bar.
After a full day of running errands and buying shower curtains (at Homegoods, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Costco) we came home for dinner.
I made Goat Cheese and Spinach Meatballs with steamed kale, avocado and hearts of palm.
To make the sausage, I mixed 1/3 cup Gimme Lean Veggie Sausage with 1/2 TBSP goat cheese and 2 TBSP thawed frozen spinach.
(I didn’t want to make too much because I didn’t know how they would turn out. This was a totally improvised creation)
Rolled into balls and pan fried for about 5 minutes.
The end result? Amazing! I wish I had made 50 more. The warm goat cheese made the veggie meatballs incredibly creamy and flavorful.
The more I eat Gimme Lean Veggie Sausage, the more I love it.
For dessert I enjoyed some Cherry Vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips. This bowl x3!
Stay tuned for even more fruity escapades. Next up? Dragonfruit!
Tell me: What’s your favorite fruit? Exotic or not.
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve never had fresh figs or apricots either. My in-laws have an apricot tree near their lake house and recently picked dozens. MIL said that they were amazing.
Mmm dragon fruit is my absolute favorite fruit, especially the ones with inner purple flesh. YUM! Believe it or not, I have been eating 2 a day in HK for the past 1.5 months!! I don’t wanna leave HK!
Holy fruit queen! You hit the jackpot of beautiful fruit lately.
And I am totally making those meatballs sometime soon. I am partial to anything with goat cheese
Those are some cool lookin fruits! What’s that big pink one? I’m not even sure I’d know how to go about eating it lol
My favorite fruit’s the banana. I used to hate them and maybe eat half of one a day. Now I go through at least 3 or 4!
Aren’t fresh figs just the best!? I am a huuuge fan of them – it’s great to see someone else eat them! As for dragonfruit – I love that stuff
we normally have it as a Christmas meal starter 
I am curious to try both apricots and figs but haven’t seen them around here! My favourite fruit – so hard to choose, but I probably eat bananas and apples the most frequently.
That dragonfruit is gorgeous! It deserves it’s own photo shoot
OMG fresh apricots are my faaaaavorite!! And fresh figs are amazing. So glad you finally got to experience their joy
I love pretty much all fruit. But my favorites are the stone fruits: peaches, apricots, cherries.
I also love figs but haven’t had them in a long time.
Thai style mango. While ataulfo mangoes are good and the best option here, nothing beats mango in Thailand.
Yum! All that fruit looks delicious!
I love summer time and the bounty of fruits.
how cute are thos elittle veggie sausage balls!! AWE yumzoid!
u sure know how to put yummy fruit to good use! looks awesome! <3
lovely, lovely pictures! I’ve never tried fresh figs either. They look delicious!
I have a dragonfruit in my fridge waiting to be eaten too!
What fruity fun! So colourful. I haven’t ever had fresh apricots, only the dried ones which I love. Perhaps I’ll have to give them a try.
Oh gosh I LOVE figs!!!! My grandparents used to have a fig tree in their yard… you can imagine how happy that made me
I THOUGHT the fruit was my favorite part of this post, but then I noticed the amazing meatballs.
And I have many favorite fruits, but one of my all-time treats happens to be the mamey sapote. At $3.50 a lb (and most are, like, 3-4 lbs), it is DEFINITELY reserved for treat occasions
Stacey–
You MUST try them!!
Jenny–
I say mamey at the store but for a bit cheaper–perhaps I’ll get them next time!
@Mary @ Bites and Bliss,
It’s a dragonfruit. I’m going to cut it open soon!
I can’t believe you and Ashley (Edible Perspective) hadn’t tried fresh apricots until this weekend!! Craziness — they’re one of my favorites.
I have to say, I’ve never had dragonfruit though. It’s gorgeous!
1. Why does that Euro yogurt ALWAYS SELL OUT?! Because everyone loves it. Sooooo they should figure that out and stock more of it duh.
2. Freaking out at your use of goat cheese in both the fig salad and “sausage” balls. Need in my life!
3. My favorite fruits are anything I ate in Thailand
i like the numbered format above, so i am going to copy it.
1) THAT SALAD LOOKS ABSOFREAKINLUTELY AMAZING. avocado, apricot, fig, goat cheese? seriously. wow.
2) i had forgotten about oatmeal squares. yum.
3) kelly ripa looks slightly ridiculous in her ad to the right. something about the shirt + shoes combo.
Hmmmm, I will always love a crisp apple, a ripe summer peach, and a perfect banana.
And I would love love love to try to fig and goat cheese combo mmmmmm
i LOVE PEACHES!! white and yellow!!
I’ve never had fresh apricots or figs eiether! I think I need to change that, pronto! I’m loving the look of that salad you made with them. I love fruits in salads.
My favourite fruit are bananas. They’re my one true love.
YAY for fresh fruit!
I´ve been wanting to try figs, apricots, peaches and avocados for a long time…
And I just might do it ASAP
You are a genius! That fig salad looks gorgeous.
I’ve never had a fresh fig–but I love the dried ones!
My favorite fruit kinda depends on the time of day–but right now I really love cherries.
Fresh figs are THE best fruit in the ENTIRE WORLD. I am totally obsessed. They’re just so expensive, and they’re never in season!! Sigh
@Christine,
I know. These weren’t cheap but I just had to try them at least ONCE in my life!
I love fruit! I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen a dragonfruit before. Too cool.
I love both the humble pear and the common banana, almost completely equally. I eat a banana every day, but something about a perfectly ripe pear excites me to no end. x)
wow! That fruit looks so colorful and radiant! I love it. I don’t think I have ever tried figs…now, I really need to!
i will have to try making fro yo in my ice cream maker, because the mango fro yo sounds delightful!
My favorite fruits (I can’t pick just one) are raspberries, blueberries, pineapple and cherries.
I looooove fruit! I’ve never had a fig before, fresh or dried! D: My favourite would actually be apples. Or peaches. Or strawberries. Or dragonfruit. Not so much a big fan of the raw banana… I do like it stirred into my oats and in frozen coins though. (I just coined them, threw them in the freezer, and I didn’t bother to soft-serve them. I melted a bit of PB with milk and drizzled on top. SO good.
)
Wei-Wei
wowwza you were cooking up a storm, allie! evertyhing looks so delicious!! i want those meatballs AND the kale…i am craving kale for some reason! aren’t fresh figs the BEST! try them drizzled with some evoo and salt pepper, and roasted in the oven! you could even throw some sugar on them or agave for some caramalized goodness on top!
Ahh! Fro yo! I’ve been borrowing my friend’s ice cream maker. I want to make fro yo!!! I’ve made a ton of ice cream (or maybe only 3 kinds…) some with coconut milk! Sooo tasty!
I love all the fruit in this post! I’ve got the same ice cream maker as you and my next creation will be a frozen yogurt one! I’m waiting to have enough variations of ice cream & froyo to do a whole post. Thanks for the tip on using the Euro style!!
PS…I heart dragon fruit!
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